Free Printable Physics GCSE Paper 1

1.

What is this?

a)

Bulb

b)

Lamp

c)

Cell

d)

Switch

2.

What is the major difference between static electricity and current electricity?

a)

Current electricity involves a continuous flow of neutrons; static electricity is a sudden transfer of protons

b)

Current electricity can be deadly; static electricity is almost always safe

c)

In current electricity, there's a single transfer of electrons; in static electricity, there's a steady flow of electrons

d)

Current electricity involves a flow of electrons; static electricity involves a single transfer of electrons

3.

When socks get stuck to towels in your dryer, this is an example of________________

a)

current electricity

b)

static electricity

4.

This is an example of a _______ circuit

a)

open

b)

series

c)

parallel

d)

square

5.

power is defined as...

a)

the strength of the current

b)

the rate of energy transfer

c)

energy transferred per Coulomb of charge

d)

the ratio of potential difference across a component to the current through it.

6.

the unit of power is the...

a)

Watt

b)

Joule

c)

Ohm

d)

Newton

7.

which is a correct equation for calculating efficiency?

a)

$Efficiency\ =\ \frac{total\ \ energy\ \ output}{total\ \ energy\ \ input}$

b)

$Efficiency\ =\ \frac{useful\ \ energy\ \ output}{total\ \ energy\ \ input}$

c)

$Efficiency\ =\ \frac{useful\ \ power\ \ output}{total\ \ energy\ \ input}$

d)

$Efficiency\ =\ \frac{total\ \ power\ \ input}{useful\ \ power\ \ output}$

8.

Identify the conductor below.

a)

cloth rag

b)

plastic bottle

c)

gold ring

9.

As the resistance in a circuit increases, the electric current __________.

a)

increases

b)

decreases

c)

stays the same

10.

Thicker wires have _______ resistance than thinner wires.

a)

more

b)

less

c)

the same

11.

What is the best definition for potential difference?

a)

the potential energy per electron.

b)

the potential energy per unit of charge.

c)

the kinetic energy per unit of charge.

d)

the energy carried by an electron.

12.

A student used some everyday items to investigate static electricity.

Figure 1 shows a flexible plastic strip being rubbed with a cloth.

Complete the sentence (with 1 correct word).

Rubbing the plastic strip with the cloth causes the strip to become negatively charged because (a) move from the cloth onto the plastic strip.

13.

The diagram shows a temperature sensing circuit used to control a heating system in a house.

What quantity does the ammeter measure? (One correct word only needed)

(a)

14.

What is the structure of an alpha particle?

a)

An electron

b)

A neutron

c)

Two protons and two neutrons. This is the same as a helium nucleus.

d)

An electromagnetic wave

15.

Which type of radiation is the least penetrating?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

X-ray

d)

Gamma

16.

Which type of radiation travels the furthest in air?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Sound

d)

Gamma

17.

What material can be used to absorb alpha radiation?

a)

Thin aluminium (a few mm thick)

b)

Thick lead or concrete

c)

A piece of wood

d)

A sheet of paper

18.

What material can be used to absorb beta radiation?

a)

Thick lead or concrete

b)

Thin aluminium (a few mm thick)

c)

A sheet of paper

d)

A piece of wood

19.

Which radiation is the most penetrating?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Sound

d)

Gamma

20.

What happens to an atom when it is ionised?

a)

It loses or gains neutrons

b)

It loses or gains electrons

c)

It loses or gains protons

d)

It disappears

21.

Which radiation is the most ionising?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

X-ray

d)

Gamma

22.

What is the structure of a beta particle?

a)

An electron

b)

A neutron

c)

Two protons and two neutrons. This is the same as a helium nucleus.

d)

An electromagnetic wave

23.

Which type of nuclear radiation is not a particle?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

d)

Neutron

24.

The thermal energy of a substance is called the........

a)

Maternal energy

b)

External energy

c)

Paternal energy

d)

Internal energy

25.

The internal energy of a substance is made up of these two parts:

a)

elastic energy and potential energy

b)

internal energy and vibration energy

c)

potential energy and kinetic energy

d)

kinetic energy and elastic energy

26.

When we increase the kinetic energy of particles we also increase their .............?

a)

mass

b)

temperature

c)

size

d)

area

27.

When a substance is getting hotter, which internal energy store is increasing?

a)

gravitational

b)

potential

c)

kinetic

d)

elastic

28.

Between which two points is iron a solid?

a)

A to B

b)

B to C

c)

C to D

d)

D to E

e)

E to F

29.

The temperature at which a substance changes state from a solid to a liquid is called the ...............?

a)

melting point

b)

boiling point

c)

evaporation point

d)

turning point

30.

What state is iron in between C and D?

a)

solid

b)

liquid

c)

gas

d)

plasma

31.

At what point do the particles have the most kinetic energy?

a)

A

b)

C

c)

D

d)

F

32.

In what unit is charge measured?

a)

Volts

b)

Amps

c)

Quarks

d)

Coulombs

33.

Which is the most common type of wasted energy in the home?

a)

Kinetic

b)

Gravitational

c)

Thermal

d)

Chemical

34.

Which of these factors does NOT affect the resistance of a wire?

a)

The material the wire is made from

b)

The length of the wire

c)

The diameter of the wire

d)

The shape of the wire

35.

What does this graph show?

a)

Resistance and length of wire are proportional

b)

Resistance and length of wire are directly proportional

c)

Resistance and length of wire are inversely proportional

d)

Resistance and length of wire are unrelated

36.

Why is distributing the same power through the National Grid more efficient at a lower current?

a)

Low voltages are safer

b)

High currents heat up the cables, wasting energy

c)

High currents get more electricity through to the consumer

d)

High voltages are safer

37.

What force keeps electrons in orbit around the nucleus?

a)

Electrostatic attraction

b)

Gravity

c)

Magnetic repulsion

d)

Magnetic attraction

38.

What is nuclear fusion?

a)

Radioactive decay

b)

Splitting of large nuclei into smaller nuclei

c)

Chemical reaction

d)

Combining small nuclei into larger nuclei

39.

Where is nuclear fission used?

a)

Stars

b)

Fighter Jets

c)

Cars

d)

Nuclear power stations

40.

What is a suitable material for radioactive shielding?

a)

Aluminium

b)

Lead

c)

Paper

d)

Cloth

41.

Put these types of radiation in order, from most penetrating to least penetrating.

a)

Alpha, beta, gamma

b)

Alpha, gamma, beta

c)

Beta, alpha, gamma

d)

Gamma, beta, alpha

42.

How many protons, neutrons and electrons are in this element?

¹³

C

₆

a)

7 protons,

6 neutrons,

7 electrons

b)

6 protons,

13 neutrons,

13 electrons

c)

6 protons,

7 neutrons,

6 electrons

d)

6 protons,

13 neutrons,

6 electrons

43.

What is the missing number?

a)

90

b)

89

c)

88

d)

87

44.

What is the charge on gamma radiation?

a)

+2

b)

+1

c)

0

d)

-1

45.

What type of decay is this?

²³¹₉₁Pa decays to ²²⁷₈₉Ac

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

d)

Neutron

46.

What is the missing number?

a)

224

b)

225

c)

226

d)

227

47.

Why can't isotopes of an element be distinguished by chemical tests?

a)

Isotopes of an element all bond chemically in the same way

b)

Isotopes of an element don't participate in chemical reactions

c)

Isotopes of an element are exactly the same

d)

Isotopes of an element all bond chemically in different ways

48.

Why might an isoptope be unstable?

a)

Too hot

b)

Too many protons or neutrons

c)

Too old

d)

Pressure is too high

49.

What is the half-life of this sample?

a)

4.4 billion years

b)

4 billion years

c)

3 billion years

d)

5 billion years

50.

What is the half-life of this sample?

a)

4000 years

b)

5000 years

c)

5500 years

d)

6000 years

Physics GCSE Paper 1

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 29mins

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