1

1 A student hangs a spring vertically from a hook, as shown in the figure.

12.0 cm 15.0 cm

2.0 N

Describe how the length of the spring can be measured accurately, after it has been hung from the
hook.

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[Total: 3]
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2 Four school athletes are about to run a 100 m race, as shown in the figure below.

starter

starting pistol

timekeeper

100 m A

B
winning line

The runners start at A, when the starter fires the starting pistol, and they finish at B.

The timing instrument is known to work correctly.

What might cause the timekeeper to introduce an inaccuracy into the timing of the race?

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

3 A student has been told to find the density of some liquid paraffin by measuring its mass and its
volume.

(a) Which piece of laboratory equipment should she use to measure the volume of the liquid
paraffin?

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Which piece of laboratory equipment should she use to find the mass of the liquid paraffin?

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(c) Describe the procedure she would follow in order to find the mass.

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........................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 5]

4
(a) Complete the graph by plotting the last three values of height h against time. Do not draw a
line through the points.

40

30

h / cm

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8
time / days
[2]

(b) Describe how the graph shows that the speed of growth of the plant is not constant.

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........................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 3]
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5 A surveyor measures the dimensions of a room of constant height. The figure is a top view of the
room and shows the measurements taken.

6.01 m

4.25 m

6.75 m

3.26 m

State an instrument that would be suitable to take these measurements.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

6 An IGCSE student is taking measurements of a pencil.

The figure shows the pencil, drawn full size.

pencil sharpened section

x y

(a) Describe how you would use a length of string and a rule to determine the circumference c of
the unsharpened section of the pencil.

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(b) The student’s value for the circumference is c = 2.4 cm.

Suggest a source of inaccuracy in determining the circumference of the pencil.

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........................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 3]

7 A student carries out an experiment to compare how quickly thermal energy is conducted along
rods made from different metals. Each rod is heated at one end with a Bunsen burner flame.

Each rod carries a marker held on the rod with a little wax. When the wax melts, the marker falls.

wax

rod marker

heat
tripod

bench

One other piece of equipment is required to compare how quickly thermal energy is conducted.
Name this piece of equipment.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
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8 The IGCSE class is investigating the cooling of water.

thermometer

water

Describe briefly how you would read a measuring cylinder to obtain an accurate value for the volume
of water. You may draw a diagram.

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.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
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9 An IGCSE student is investigating the average speed of a toy car travelling down a slope.

She releases the toy car on the slope. She uses a stopwatch to measure the time taken for the car
to travel down part of the slope. The figure shows the slope.

l
h
support

bench
slope

The student tries to determine the time that the toy car takes to travel a distance down the slope.

Make three suggestions about what she could do to ensure that the distance travelled and the time
taken by the toy car are measured as reliably as possible.

1. ..............................................................................................................................................

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2. ..............................................................................................................................................

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3. ..............................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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10 The diagram shows a child’s building block. Its volume and maximum height are determined.

maximum
height

Which instruments are used?

to determine the to measure the

A balance rule
B measuring cylinder rule
C rule balance
D rule measuring cylinder

[1]

[Total: 1]
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11 The diagram shows a stopwatch, originally set at 00:00.

When a car was first seen, the stop-start button was pressed. When the car passed the observer
the stopwatch showed 01:06.

stop-start button
mins secs

How long did the car take to reach the observer?

A 1.06 seconds
B 6 seconds
C 66 seconds
D 106 seconds
[1]

[Total: 1]