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Physics · Edexcel 1PH0 · Paper 1 · Higher · June 2023

Edexcel GCSE Physics Paper 1 Higher June 2023 question paper 1PH0/1H

1h 45m 100 marks

Practise the past exam questions by topic

Edexcel 1PH0 · Paper 1H

10 questions
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Question 2

(a)

Which of these is a scalar quantity?

Question 2, shown as an image

(1)

(b)

A student has some cupcake cases.

One cupcake case is shown in Figure 2.

Figure for question 2

The student drops a stack of cupcake cases with the base facing downwards, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure for question 2

(Source: © Elena Schweitzer/Shutterstock)

Figure 3

The speed of the falling stack of cupcake cases depends on the number of cupcake cases in the stack.

(b)(i)

The student also has a stop clock and a metre rule.

Describe an investigation to show how the speed of the falling stack of cupcake cases depends on the number of cupcake cases in the stack.

(4)

(b)(ii)

A stack of cupcake cases has a mass of 0.005 kg.

Calculate the weight, in newtons, of the stack of cupcake cases.

Gravitational field strength = 10 N / kg

Use the equation

W = mg

(2)

(b)(iii)

Figure 4 shows a cupcake case that is falling at a constant velocity.

Figure for question 2

Draw an arrow on Figure 4 to show the force due to air resistance on the cupcake case.

(1)

(b)(iv)

State the value of the acceleration of the cupcake case when it is falling at a constant velocity.

(1)

Question 3

(a)

Figure 5 shows a football kicked against a wall.

Figure for question 3

The football has a mass of 0.42 kg.

(a)(i)

The football gains 11 J of gravitational potential energy as it moves from the ground to the wall.

Calculate the height at which the ball hits the wall.

(3)

(a)(ii)

Gravitational field strength = 10 N / kg

Use the equation

∆ GPE = m × g × ∆ h

Calculate the kinetic energy of the football when it is moving at a velocity of 12 m / s.

Use the equation

Question 3, shown as an image

(2)

(a)(iii)

Describe the energy transfers that happen when the ball hits the wall.

(2)

(b)

A stone is held at rest above the ground.

The stone is released and falls until its velocity is 17 m / s.

Calculate the distance the stone has fallen when its velocity has reached 17 m / s.

(2)

Question 4

(a)

Figure 6 shows two objects, E and D.

Figure for question 4

E emits a sound.

D detects the sound.

E is moving in the direction shown by the arrow, but D is not moving.

E emits a sound of wavelength 1.86 m.

D measures the wavelength of this sound as 1.98 m.

(a)(i)

Calculate the difference between the wavelength that E emits and the wavelength that D detects.

(1)

(a)(ii)

The velocity of sound is 330 m / s.

Calculate the velocity of E.

Use the equation

Question 4, shown as an image

(2)

(b)

The wavelength of light emitted from distant galaxies is different when the light is detected on Earth.

Explain how this difference in wavelength shows that the Universe is expanding.

(2)

(c)

CMB radiation provides evidence that the Universe had a definite beginning.

Use the table in Figure 7 to give a typical value for the wavelength of CMB radiation.

Figure for question 4

(2)

(d)

During the evolution of a star, the nebula collapses and becomes a main sequence star.

(d)(i)

State what causes the nebula to collapse.

(1)

(d)(ii)

Explain why the nebula stops collapsing as it becomes a main sequence star.

(3)

Question 5

Figure 8 is a velocity/time graph for a lift moving upwards in a tall building.

Figure for question 5
(a)

For what length of time is the lift at rest during the first 16 s?

(1)

(b)

Use the graph in Figure 8 to determine the maximum velocity of the lift during the first 16 s.

(1)

(c)

Use the graph in Figure 8 to determine the acceleration of the lift during the first 1.4 s.

acceleration =........ m / s2

(3)

(d)

Use the graph in Figure 8 to determine the distance that the lift travelled during the first 6.0 s.

(3)

(e)

At 18 s, the lift starts to move downwards.

Sketch a line on the graph in Figure 8 to show the lift moving downwards after 18 s.

(1)

Question 6

(a)

Figure 9 shows two technicians, L and M, measuring the speed of sound in air.

Figure for question 6

L fires a starting pistol.

M starts a stopwatch when first seeing the smoke from the starting pistol.

M stops the stopwatch when hearing the bang made by the starting pistol.

The distance between L and M is 120 m.

M’s reaction time is 0.23 s.

The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s.

(a)(i)

Calculate M’s reaction time as a percentage of the time sound takes to travel from L to M.

(3)

(a)(ii)

Which of these would improve the technicians’ measurement of the speed of sound?

Question 6, shown as an image

(1)

(b)

Figure 10 shows the difference in refraction of sound waves and light waves when these waves travel from air into water.

Figure for question 6

Explain why the refraction of the sound wave is different from the refraction of the light wave in Figure 10.

(3)

(c)

Light is one example of an electromagnetic wave.

Light can transfer energy from a lamp to the leaf of a plant, causing chemical reactions in the leaf.

Describe examples of two other electromagnetic waves transferring energy.

(4)

Question 7

(a)

Figure 11 is the symbol for a nucleus of americium-241.

Question 7, shown as an image

Figure 11

Americium-241 is a radioactive isotope of americium.

Americium-241 decays by emitting alpha (α) particles.

(a)(i)

Which of these is the symbol for another radioactive isotope of americium?

Question 7, shown as an image

(1)

(a)(ii)

Which of these is the approximate maximum distance that alpha particles can travel in air at normal atmospheric pressure?

Question 7, shown as an image

(1)

(a)(iii)

Complete the equation in Figure 12 for americium-241 decaying into neptunium (Np).

Question 7, shown as an image

Figure 12

(3)

(b)

The activity of a radioactive source is measured as 128 Bq.

This is shown as a point on the graph in Figure 13.

(3)

(c)
Figure for question 7

The half-life of this radioactive source is 17 s.

Use this information to plot three more points on the graph grid in Figure 13 to show how the activity of the source changes with time.

Describe what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a positron is emitted.

(2)

Question 8

(a)

A student does an experiment to determine the critical angle for glass.

The student shines a ray of light into a semicircular glass block and measures the angles i and r, as shown in Figure 14.

Figure for question 8
(a)(i)

The ray of light does not change direction when it enters the glass block at point X.

Which of these explains why the ray of light does not change direction when it enters the glass block at point X.

Question 8, shown as an image

(1)

(a)(ii)

The student repeats the procedure for different values of angle i.

Figure 15 is a graph of the student’s results.

Figure for question 8

Describe how the student should use the graph in Figure 15 to determine the critical angle for glass.

(3)

(b)

Figure 16 shows two iron spheres, P and Q, near to a radiant heater. P is painted black and Q is painted white.

Figure for question 8

Each sphere is the same distance away from the heater.

The spheres have the same radius.

The heater is switched on and the spheres heat up.

The temperature of each sphere is monitored.

(b)(i)

Explain why the temperature of sphere P increases at a faster rate than the temperature of sphere Q.

(2)

(b)(ii)

The heater remains switched on.

Figure 17 shows how the temperature of sphere P changes with time.

Figure for question 8

Explain why the temperature of P reaches a constant value, even though the heater remains switched on.

(4)

Question 9

(a)

An atom of mass 6.6 × 10–26kg is moving with a velocity of 480 m / s.

Calculate the momentum of the atom.

momentum =........ kg m / s

(3)

(b)

Figure 18 shows a ball before and after it collides with a wall.

The arrows show the direction of movement of the ball.

Figure for question 9

Before the collision, the momentum of the ball is 0.80 kg m / s.

After the collision, the momentum of the ball is 0.60 kg m / s in the opposite direction.

The ball is in contact with the wall for a time of 70 ms during the collision.

Calculate the force exerted on the ball by the wall.

(3)

(c)

Use an equation selected from the list of equations at the end of the paper.

*(c) Newton’s second law can be stated as

force = mass × acceleration

A student is provided with a trolley and a runway on a bench, as shown in Figure 19, and access to other equipment.

Figure for question 9

Describe a procedure the student could use to investigate how the acceleration of the trolley depends on the force applied to the trolley.

You may add to the diagram in Figure 19 to help your answer.

(6)

Question 10

(a)

Figure 20 shows a Mars rover, a vehicle used for exploring the surface of the planet Mars.

Figure for question 10

(Source: © BEST-BACKGROUNDS/Shutterstock)

Figure 20

The power supply in a Mars rover is called an RTG.

The RTG contains a radioactive isotope that releases thermal energy as it decays.

The RTG uses the thermal energy released in the decay to provide electrical power for the rover.

(a)(i)

An RTG has an efficiency rating of only 7%.

Calculate the useful energy transferred by the RTG when 1300 J of thermal energy is released in the decay.

Use the equation maths symboluseful energy transferred by the devicemaths symbol efficiency = × 100% maths symboltotal energy supplied to the devicemaths symbol

(2)

(a)(ii)

Suggest, with a reason, one property the isotope must have to be suitable for use in the RTG.

(2)

(b)

Figure 21 shows the fission of a uranium nucleus.

Nuclear fission
free neutron

Question 10, shown as an image
Figure for question 10

(Source: adapted from © 1501926062/Shutterstock)

Figure 21

The total mass of all the particles after the reaction is less than the total mass of the particles before the reaction.

The energy released in the reaction comes from the change in mass.

This is shown in the equation

energy released = (change in mass) × (speed of light)2

The energy released in one fission reaction = 1.49 × 10–10J.

The speed of light = 3.00 × 108m / s.

Calculate the change in mass.

(3)

(c)

*(c) The energy released in a single uranium fission is very small.

In a nuclear power station, the fission of uranium in the reactor releases large amounts of energy.

The energy released is enough to generate electricity for thousands of homes.

The demand for electricity varies.

Explain

• how large amounts of energy can be released in the reactor

• how the rate of energy release is controlled as the demand for electricity varies.

Equations

Figure for question 10

(6)

The paper as printed

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