Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Wednesday 20 May 2026
Afternoon (Time: 1 hour 30 minutes) Paper
reference 8PH0/02
Physics
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 2: Core Physics II
You must have: Total Marks
Scientific calculator, ruler and protractor
Data, Formulae and Relationships Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball‑point pen.
If pencil is used for diagrams/sketches/graphs it must be dark (HB or B).
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions in Sections A and B.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 80.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• toIn the question marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability
structure your answer logically, showing how the points that you make are
related or follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
•• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
You are advised to show your working in calculations including units
where appropriate. Turn over
P79083A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/
*P79083A0120*
, SECTION A
Answer ALL questions.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
All multiple choice questions must be answered with a cross in the box for the correct answer
from A to D. If you change your mind about an answer, put a line through the box and then
mark your new answer with a cross .
1 Electrons can be described in terms of a wave model.
Which of the following processes can only be explained by this description of electrons?
A emission
B excitation
C diffraction
D ionisation
(Total for Question 1 = 1 mark)
2 Which of the following is always correct for a transverse wave?
A The amplitude is the maximum wavelength.
B The frequency is the number of oscillations.
C The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
D The wavelength is the distance between two adjacent points.
(Total for Question 2 = 1 mark)
3 The atoms of a gas produce an emission spectrum when excited. A particular
emission spectrum consists of three distinct lines.
Which of the following is the minimum number of electron energy levels that could
produce this spectrum?
A 2
B 3
C 4
D 5
(Total for Question 3 = 1 mark)
2
*P79083A0220*
, Questions 4 and 5 refer to the information below.
A force‑extension graph is shown for a metal wire.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Force
Y S
LE
0
Extension
L is the limit of proportionality, E is the elastic limit, Y is the yield point and S is the point
at which the wire breaks.
4 Which of the following is equal to the stiffness of the wire?
A The force at L divided by the extension at L
B The force at E divided by the extension at E
C The force at Y divided by the extension at Y
D The force at S divided by the extension at S
(Total for Question 4 = 1 mark)
5 The energy stored in the wire at L is W. The extension at S is twice the extension at L.
Which of the following expressions gives the approximate energy stored in the wire just
before the wire breaks?
3W
A
2
B 2W
C 3W
D 4W
(Total for Question 5 = 1 mark)
3
*P79083A0320* Turn over
, 6 When a string on a guitar is plucked, it produces a fundamental frequency f.
The tension in the string is doubled and then the string is plucked.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Which of the following is the new fundamental frequency produced by the string?
A f
B 2f
C 2f
D 4f
(Total for Question 6 = 1 mark)
7 A ray of light travels through glass at a velocity vg. The ray is incident at an interface
with water and undergoes total internal reflection. The velocity of light in water is vw.
Which of the following gives the critical angle at this interface?
1
vg
A sin
c
v
B sin 1
w
c
v
C sin 1
w
vg
1
vg
D sin
vw
(Total for Question 7 = 1 mark)
8 A lens has a power of –5.0 D.
Which of the following is not true?
A The focal length of this lens is –20 cm.
B The image formed of a real object will always be virtual.
C The image formed by this lens will always be diminished.
D The focal length will always be smaller than the image distance from the lens.
(Total for Question 8 = 1 mark)
4
*P79083A0420*
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Wednesday 20 May 2026
Afternoon (Time: 1 hour 30 minutes) Paper
reference 8PH0/02
Physics
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 2: Core Physics II
You must have: Total Marks
Scientific calculator, ruler and protractor
Data, Formulae and Relationships Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball‑point pen.
If pencil is used for diagrams/sketches/graphs it must be dark (HB or B).
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions in Sections A and B.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 80.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• toIn the question marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability
structure your answer logically, showing how the points that you make are
related or follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
•• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
You are advised to show your working in calculations including units
where appropriate. Turn over
P79083A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/
*P79083A0120*
, SECTION A
Answer ALL questions.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
All multiple choice questions must be answered with a cross in the box for the correct answer
from A to D. If you change your mind about an answer, put a line through the box and then
mark your new answer with a cross .
1 Electrons can be described in terms of a wave model.
Which of the following processes can only be explained by this description of electrons?
A emission
B excitation
C diffraction
D ionisation
(Total for Question 1 = 1 mark)
2 Which of the following is always correct for a transverse wave?
A The amplitude is the maximum wavelength.
B The frequency is the number of oscillations.
C The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
D The wavelength is the distance between two adjacent points.
(Total for Question 2 = 1 mark)
3 The atoms of a gas produce an emission spectrum when excited. A particular
emission spectrum consists of three distinct lines.
Which of the following is the minimum number of electron energy levels that could
produce this spectrum?
A 2
B 3
C 4
D 5
(Total for Question 3 = 1 mark)
2
*P79083A0220*
, Questions 4 and 5 refer to the information below.
A force‑extension graph is shown for a metal wire.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Force
Y S
LE
0
Extension
L is the limit of proportionality, E is the elastic limit, Y is the yield point and S is the point
at which the wire breaks.
4 Which of the following is equal to the stiffness of the wire?
A The force at L divided by the extension at L
B The force at E divided by the extension at E
C The force at Y divided by the extension at Y
D The force at S divided by the extension at S
(Total for Question 4 = 1 mark)
5 The energy stored in the wire at L is W. The extension at S is twice the extension at L.
Which of the following expressions gives the approximate energy stored in the wire just
before the wire breaks?
3W
A
2
B 2W
C 3W
D 4W
(Total for Question 5 = 1 mark)
3
*P79083A0320* Turn over
, 6 When a string on a guitar is plucked, it produces a fundamental frequency f.
The tension in the string is doubled and then the string is plucked.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Which of the following is the new fundamental frequency produced by the string?
A f
B 2f
C 2f
D 4f
(Total for Question 6 = 1 mark)
7 A ray of light travels through glass at a velocity vg. The ray is incident at an interface
with water and undergoes total internal reflection. The velocity of light in water is vw.
Which of the following gives the critical angle at this interface?
1
vg
A sin
c
v
B sin 1
w
c
v
C sin 1
w
vg
1
vg
D sin
vw
(Total for Question 7 = 1 mark)
8 A lens has a power of –5.0 D.
Which of the following is not true?
A The focal length of this lens is –20 cm.
B The image formed of a real object will always be virtual.
C The image formed by this lens will always be diminished.
D The focal length will always be smaller than the image distance from the lens.
(Total for Question 8 = 1 mark)
4
*P79083A0420*
