Question 1
Which force is a contact force?
A Electrostatic
B Friction
C Gravity
D Magnetic
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Answer
OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway) Paper 3 Higher June 2025 question paper J249/03
OCR J249 · Paper 3
24 questions
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Question 2
A crane lifts a steel beam of mass 500 kg to the top of a building 50 m high.
What is the increase in gravitational potential energy of the beam?
Use the equation: gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × height
Gravitational field strength = 10 N / kg
A 2500 J
B 5000 J
C 25 000 J
D 250 000 J
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Answer
Question 3
An astronaut has a mass of 80 kg.
Calculate the weight of the astronaut on the Moon.
Use the Equation Sheet.
The gravitational field strength on the Moon is 1.6 N / kg.
A 8.0 N
B 50 N
C 128 N
D 800 N
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Answer
Question 4
The force–extension graph for a rubber band, during loading and unloading, is shown.
Which row describes the behaviour of the rubber band?
| Deformation | Obeys Hooke’s Law? | |
| A | elastic | no |
| B | elastic | yes |
| C | plastic | no |
| D | plastic | yes |
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Question 5
A current–carrying wire is in a magnetic field.
Under which conditions will the wire experience the smallest force?
Use the Equation Sheet.
| Magnetic flux density of field (mT) | Current in wire (A) | Length of wire (m) | |
| A | 6 | 4 | 0.8 |
| B | 8 | 4 | 0.5 |
| C | 8 | 5 | 0.4 |
| D | 12 | 6 | 0.2 |
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Question 6
An object is 1.0 m below the surface of a swimming pool.
Which statement describes the vertical forces acting on the object if it is not moving?
A Upthrust = water resistance
B Upthrust > water resistance
C Upthrust = weight
D Upthrust > weight
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Question 7
A toy train moves around a circular track at a constant speed.
Which row describes the displacement of the train from its starting point and the velocity of the
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Question 8
A current-carrying wire is placed between the two poles of a horseshoe magnet.
The circuit is switched on.
In which direction does the wire move?
A Down
B Left
C Right
D Up
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Question 9
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Question 10
A teacher makes a parallel circuit with a battery, a lamp and an LDR.
The battery has a fixed potential difference.
The light intensity is increased.
Which row describes what happens to the current at point P and the current at point Q ?
| Current at point P | Current at point Q | |
| A | increases | increases |
| B | stays the same | decreases |
| C | stays the same | increases |
| D | stays the same | stays the same |
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Question 11
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Question 12
Two forces act on an object.
One force has a magnitude of 5.0 N and the other force has a magnitude of 8.0 N.
Which row shows the minimum resultant force and the maximum resultant force which could act on the object?
| Minimum resultant force (N) | Maximum resultant force (N) | |
| A | 3.0 | 8.0 |
| B | 3.0 | 13.0 |
| C | 5.0 | 8.0 |
| D | 5.0 | 13.0 |
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Question 13
Which sentence explains what is meant by the inertia of an object?
A It is a measure of how difficult it is to change the density of an object.
B It is a measure of how difficult it is to change the mass of an object.
C It is a measure of how difficult it is to change the velocity of an object.
D It is a measure of how difficult it is to change the weight of an object.
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Question 14
Calculate the change in pressure when a diver moves from a depth of 3.0 m to a depth of 7.0 m.
Use the Equation Sheet.
Gravitational field strength = 10 N / kg
Density of water = 1000 kg / m3
A 4000 Pa
B 30 000 Pa
C 40 000 Pa
D 70 000 Pa
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Question 15
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Question 16
A student investigates the current–potential difference (I –V) characteristic graph for a thermistor.
The diagram shows the circuit that the student builds.
(a)
(a)(i)
The student connects an ammeter and a voltmeter into the circuit to take the measurements needed for their investigation.
Draw one ammeter and one voltmeter in the correct positions in this circuit.
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Answer
(a)(ii)
Why does the student use a variable resistor in the circuit?
Tick (✓) one box.
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(a)(iii)
Explain why the student switches the circuit off between taking the readings of current and potential difference.
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(b)
The student takes readings of current and potential difference and plots them on a graph.
(b)(i)
Describe the trend shown by the graph.
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(b)(ii)
How does the resistance of the thermistor change as the potential difference increases?
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(b)(iii)
State the current in the thermistor when the potential difference across the thermistor is 8.0 V.
Use the graph.
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(b)(iv)
Calculate the resistance of the thermistor when the potential difference across the thermistor is 8.0 V.
Use the equation: potential difference = current × resistance
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Question 17
An engineer is investigating the density of polystyrene.
(a)
Describe how to determine the mass and volume of a rectangular polystyrene block.
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(b)
One polystyrene block has a density of 50 kg / m3. (b)
The mass of the block is 0.60 kg.
Calculate the volume of the block.
Use the Equation Sheet.
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Answer
Question 18
The atomic model has changed over time.
Three scientists who contributed to the atomic model are Thomson, Rutherford and Bohr.
(a)
(a)(i)
Which of these scientists discovered a particle called an electron?
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(a)(ii)
Which of these scientists developed the Plum Pudding model of the atom?
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(a)(iii)
Which of these scientists suggested that electrons can only move in fixed orbits called electron shells?
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(b)
One of these three scientists did an experiment where alpha particles were fired at a thin piece of gold foil.
Two important observations were recorded.
What did the scientist conclude about the atom from these observations?
Observation 1: Most alpha particles passed through the gold foil.
Observation 2: Some of the alpha particles were deflected.
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(c)
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Question 19
(a)
A student investigates the magnetic field between two magnets.
(a)(i)
The student uses iron filings to show the magnetic field pattern.
Write down a different piece of equipment that the student could use to investigate the magnetic field.
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Answer
(a)(ii)
The diagram shows the north pole of a magnet and the south pole of another magnet.
Sketch the magnetic field between the poles of the magnets.
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(b)
A student makes a simple solenoid by wrapping insulated copper wire around an iron nail.
(b)(i)
Why did the student use insulated copper wire?
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(b)(ii)
Write down one factor that can affect the strength of the magnetic field of a solenoid.
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Question 20
A teacher draws a simple electric circuit.
(a)
Draw an arrow on the circuit to show the direction of electron flow.
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Answer
(b)
How does the current at point A in the circuit compare to the current at point B in the circuit?
Tick (✓) one box.
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Answer
(c)
Calculate the charge flow in the lamp when there is a current of 0.45 A for 30 s.
Include the unit.
Use the Equation Sheet.
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(d)
Apart from current and time, which other quantity is needed to calculate the energy transferred by the lamp?
Use the Equation Sheet.
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Answer
Question 21
A transformer can be used to change the potential difference (p.d.) of an electrical supply.
The diagram shows a simple transformer.
(a)
A student writes four statements about how a transformer works.
A This induces an alternating p.d. in the secondary coil.
B This produces a changing magnetic field in the iron core.
C There is an alternating p.d. across the primary coil.
D This produces an alternating current in the primary coil.
Put the steps in the correct order. The first one has been done for you.
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(b)
Explain why a transformer does not work if the current in the primary coil is direct current (d.c.).
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(c)
A step-up transformer increases the potential difference from 230 V a.c. to 4600 V a.c.
There are 25 turns on the primary coil.
Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil.
Use the Equation Sheet.
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(d)
A high potential difference can be dangerous. Suggest how.
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Answer
(e)
Generators, motors, microphones and headphones all use magnetism to work.
Draw lines to connect each device with the correct description of how it works.
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Question 22
22* The velocity–time graph shows part of a train’s journey on a level straight track.
Use the graph to describe and explain the motion of the train between 0 and 140 seconds.
Include calculations of acceleration and distance in your answer.
Use the Equation Sheet.
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Answer
Question 23
A scientist investigates how liquids cool when they are placed in a freezer.
(a)
The scientist places 200 g of liquid A in a freezer.
The graph shows how the temperature changes with time as the liquid cools.
(a)(i)
What is the initial temperature of liquid A ?
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(a)(ii)
What is the freezing point of liquid A ?
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(a)(iii)
Liquid A has a specific heat capacity of 3750 J / kg 
C.
Calculate the energy needed to cool the liquid from its initial temperature until it starts to freeze.
Use the Equation Sheet.
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Answer
(b)
(b)(i)
Liquid B is placed in the freezer.
The freezer needs 54 kJ of energy to cool liquid B from its initial temperature to its freezing point. This takes 360 s.
Calculate the minimum power of the freezer needed to cool liquid B.
Use the equation: energy transferred = power × time
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(b)(ii)
Why is the actual power needed to cool liquid B larger than your answer to (b)(i) ?
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(c)
The power of a different portable freezer is 240 W.
The components in the freezer have a total resistance of 0.80 
.
Calculate the current in the freezer.
Use the Equation Sheet.
Give your answer to 2 significant figures.
[4]
Answer
Question 24
(a)
Which statement correctly compares the pressure in the cylinders?
Tick (✓) one box.
[1]
Answer
(b)
[4]
Answer
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