GCSE PHYSICS (9–1): PAST PAPER 2 –
HIGHER TIER. ALL ASSESSMENT &
MARK SCHEME CERTIFICATION SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ What happens as a magnet moves in a coil.
Answer: - An induced potential difference is caused as the electrons are all
sent to one side- If it is connected to a full circuit, a current is formed
◍ How does the resistance of a filament lamp change as the potential
difference across it increases? (3 marks).
Answer: - The resistance increases- So does current- Which causes the
temperature of the filament lamp to increase
◍ Where is the empty space in these 3 models?.
Answer: There is no empty space in the plum pudding model, but most of
the atom is empty space outside the nucleus in the other two models.
◍ Factors effecting thinking distance.
Answer: Speed of car - faster slower timeDrugs and alcohol - slower
timeTiredness - slower timeMedication - slower time
◍ Why does a torch not work when you put the batteries in the wrong way
around? (2 marks).
Answer: - Charge won't flow in the other direction- As a diode has a very
high resistance in the other direction
◍ How does the national grid work?.
Answer: Electricity is transported from a power station to a step-up
, transformer, to power lines, to a step-down transformer, to consumers.
◍ Why is contamination of the body by a radioactive material that emits alpha
radiation highly dangerous? (3 marks).
Answer: - Alpha radiation is very ionising- Causing increased risk of cancer-
Until the radioactive material is removed
◍ Why is a step-down transformer used in the national grid? (2 marks).
Answer: - It reduces the voltage of the electricity- So it is at a safer level to
be transported to consumers
◍ How could energy stored in the batteries of electric cars be used to meet
sudden peaks in electricity demand? (2 marks).
Answer: - They could be plugged in and connected to the mains- So their
energy could be transported around the national grid
◍ What is voltage?.
Answer: The driving force behind charge flow
◍ Which atomic model did
J. J. Thomson propose?.
Answer: The plum pudding model.
◍ How does the image look from a convex lens between F and the lens.
Answer: Magnified, Same way up, Virtual
◍ What is the difference between irradiation and contamination?.
Answer: Irradiation is when something comes into contact with nuclear
material but doesn't become radioactive, whereas contamination is when
something comes in contact with nuclear material and becomes radioactive.
◍ What are two components that can be used to protect a circuit?.
Answer: Fuse, circuit breaker
◍ What is the range of human hearing?.
Answer: 20Hz-20kHz
◍ Why does the speed of a satellite stay the same but the velocity changes.
Answer: As it goes round in a circle it technically goes backwards giving it a
, negative velocity as it is a vector quantity
◍ How does the magnetic field in a solenoid work.
Answer: As current flows through the wire, the concentric circles all form in
the same direction and a current is induced
◍ What are the uses of a polar satellite.
Answer: - Mapping- Spying- Weather Monitoring
◍ Which experiment did Bohr perform?.
Answer: He heated atoms and observed the light energy they gave out.
Different atoms emitted different wavelengths of light.
◍ What is meant by induced magnetism.
Answer: - An unmagnetised material can be magnetised by placing it in a
magnetic field.- The thing placed in the magnetic field will become a
magnet with poles at each end. - Induced magnetism will always cause a
force of attraction as the poles created will be opposite and will attract
◍ What does 'the random natured of radioactive decay' mean?.
Answer: Particles decay unpredictably.
◍ What happens in nuclear fission?.
Answer: A neutron is fired into the nucleus of a large atom to make it
unbalanced. This causes its nucleus to split into two smaller nuclei and
release energy and neutrons, causing a chain reaction.
◍ What are 2 advantages of placing coils of wire under the road so electric
cars can charge whilst driving?.
Answer: - The car doesn't need to stop so it is more time efficient- More cars
can be charged at the same time
◍ How does the internal energy of water increase as it is heated from 20 to 25
degrees celsius? (2 marks).
Answer: - KE of particles increases- Which increases internal energy
◍ What is the law of conservation of energy?.
Answer: Energy can be transferred usefully, stored or dissipated, but can
HIGHER TIER. ALL ASSESSMENT &
MARK SCHEME CERTIFICATION SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ What happens as a magnet moves in a coil.
Answer: - An induced potential difference is caused as the electrons are all
sent to one side- If it is connected to a full circuit, a current is formed
◍ How does the resistance of a filament lamp change as the potential
difference across it increases? (3 marks).
Answer: - The resistance increases- So does current- Which causes the
temperature of the filament lamp to increase
◍ Where is the empty space in these 3 models?.
Answer: There is no empty space in the plum pudding model, but most of
the atom is empty space outside the nucleus in the other two models.
◍ Factors effecting thinking distance.
Answer: Speed of car - faster slower timeDrugs and alcohol - slower
timeTiredness - slower timeMedication - slower time
◍ Why does a torch not work when you put the batteries in the wrong way
around? (2 marks).
Answer: - Charge won't flow in the other direction- As a diode has a very
high resistance in the other direction
◍ How does the national grid work?.
Answer: Electricity is transported from a power station to a step-up
, transformer, to power lines, to a step-down transformer, to consumers.
◍ Why is contamination of the body by a radioactive material that emits alpha
radiation highly dangerous? (3 marks).
Answer: - Alpha radiation is very ionising- Causing increased risk of cancer-
Until the radioactive material is removed
◍ Why is a step-down transformer used in the national grid? (2 marks).
Answer: - It reduces the voltage of the electricity- So it is at a safer level to
be transported to consumers
◍ How could energy stored in the batteries of electric cars be used to meet
sudden peaks in electricity demand? (2 marks).
Answer: - They could be plugged in and connected to the mains- So their
energy could be transported around the national grid
◍ What is voltage?.
Answer: The driving force behind charge flow
◍ Which atomic model did
J. J. Thomson propose?.
Answer: The plum pudding model.
◍ How does the image look from a convex lens between F and the lens.
Answer: Magnified, Same way up, Virtual
◍ What is the difference between irradiation and contamination?.
Answer: Irradiation is when something comes into contact with nuclear
material but doesn't become radioactive, whereas contamination is when
something comes in contact with nuclear material and becomes radioactive.
◍ What are two components that can be used to protect a circuit?.
Answer: Fuse, circuit breaker
◍ What is the range of human hearing?.
Answer: 20Hz-20kHz
◍ Why does the speed of a satellite stay the same but the velocity changes.
Answer: As it goes round in a circle it technically goes backwards giving it a
, negative velocity as it is a vector quantity
◍ How does the magnetic field in a solenoid work.
Answer: As current flows through the wire, the concentric circles all form in
the same direction and a current is induced
◍ What are the uses of a polar satellite.
Answer: - Mapping- Spying- Weather Monitoring
◍ Which experiment did Bohr perform?.
Answer: He heated atoms and observed the light energy they gave out.
Different atoms emitted different wavelengths of light.
◍ What is meant by induced magnetism.
Answer: - An unmagnetised material can be magnetised by placing it in a
magnetic field.- The thing placed in the magnetic field will become a
magnet with poles at each end. - Induced magnetism will always cause a
force of attraction as the poles created will be opposite and will attract
◍ What does 'the random natured of radioactive decay' mean?.
Answer: Particles decay unpredictably.
◍ What happens in nuclear fission?.
Answer: A neutron is fired into the nucleus of a large atom to make it
unbalanced. This causes its nucleus to split into two smaller nuclei and
release energy and neutrons, causing a chain reaction.
◍ What are 2 advantages of placing coils of wire under the road so electric
cars can charge whilst driving?.
Answer: - The car doesn't need to stop so it is more time efficient- More cars
can be charged at the same time
◍ How does the internal energy of water increase as it is heated from 20 to 25
degrees celsius? (2 marks).
Answer: - KE of particles increases- Which increases internal energy
◍ What is the law of conservation of energy?.
Answer: Energy can be transferred usefully, stored or dissipated, but can
