CIE IGCSE PHYSICS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
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.
What are some examples of moments? - ANSWER opening a jar, wrenches, bicycles
Force or distance from the pivot is proportional to the... - ANSWER moment of a force
moment = - ANSWER force × perpendicular distance from the pivot
Apply the principle of moments to the balancing of a beam about a pivot - ANSWER If a beam is on top
of a pivot in order to balance it the moments on both sides of the pivot must be balanced
When there is no resultant force and no resultant turning effect... - ANSWER a system is in equilibrium
What is a plane lamina? - ANSWER A body whose mass is concentrated in a single plane
Describe an experiment to determine the position of the center of mass of a plane lamina. - ANSWER
Hang up the object. Suspend a plumb line from the same place. Mark the position of the thread. The
center of mass is along the line of thread. Repeat the above steps with the object suspended from
different places. The center of mass is where these lines cross.
Describe qualitatively the effect of the position of the center of mass on the stability of simple objects. -
ANSWER The lower the center of gravity of an object is, the more stable it is. Objects with a higher
center of gravity are easier to topple than objects with a lower center of gravity. An object with a big
base area is less likely to fall or topple over, than an object with a small base area. Furthermore, these
two factors combine to decide the stability of an object. An object would fall over if its center of gravity
does not pass through its base when it is tilted.
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
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.
What are some examples of moments? - ANSWER opening a jar, wrenches, bicycles
Force or distance from the pivot is proportional to the... - ANSWER moment of a force
moment = - ANSWER force × perpendicular distance from the pivot
Apply the principle of moments to the balancing of a beam about a pivot - ANSWER If a beam is on top
of a pivot in order to balance it the moments on both sides of the pivot must be balanced
When there is no resultant force and no resultant turning effect... - ANSWER a system is in equilibrium
What is a plane lamina? - ANSWER A body whose mass is concentrated in a single plane
Describe an experiment to determine the position of the center of mass of a plane lamina. - ANSWER
Hang up the object. Suspend a plumb line from the same place. Mark the position of the thread. The
center of mass is along the line of thread. Repeat the above steps with the object suspended from
different places. The center of mass is where these lines cross.
Describe qualitatively the effect of the position of the center of mass on the stability of simple objects. -
ANSWER The lower the center of gravity of an object is, the more stable it is. Objects with a higher
center of gravity are easier to topple than objects with a lower center of gravity. An object with a big
base area is less likely to fall or topple over, than an object with a small base area. Furthermore, these
two factors combine to decide the stability of an object. An object would fall over if its center of gravity
does not pass through its base when it is tilted.
