AQA GCSE PHYSICS 300 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE LATEST 2026 ALREADY
GRADED A+
This comprehensive set of 300 unique, high-level AQA GCSE Physics
questions covers the entire specification, including Energy, Electricity,
Particle Model of Matter, Atomic Structure, Forces, Waves, Magnetism, and
Space Physics. Each question presents a distinct concept, calculation, or
application, testing knowledge of equations, units, laws, and real-world
contexts. Questions include multiple-choice options, correct answers, and
detailed rationales explaining the underlying physics principles. No questions
are repeated across the collection. This resource strengthens problem-solving
skills, reinforces understanding of key topics like energy transfers, wave
properties, electrical circuits, nuclear radiation, and forces, and prepares
students effectively for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the AQA GCSE Physics
examination.
1. A car travels at a constant speed of 15 m/s for 120 seconds. What distance does
it cover?
A) 8 m
B) 135 m
C) 1800 m
D) 180 m
Answer: C
Rationale: Distance travelled is calculated using the equation: distance = speed ×
time. Speed = 15 m/s, time = 120 s. Therefore, distance = 15 × 120 = 1800 m. The
correct answer is C .
2. A 100 W light bulb is switched on for 20 minutes. How much energy is
transferred?
A) 120,000 J
B) 2,000 J
C) 5 J
D) 5,000 J
Answer: A
Rationale: Energy transferred is calculated using power (W) × time (s). Power =
100 W, time = 20 minutes = 1200 seconds. Therefore, energy = 100 × 1200 =
120,000 J. The correct answer is A .
,3. What is the current in a circuit with a potential difference of 12 V and a
resistance of 4 Ω?
A) 48 A
B) 3 A
C) 0.33 A
D) 16 A
Answer: B
Rationale: Current (I) = potential difference (V) ÷ resistance (R). I = 12 V / 4 Ω =
3 A. The correct answer is B .
4. A system gains 500 J of thermal energy and does 200 J of work. What is the
change in its internal energy?
A) 300 J increase
B) 700 J increase
C) 300 J decrease
D) 700 J decrease
Answer: A
Rationale: The first law of thermodynamics states that the change in internal
energy is energy supplied to the system (500 J) minus the work done by the system
(200 J). Change in internal energy = 500 - 200 = +300 J. The correct answer is A .
5. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg°C. How much energy is needed
to raise the temperature of 2 kg of water by 10°C?
A) 84,000 J
B) 210 J
C) 840 J
D) 210,000 J
Answer: A
Rationale: Energy transferred (ΔE) = mass (m) × specific heat capacity (c) ×
temperature change (Δθ). ΔE = 2 × 4200 × 10 = 84,000 J. The correct answer is A .
6. The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 8 days. What fraction of the original
sample remains after 24 days?
A) 1/2
B) 1/4
C) 1/8
D) 1/16
Answer: C
,Rationale: The half-life is the time for half the nuclei to decay. After one half-life
(8 days), half remains. After two half-lives (16 days), a quarter remains. After three
half-lives (24 days), one-eighth remains. The correct answer is C .
7. Alpha radiation is a helium nucleus. Which statement best describes its
penetration power?
A) It is the most penetrating type of radiation
B) It can be stopped by a thin sheet of paper
C) It can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium
D) It can pass through several cm of lead
Answer: B
Rationale: Alpha radiation consists of large, positively charged helium nuclei. Due
to its size and charge, it interacts strongly with matter and has low penetration
power, being stopped by a few cm of air or a thin sheet of paper. The correct
answer is B .
8. What is the frequency of a wave with a wavelength of 2 m travelling at a speed
of 10 m/s?
A) 5 Hz
B) 20 Hz
C) 0.2 Hz
D) 12 Hz
Answer: A
Rationale: Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) × wavelength (λ). Rearranged, f = v / λ
= 10 m/s / 2 m = 5 Hz. The correct answer is A .
9. A force of 50 N is applied to a spring, and it extends by 0.2 m. What is the
spring constant?
A) 10 N/m
B) 250 N/m
C) 50.2 N/m
D) 100 N/m
Answer: B
Rationale: The relationship is described by Hooke's Law: F = k × e, where k is the
spring constant and e is extension. k = F / e = 50 N / 0.2 m = 250 N/m. The correct
answer is B .
10. An object is moving in a circular path at a constant speed. Which statement is
true?
A) Its acceleration is zero because its speed is constant
, B) Its velocity is constant because its speed is constant
C) It is accelerating because its velocity is changing direction
D) There is no resultant force acting on it
Answer: C
Rationale: Velocity is a vector quantity; it includes direction. Even with constant
speed, an object in circular motion is constantly changing direction, so its velocity
is changing. Therefore, it is accelerating. The correct answer is C .
11. The gravitational field strength on Earth is 10 N/kg. What is the weight of an
object with a mass of 5 kg?
A) 0.5 N
B) 2 N
C) 15 N
D) 50 N
Answer: D
Rationale: Weight (N) = mass (kg) × gravitational field strength (N/kg). Weight =
5 × 10 = 50 N. The correct answer is D .
12. A motor transfers 600 J of energy in 12 seconds. What is its power?
A) 50 W
B) 72 W
C) 7200 W
D) 0.02 W
Answer: A
Rationale: Power = energy transferred / time taken. Power = 600 J / 12 s = 50 W.
The correct answer is A .
13. Which diagram shows a correctly connected voltmeter to measure the potential
difference across a lamp?
A) Voltmeter in series with the lamp
B) Voltmeter in parallel with the lamp
C) Voltmeter connected between the cell and the lamp
D) Voltmeter connected in series with the cell
Answer: B
Rationale: To measure the potential difference across a component, the voltmeter
must be connected in parallel with that component. The correct answer is B .
14. The resistance of a filament lamp increases as the temperature increases. How
does this affect the current through it when the voltage is increased?
A) The current increases linearly
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE LATEST 2026 ALREADY
GRADED A+
This comprehensive set of 300 unique, high-level AQA GCSE Physics
questions covers the entire specification, including Energy, Electricity,
Particle Model of Matter, Atomic Structure, Forces, Waves, Magnetism, and
Space Physics. Each question presents a distinct concept, calculation, or
application, testing knowledge of equations, units, laws, and real-world
contexts. Questions include multiple-choice options, correct answers, and
detailed rationales explaining the underlying physics principles. No questions
are repeated across the collection. This resource strengthens problem-solving
skills, reinforces understanding of key topics like energy transfers, wave
properties, electrical circuits, nuclear radiation, and forces, and prepares
students effectively for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the AQA GCSE Physics
examination.
1. A car travels at a constant speed of 15 m/s for 120 seconds. What distance does
it cover?
A) 8 m
B) 135 m
C) 1800 m
D) 180 m
Answer: C
Rationale: Distance travelled is calculated using the equation: distance = speed ×
time. Speed = 15 m/s, time = 120 s. Therefore, distance = 15 × 120 = 1800 m. The
correct answer is C .
2. A 100 W light bulb is switched on for 20 minutes. How much energy is
transferred?
A) 120,000 J
B) 2,000 J
C) 5 J
D) 5,000 J
Answer: A
Rationale: Energy transferred is calculated using power (W) × time (s). Power =
100 W, time = 20 minutes = 1200 seconds. Therefore, energy = 100 × 1200 =
120,000 J. The correct answer is A .
,3. What is the current in a circuit with a potential difference of 12 V and a
resistance of 4 Ω?
A) 48 A
B) 3 A
C) 0.33 A
D) 16 A
Answer: B
Rationale: Current (I) = potential difference (V) ÷ resistance (R). I = 12 V / 4 Ω =
3 A. The correct answer is B .
4. A system gains 500 J of thermal energy and does 200 J of work. What is the
change in its internal energy?
A) 300 J increase
B) 700 J increase
C) 300 J decrease
D) 700 J decrease
Answer: A
Rationale: The first law of thermodynamics states that the change in internal
energy is energy supplied to the system (500 J) minus the work done by the system
(200 J). Change in internal energy = 500 - 200 = +300 J. The correct answer is A .
5. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg°C. How much energy is needed
to raise the temperature of 2 kg of water by 10°C?
A) 84,000 J
B) 210 J
C) 840 J
D) 210,000 J
Answer: A
Rationale: Energy transferred (ΔE) = mass (m) × specific heat capacity (c) ×
temperature change (Δθ). ΔE = 2 × 4200 × 10 = 84,000 J. The correct answer is A .
6. The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 8 days. What fraction of the original
sample remains after 24 days?
A) 1/2
B) 1/4
C) 1/8
D) 1/16
Answer: C
,Rationale: The half-life is the time for half the nuclei to decay. After one half-life
(8 days), half remains. After two half-lives (16 days), a quarter remains. After three
half-lives (24 days), one-eighth remains. The correct answer is C .
7. Alpha radiation is a helium nucleus. Which statement best describes its
penetration power?
A) It is the most penetrating type of radiation
B) It can be stopped by a thin sheet of paper
C) It can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium
D) It can pass through several cm of lead
Answer: B
Rationale: Alpha radiation consists of large, positively charged helium nuclei. Due
to its size and charge, it interacts strongly with matter and has low penetration
power, being stopped by a few cm of air or a thin sheet of paper. The correct
answer is B .
8. What is the frequency of a wave with a wavelength of 2 m travelling at a speed
of 10 m/s?
A) 5 Hz
B) 20 Hz
C) 0.2 Hz
D) 12 Hz
Answer: A
Rationale: Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) × wavelength (λ). Rearranged, f = v / λ
= 10 m/s / 2 m = 5 Hz. The correct answer is A .
9. A force of 50 N is applied to a spring, and it extends by 0.2 m. What is the
spring constant?
A) 10 N/m
B) 250 N/m
C) 50.2 N/m
D) 100 N/m
Answer: B
Rationale: The relationship is described by Hooke's Law: F = k × e, where k is the
spring constant and e is extension. k = F / e = 50 N / 0.2 m = 250 N/m. The correct
answer is B .
10. An object is moving in a circular path at a constant speed. Which statement is
true?
A) Its acceleration is zero because its speed is constant
, B) Its velocity is constant because its speed is constant
C) It is accelerating because its velocity is changing direction
D) There is no resultant force acting on it
Answer: C
Rationale: Velocity is a vector quantity; it includes direction. Even with constant
speed, an object in circular motion is constantly changing direction, so its velocity
is changing. Therefore, it is accelerating. The correct answer is C .
11. The gravitational field strength on Earth is 10 N/kg. What is the weight of an
object with a mass of 5 kg?
A) 0.5 N
B) 2 N
C) 15 N
D) 50 N
Answer: D
Rationale: Weight (N) = mass (kg) × gravitational field strength (N/kg). Weight =
5 × 10 = 50 N. The correct answer is D .
12. A motor transfers 600 J of energy in 12 seconds. What is its power?
A) 50 W
B) 72 W
C) 7200 W
D) 0.02 W
Answer: A
Rationale: Power = energy transferred / time taken. Power = 600 J / 12 s = 50 W.
The correct answer is A .
13. Which diagram shows a correctly connected voltmeter to measure the potential
difference across a lamp?
A) Voltmeter in series with the lamp
B) Voltmeter in parallel with the lamp
C) Voltmeter connected between the cell and the lamp
D) Voltmeter connected in series with the cell
Answer: B
Rationale: To measure the potential difference across a component, the voltmeter
must be connected in parallel with that component. The correct answer is B .
14. The resistance of a filament lamp increases as the temperature increases. How
does this affect the current through it when the voltage is increased?
A) The current increases linearly
