OCR GCSE Combined Science A (Gateway) Physics Paper 6 Foundation June 2025 question paper J250/06

Which row identifies features of a light wave ?

What is a typical speed for a strong wind ?

A 2 m / s

B 13 m / s

C 56 m / s

D 330 m / s

Which electromagnetic wave is used for cooking ?

A Gamma rays

B Infra-red radiation

C Ultraviolet radiation

D X-rays

A radio wave has a wavelength of 5.0 m.

A second radio wave has a wavelength which is a thousand times greater.

What is the wavelength of the second radio wave?

A 0.005 m

B 5.0 m

C 125 m

D 5000 m

Which energy source is non-renewable ?

A Biofuel

B Nuclear fuel

C Solar

D Wind

Which statement about electrons in atoms is correct ?

A Electrons gain energy as they absorb electromagnetic waves.

B Electrons have a positive charge.

C Electrons lose energy by emitting alpha particles.

D Electrons rise to higher energy levels as they emit electromagnetic waves.

The diagram shows a photograph of the pattern of water waves, drawn to scale.

A student measures the wavelength of the water waves with a ruler.

Which method will not improve the accuracy of the student’s measurement?

A Place the ruler at a right angle to the wavefront.

B Measure the length of 5 complete waves and divide this length by 5.

C Place the ruler flat on the photograph and read the scale at right angles from above.

D Use a longer ruler to measure one wavelength.

A group of scientists discover a new particle.

What must the scientists do so that their discovery is accepted?

A Give the new particle a name.

B Have their work reviewed by other scientists.

C Make a television documentary about the discovery.

D Post the discovery on the internet.

A student calculates that the energy used to make steel for a car is 1 260 000 000 J.

Which of these is equal to 1 260 000 000 J?

A 1260 GJ

B 1260 kJ

C 1260 MJ

D 1260 nJ

Object X and object Y move at the same speed.

Object X has 10 J of kinetic energy. Object Y has twice the mass of object X.

What is the kinetic energy of object Y ?

A 5 J

B 10 J

C 20 J

D 100 J

A sound engineer records sound waves from loudspeakers in four different locations A, B, C and D in a concert hall.

An oscilloscope is used to display the sound waves produced at each location. The settings on the oscilloscope remain the same for each location.

At which location does the sound wave have the greatest amplitude ?

Tick (✓) one box.

One of the sound waves recorded has a frequency of 250 Hz.

The speed of sound in the concert hall is 340 m / s.

Calculate the wavelength of this sound.

Use the equation: wave speed = frequency wavelength

The engineer places a candle in front of a loudspeaker.

The loudspeaker produces a low frequency sound.

Complete the sentences to explain why the candle flame vibrates from side to side but does not blow out.

Use words from the list.

electromagnetic longitudinal particles transverse waves

The flame vibrates from side to side because sound waves are........ waves.

Air........ vibrate but do not travel through the flame.

All objects emit electromagnetic waves.

Thermal imaging cameras detect some electromagnetic waves. The photograph is a thermal image of an animal taken using a thermal imaging camera at night.

Which type of electromagnetic wave is the animal emitting?

Tick (✓) one box.

Why is a human not able to see the animal at night?

State one reason why ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma radiation can be harmful to living things.

Ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma radiation are also useful.

Draw one line from each type of electromagnetic wave to a typical use.

There are different isotopes of the element carbon.

When carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14, it emits beta radiation.

Complete the equation for the decay of carbon-14.

Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5700 years.

Explain what half-life means.

Alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays can penetrate different types and thicknesses of material.

Draw one line from each type of radiation to the type and maximum thickness of material radiation is able to penetrate.

Type of radiation
Type and maximum thickness of material

Some types of kettle are battery powered.

The kettle contains 0.50 kg of water at 20 C.

Calculate the minimum change in thermal energy needed to raise the temperature of the water to 100 C.

The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / kg C.

Use the equation:

change in thermal energy = mass specific heat capacity change in temperature

Explain why the actual amount of thermal energy needed to raise the temperature of the water would be greater than the calculated value in (a)(ii).

What is the time taken for the temperature of the water in cup B to decrease from 80 C to 60

Time taken =........ minutes

One cup is made of metal and the other cup is made of plastic.

The metal cup is a better conductor than the plastic cup.

Which cup, A or B, is made of metal?

Give a reason for your answer using information from the graph.

Suggest two variables the students should control in their experiment.

The students wrap the cups in thermal insulation and repeat the same experiment, as shown in the diagram.

Predict how these new temperature readings after 5 minutes compare to the original results on the graph.

Give a reason for your answer.

15* A person is driving a car on a motorway. It starts to rain and the driver is feeling tired.

The driver decides to leave more space between their car and the car in front of them in case they need to stop suddenly.

Why is it a good idea for the driver to leave more space?

In your answer:

• Describe other factors that affect the thinking distance and factors that affect the braking distance of the car.

• Explain how the stopping distance of the car is affected when it is raining and the driver is tired.

The diagram shows a power station connected to a town by the national grid.

Power Station Transformer Pylons and Wires Transformer
Town

The national grid uses alternating voltage.

A simple circuit powered by a battery uses direct voltage.

Explain the difference between alternating voltage and direct voltage.

The table shows the current in one of the wires in the national grid at two different voltages.

The wire has a resistance of 2.0 .

Calculate how much power is dissipated from the wire at 11 000 V.

Use the equation: power = current² resistance

Give your answer to 2 significant figures and in MW.

The national grid transfers 8 000 kJ of energy from the power station every second.

When the voltage across the wires is 400 000 V, the transformers and wires dissipate 160 kJ of this energy every second.

Calculate the efficiency of the energy transfer at 400 000 V.

Explain how step-up transformers allow the national grid to transfer energy more efficiently.

A UK mains plug has 3 wires: live, neutral and earth.

Describe the function of the neutral wire.