Edexcel GCSE Physics Paper 1 Higher June 2024 question paper 1PH0/1H

Nuclear fusion is a process that releases energy.

Which of these statements applies to a nuclear fusion reaction?

In the Sun, four protons start the process of nuclear fusion.

These protons combine and finally produce a helium nucleus.

The helium nucleus has a smaller mass than the four protons.

This difference in mass is converted to energy.

Four protons have a total mass of 6 69. 10²⁷ kg.

A helium nucleus has a mass of 6 64. 10²⁷ kg.

Calculate the percentage of the original mass that has been converted to energy.

percentage of mass converted to energy_........

Figure 1 shows the spectrum of an element detected in the light from a distant galaxy, from a nearby galaxy and from a source on Earth.

Estimate the difference between the wavelength of line P in the spectrum from the distant galaxy and the wavelength of line P in the spectrum on Earth.

Scientists have discovered that light from almost all distant galaxies has spectral lines shifted towards the red end of the spectrum.

Explain how red shift in light, received from galaxies at different distances from the Earth, supports the idea that the Universe is expanding.

Figure 2 shows a person on a skateboard at the top of a ramp.

At P, the person is not moving.

The person rides the skateboard down the ramp from P to Q.

The gravitational potential energy of the person decreases by 980 J.

The mass of the person is 35 kg.

Calculate h, the height of the ramp.

Use g = 10 N/kg.

Use the equation

change in gravitational potential energy = m g h

The kinetic energy, KE, of the person at Q is 950 J.

The mass of the person is 35 kg.

Calculate the velocity of the person at Q.

Use the equation

Figure 3 is a diagram that represents energy changes from P to Q.

State what is represented by X.

Calculate the value of X.

Calculate the efficiency of the system represented in Figure 3.

Two people, L and M, have a 100 m race.

L starts running before M.

Figure 4 shows a distance/time graph of the race.

State the distance that L has run when M overtakes.

Calculate the velocity of L when running the 100 m race.

A motorcycle is travelling at a velocity of 6.2 m/s.

The motorcycle accelerates at 2.5 m/s² until its velocity is 10 m/s.

Calculate the time taken for this acceleration.

Use the equation

The motor cycle now decelerates (slows down) from 10 m/s to a stop.

The deceleration is at a constant rate of 4.4 m/s².

Calculate the distance the motorcycle travels as it slows down to a stop.

Use the equation

A car collides with a barrier on a road.

The time of the collision is very short.

Explain one factor, other than the time of the collision, that would affect the force on the car in the collision.

Your explanation should refer to an equation in the Equation Booklet.

Radiation is used to treat tumours (cancer).

The source of the radiation can be inside or outside the human body.

Which of these has a radiation source that can be positioned inside the body to treat tumours?

Figure 5 shows a PET scanner used to detect cancerous tumours.

A radioactive isotope is injected into a patient.

The isotope is absorbed by the tumour.

The isotope emits positrons from the location of the tumour.

The ring of radiation detectors rotates around the person.

Explain how the scan can give the location of the tumour.

Explain why the radioactive isotope injected into the patient must be produced near to the place where it is to be used.

Radiotherapy can involve irradiation of patients.

Radioactive tracers can involve contamination of patients.

State two differences between irradiation and radioactive contamination.

Figure 6 shows the decay curves of two different isotopes, Q and P.

Use the graph in Figure 6 to determine the half-life of isotope P.

Suggest a reason why the sample of isotope Q could be more dangerous to humans than the sample of isotope P.

Ultraviolet (UV) waves from the Sun travel towards the Earth.

Ultraviolet waves can be grouped by wavelength.

The three groups of wavelengths are UVA, UVB and UVC.

Figure 7 shows, for each group,

• the wavelength range

• the effect of the Earth’s atmosphere on each type of UV wave.

Explain why UVC is potentially the most dangerous ultraviolet radiation but does not cause harm to people.

The speed of electromagnetic radiation is 3 00. 10⁸ m/s.

Calculate the frequency of the shortest wavelength of UVB radiation.

UV radiation of wavelength 365 nm is used to detect forged banknotes.

In a genuine banknote there are marks that cannot be seen using visible light. These marks can be seen using UV radiation.

Explain why the marks can be seen when the UV radiation shines on the banknote.

Your answer should refer to the energy of electrons in atoms.

You may draw a diagram to help with your answer.

The law of reflection of light applies to reflections from

A student uses a mirror to demonstrate that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

Figure 8 shows the apparatus the student uses.

Describe the procedure the student should use with the ray and mirror in the position shown in Figure 8.

You should include any extra equipment needed.

You may add to Figure 8 to help your answer.

Figure 9 shows a ray of light from a ray box passing through a semi-circular glass block.

A student uses the apparatus in Figure 9 to determine the critical angle for glass.

State why the ray of light does not change direction as it enters the glass block at X.

Describe how the critical angle for glass can be determined using the apparatus shown in Figure 9.

Figure 10 shows a ray diagram of the virtual image produced by a diverging lens.

State what is meant by the term virtual image.

A car starts from rest and then travels for 70 s as shown on the graph in Figure 11.

Complete the sentence using data from Figure 11.

The car is travelling at constant velocity from_........ s

Use data from the graph in Figure 11 to show that the car travels a total distance of about 710 m in 70 s.

Calculate the average speed of the car for the total distance travelled.

The inertial mass of an object is a measure of how difficult it is to change the velocity of the object.

A force of 450 N acts on a car to give the car an acceleration of 0.35 m/s².

Calculate the inertial mass of the car.

inertial mass of car_........

Figure 12 shows a different velocity/time graph.

This straight line graph can be represented by the equation

Give the quantities that x and y represent in the equation.

Calculate the value of m from the graph in Figure 12.

State the value of c from the graph in Figure 12.

An electron has a charge of –1.

The charge on an alpha particle is

Alpha, beta and gamma are all ionising radiations.

Give the meaning of the term ionising.

A teacher determines the background radiation count rate in a laboratory.

Explain how to determine a value for the background radiation count rate.

The teacher now investigates the absorption of beta radiation by different thicknesses of aluminium.

The apparatus available is

• a source of beta radiation

• a Geiger–Müller (G-M) tube and counter

• 10 pieces of aluminium, each 0.5 mm thick

• a metre rule.

Sketch a labelled diagram showing the positions of the apparatus when the measurements are being taken.

Give the independent variable in this investigation.

Name a quantity that must be kept constant during the investigation.

Strontium-90 is the source of beta minus radiation in this investigation.

Complete the nuclear equation for this emission of beta minus radiation.

Figure 13 shows a ball being rotated in a horizontal circle.

Which arrow in Figure 13 shows the direction of the centripetal force on the ball?

The ball is moving at constant speed. Give one reason why the velocity of the ball is continuously changing.

Figure 14 shows a gymnast landing on a mat and coming to rest.

The gymnast has a mass of 53 kg.

The gymnast lands on the mat with a velocity of 4.0 m/s.

The average force exerted by the mat on the gymnast is 3500 N.

Calculate the time taken for the gymnast to come to rest.

Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.

Use the equation

* (c) Figure 15 shows two trolleys, P and Q, moving at the same speed, v, directly towards each other.

The trolleys have the same mass.

When the trolleys collide, they stick together and stop.

Explain how momentum and energy are both conserved in this collision.

Which row of the table shows two transverse waves?

Figure 16 is an energy diagram for a sound wave incident on a sound-insulating board.

sound-insulating

The incident energy is 0.25 J.

The absorbed energy is 67 % of the incident energy.

The reflected energy is 15 % of the incident energy.

Calculate the amount of the transmitted energy.

Give one way to reduce the percentage of energy transmitted through the sound-insulating board.

The ratio of the absorbed energy E_a to incident energy E_i is the coefficient of absorption of sound α.

The table in Figure 17 gives the coefficient of absorption for various materials.

Explain why rooms with carpets and curtains are less noisy than rooms without them.

Use the information given in Figure 17 in your answer.

* (d) Explain how sound waves can be used to determine the depth of the ocean directly underneath a boat.

You may draw a diagram to help with your answer.