AQA A Level Physics 7408/2 Paper 2 Exam Actual 2026
with Detailed Rationales | Complete Exam-Style
Questions | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: MECHANICS & MATERIALS (Q1–Q12)
Q1: A ball is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 15 m s⁻¹. What is the
total time until it returns to the thrower's hand? (Assume g = 9.81 m s⁻² and air
resistance is negligible.)
A. 1.53 s
B. 2.30 s
C. 3.06 s
D. 4.60 s
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the time to reach maximum height is v/g = 1.53 s, so the
total flight time is twice this value, giving 3.06 s.
Q2: A car of mass 1200 kg accelerates uniformly from rest to 25 m s⁻¹ in 10 s. What
is the average power developed by the engine?
A. 15.0 kW
B. 22.5 kW
C. 37.5 kW
D. 75.0 kW
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the kinetic energy gained is ½mv² = 375 kJ, and average
power = energy/time = 375 kJ / 10 s = 37.5 kW.
Q3: A wire of length 2.0 m and cross-sectional area 1.5 mm² extends by 4.0 mm
when a tensile force of 200 N is applied. What is the Young modulus of the material?
A. 3.3 × 10⁷ Pa
B. 6.7 × 10⁷ Pa
C. 6.7 × 10¹⁰ Pa
D. 3.3 × 10¹⁰ Pa
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Young modulus = stress/strain = (F/A)/(ΔL/L) =
(200/1.5×10⁻⁶)/(4.0×10⁻³/2.0) = 6.7 × 10¹⁰ Pa.
,Q4: A satellite orbits Earth at a constant speed in a circular orbit. Which statement
correctly describes the resultant force on the satellite?
A. The resultant force is zero because the speed is constant.
B. The resultant force acts in the direction of motion.
C. The resultant force is directed towards the centre of the Earth.
D. The resultant force acts away from the centre of the Earth.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because circular motion requires a centripetal force directed
towards the centre of the circular path.
Q5: A mass on a spring oscillates with simple harmonic motion. At which point in the
cycle is the acceleration of the mass maximum?
A. At the equilibrium position where velocity is maximum.
B. At the equilibrium position where displacement is zero.
C. At the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.
D. At the point where kinetic energy equals potential energy.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because acceleration in SHM is proportional to displacement (a =
–ω²x), so it is maximum at maximum displacement.
Q6: A steel wire and a brass wire of identical dimensions are subjected to the same
tensile stress. The Young modulus of steel is twice that of brass. What is the ratio of
the strain in the steel wire to the strain in the brass wire?
A. 4:1
B. 2:1
C. 1:2
D. 1:4
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because strain = stress/Young modulus; since stress is equal and
E_steel = 2E_brass, the strain in steel is half that in brass.
Q7: A ball of mass 0.50 kg moving at 4.0 m s⁻¹ collides head-on with a stationary ball
of mass 0.30 kg. After the collision, the 0.50 kg ball continues in the same direction
at 2.0 m s⁻¹. What is the velocity of the 0.30 kg ball after the collision?
A. 1.3 m s⁻¹
B. 2.0 m s⁻¹
C. 3.3 m s⁻¹
D. 5.0 m s⁻¹
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because applying conservation of momentum: (0.50 × 4.0) = (0.50
× 2.0) + (0.30 × v), giving v = 3.3 m s⁻¹.
Q8: A block slides down a rough inclined plane at constant speed. Which statement
about the energy transfers is correct?
A. The gravitational potential energy lost is equal to the kinetic energy gained.
B. The gravitational potential energy lost is less than the work done against friction.
C. The gravitational potential energy lost is equal to the work done against friction.
D. The kinetic energy remains constant because no work is done against friction.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because constant speed means no change in kinetic energy, so all
gravitational potential energy lost is dissipated as work done against friction.
Q9: A force of 10 N acts on a body of mass 2.0 kg for 5.0 s. If the body was initially
at rest, what is its final momentum?
A. 10 kg m s⁻¹
B. 20 kg m s⁻¹
C. 50 kg m s⁻¹
D. 100 kg m s⁻¹
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because impulse = FΔt = Δp, so 10 N × 5.0 s = 50 kg m s⁻¹.
Q10: A material is loaded beyond its elastic limit and then unloaded. Which
statement describes the behaviour correctly?
A. The material returns to its original length with no permanent deformation.
B. The energy stored during loading is fully recovered on unloading.
C. The unloading curve is parallel to the loading curve.
D. The material undergoes permanent deformation and hysteresis occurs.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because beyond the elastic limit, unloading follows a path parallel
to the linear elastic region but offset, leaving permanent strain (plastic deformation).
Q11: A simple pendulum has a period of 2.0 s on Earth. What would be its
approximate period on a planet where the gravitational field strength is one-quarter
that on Earth?
A. 0.5 s
B. 1.0 s
C. 4.0 s
D. 8.0 s
Correct Answer: C
with Detailed Rationales | Complete Exam-Style
Questions | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: MECHANICS & MATERIALS (Q1–Q12)
Q1: A ball is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 15 m s⁻¹. What is the
total time until it returns to the thrower's hand? (Assume g = 9.81 m s⁻² and air
resistance is negligible.)
A. 1.53 s
B. 2.30 s
C. 3.06 s
D. 4.60 s
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the time to reach maximum height is v/g = 1.53 s, so the
total flight time is twice this value, giving 3.06 s.
Q2: A car of mass 1200 kg accelerates uniformly from rest to 25 m s⁻¹ in 10 s. What
is the average power developed by the engine?
A. 15.0 kW
B. 22.5 kW
C. 37.5 kW
D. 75.0 kW
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the kinetic energy gained is ½mv² = 375 kJ, and average
power = energy/time = 375 kJ / 10 s = 37.5 kW.
Q3: A wire of length 2.0 m and cross-sectional area 1.5 mm² extends by 4.0 mm
when a tensile force of 200 N is applied. What is the Young modulus of the material?
A. 3.3 × 10⁷ Pa
B. 6.7 × 10⁷ Pa
C. 6.7 × 10¹⁰ Pa
D. 3.3 × 10¹⁰ Pa
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Young modulus = stress/strain = (F/A)/(ΔL/L) =
(200/1.5×10⁻⁶)/(4.0×10⁻³/2.0) = 6.7 × 10¹⁰ Pa.
,Q4: A satellite orbits Earth at a constant speed in a circular orbit. Which statement
correctly describes the resultant force on the satellite?
A. The resultant force is zero because the speed is constant.
B. The resultant force acts in the direction of motion.
C. The resultant force is directed towards the centre of the Earth.
D. The resultant force acts away from the centre of the Earth.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because circular motion requires a centripetal force directed
towards the centre of the circular path.
Q5: A mass on a spring oscillates with simple harmonic motion. At which point in the
cycle is the acceleration of the mass maximum?
A. At the equilibrium position where velocity is maximum.
B. At the equilibrium position where displacement is zero.
C. At the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.
D. At the point where kinetic energy equals potential energy.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because acceleration in SHM is proportional to displacement (a =
–ω²x), so it is maximum at maximum displacement.
Q6: A steel wire and a brass wire of identical dimensions are subjected to the same
tensile stress. The Young modulus of steel is twice that of brass. What is the ratio of
the strain in the steel wire to the strain in the brass wire?
A. 4:1
B. 2:1
C. 1:2
D. 1:4
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because strain = stress/Young modulus; since stress is equal and
E_steel = 2E_brass, the strain in steel is half that in brass.
Q7: A ball of mass 0.50 kg moving at 4.0 m s⁻¹ collides head-on with a stationary ball
of mass 0.30 kg. After the collision, the 0.50 kg ball continues in the same direction
at 2.0 m s⁻¹. What is the velocity of the 0.30 kg ball after the collision?
A. 1.3 m s⁻¹
B. 2.0 m s⁻¹
C. 3.3 m s⁻¹
D. 5.0 m s⁻¹
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because applying conservation of momentum: (0.50 × 4.0) = (0.50
× 2.0) + (0.30 × v), giving v = 3.3 m s⁻¹.
Q8: A block slides down a rough inclined plane at constant speed. Which statement
about the energy transfers is correct?
A. The gravitational potential energy lost is equal to the kinetic energy gained.
B. The gravitational potential energy lost is less than the work done against friction.
C. The gravitational potential energy lost is equal to the work done against friction.
D. The kinetic energy remains constant because no work is done against friction.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because constant speed means no change in kinetic energy, so all
gravitational potential energy lost is dissipated as work done against friction.
Q9: A force of 10 N acts on a body of mass 2.0 kg for 5.0 s. If the body was initially
at rest, what is its final momentum?
A. 10 kg m s⁻¹
B. 20 kg m s⁻¹
C. 50 kg m s⁻¹
D. 100 kg m s⁻¹
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because impulse = FΔt = Δp, so 10 N × 5.0 s = 50 kg m s⁻¹.
Q10: A material is loaded beyond its elastic limit and then unloaded. Which
statement describes the behaviour correctly?
A. The material returns to its original length with no permanent deformation.
B. The energy stored during loading is fully recovered on unloading.
C. The unloading curve is parallel to the loading curve.
D. The material undergoes permanent deformation and hysteresis occurs.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because beyond the elastic limit, unloading follows a path parallel
to the linear elastic region but offset, leaving permanent strain (plastic deformation).
Q11: A simple pendulum has a period of 2.0 s on Earth. What would be its
approximate period on a planet where the gravitational field strength is one-quarter
that on Earth?
A. 0.5 s
B. 1.0 s
C. 4.0 s
D. 8.0 s
Correct Answer: C
