AQA GCSE Physics 2027 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1 Higher

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Multiple choice. Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.

• 1

  Question SECTION-A1 (1 mark)

  Which of the following is a vector quantity?

  A. TemperatureB. MassC. VelocityD. Energy

  (Total for Question SECTION-A1 is 1 mark)
• 2

  Question SECTION-A2 (1 mark)

  The unit of electrical charge is the:

  A. VoltB. AmpereC. CoulombD. Ohm

  (Total for Question SECTION-A2 is 1 mark)
• 3

  Question SECTION-A3 (1 mark)

  A car travels at a constant velocity. Which statement is correct?

  A. The resultant force on the car is zeroB. The car has no forces acting on itC. The car is acceleratingD. The driving force must be zero

  (Total for Question SECTION-A3 is 1 mark)
• 4

  Question SECTION-A4 (1 mark)

  Which type of radiation is the most ionising?

  A. AlphaB. BetaC. GammaD. Neutron

  (Total for Question SECTION-A4 is 1 mark)
• 5

  Question SECTION-A5 (1 mark)

  A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 6 m. Its speed is:

  A. 8.3 m/sB. 56 m/sC. 300 m/sD. 0.12 m/s

  (Total for Question SECTION-A5 is 1 mark)
• 6

  Question SECTION-A6 (1 mark)

  Which of these is a renewable energy resource?

  A. Natural gasB. CoalC. Nuclear fuelD. Hydroelectricity

  (Total for Question SECTION-A6 is 1 mark)
• 7

  Question SECTION-A7 (1 mark)

  The resistance of a filament lamp as the current through it increases will:

  A. DecreaseB. IncreaseC. Stay constantD. Fall to zero

  (Total for Question SECTION-A7 is 1 mark)
• 8

  Question SECTION-A8 (1 mark)

  A 2 kg mass is lifted 3 m at a place where g = 9.8 N/kg. The gain in gravitational potential energy is:

  A. 5.9 JB. 58.8 JC. 6 JD. 19.6 J

  (Total for Question SECTION-A8 is 1 mark)
• 9

  Question SECTION-A9 (1 mark)

  Which component allows current to flow in one direction only?

  A. ResistorB. DiodeC. ThermistorD. LDR

  (Total for Question SECTION-A9 is 1 mark)
• 10

  Question SECTION-A10 (1 mark)

  The National Grid uses step-up transformers before transmission mainly to:

  A. Increase the current in the cablesB. Reduce power loss in the cablesC. Increase the frequency of the supplyD. Make the voltage safe for homes

  (Total for Question SECTION-A10 is 1 mark)
• 11

  Question SECTION-A11 (1 mark)

  The specific latent heat of vaporisation is the energy needed to:

  A. Raise 1 kg of a substance by 1 degree CB. Change 1 kg of liquid to gas with no temperature changeC. Melt 1 kg of a solidD. Raise 1 g of gas by 1 degree C

  (Total for Question SECTION-A11 is 1 mark)
• 12

  Question SECTION-A12 (1 mark)

  A stationary observer hears a lower pitch as a siren moves away. This is an example of:

  A. RefractionB. Total internal reflectionC. The Doppler effectD. Diffraction

  (Total for Question SECTION-A12 is 1 mark)
• 13

  Question SECTION-A13 (1 mark)

  Two resistors of 4 ohm and 12 ohm are connected in parallel. Their combined resistance is:

  A. 16 ohmB. 8 ohmC. 3 ohmD. 48 ohm

  (Total for Question SECTION-A13 is 1 mark)
• 14

  Question SECTION-A14 (1 mark)

  Which statement about a longitudinal wave is correct?

  A. The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transferB. It cannot travel through a solidC. The oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transferD. It always travels in a vacuum

  (Total for Question SECTION-A14 is 1 mark)
• 15

  Question SECTION-A15 (1 mark)

  A force of 20 N acts on an object of mass 5 kg. The acceleration produced is:

  A. 100 m/s^2B. 0.25 m/s^2C. 4 m/s^2D. 25 m/s^2

  (Total for Question SECTION-A15 is 1 mark)

Section B

Structured short-answer questions. Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.

• 1

  Question SECTION-B1 (5 marks)

  A student investigates the specific heat capacity of a 0.80 kg aluminium block using an electric heater. The heater transfers 24 000 J of energy and the temperature of the block rises from 18 degrees C to 51 degrees C. (a) Calculate the temperature change of the block. (b) Calculate the specific heat capacity of the aluminium. (c) The accepted value is 900 J/kg degrees C. Suggest one reason why the student's value is larger than this.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B1 is 5 marks)
• 2

  Question SECTION-B2 (5 marks)

  A skateboarder of total mass 60 kg is moving at 8.0 m/s. (a) Calculate the kinetic energy of the skateboarder. (b) The skateboarder comes to rest by rolling up a ramp. Assuming no energy is lost, calculate the maximum vertical height reached. Use g = 9.8 N/kg. (c) In reality the height reached is less than your answer to (b). Explain why.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B2 is 5 marks)
• 3

  Question SECTION-B3 (5 marks)

  A circuit contains a 12 V battery connected to a fixed resistor and a thermistor in series. (a) State what happens to the resistance of the thermistor as its temperature increases. (b) The fixed resistor has a resistance of 200 ohm. When the current in the circuit is 0.040 A, calculate the potential difference across the fixed resistor. (c) Calculate the potential difference across the thermistor at this moment.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B3 is 5 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-B4 (6 marks)

  A car of mass 1200 kg is travelling at 20 m/s when the driver applies the brakes. The car decelerates uniformly and stops in 4.0 s. (a) Calculate the deceleration of the car. (b) Calculate the braking force required. (c) Calculate the change in momentum of the car as it stops. (d) Explain, in terms of momentum, why a larger braking force is needed if the car stops in a shorter time.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B4 is 6 marks)
• 5

  Question SECTION-B5 (4 marks)

  Light travels from water into air. (a) Define the term 'refraction'. (b) State what happens to the speed and the direction of the light ray as it passes from water into air, given that light travels faster in air. (c) At a certain angle the light no longer leaves the water. Name this effect.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B5 is 4 marks)
• 6

  Question SECTION-B6 (6 marks)

  A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 6 hours. A sample initially contains 8.0 x 10^6 undecayed nuclei. (a) State what is meant by 'half-life'. (b) Calculate the number of undecayed nuclei remaining after 18 hours. (c) The isotope decays by beta-minus emission. Describe what happens inside the nucleus during beta-minus decay. (d) State how the mass number and atomic number of the nucleus change during beta-minus decay.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B6 is 6 marks)
• 7

  Question SECTION-B7 (5 marks)

  A transformer is used to change the voltage of an alternating supply. The primary coil has 500 turns and is connected to a 230 V supply. The secondary coil has 25 turns. (a) State whether this is a step-up or step-down transformer and give a reason. (b) Calculate the secondary (output) voltage. (c) The transformer is 100% efficient and the output power is 46 W. Calculate the current in the primary coil.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B7 is 5 marks)
• 8

  Question SECTION-B8 (4 marks)

  A spring obeys Hooke's law. A force of 6.0 N extends the spring by 0.15 m. (a) Calculate the spring constant. (b) Calculate the energy stored in the spring at this extension. (c) State one condition under which the spring would no longer obey Hooke's law.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B8 is 4 marks)
• 9

  Question SECTION-B9 (6 marks)

  A student sets up a required practical to investigate how the resistance of a wire varies with its length. A power supply, ammeter, voltmeter and a length of wire on a metre rule are used. (a) State how the ammeter and voltmeter should be connected relative to the wire. (b) Describe how the student should collect data to plot a graph of resistance against length. (c) The student obtains a straight line through the origin. State the relationship this shows between resistance and length. (d) Suggest one way the student could reduce the effect of the wire heating up during the experiment.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B9 is 6 marks)
• 10

  Question SECTION-B10 (5 marks)

  A wind turbine transfers energy from moving air to electrical energy. In one hour it generates 5400 kJ of electrical energy while the kinetic energy of the air passing through it in that time is 12 000 kJ. (a) Calculate the efficiency of the wind turbine. (b) State what happens to the energy that is not usefully transferred. (c) Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using wind turbines to generate electricity.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B10 is 5 marks)
• 11

  Question SECTION-B11 (4 marks)

  A 0.050 kg mass of ice at 0 degrees C is completely melted to water at 0 degrees C. The specific latent heat of fusion of ice is 3.34 x 10^5 J/kg. (a) Calculate the energy required to melt the ice. (b) Explain why the temperature does not change while the ice is melting, even though energy is being supplied. (c) State one difference, in terms of particle arrangement, between the ice and the water it becomes.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B11 is 4 marks)
• 12

  Question SECTION-B12 (5 marks)

  A ray of light of a single frequency enters a rectangular glass block. (a) On entering the glass the ray slows down. Explain, in terms of the wave, why the ray changes direction at the surface (assume it does not hit along the normal). (b) The frequency of the light does not change as it enters the glass. State what happens to the wavelength of the light inside the glass, and justify your answer using the wave equation. (c) State the colour change, if any, that the light undergoes on entering the glass.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B12 is 5 marks)

Section C

Extended response. Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.

• 1

  Question SECTION-C1 (6 marks)

  A driver is travelling along a straight road at 24 m/s when a hazard appears ahead. Explain fully how the total stopping distance of the car is made up, and describe how thinking distance, braking distance and the total stopping distance are each affected by relevant factors. In your answer refer to at least two factors that affect thinking distance and at least two factors that affect braking distance, and explain the energy transfer that occurs during braking.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C1 is 6 marks)
• 2

  Question SECTION-C2 (6 marks)

  An electric kettle is rated at 2400 W and operates from the 230 V mains supply. It is used to heat 0.50 kg of water from 20 degrees C to 100 degrees C. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg degrees C. (a) Calculate the current drawn by the kettle. (b) Calculate the resistance of the kettle's heating element. (c) Calculate the energy needed to heat the water. (d) Assuming all the electrical energy heats the water, calculate the time taken. (e) In practice the kettle takes longer than your answer to (d). Explain why.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C2 is 6 marks)
• 3

  Question SECTION-C3 (6 marks)

  Describe the generator effect and explain how it is used in an alternating current (a.c.) generator to produce electricity. In your answer describe what happens when a conductor and a magnetic field move relative to each other, explain how a potential difference is induced, describe how the design of the generator produces an alternating output, and state two ways the size of the induced potential difference can be increased.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C3 is 6 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-C4 (7 marks)

  The Sun is a stable main-sequence star. (a) Explain how the forces acting within a main-sequence star are balanced to keep it stable. (b) Describe the sequence of stages our Sun will go through after it leaves the main sequence, up to its final stable state. (c) Explain how elements heavier than helium, and elements heavier than iron, are formed and then distributed into space so they can form new planets.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C4 is 7 marks)