Combined Science A (Gateway) · OCR J250 · Physics Paper 12 · Higher · June 2023
Which sentence describes the law of conservation of energy ?
A Energy can be created in a power station.
B Energy can be transferred into power.
C Energy can only be transferred between stores.
D Energy can only be destroyed in the surroundings when it is wasted.
[1]
An electric plug contains a live wire, a neutral wire and an earth wire.
Which statement is correct?
A The neutral wire completes the circuit.
B The neutral wire only carries a current if there is a fault.
C The potential difference between the earth wire and the neutral wire is 230 V.
D The potential difference between the live wire and the neutral wire is 400 000 V.
[1]
A driver drives a car along a road. The driver presses the brakes to stop.
Energy is transferred between stores.
How is the energy transferred between these stores?
A By heating only
B Electrically and by heating
C Work done by forces and by heating
D Work done by forces only
[1]
A 6 V battery provides a current of 0.4 A in a circuit for 20 seconds.
How much energy is transferred by the battery?
Use the equations: charge flow = current × time
energy transferred = charge × potential difference
A 0.12 J
B 0.75 J
C 15 J
D 48 J
[1]
The table shows how braking distance changes with the speed of a car.
| Speed (mph) | Braking distance (m) |
| 20 | 6 |
| 30 | 14 |
| 40 | 24 |
| 60 | 56 |
What is the braking distance at 80 mph?
A 48 m
B 96 m
C 110 m
D 216 m
[1]
A 0.5 kg mass is placed on the end of a vertical spring with spring constant 125 N / m. The extension of the spring is 0.04 m.
What happens to the energy stored in the spring when a 1.0 kg mass is placed on the end instead?
Assume the spring obeys Hooke’s Law.
Use the Equation Sheet.
A Doubles
B Halves
C Quadruples
D Stays the same
[1]
In summer, a layer of warm air forms above a layer of dense cool air in the atmosphere. This causes radio waves to bend instead of travelling in straight lines.
Which statement explains why the radio waves bend?
A The frequency of the wave changes.
B The speed of the wave changes.
C The wave is absorbed by the cool air.
D The wave spreads out.
[1]
A scientist is working with a radioactive material. The radioactive material emits beta radiation.
Fig. 11.1 shows the scientist walking very close to the radioactive material.
Fig. 11.1
Describe the effect of the radioactive material on the scientist as they walk past.
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
In Fig. 11.2, the scientist knocks the radioactive material onto the floor. They pick up the radioactive material with their bare hands.
Fig. 11.2
Describe the effect of the radioactive material on the scientist as they pick it up.
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
Fig. 11.3 shows the scientist standing behind a lead screen and a lead-glass window. They use a robotic arm to handle the radioactive material.
Fig. 11.3
Describe the effect of the radioactive material on the scientist when they are behind the lead screen.
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
The frequency of electromagnetic waves can be written as 1 × 10N Hz. 12 N is an integer (a whole number).
The graph shows the typical values of N for different electromagnetic waves.
Which electromagnetic wave has the highest frequency?
[1]
Which electromagnetic wave is the most dangerous?
[1]
Ultraviolet waves have a greater frequency than visible waves.
How many times greater?
102 103 1013 1014 1016
[1]
What is the frequency of a typical radio wave on the graph?
Write your answer as an ordinary number without standard form.
[2]
Which sentence is true about electromagnetic waves?
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
A 0.8 kW microwave oven is used to cook food. The microwave oven transfers 0.56 kWh when it is used to cook food.
Calculate the time the microwave oven is used for.
Use the equation: energy transferred = power × time
[3]
The graph shows how demand for electricity changes during a typical day in the UK.
Different energy sources can be used by the national grid at different times.
Describe how the demand for electricity changes from 14:00 to 23:00.
[2]
Explain why a gas fired power station is started at X.
[2]
The baseload demand is the minimum demand for electricity during the day.
Use the graph to calculate the baseload demand as a percentage of the maximum demand.
[3]
Suggest a type of power station which is suitable for supplying the baseload.
[1]
The manufacturer says, ‘The transformer is 98% efficient.’
Explain what this statement means.
[1]
The graph shows how acceleration changes with the mass of a car.
Use the graph to determine the acceleration of a car with a mass of 1250 kg.
Acceleration =........ m / s2
[1]
Use the graph to estimate the acceleration of a car with a mass of 700 kg.
Acceleration =........ m / s2
[2]
A car is travelling at 60 mph.
Which statement most likely describes what the car is doing?
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
This graph shows how the velocity of a car changes when driver A sees a hazard in the road at time = 0 seconds.
Describe how the graph shows that the reaction time of driver A is 0.6 s.
[1]
Calculate the braking distance on the graph.
[2]
Driver B then drives the same car with the same road conditions and sees the same hazard.
Driver B:
• drives at the same speed as driver A
• has been drinking alcohol
• applies the brakes harder than driver A.
Draw another line on the graph to show how the velocity changes for driver B.
[2]
16* The graph shows how the activity of a radioactive isotope changes with time. The graph can be used to determine the half-life of the isotope.
Explain what is meant by half-life.
Describe how the half-life of this radioactive isotope is measured using a radiation detector. Draw on the graph to support your answer.
[6]
Describe the motion of air particles in a sound wave. You may include a labelled diagram.
[2]
Table 17.1 shows the results for one student.
Table 17.1
The wavelength of the sound = 4 × the length of the tube above the water.
Calculate a value for the speed of sound using this student’s results.
Use the Equation Sheet.
Speed of sound =........ m / s
[3]
Table 17.2 shows the results for the group of students.
Table 17.2
| Student | Speed of sound (m / s) |
| 1 | 314 |
| 2 | 320 |
| 3 | 330 |
| 4 | 315 |
| 5 | 321 |
The quality of these results can be judged using percentage uncertainty.
The percentage uncertainty in an experimental value is given by the equation.
Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the students’ results from Table 17.2.
[3]
The speed of sound at 20 °C is 343 m / s.
Evaluate the precision and accuracy of the results in Table 17.2.
[2]
Which statement improves the accuracy of the results?
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
Which statement describes a systematic error in the experiment?
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
The paper as printed
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