Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
PHYSICS
Paper 3
Section B Engineering physics
Monday 8 June 2026 Morning Time allowed: The total time for
both sections of this paper is
Materials
2 hours. You are advised to
For this paper you must have:
• a pencil and a ruler spend approximately
• a scientific calculator 50 minutes on this section.
• a Data and Formulae Booklet
• a protractor.
Instructions For Examiner’s Use
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. Question Mark
• Answer all questions. 1
• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 2
outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
3
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s). 4
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want TOTAL
to be marked.
• Show all your working.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 35.
• You are expected to use a scientific calculator where appropriate.
• A Data and Formulae Booklet is provided as a loose insert.
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Section B box
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 An electric-car charging station consists of several flywheel energy storage
(FES) units.
Energy from the electricity network is stored by accelerating a flywheel in each
FES unit.
When an electric car is connected to an FES unit, energy is transferred from the
flywheel to the car’s battery as the flywheel decelerates.
The maximum angular velocity of the flywheel is 19 000 rev min−1.
When the angular velocity of the flywheel is less than ωmin, the FES unit cannot
charge the battery.
During charging, the flywheel decelerates from 19 000 rev min−1 to ωmin.
The maximum rotational kinetic energy that can be transferred from one FES unit as
the battery is being charged is 1.8 × 107 J.
The moment of inertia of the flywheel about its axis of rotation is 9.7 kg m2.
0 1 . 1 Calculate ωmin.
[2 marks]
rad s−1
ωmin =
, 3
Do not write
outside the
box
0 1 . 2 The flywheels in the FES units at a charging station are rotating at their maximum
angular velocity.
A battery requires 90 kW h of energy.
The efficiency of the charging process is 82%.
Deduce the number of FES units needed to charge this battery.
[2 marks]
number =
Question 1 continues on the next page
, 4
Do not write
outside the
0 1 . 3 Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of one FES unit. box
Figure 1
The FES unit has the following design features:
1. the flywheel rim has a large mass and is connected to the axle by spokes
2. the axle is supported on frictionless bearings
3. there is a vacuum inside the casing.
The bearings use magnetic repulsion so that there is no physical contact between
the axle and the bearings.
Discuss how these design features lead to an efficient system with a flywheel that can
store a large amount of rotational energy.
In your answer, explain how:
• the maximum energy that can be stored in the flywheel is affected by its shape and
dimensions
• the material used for the spokes and the material used for the rim affect the
maximum energy that the flywheel can store
• the design leads to an efficient system.
[6 marks]
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
PHYSICS
Paper 3
Section B Engineering physics
Monday 8 June 2026 Morning Time allowed: The total time for
both sections of this paper is
Materials
2 hours. You are advised to
For this paper you must have:
• a pencil and a ruler spend approximately
• a scientific calculator 50 minutes on this section.
• a Data and Formulae Booklet
• a protractor.
Instructions For Examiner’s Use
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. Question Mark
• Answer all questions. 1
• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 2
outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
3
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s). 4
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want TOTAL
to be marked.
• Show all your working.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 35.
• You are expected to use a scientific calculator where appropriate.
• A Data and Formulae Booklet is provided as a loose insert.
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Section B box
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 An electric-car charging station consists of several flywheel energy storage
(FES) units.
Energy from the electricity network is stored by accelerating a flywheel in each
FES unit.
When an electric car is connected to an FES unit, energy is transferred from the
flywheel to the car’s battery as the flywheel decelerates.
The maximum angular velocity of the flywheel is 19 000 rev min−1.
When the angular velocity of the flywheel is less than ωmin, the FES unit cannot
charge the battery.
During charging, the flywheel decelerates from 19 000 rev min−1 to ωmin.
The maximum rotational kinetic energy that can be transferred from one FES unit as
the battery is being charged is 1.8 × 107 J.
The moment of inertia of the flywheel about its axis of rotation is 9.7 kg m2.
0 1 . 1 Calculate ωmin.
[2 marks]
rad s−1
ωmin =
, 3
Do not write
outside the
box
0 1 . 2 The flywheels in the FES units at a charging station are rotating at their maximum
angular velocity.
A battery requires 90 kW h of energy.
The efficiency of the charging process is 82%.
Deduce the number of FES units needed to charge this battery.
[2 marks]
number =
Question 1 continues on the next page
, 4
Do not write
outside the
0 1 . 3 Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of one FES unit. box
Figure 1
The FES unit has the following design features:
1. the flywheel rim has a large mass and is connected to the axle by spokes
2. the axle is supported on frictionless bearings
3. there is a vacuum inside the casing.
The bearings use magnetic repulsion so that there is no physical contact between
the axle and the bearings.
Discuss how these design features lead to an efficient system with a flywheel that can
store a large amount of rotational energy.
In your answer, explain how:
• the maximum energy that can be stored in the flywheel is affected by its shape and
dimensions
• the material used for the spokes and the material used for the rim affect the
maximum energy that the flywheel can store
• the design leads to an efficient system.
[6 marks]
