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Basic physics: WJEC A‑Level Physics questions

Every WJEC A-Level Physics exam question on 1.1 Basic physics, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,173 questions

  1. Q7(c)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    2 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 7(c): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b

  2. Q1(b)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 1

    3 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 1, question 1(b)(iii): Use the following information to determine the metal from which the cylinder is made, given that it has a mass of 2400 g. [3] Density / g cm–3 Metal copper 9.0

  3. Q3(a)(i)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 3(a)(i): Calculate the mean acceleration along with the absolute uncertainty in its value. [2]

  4. Q3(a)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 3(a)(ii): Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the acceleration. [1]

  5. Q3(b)(i)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 3(b)(i): Determine the percentage uncertainty in the 60 g mass. [1]

  6. Q3(b)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    5 marks1.1 Basic physics1.3 Dynamics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 3(b)(ii): Hence determine the unknown mass, M, of the glider along with the absolute uncertainty in its value. Give both values to an appropriate number of significant fi

  7. Q3(c)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 3(c): Suggest how Emma could reduce the uncertainty in her value for M. [1]

  8. Q7(b)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 7(b): [2]

  9. Q2(a)(i)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 1

    3 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 1, question 2(a)(i): uncertainty is approximately 0.3 %. [3]

  10. Q2(a)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 1

    4 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 1, question 2(a)(ii): Hence calculate the density of the ball bearing along with its absolute uncertainty, giving your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures. [4]

  11. Q2(b)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 1, question 2(b): Jerry believes that, since he is measuring the volume directly, the absolute uncertainty in his value of density will be less than that found by Tomos. Determin

  12. Q2(c)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 1, question 2(c): The table gives the density of some common metals and alloys. Density / g cm−3 Metal tin 7.3 stainless steel 7.5 iron 7.9 brass 8.3 Tomos and Jerry use this inf

  13. Q4(a)(i)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 1, question 4(a)(i): percentage uncertainty in its value is approximately 11%. [2]

  14. Q4(a)(ii)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 1, question 4(a)(ii): Show, with an appropriate calculation, that the uncertainty in the length reading can be considered negligible. [1]

  15. Q4(b)(ii)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 1

    4 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 1, question 4(b)(ii): Karen is told by her teacher that the percentage uncertainty in the load is 5%. Use this information along with Karen’s notes and your answers to (a) to calcula

  16. Q2(a)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 1, question 2(a): State the difference between a vector and a scalar and give one example of each. [2]

  17. Q5(d)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 1

    3 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 1, question 5(d): The distances, d, were measured to a resolution of ±1 mm. Use data from the table of results to show that the percentage uncertainty in mean F is greater than t

  18. Q5(e)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 1, question 5(e): Suggest one change to his method which would improve the quality of Sam’s measurements. [1]

  19. Q2(a)(i)

    Summer 2018 · AS Unit 1

    3 marks1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2018 AS Unit 1, question 2(a)(i): Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting on the hailstone. [3]

  20. Q2(b)(i)

    Summer 2018 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.1 Basic physics
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2018 AS Unit 1, question 2(b)(i): Aled is told that there is a very small time delay between the switch being pressed and the ball being released. This is a systematic error. The manufacturer st
All 31 questions on Basic physics, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q7(c) (2 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b
  2. Summer 2025, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(iii) (3 marks): Use the following information to determine the metal from which the cylinder is made, given that it has a mass of 2400 g. [3] Density / g cm–3 Metal copper 9.0
  3. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean acceleration along with the absolute uncertainty in its value. [2]
  4. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the acceleration. [1]
  5. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Determine the percentage uncertainty in the 60 g mass. [1]
  6. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(ii) (5 marks): Hence determine the unknown mass, M, of the glider along with the absolute uncertainty in its value. Give both values to an appropriate number of significant fi
  7. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3(c) (1 mark): Suggest how Emma could reduce the uncertainty in her value for M. [1]
  8. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q7(b) (2 marks): [2]
  9. Summer 2023, AS Unit 1, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): uncertainty is approximately 0.3 %. [3]
  10. Summer 2023, AS Unit 1, Q2(a)(ii) (4 marks): Hence calculate the density of the ball bearing along with its absolute uncertainty, giving your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures. [4]
  11. Summer 2023, AS Unit 1, Q2(b) (2 marks): Jerry believes that, since he is measuring the volume directly, the absolute uncertainty in his value of density will be less than that found by Tomos. Determin
  12. Summer 2023, AS Unit 1, Q2(c) (2 marks): The table gives the density of some common metals and alloys. Density / g cm−3 Metal tin 7.3 stainless steel 7.5 iron 7.9 brass 8.3 Tomos and Jerry use this inf
  13. Summer 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): percentage uncertainty in its value is approximately 11%. [2]
  14. Summer 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Show, with an appropriate calculation, that the uncertainty in the length reading can be considered negligible. [1]
  15. Summer 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): Karen is told by her teacher that the percentage uncertainty in the load is 5%. Use this information along with Karen’s notes and your answers to (a) to calcula
  16. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q2(a) (2 marks): State the difference between a vector and a scalar and give one example of each. [2]
  17. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(d) (3 marks): The distances, d, were measured to a resolution of ±1 mm. Use data from the table of results to show that the percentage uncertainty in mean F is greater than t
  18. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5(e) (1 mark): Suggest one change to his method which would improve the quality of Sam’s measurements. [1]
  19. Summer 2018, AS Unit 1, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting on the hailstone. [3]
  20. Summer 2018, AS Unit 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Aled is told that there is a very small time delay between the switch being pressed and the ball being released. This is a systematic error. The manufacturer st
  21. Summer 2018, AS Unit 1, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Aled records his corrected results (i.e. with the systematic error accounted for) in the table below. Complete the row for time squared, t2 giving your answers
  22. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean jump height, hmean along with the absolute uncertainty in its value. [2]
  23. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the percentage uncertainty in hmean. [1]
  24. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q2(b)(ii) (7 marks): The student uses an accurate balance to measure the mass, m, of the toy to be 48.40 g and digital callipers to measure the compression of the spring, x, to be 3
  25. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): Describe one practical procedure by which the student could reduce the uncertainty in k. [1]
  26. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): [2]
  27. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q1(a)(i) (3 marks): uncertainty is approximately 5%. [3]
  28. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Determine the absolute uncertainty in the density. [1]
  29. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Write down possible materials from which the ball bearing is made and explain why it is not possible to determine the exact material. [2]
  30. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Identifying the correct material from which the ball bearing is made depends on reducing the uncertainty in density. Explain which of the two values (volume or
  31. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q7(a) (1 mark): Momentum is a vector. State what is meant by a vector. [1]

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