GCSE PHYSICS (9–1): PAST PAPER 2 –
HIGHER TIER. ALL ASSESSMENT &
MARK SCHEME FINAL TEST 2026
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ velocity.
Answer: seed in a given direction
◍ The longer the wire....
Answer: ...the greater the resistance
◍ measuring speed at any given time on distance time graph.
Answer: draw a tangent and find gradient at point
◍ Symbol - Diode.
Answer: (Other way around)
◍ The closer to the object....
Answer: ...The stronger the electric field. The stronger it is, the higher the
potential difference is
◍ What is the problem with a high current?.
Answer: You lose loads of energy as the wires heat up and energy is
transferred to the thermal energy stores of the surroundings
◍ Hydroelectric Power.
Answer: RenewableReliableDoesn't cause acid rainDoesn't cause global
warmingNo pollutionProvides an immediate response to high demandFree -
initial cost is highBig impact on environment and possible loss of habitat
,◍ Name the five changes of state.
Answer: Freezing, melting, boiling/evaporating, condensing and sublimation
◍ object is freely suspended.
Answer: it comes to rest with its centre of mass directly underneath the point
of suspension
◍ Finding a Component's I-V Characteristics - Method.
Answer: 1) Set up the test circuit with a battery, ammeter, component,
voltmeter & variable resistor2) Begin to vary the variable resistor - alters the
current flowing through the circuit & the p.d. across the component3) Take
several pairs of readings from the ammeter & voltmeter to see how the p.d.
across the component varies as the current changes - repeat each reading
twice more to get an average p.d.4) Swap over the wires connected to the
cell, so the direction of the current is reversed5) Plot a graph of current
against voltage for the component
◍ What does half-life measure?.
Answer: The rate at which a source decays - its activity
◍ Why can't we currently carry out nuclear fusion ourselves?.
Answer: The temperatures & pressures needed for fusion are so high that
fusion reactors are really hard & expensive to build
◍ What happens to resistance in a series circuit?.
Answer: The total resistance is the sum of all the resistances
◍ Is air normally a conductor or an insulator?.
Answer: An insulator
◍ What did the alpha scattering experiment state?.
Answer: -Most of the mass of the atom is concentrated at its centre in a tiny
nucleus-Most of the atom is just empty space
◍ Explain why blowing up a football with a pump causes the ball to warm up.
Answer: The gas being blown into a football will apply pressure to the
plunger of the pump and so exerts a force on this. Since the pressure
, increases, the temperature will also increase as they are directly
proportional. It will transfer energy to the kinetic energy stores of the gas
particles which increases its temperature.
◍ What is the nuclear model?.
Answer: A positively charged nucleus surrounded by a sea of negative
electrons
◍ Who created the nuclear model?.
Answer: Ernest Rutherford
◍ Is the ammeter placed in series or parallel?.
Answer: Series
◍ What has pressure from the public & other countries led to?.
Answer: Pressure being put on energy providers to build new power plants
that use renewable resources to ensure that they don't lose business &
money
◍ What happens when an atom emits a beta particle?.
Answer: The number of protons increases by 1, therefore the positive charge
of the nucleus is increased. The mass of the nucleus doesn't change because
it's lost a neutron and gained a proton
◍ What is alpha radiation?.
Answer: When an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus-Alpha particles
contain two neutrons and two protons-They don't penetrate very far into
materials - only a few cm in air - and are stopped quickly. They can be
absorbed by a sheet of paper-They are strongly ionising
◍ What subatomic particle moves?.
Answer: ElectronsPositive charges never move - a positive charge is
achieved when electrons move away
◍ resultant force.
Answer: single force that has the same effect as all forces acting on an
object
HIGHER TIER. ALL ASSESSMENT &
MARK SCHEME FINAL TEST 2026
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ velocity.
Answer: seed in a given direction
◍ The longer the wire....
Answer: ...the greater the resistance
◍ measuring speed at any given time on distance time graph.
Answer: draw a tangent and find gradient at point
◍ Symbol - Diode.
Answer: (Other way around)
◍ The closer to the object....
Answer: ...The stronger the electric field. The stronger it is, the higher the
potential difference is
◍ What is the problem with a high current?.
Answer: You lose loads of energy as the wires heat up and energy is
transferred to the thermal energy stores of the surroundings
◍ Hydroelectric Power.
Answer: RenewableReliableDoesn't cause acid rainDoesn't cause global
warmingNo pollutionProvides an immediate response to high demandFree -
initial cost is highBig impact on environment and possible loss of habitat
,◍ Name the five changes of state.
Answer: Freezing, melting, boiling/evaporating, condensing and sublimation
◍ object is freely suspended.
Answer: it comes to rest with its centre of mass directly underneath the point
of suspension
◍ Finding a Component's I-V Characteristics - Method.
Answer: 1) Set up the test circuit with a battery, ammeter, component,
voltmeter & variable resistor2) Begin to vary the variable resistor - alters the
current flowing through the circuit & the p.d. across the component3) Take
several pairs of readings from the ammeter & voltmeter to see how the p.d.
across the component varies as the current changes - repeat each reading
twice more to get an average p.d.4) Swap over the wires connected to the
cell, so the direction of the current is reversed5) Plot a graph of current
against voltage for the component
◍ What does half-life measure?.
Answer: The rate at which a source decays - its activity
◍ Why can't we currently carry out nuclear fusion ourselves?.
Answer: The temperatures & pressures needed for fusion are so high that
fusion reactors are really hard & expensive to build
◍ What happens to resistance in a series circuit?.
Answer: The total resistance is the sum of all the resistances
◍ Is air normally a conductor or an insulator?.
Answer: An insulator
◍ What did the alpha scattering experiment state?.
Answer: -Most of the mass of the atom is concentrated at its centre in a tiny
nucleus-Most of the atom is just empty space
◍ Explain why blowing up a football with a pump causes the ball to warm up.
Answer: The gas being blown into a football will apply pressure to the
plunger of the pump and so exerts a force on this. Since the pressure
, increases, the temperature will also increase as they are directly
proportional. It will transfer energy to the kinetic energy stores of the gas
particles which increases its temperature.
◍ What is the nuclear model?.
Answer: A positively charged nucleus surrounded by a sea of negative
electrons
◍ Who created the nuclear model?.
Answer: Ernest Rutherford
◍ Is the ammeter placed in series or parallel?.
Answer: Series
◍ What has pressure from the public & other countries led to?.
Answer: Pressure being put on energy providers to build new power plants
that use renewable resources to ensure that they don't lose business &
money
◍ What happens when an atom emits a beta particle?.
Answer: The number of protons increases by 1, therefore the positive charge
of the nucleus is increased. The mass of the nucleus doesn't change because
it's lost a neutron and gained a proton
◍ What is alpha radiation?.
Answer: When an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus-Alpha particles
contain two neutrons and two protons-They don't penetrate very far into
materials - only a few cm in air - and are stopped quickly. They can be
absorbed by a sheet of paper-They are strongly ionising
◍ What subatomic particle moves?.
Answer: ElectronsPositive charges never move - a positive charge is
achieved when electrons move away
◍ resultant force.
Answer: single force that has the same effect as all forces acting on an
object
