CIE IGCSE Physics
Comprehensive Questions and
Solutions Graded A+
Speed= - Answer: distance÷time
What is the shape of a distance-time graph when the object is at rest? - Answer: a horizontal
line
What is the shape of a distance-time graph when the object is moving with constant speed? -
Answer: a slanted line
What is the shape of a distance-time graph when the object is moving with changing speed? -
Answer: a curved line
What is the distance traveled for motion with constant acceleration in a speed-time graph? -
Answer: the area under the graph
If a body accelerates its speed-time graph will have a... - Answer: positive gradient
If a body decelerates its speed-time graph will have a... - Answer: negative gradient
What is the difference between speed and velocity? - Answer: Velocity is a vector while speed is
scalar. Velocity has a direction.
,a = - Answer: ∆v÷t
Speed (on a distance-time graph) = - Answer: the gradient
Acceleration (on a speed-time graph) = - Answer: the gradient
On a speed-time graph, a straight line with a positive gradient means... - Answer: constant
acceleration
On a speed-time graph, a curved line with a positive gradient means... - Answer: changing
acceleration
Deceleration= - Answer: negative acceleration
The mass of a body = - Answer: the number of particles it has
Weight is a _____________ force - Answer: gravitational
What is the difference between mass and weight? - Answer: Weight is affected by gravitational
field strength
W(Weight) = - Answer: m×g
How do you compare weights using balance? - Answer: You put a weight on each side of the
balance then whichever way the balance leans is the heaviest.
,What is 'inertia'? - Answer: It is the idea that if a force is applied to an object, it will not
immediately reach a high speed because it requires time to accelerate, as shown by the formula
F=ma.
Weight (definition) = - Answer: A body's mass multiplied by the strength of the gravitational
field around it.
ρ = - Answer: m×V
Describe an experiment to determine the density of a liquid and of a regularly shaped solid. -
Answer: Find the mass by weighing the object on a scale and then use a measuring cylinder to
find the volume. Then divide the mass by the volume to get the density in (g/cm³)
Describe the determination of the density of an irregularly shaped solid by the method of
displacement. - Answer: First, fill a Eureka can to the level of the spout, then lower the solid into
the water. Pour the water collected out of the spout into a measuring cylinder. That is the
volume of the solid. Then, weigh the mass and apply the density formula (ρ = m×V) to calculate
the density.
How do you predict whether an object will float based on density data? - Answer: Compare the
density of the object and the density of the liquid; if the liquid has a greater density it will float.
A force may produce a change in ____ ___ _____ of a body. - Answer: size and shape
Describe the ways in which a force may change a body. - Answer: a change in speed, a change in
direction, a change in shape
If two or more forces are acting on the same line then the resultant force is equal to... - Answer:
the sum of the forces
, If there is no resultant force on a body it... - Answer: either remains at rest or continues at
constant speed in a straight line
Friction = - Answer: the force between two surfaces which impedes motion and results in
heating
Air resistance = - Answer: a form of friction
State Hooke's Law. - Answer: the force (F) needed to extend or compress a spring by some
distance (e) is proportional to that distance.
F (Hooke's Law) = - Answer: k×e
What is the significance of the 'limit of proportionality' for an extension-load graph? - Answer:
Any extension-load graph must eventually end in a curve due to the limit of proportionality'.
What is the 'limit of proportionality'? - Answer: when a spring's extension is not directly
proportional to the force used on it anymore.
F = - Answer: m×a
Describe qualitatively motion in a circular path due to a perpendicular force - Answer: Motion in
a circular path happens when a body moves in a direction while another perpendicular force
pulls it inward toward a center. In electrons this is the electrostatic force that keeps the atoms
together; in our solar system it is the gravity of the sun.
The moment of a force = - Answer: the turning effect of a force around a fixed point called a
pivot.
Comprehensive Questions and
Solutions Graded A+
Speed= - Answer: distance÷time
What is the shape of a distance-time graph when the object is at rest? - Answer: a horizontal
line
What is the shape of a distance-time graph when the object is moving with constant speed? -
Answer: a slanted line
What is the shape of a distance-time graph when the object is moving with changing speed? -
Answer: a curved line
What is the distance traveled for motion with constant acceleration in a speed-time graph? -
Answer: the area under the graph
If a body accelerates its speed-time graph will have a... - Answer: positive gradient
If a body decelerates its speed-time graph will have a... - Answer: negative gradient
What is the difference between speed and velocity? - Answer: Velocity is a vector while speed is
scalar. Velocity has a direction.
,a = - Answer: ∆v÷t
Speed (on a distance-time graph) = - Answer: the gradient
Acceleration (on a speed-time graph) = - Answer: the gradient
On a speed-time graph, a straight line with a positive gradient means... - Answer: constant
acceleration
On a speed-time graph, a curved line with a positive gradient means... - Answer: changing
acceleration
Deceleration= - Answer: negative acceleration
The mass of a body = - Answer: the number of particles it has
Weight is a _____________ force - Answer: gravitational
What is the difference between mass and weight? - Answer: Weight is affected by gravitational
field strength
W(Weight) = - Answer: m×g
How do you compare weights using balance? - Answer: You put a weight on each side of the
balance then whichever way the balance leans is the heaviest.
,What is 'inertia'? - Answer: It is the idea that if a force is applied to an object, it will not
immediately reach a high speed because it requires time to accelerate, as shown by the formula
F=ma.
Weight (definition) = - Answer: A body's mass multiplied by the strength of the gravitational
field around it.
ρ = - Answer: m×V
Describe an experiment to determine the density of a liquid and of a regularly shaped solid. -
Answer: Find the mass by weighing the object on a scale and then use a measuring cylinder to
find the volume. Then divide the mass by the volume to get the density in (g/cm³)
Describe the determination of the density of an irregularly shaped solid by the method of
displacement. - Answer: First, fill a Eureka can to the level of the spout, then lower the solid into
the water. Pour the water collected out of the spout into a measuring cylinder. That is the
volume of the solid. Then, weigh the mass and apply the density formula (ρ = m×V) to calculate
the density.
How do you predict whether an object will float based on density data? - Answer: Compare the
density of the object and the density of the liquid; if the liquid has a greater density it will float.
A force may produce a change in ____ ___ _____ of a body. - Answer: size and shape
Describe the ways in which a force may change a body. - Answer: a change in speed, a change in
direction, a change in shape
If two or more forces are acting on the same line then the resultant force is equal to... - Answer:
the sum of the forces
, If there is no resultant force on a body it... - Answer: either remains at rest or continues at
constant speed in a straight line
Friction = - Answer: the force between two surfaces which impedes motion and results in
heating
Air resistance = - Answer: a form of friction
State Hooke's Law. - Answer: the force (F) needed to extend or compress a spring by some
distance (e) is proportional to that distance.
F (Hooke's Law) = - Answer: k×e
What is the significance of the 'limit of proportionality' for an extension-load graph? - Answer:
Any extension-load graph must eventually end in a curve due to the limit of proportionality'.
What is the 'limit of proportionality'? - Answer: when a spring's extension is not directly
proportional to the force used on it anymore.
F = - Answer: m×a
Describe qualitatively motion in a circular path due to a perpendicular force - Answer: Motion in
a circular path happens when a body moves in a direction while another perpendicular force
pulls it inward toward a center. In electrons this is the electrostatic force that keeps the atoms
together; in our solar system it is the gravity of the sun.
The moment of a force = - Answer: the turning effect of a force around a fixed point called a
pivot.
