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Density and pressure: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 3.2.4 Density and pressure, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,877 questions

  1. Q18(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 18(a)(i): Explain why the weight of water displaced must be equal to the weight of the drum. [1]

  2. Q18(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 18(a)(ii): Calculate d. d = m [3]

  3. Q18(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 18(b)(i): When the vertical drum is displaced a distance x deeper into the water from the equilibrium position, the magnitude of the resultant force on the drum, F, is gi

  4. Q10

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.4 Density and pressure
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 10: An object floats in a liquid. A force of upthrust acts on the object. Which quantity does not affect the magnitude of the upthrust? A density of the liquid B gr

  5. Q2(a)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 2(a)(i): Show that the mean mass m of each of the balls is approximately 0.82 g. [2]

  6. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    3 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 2(b)(i): Calculate x. x = cm [3]

  7. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 2(b)(ii): The student repeats the experiment using sea water. State how the value of x changes. Explain your answer. [2]

  8. Q5

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 5: A block of wood is floating in calm water. The density of the wood is 700 kg m–3. The density of water is 1000 kg m–3. What percentage of the volume of the bloc

  9. Q20

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 20: An object is completely immersed in water. Upthrust acts on the object. Which calculation will correctly give the magnitude of the upthrust? A density of the ob

  10. Q4(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 4(a)(ii): Calculate the density ρ of the wood. ρ = kg m–3 [2]

  11. Q20(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 20(b)(ii): Calculate the weight of air displaced by the airship. weight of air N [2]

  12. Q20(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 20(b)(iii): Explain why the weight of air displaced by the airship has the same magnitude as the weight of the airship and its contents. [2]

  13. Q11

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 11: The diagram shows a closed cylinder with internal diameter d. d F piston oil The cylinder is filled with oil. A piston applies a force F to the oil. Which is th

  14. Q18(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 18(a)(i): Show that the mass of air which hits the tent in this time is about 490 kg. [3]

  15. Q20(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 20(b)(i): The pressure from the gas supply raises the water in the U-tube. The vertical distance between the two levels of water in the two vertical sections of the U-tub

  16. Q1(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 1(b)(ii): The atmosphere exerts the same upthrust on each probe. Using your answer to (a), calculate the upthrust acting on each probe. upthrust = N [3]

  17. Q1(b)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 1(b): The student uses a measuring cylinder and a digital balance to determine the density of the oil. The student records the following measurements: • mass of empty

  18. Q1(c)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 1(c): The steel ball is submerged in the oil. Show that the upthrust acting on the steel ball is 1.8 × 10–2 N. [2]

  19. Q1

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 1: Archimedes’ principle is written below with one word missing. The upthrust acting on an object in a fluid is equal to the __________ of the fluid displaced. Wha

  20. Q26(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.2.3 Equilibrium3.2.4 Density and pressure
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 26(b)(ii): Use your answer to (i) and the data below to determine the density ρ of the metal. • F = 6.8 N • L = 0.90 m A = 6.4 × 10−5 m2 • ρ = kg m−3 [3]
All 43 questions on Density and pressure, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q18(a)(i) (1 mark): Explain why the weight of water displaced must be equal to the weight of the drum. [1]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q18(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate d. d = m [3]
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q18(b)(i) (2 marks): When the vertical drum is displaced a distance x deeper into the water from the equilibrium position, the magnitude of the resultant force on the drum, F, is gi
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): An object floats in a liquid. A force of upthrust acts on the object. Which quantity does not affect the magnitude of the upthrust? A density of the liquid B gr
  5. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Show that the mean mass m of each of the balls is approximately 0.82 g. [2]
  6. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate x. x = cm [3]
  7. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): The student repeats the experiment using sea water. State how the value of x changes. Explain your answer. [2]
  8. June 2024, Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): A block of wood is floating in calm water. The density of the wood is 700 kg m–3. The density of water is 1000 kg m–3. What percentage of the volume of the bloc
  9. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): An object is completely immersed in water. Upthrust acts on the object. Which calculation will correctly give the magnitude of the upthrust? A density of the ob
  10. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the density ρ of the wood. ρ = kg m–3 [2]
  11. June 2023, Paper 1, Q20(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the weight of air displaced by the airship. weight of air N [2]
  12. June 2023, Paper 1, Q20(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the weight of air displaced by the airship has the same magnitude as the weight of the airship and its contents. [2]
  13. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): The diagram shows a closed cylinder with internal diameter d. d F piston oil The cylinder is filled with oil. A piston applies a force F to the oil. Which is th
  14. June 2022, Paper 1, Q18(a)(i) (3 marks): Show that the mass of air which hits the tent in this time is about 490 kg. [3]
  15. June 2022, Paper 1, Q20(b)(i) (2 marks): The pressure from the gas supply raises the water in the U-tube. The vertical distance between the two levels of water in the two vertical sections of the U-tub
  16. June 2022, Paper 3, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): The atmosphere exerts the same upthrust on each probe. Using your answer to (a), calculate the upthrust acting on each probe. upthrust = N [3]
  17. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): The student uses a measuring cylinder and a digital balance to determine the density of the oil. The student records the following measurements: • mass of empty
  18. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q1(c) (2 marks): The steel ball is submerged in the oil. Show that the upthrust acting on the steel ball is 1.8 × 10–2 N. [2]
  19. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Archimedes’ principle is written below with one word missing. The upthrust acting on an object in a fluid is equal to the __________ of the fluid displaced. Wha
  20. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q26(b)(ii) (3 marks): Use your answer to (i) and the data below to determine the density ρ of the metal. • F = 6.8 N • L = 0.90 m A = 6.4 × 10−5 m2 • ρ = kg m−3 [3]
  21. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Show that the cross-sectional area of the wooden cylinder is about 6.6 × 10−4 m2. [1]
  22. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the weight W of the wooden cylinder. W = N [3]
  23. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q4(b) (3 marks): A student places the wooden cylinder in a beaker of water so that it floats. The vertical distance between the water surface and the bottom of the cylinder is y
  24. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q4(c) (4 marks): The student repeats the experiment, but replaces the water with oil of density 900 kg m−3. The cylinder will still float. Calculate the new distance y. Explain
  25. November 2020, Paper 1, Q22(a)(i) (1 mark): State Archimedes’ principle. [1]
  26. November 2020, Paper 1, Q22(a)(ii) (2 marks): The pressure exerted by the liquid alone on the bottom of the cylinder is 1.9 × 103 Pa. Calculate the density ρ of the liquid. ρ = kg m–3 [2]
  27. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): A small block of wood is placed in deep water. The block is at rest with 80% of its volume under the surface of water. The weight of the block is 6.0 N. What is
  28. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): A seabird dives vertically into water. The seabird is briefly stationary at its greatest depth. In water, the upthrust on this seabird is always greater than th
  29. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q6(a) (3 marks): Calculate the density ρ of the metal. ρ = kg m−3 [3]
  30. June 2019, Paper 3, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): Use the data above to show that the upwards force on the rocket at the start of lift-off is about 15 N. [2]
  31. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Show that the volume of the ball is about 8.4 × 10–6 m3. [1]
  32. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(iv) (2 marks): The mass of the ball is 23 ± 1 g. Determine the density ρ of the ball. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures. ρ = kg m–3 [2]
  33. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the upthrust on the submerged ball. upthrust = N [2]
  34. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the density of the liquid. density of liquid = kg m–3 [2]
  35. June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q23(a) (3 marks): By considering the forces acting on the tube, explain the general shape of the graph shown in Fig. 23.2. [3]
  36. June 2017, Paper 1, Q18(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the density of the wood. density = kg m−3 [2]
  37. June 2017, Paper 1, Q18(a)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why wood is an appropriate material to model the depth reached by a diver. [2]
  38. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): The diagram below shows an object submerged in water. surface of water submerged object water The object is stationary in the water. Which statement about the u
  39. June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q3 (12 marks): (a) A solid wooden sphere of density 650 kg m−3 has a diameter of 2.8 cm. 3 (i) Describe and explain how the student can measure precisely the diameter of the s
  40. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q23(a) (4 marks): Fig. 23.1 shows a metal cylinder of diameter of about 5 cm placed on a horizontal table. cylinder table Fig. 23.1 Describe how you can use instruments available
  41. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q23(b)(i) (1 mark): State Archimedes’ principle. [1]
  42. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q23(b)(ii) (3 marks): Fig. 23.2 shows the metal cylinder from (a) hung from a newtonmeter. clamp stand rod newtonmeter beaker cylinder water Fig. 23.2 The reading on the newtonmeter
  43. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q5(a) (1 mark): The density of conducting putty is 5300 kg m−3. The student has a 100 g sample of this putty. Show that the volume V of the sample is about 1.9 × 10−5 m3. [1]

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