About this book

O LEVEL TOPICAL PHYSICS provides a thorough revision for students taking the GCE O-Level
Physics Examination.

This book contains:

Past Examination Questions

Questions from past examinations provide the best practice. They also provide insight into
the type and style of questions often asked in an examination.

Latest Examination Papers

The latest examination papers are included for timed practice, providing students with an
idea of what is expected of them in the actual examination.

Comprehensive Answers (Separate booklet)

Thought process
This feature provides guidance to each question so as to assist students through their
thought processes for effective learning and revision.

Answers with explanatory notes for Paper 1, and comprehensive answers to

Paper 2 are provided for reference and self-study purposes.

The Editorial Team

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 CONTENTS

SECTION I MEASUREMENT
Topic 1A Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement I................................................... (1A)1 - 6
Physical quantities SI units Prefixes Measurement of length and time

Topic 1B Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement II.................................................. (1B)1 - 4

Scalars and vectors

SECTION II NEWTONIAN MECHANICS

Topic 2 Kinematics.............................................................................................................. (2)1 - 12
Speed, velocity and acceleration Graphical analysis of motion Free-fall
Effect of air resistance
Topic 3 Dynamics................................................................................................................. (3)1 - 10
Balanced and unbalanced forces Free-body diagram Friction

Topic 4 Mass, Weight and Density..................................................................................... (4)1 - 8
Mass and weight Gravitational field and field strength Density

Topic 5A Turning Effect of Forces I..................................................................................... (5A)1 - 8

Moments

Topic 5B Turning Effect of Forces II.................................................................................... (5B)1 - 4

Centre of gravity Stability

Topic 6 Pressure................................................................................................................... (6)1 - 12

Pressure Pressure differences Pressure measurement

Topic 7 Energy, Work and Power....................................................................................... (7)1 - 14

Energy conversion and conservation Work Power

SECTION III THERMAL PHYSICS

Topic 8 Kinetic Model of Matter........................................................................................ (8)1 - 10
States of matter Brownian motion Kinetic model

Topic 9 Transfer of Thermal Energy................................................................................. (9)1 - 8

Conduction Convection Radiation

Topic 10 Temperature........................................................................................................... (10)1 - 2

Principles of thermometry Thermocouple thermometers

Topic 11A Thermal Properties of Matter I............................................................................ (11A)1 - 6
Internal energy Specific heat capacity

Topic 11B Thermal Properties of Matter II........................................................................... (11B)1 - 8

Melting, boiling and evaporation Specific latent heat

SECTION IV WAVES
Topic 12 General Wave Properties....................................................................................... (12)1 - 12
Describing wave motion Wave terms Longitudinal and transverse waves

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 Topic 13A Light I...................................................................................................................... (13A)1 - 4
Reflection of light
Topic 13B Light II.................................................................................................................... (13B)1 - 10
Refraction of light
Topic 13C Light III................................................................................................................... (13C)1 - 4
Thin lenses
Topic 14 Electromagnetic Spectrum.................................................................................... (14)1 - 6
Properties of electromagnetic waves Applications of electromagnetic waves
Effects of electromagnetic waves on cells and tissue
Topic 15 Sound....................................................................................................................... (15)1 - 6
Sound waves Speed of sound Echo Ultrasound

SECTION V ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Topic 16 Static Electricity..................................................................................................... (16)1 - 12
Laws of electrostatics Principles of electrostatics Electric field
Applications of electrostatics
Topic 17 Current of Electricity............................................................................................. (17)1 - 10
Conventional current and electron flow Electromotive force Potential Difference
Resistance
Topic 18 D.C. Circuits........................................................................................................... (18)1 - 20
Current and potential difference in circuits Series and parallel circuits
Potential divider circuit Thermistor and light-dependent resistor
Use of cathode-ray oscilloscope
Topic 19 Practical Electricity................................................................................................ (19)1 - 10
Electric power and energy Dangers of electricity
Safe use of electricity in the home
Topic 20 Magnetism............................................................................................................... (20)1 - 6
Laws of magnetism Magnetic properties of matter Magnetic field
Topic 21A Electromagnetism I................................................................................................ (21A)1 - 6
Magnetic effect of a current Applications of the magnetic effect of a current
Force on a current-carrying conductor
Topic 21B Electromagnetism II............................................................................................... (21B)1 - 4
The d.c. motor
Topic 22A Electromagnetic Induction I.................................................................................. (22A)1 - 6
Principles of electromagnetic induction
Topic 22B Electromagnetic Induction II................................................................................ (22B)1 - 6
The a.c. generator
Topic 22C Electromagnetic Induction III.............................................................................. (22C)1 - 6
The transformer

O LEVEL PHYSICS EXAMINATION YEAR 2016 PAPERS 1 AND 2 ............... (2016)1 - 38

ANSWERS (separate booklet) Topics 1A 22C

Latest Examination Papers

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 SECTION I MEASUREMENT
TOPIC 1A Physical Quantities, Units AND

MEASUREMENT
I
Physical quantities SI units Prefixes
Measurement of length and time

PAPER 1
Choose the correct answer.

1. A micrometer is used to measure the thickness of a sheet of glass.

With the jaws closed and no glass sheet, the micrometer reading is shown in diagram 1.
With the jaws closed around the glass sheet, the micrometer reading is shown in diagram 2.

What is the thickness of the glass sheet? (2007 P1 Q1)

A 2.05 mm
B 2.30 mm
C 2.55 mm
D 2.80 mm  ( )

2. Object X is placed against a ruler.

This ruler is placed against another ruler to measure the end correction.

What is the length of the object X? (2009 P1 Q1)
A 0.9 cm
B 1.1 cm
C 1.3 cm
D 1.5 cm  ( )

(1A)

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 3. A length of copper pipe, of uniform cross-section and several metres long, carries water to a tap.

Which instruments are used to take measurements to calculate accurately the volume of copper in the
pipe?  (2010 P1 Q1)
A calipers and micrometer
B micrometer and rule
C rule and tape
D tape and calipers  ( )

4. Which pair of units both measure the same quantity? (2011 P1 Q1)
A km/h and kg/m3
B N/m3 and Pa
C V and J/C
D W and J ( )

5. A student measures the thickness of a coin using a micrometer screw gauge.

The following steps are carried out but are in the wrong order.
1 Turn the ratchet until a click is heard.
2 Take the reading on the thimble.
3 Place the coin between the anvil and the spindle.
4 Take the reading on the sleeve.
5 Turn the thimble to close the anvil and the spindle.
What is the correct order? (2011 P1 Q2)
A 15324
B 31542
C 35142
D 5 3 1 2 4 ( )

(1A)

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 6. A micrometer is used to measure the thickness of a metal sheet.
Diagram 1 shows the reading on the micrometer when it is tightened with nothing between the jaws.
Diagram 2 shows the reading taken with the metal sheet between the jaws.

What is the thickness of the metal sheet? (2012 P1 Q1)

A 1.81 mm
B 1.87 mm
C 3.31 mm
D 3.34 mm  ( )

7. Which instrument is used to measure directly the circumference of a golf ball? (2013 P1 Q2)
A calipers
B micrometer
C rule
D tape  ( )

8. The time taken for a pendulum to swing from position X to its position Y of maximum displacement is
1.5 s.

How many complete periods of the pendulum are there in one minute?  (2013 P1 Q3)
A 5
B 10
C 20
D 40  ( )

(1A)

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 9. The bob of a simple pendulum is pulled to one side and then released. The motion during its swing is
shown on the graph.

What is the value of the period of the pendulum? (2014 P1 Q2)

A 0.5 s C 1.5 s
B 1.0 s D 2.0 s ( )

10. Vernier calipers are used to measure the diameter of a ball-bearing.

Diagram 1 shows the calipers when the jaws are closed.
Diagram 2 shows the calipers when the ball-bearing is between the jaws.

What is the diameter of the ball-bearing? (2014 P1 Q3)

A 0.80 cm C 1.07 cm
B 0.84 cm D 1.30 cm ( )

11. What is the correct order of magnitude for the diameter of the Earth and for the diameter of an atom?
(2015 P1 Q1)
diameter diameter
of Earth of atom
A 10 Gm 0.1 m
B 10 Gm 0.1 nm
C 10 Mm 0.1 nm
D 10 Mm 0.1 m  (
)

(1A)

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 12. A pendulum swings backwards and forwards passing through Y, the middle point of the oscillation.

The first time the pendulum passes through Y, a stopwatch is started. The twenty-first time the pendulum
passes through Y, the stopwatch is stopped. The reading on the stopwatch is T.
What is the period of the pendulum? (2015 P1 Q4)
A T/40
B T/21
C T/20
D T/10 ( )

(1A)

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 PAPER 2
SECTION A
Answer the following questions.

1. An athlete uses an exercise machine, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

The athlete moves backwards and forwards along the track. As he pulls the handle, he moves backwards
and the machine displays the force exerted by the athlete. At the end of the track he stops pulling and
then returns to the position shown. This is one complete movement.
An accurate value for the average time for one complete movement is obtained.
Describe what measurements are taken and how they are used to find the average time for one complete
movement.

[3]
(2015 P2A Q1a)

(1A)

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 TOPIC 1B Physical Quantities, Units
And mEASUREMENT II
Scalars and vectors

PAPER 1
Choose the correct answer.

1. Which row correctly shows one scalar and one vector? (2007 P1 Q2)
scalar vector
A displacement distance
B mass displacement
C speed mass
D velocity acceleration  ( )

2. A student studies some equations.

power = work / time
force = mass acceleration
velocity = displacement / time
How many different vector quantities are contained in the equations? (2009 P1 Q2)
A 1
B 2
C 3
D 4  ( )

3. Which cannot be the magnitude (size) of the resultant force when a force of 3 N and a force of 4 N act
on an object? (2010 P1 Q2)
A 1N
B 3N
C 5 N
D 8 N  ( )

(1B)

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 4. A heavy nail is fixed firmly to a wall. It is pulled by a string at 40 to the vertical. The nail does not
move.

Three forces act on the nail.

its weight W
the tension T in the string
the reaction force R between the nail and the wall
Which diagram, drawn to scale, represents the three forces in size and direction? (2011 P1 Q6)
A C

B D

 ( )

5. An aircraft heads north-east at 400 km/h.

The wind is blowing towards the north-west at 100 km/h.
Which vector diagram represents the correct way to obtain the resultant velocity of the aircraft?
(2012 P1 Q2)
A B C D

( )

(1B)

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 6. Which diagram shows an instrument that measures a vector quantity? (2013 P1 Q1)
A B C D

( )

7. Which pair contains two vector quantities? (2015 P1 Q2)

A acceleration and distance
B displacement and mass
C speed and force
D velocity and weight ( )

8. Forces of 4 N and 2 N act at a point.

Which scale diagram shows the forces that have a resultant of 4 N? (2015 P1 Q3)
A C

B D

 (
)

(1B)

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 PAPER 2
SECTION A
Answer the following questions.

1. (a) State the difference between a vector quantity and a scalar quantity.

[1]

(b) Force is a vector quantity. State one other example of a vector quantity.

[1]

(c) Fig. 1 shows three strings attached to a ring. The ring and the strings lie in a horizontal plane and
are at rest.

Fig. 1

The tension in string A is 200 N. Determine the tension in string B and the tension in string C. Include
a labelled vector diagram in your answer.

tension in string B = _____________________

tension in string C = _____________________
[3]
(2008 P2A Q1)

(1B)

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