AQA A Level Physics Paper 1 Exam | AQA A-Level Physics 7408 Paper
1 Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026–2027 | AQA Physics Paper 1 Exam
Review | Measurements & Errors, Particles & Radiation, Waves,
Mechanics & Materials, Electricity, Periodic Motion, SI Units,
Uncertainty, Particle Physics, Quantum Phenomena, Wave
Properties, Superposition, Mechanics, Forces, Energy, Momentum,
Materials, Electricity, Circuits, Resistivity, Electromagnetism &
Circular Motion | Multiple Choice, Calculation Practice, Exam-Style
Questions, Data Analysis & Detailed Worked Solutions
Question 1: A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 30 m/s in 12 seconds. What
is the magnitude of its acceleration?
A. 2.0 m/s²
B. 2.5 m/s²
C. 3.0 m/s²
D. 3.5 m/s²
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2.5 m/s²
Rationale: Using a=ΔvΔt=30−012=2.5 m/s2a=ΔtΔv=1230−0=2.5 m/s2. This is a
standard kinematic calculation for uniform acceleration from rest.
Question 2: Which of the following is a vector quantity?
A. Speed
B. Mass
C. Velocity
D. Temperature
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Velocity
Rationale: Velocity has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector. Speed,
mass, and temperature are scalar quantities with magnitude only.
Question 3: A projectile is launched horizontally from a cliff at 20 m/s. Taking
g=9.81 m/s2g=9.81 m/s2, what is its vertical velocity after 3 seconds?
A. 19.62 m/s
B. 29.43 m/s
,C. 39.24 m/s
D. 58.86 m/s
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 29.43 m/s
Rationale: Vertical velocity vy=gt=9.81×3=29.43 m/svy=gt=9.81×3=29.43 m/s.
Horizontal launch means initial vertical velocity is zero.
Question 4: Newton's first law of motion describes:
A. The relationship between force and acceleration
B. Action and reaction pairs
C. The behaviour of a body with no resultant force
D. The conservation of momentum
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The behaviour of a body with no resultant force
Rationale: Newton's first law states a body remains at rest or moves with constant
velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force.
Question 5: A 5 kg object experiences a resultant force of 20 N. What is its
acceleration?
A. 2 m/s²
B. 4 m/s²
C. 5 m/s²
D. 100 m/s²
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 m/s²
Rationale: Using F=maF=ma, a=Fm=205=4 m/s2a=mF=520=4 m/s2.
Question 6: Which quantity is equal to the area under a force-extension graph
up to the elastic limit?
A. Young modulus
B. Elastic potential energy
C. Spring constant
D. Stress
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Elastic potential energy
,Rationale: The area under a force-extension graph represents the work done in
stretching the material, stored as elastic potential energy.
Question 7: The unit of the Young modulus is:
A. N
B. Nm
C. Pa
D. N/m
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Pa
Rationale: Young modulus E=stressstrainE=strainstress. Stress is in Pa and strain is
dimensionless, so EE is in Pa.
Question 8: A wire of original length 2.0 m stretches by 1.0 mm under a tensile
force. What is the strain?
A. 5.0×10−45.0×10−4
B. 1.0×10−31.0×10−3
C. 2.0×10−32.0×10−3
D. 5.0×10−35.0×10−3
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 5.0×10−45.0×10−4
Rationale: Strain =ΔLL=1.0×10−32.0=5.0×10−4=LΔL=2.01.0×10−3=5.0×10−4.
Question 9: Which of the following best describes the photoelectric effect?
A. Emission of electrons from a metal surface when illuminated by light of
sufficient frequency
B. Emission of light from a metal when heated
C. Splitting of light into component colours
D. Emission of X-rays when electrons decelerate
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Emission of electrons from a metal surface when
illuminated by light of sufficient frequency
Rationale: The photoelectric effect involves electrons being ejected from a metal
surface when incident light exceeds the threshold frequency.
, Question 10: The work function of a metal is 2.0 eV. What is the threshold
frequency? (h=6.63×10−34 Jsh=6.63×10−34 Js,
1 eV=1.6×10−19 J1 eV=1.6×10−19 J)
A. 3.0×1014 Hz3.0×1014 Hz
B. 4.8×1014 Hz4.8×1014 Hz
C. 5.0×1014 Hz5.0×1014 Hz
D. 6.0×1014 Hz6.0×1014 Hz
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4.8×1014 Hz4.8×1014 Hz
Rationale: f0=ϕh=2.0×1.6×10−196.63×10−34≈4.8×1014 Hzf0=hϕ
=6.63×10−342.0×1.6×10−19≈4.8×1014 Hz.
Question 11: In an elastic collision:
A. Kinetic energy is not conserved
B. Momentum is not conserved
C. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
D. Only kinetic energy is conserved
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
Rationale: By definition, an elastic collision conserves both momentum and
kinetic energy.
Question 12: A 2 kg ball moving at 3 m/s collides head-on with a stationary 1 kg
ball. If they stick together, what is their common velocity?
A. 1 m/s
B. 2 m/s
C. 3 m/s
D. 6 m/s
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2 m/s
Rationale: Conservation of momentum: (2)(3)+(1)(0)=(2+1)v(2)(3)+(1)(0)=(2+1)v,
so v=2 m/sv=2 m/s.
Question 13: Which of the following is the correct unit for momentum?
1 Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026–2027 | AQA Physics Paper 1 Exam
Review | Measurements & Errors, Particles & Radiation, Waves,
Mechanics & Materials, Electricity, Periodic Motion, SI Units,
Uncertainty, Particle Physics, Quantum Phenomena, Wave
Properties, Superposition, Mechanics, Forces, Energy, Momentum,
Materials, Electricity, Circuits, Resistivity, Electromagnetism &
Circular Motion | Multiple Choice, Calculation Practice, Exam-Style
Questions, Data Analysis & Detailed Worked Solutions
Question 1: A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 30 m/s in 12 seconds. What
is the magnitude of its acceleration?
A. 2.0 m/s²
B. 2.5 m/s²
C. 3.0 m/s²
D. 3.5 m/s²
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2.5 m/s²
Rationale: Using a=ΔvΔt=30−012=2.5 m/s2a=ΔtΔv=1230−0=2.5 m/s2. This is a
standard kinematic calculation for uniform acceleration from rest.
Question 2: Which of the following is a vector quantity?
A. Speed
B. Mass
C. Velocity
D. Temperature
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Velocity
Rationale: Velocity has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector. Speed,
mass, and temperature are scalar quantities with magnitude only.
Question 3: A projectile is launched horizontally from a cliff at 20 m/s. Taking
g=9.81 m/s2g=9.81 m/s2, what is its vertical velocity after 3 seconds?
A. 19.62 m/s
B. 29.43 m/s
,C. 39.24 m/s
D. 58.86 m/s
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 29.43 m/s
Rationale: Vertical velocity vy=gt=9.81×3=29.43 m/svy=gt=9.81×3=29.43 m/s.
Horizontal launch means initial vertical velocity is zero.
Question 4: Newton's first law of motion describes:
A. The relationship between force and acceleration
B. Action and reaction pairs
C. The behaviour of a body with no resultant force
D. The conservation of momentum
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The behaviour of a body with no resultant force
Rationale: Newton's first law states a body remains at rest or moves with constant
velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force.
Question 5: A 5 kg object experiences a resultant force of 20 N. What is its
acceleration?
A. 2 m/s²
B. 4 m/s²
C. 5 m/s²
D. 100 m/s²
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 m/s²
Rationale: Using F=maF=ma, a=Fm=205=4 m/s2a=mF=520=4 m/s2.
Question 6: Which quantity is equal to the area under a force-extension graph
up to the elastic limit?
A. Young modulus
B. Elastic potential energy
C. Spring constant
D. Stress
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Elastic potential energy
,Rationale: The area under a force-extension graph represents the work done in
stretching the material, stored as elastic potential energy.
Question 7: The unit of the Young modulus is:
A. N
B. Nm
C. Pa
D. N/m
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Pa
Rationale: Young modulus E=stressstrainE=strainstress. Stress is in Pa and strain is
dimensionless, so EE is in Pa.
Question 8: A wire of original length 2.0 m stretches by 1.0 mm under a tensile
force. What is the strain?
A. 5.0×10−45.0×10−4
B. 1.0×10−31.0×10−3
C. 2.0×10−32.0×10−3
D. 5.0×10−35.0×10−3
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 5.0×10−45.0×10−4
Rationale: Strain =ΔLL=1.0×10−32.0=5.0×10−4=LΔL=2.01.0×10−3=5.0×10−4.
Question 9: Which of the following best describes the photoelectric effect?
A. Emission of electrons from a metal surface when illuminated by light of
sufficient frequency
B. Emission of light from a metal when heated
C. Splitting of light into component colours
D. Emission of X-rays when electrons decelerate
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Emission of electrons from a metal surface when
illuminated by light of sufficient frequency
Rationale: The photoelectric effect involves electrons being ejected from a metal
surface when incident light exceeds the threshold frequency.
, Question 10: The work function of a metal is 2.0 eV. What is the threshold
frequency? (h=6.63×10−34 Jsh=6.63×10−34 Js,
1 eV=1.6×10−19 J1 eV=1.6×10−19 J)
A. 3.0×1014 Hz3.0×1014 Hz
B. 4.8×1014 Hz4.8×1014 Hz
C. 5.0×1014 Hz5.0×1014 Hz
D. 6.0×1014 Hz6.0×1014 Hz
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4.8×1014 Hz4.8×1014 Hz
Rationale: f0=ϕh=2.0×1.6×10−196.63×10−34≈4.8×1014 Hzf0=hϕ
=6.63×10−342.0×1.6×10−19≈4.8×1014 Hz.
Question 11: In an elastic collision:
A. Kinetic energy is not conserved
B. Momentum is not conserved
C. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
D. Only kinetic energy is conserved
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
Rationale: By definition, an elastic collision conserves both momentum and
kinetic energy.
Question 12: A 2 kg ball moving at 3 m/s collides head-on with a stationary 1 kg
ball. If they stick together, what is their common velocity?
A. 1 m/s
B. 2 m/s
C. 3 m/s
D. 6 m/s
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2 m/s
Rationale: Conservation of momentum: (2)(3)+(1)(0)=(2+1)v(2)(3)+(1)(0)=(2+1)v,
so v=2 m/sv=2 m/s.
Question 13: Which of the following is the correct unit for momentum?
