Monday 8 June 2026 – Morning
A Level Physics B (Advancing Physics)
H557/03 Practical skills in physics
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
* 2 6 7 9 9 2 2 5 4 5 *
• the Data, Formulae and Relationships Booklet
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• a ruler (cm/mm)
* H 5 5 7 0 3 *
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
• Where appropriate, your answer should be supported with working. Marks might be
given for using a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 20 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© Cambridge OCR 2026 [601/4745/3] Cambridge OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (EV/TC) 367736/5 Turn over
, 2
Section A
1 A student does an experiment to find the resistivity of nichrome wire.
(a) The diameter of the wire is measured at different orientations and positions along the wire. The
measurements are shown in the dot plot:
0.368 0.369 0.370 0.371 0.372 0.373 0.374
Diameter / mm
(i) Calculate the mean value of the diameter of the wire.
Include the absolute uncertainty in this value.
Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
Diameter = ...................... ± ....................... mm [3]
(ii) Calculate the mean value of the cross-sectional area of the wire.
Include the percentage uncertainty in this value.
Area = .................................... m2 ± ....................... % [3]
(b) A length of nichrome wire is attached to a metre rule marked in mm as shown.
The resistance of different lengths of wire is measured using two leads with crocodile clips
connected to a multimeter.
The resistances are recorded from the multimeter with an uncertainty of ± 0.3 Ω.
Wire Metre rule
Crocodile clip
Movable lead
Multimeter
© Cambridge OCR 2026
, 3
The results are shown on the graph.
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
Resistance / Ω 8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00
Length of wire / m
The rate of change of resistance with length is 14.6 Ω m–1.
Calculate the resistivity of the wire.
Use your answer to (a)(ii).
Resistivity = .................................................. Ω m [2]
© Cambridge OCR 2026 Turn over
A Level Physics B (Advancing Physics)
H557/03 Practical skills in physics
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
* 2 6 7 9 9 2 2 5 4 5 *
• the Data, Formulae and Relationships Booklet
You can use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• a ruler (cm/mm)
* H 5 5 7 0 3 *
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
• Where appropriate, your answer should be supported with working. Marks might be
given for using a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 20 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© Cambridge OCR 2026 [601/4745/3] Cambridge OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (EV/TC) 367736/5 Turn over
, 2
Section A
1 A student does an experiment to find the resistivity of nichrome wire.
(a) The diameter of the wire is measured at different orientations and positions along the wire. The
measurements are shown in the dot plot:
0.368 0.369 0.370 0.371 0.372 0.373 0.374
Diameter / mm
(i) Calculate the mean value of the diameter of the wire.
Include the absolute uncertainty in this value.
Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
Diameter = ...................... ± ....................... mm [3]
(ii) Calculate the mean value of the cross-sectional area of the wire.
Include the percentage uncertainty in this value.
Area = .................................... m2 ± ....................... % [3]
(b) A length of nichrome wire is attached to a metre rule marked in mm as shown.
The resistance of different lengths of wire is measured using two leads with crocodile clips
connected to a multimeter.
The resistances are recorded from the multimeter with an uncertainty of ± 0.3 Ω.
Wire Metre rule
Crocodile clip
Movable lead
Multimeter
© Cambridge OCR 2026
, 3
The results are shown on the graph.
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
Resistance / Ω 8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00
Length of wire / m
The rate of change of resistance with length is 14.6 Ω m–1.
Calculate the resistivity of the wire.
Use your answer to (a)(ii).
Resistivity = .................................................. Ω m [2]
© Cambridge OCR 2026 Turn over
