Edexcel 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 questions. Answer ALL questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-A1 (1 mark)

  Which of the following is a vector quantity?

  A. TemperatureB. SpeedC. VelocityD. Energy

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

  Question SECTION-A2 (1 mark)

  A lamp is rated 12 W and operates at 6.0 V. What current flows through it in normal use?

  A. 0.5 AB. 2.0 AC. 6.0 AD. 72 A

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

  Question SECTION-A3 (1 mark)

  Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum has the LONGEST wavelength?

  A. Gamma raysB. UltravioletC. InfraredD. Radio waves

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

  Question SECTION-A4 (1 mark)

  The unit of energy in the SI system is the:

  A. WattB. NewtonC. JouleD. Pascal

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

  Question SECTION-A5 (1 mark)

  Which statement about the nucleus of an atom is correct?

  A. It contains protons and electronsB. It is negatively charged overallC. It contains almost all of the atom's massD. It occupies almost all of the atom's volume

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

  Question SECTION-A6 (1 mark)

  A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 6.0 m. What is its speed?

  A. 8.3 m/sB. 44 m/sC. 300 m/sD. 56 m/s

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

  Question SECTION-A7 (1 mark)

  Which energy store increases when a spring is stretched?

  A. Gravitational potentialB. Elastic potentialC. ThermalD. Nuclear

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

  Question SECTION-A8 (1 mark)

  Which of these is a renewable energy resource?

  A. CoalB. Natural gasC. Nuclear fuelD. Wind

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

  Question SECTION-A9 (1 mark)

  What is the resultant force on an object moving at a constant velocity in a straight line?

  A. ZeroB. Equal to its weightC. Equal to the friction force doubledD. Increasing with time

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

  Question SECTION-A10 (1 mark)

  Which type of nuclear radiation is the most penetrating?

  A. AlphaB. BetaC. GammaD. They are all equal

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

  Question SECTION-A11 (1 mark)

  The density of a material is defined as:

  A. Mass multiplied by volumeB. Mass divided by volumeC. Volume divided by massD. Weight divided by area

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

  Question SECTION-A12 (1 mark)

  In a series circuit, which quantity is the SAME at every point?

  A. Potential differenceB. ResistanceC. CurrentD. Power

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

  Question SECTION-A13 (1 mark)

  Which of the following correctly lists the three states of matter in order of INCREASING particle spacing?

  A. Gas, liquid, solidB. Solid, liquid, gasC. Liquid, solid, gasD. Solid, gas, liquid

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

  Question SECTION-A14 (1 mark)

  A car accelerates from rest to 20 m/s in 8.0 s. What is its acceleration?

  A. 2.5 m/s^2B. 0.4 m/s^2C. 160 m/s^2D. 28 m/s^2

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

  Question SECTION-A15 (1 mark)

  Which of these transformers increases the potential difference?

  A. A transformer with more turns on the primary than the secondaryB. A transformer with more turns on the secondary than the primaryC. A transformer with equal turns on both coilsD. Any transformer connected to a d.c. supply

  (Total for Question SECTION-A15 is 1 mark)
• 16

  Question SECTION-A16 (1 mark)

  The momentum of an object is calculated using:

  A. mass x accelerationB. mass x velocityC. force x time squaredD. mass x gravitational field strength

  (Total for Question SECTION-A16 is 1 mark)

Section B

Structured, short-answer, and calculation questions. Answer ALL questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-B1 (5 marks)

  A student connects a fixed resistor to a power supply. When the potential difference across the resistor is 6.0 V, a current of 0.25 A flows. (a) Calculate the resistance of the resistor. (2 marks) (b) The student replaces the resistor with a filament lamp and increases the p.d. gradually. Describe and explain how the resistance of the filament lamp changes as the p.d. increases. (3 marks)

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

  Question SECTION-B2 (7 marks)

  A crane lifts a steel beam of mass 450 kg vertically at a steady speed to a height of 12 m. Take gravitational field strength g = 9.8 N/kg. (a) Calculate the weight of the beam. (2 marks) (b) Calculate the gain in gravitational potential energy of the beam. (2 marks) (c) The crane's motor has an input power of 8.0 kW and takes 9.0 s to lift the beam. Calculate the efficiency of this lifting process. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B2 is 7 marks)
• 3

  Question SECTION-B3 (4 marks)

  A trolley of mass 2.0 kg moving at 3.0 m/s to the right collides with a stationary trolley of mass 1.0 kg. After the collision the two trolleys move off joined together. (a) State the principle of conservation of momentum. (1 mark) (b) Calculate the velocity of the joined trolleys immediately after the collision. (3 marks)

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

  Question SECTION-B4 (5 marks)

  A sample of copper has a mass of 0.50 kg. The specific heat capacity of copper is 385 J/kg degrees C. (a) Calculate the energy needed to raise the temperature of the copper from 20 degrees C to 90 degrees C. (3 marks) (b) The same amount of energy is now supplied to a 0.50 kg block of aluminium, which has a higher specific heat capacity than copper. State and explain which block reaches the higher final temperature. (2 marks)

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

  Question SECTION-B5 (6 marks)

  The National Grid uses transformers to transmit electrical power efficiently over long distances. (a) Explain why electricity is transmitted at very high voltage (and therefore low current) across the National Grid. (3 marks) (b) A step-up transformer has 500 turns on its primary coil and 20 000 turns on its secondary coil. The primary p.d. is 6.0 kV. Calculate the secondary p.d. (3 marks)

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

  Question SECTION-B6 (6 marks)

  A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 6.0 hours. A sealed source initially contains 8.0 x 10^9 undecayed nuclei. (a) Define the term half-life. (1 mark) (b) Calculate the number of undecayed nuclei remaining after 18 hours. (3 marks) (c) Explain why it is impossible to predict exactly when a particular individual nucleus will decay. (2 marks)

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

  Question SECTION-B7 (5 marks)

  A student investigates how the extension of a spring depends on the force applied. They hang masses from the spring and measure the extension. (a) State Hooke's law. (2 marks) (b) A force of 4.5 N produces an extension of 0.090 m while the spring obeys Hooke's law. Calculate the spring constant. (2 marks) (c) The student continues adding masses until the graph of force against extension is no longer a straight line. Name the point beyond which the spring stops obeying Hooke's law. (1 mark)

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

  Question SECTION-B8 (5 marks)

  A ray of light travels from air into a rectangular glass block. (a) State what happens to the speed and the direction of the light as it enters the denser glass block (assume it does not hit the surface at 90 degrees). (2 marks) (b) Explain, in terms of wave speed, why the light ray changes direction (refracts) at the boundary. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B8 is 5 marks)
• 9

  Question SECTION-B9 (5 marks)

  A skydiver of total mass 80 kg jumps from a plane. Take g = 9.8 N/kg. (a) Calculate the weight of the skydiver. (1 mark) (b) Explain, in terms of the forces acting, why the skydiver eventually reaches terminal velocity before opening the parachute. (4 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B9 is 5 marks)
• 10

  Question SECTION-B10 (5 marks)

  A kettle is connected to the 230 V mains supply. It has a power rating of 2300 W. (a) Calculate the current drawn by the kettle in normal use. (2 marks) (b) The kettle is used for 3.0 minutes. Calculate the energy transferred to the kettle in this time. (2 marks) (c) State one reason why the kettle transfers slightly less useful energy to the water than the value calculated in part (b). (1 mark)

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

  Question SECTION-B11 (3 marks)

  Describe the process of nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor, and explain how a chain reaction is produced and controlled. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B11 is 3 marks)

Section C

Extended response questions. Answer ALL questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-C1 (6 marks)

  A modern electric car uses a battery to drive an electric motor, and can recover energy when braking. A petrol car burns fuel in an engine. Compare the electric car and the petrol car in terms of energy transfers and efficiency. Your answer should refer to the useful and wasted energy transfers in each vehicle, the idea of regenerative braking, and where energy is ultimately dissipated. (6 marks)

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

  Question SECTION-C2 (6 marks)

  A student is given an irregularly shaped stone and asked to determine its density. They have access to a top-pan balance, a measuring cylinder, water, and a displacement (eureka) can. Describe a method the student could use to find the density of the stone. Include the measurements they should take, how they should use them, and one way to improve the accuracy of the result. (6 marks)

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

  Question SECTION-C3 (8 marks)

  Ultrasound and X-rays are both used in medicine. Explain what each is, how each is used in a medical application, and discuss the relative advantages and risks of using ultrasound compared with X-rays for imaging inside the body. (8 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-C3 is 8 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-C4 (8 marks)

  A car of mass 1200 kg is travelling at 15 m/s along a straight road when the driver sees a hazard and performs an emergency stop. Discuss the factors that affect the total stopping distance of the car, and explain, using ideas about energy and work done, what happens to the kinetic energy of the car during braking and why very high speeds are especially dangerous. (8 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-C4 is 8 marks)