Cambridge IGCSE: PHYSICS 0625/32
Cambridge IGCSE: PHYSICS 0625/32
Cambridge IGCSE: PHYSICS 0625/32
* 1 4 8 7 8 0 6 9 3 3 *
PHYSICS 0625/32
Paper 3 Theory (Core) May/June 2023
1 hour 15 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.
● Take the weight of 1.0 kg to be 9.8 N (acceleration of free fall = 9.8 m / s2).
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 80.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
DC (LK/CT) 315185/2
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
2
1 A student measures the diameter of some identical steel balls. Fig. 1.1 shows the arrangement
she uses.
A B
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
cm
(a) (i) Using the ruler in Fig. 1.1, determine the distance AB on Fig. 1.1.
(ii) Use the distance AB to determine the diameter of one steel ball.
(b) The mass of some steel balls is 54 g and the total volume of these steel balls is 6.9 cm3.
[Total: 7]
14
W X
12
speed 10
m/s
S T
8
2
Y Z
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
time / s
Fig. 2.1
(a) In Fig. 2.1, the sections ST, TW, WX, XY and YZ indicate stages of the cyclist’s journey.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
160 N 220 N
Fig. 2.2
(ii) State the effect, if any, of the resultant force on the motion of the cyclist.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
[Total: 8]
base of torch
Fig. 3.1
(a) Fig. 3.2 shows the energy transfers when the torch is switched on. The diagram is incomplete.
electrical working
...................... energy store ......................... energy
100 J 70 J
Fig. 3.2
Show the energy transfers in the torch by completing the labels on Fig. 3.2. [3]
(b) The weight of the torch is 8.5 N. The student lifts the torch a vertical distance of 0.80 m to
place it on a shelf.
(c) The student places the torch on its base on a shelf. The area of the base of the torch is
44 cm2. The weight of the torch is 8.5 N.
[Total: 9]
(a) (i) Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles in the solid metal.
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [3]
State the effect, if any, of cooling on the kinetic energy of the particles in the block of
metal.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) (i) State the name of the temperature at which particles have the least kinetic energy.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) State the value of temperature at which particles have the least kinetic energy. Include
the unit.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) The metal block emits thermal radiation from its surface.
1 ................................................................................................................................................
2 ................................................................................................................................................
[2]
[Total: 8]
5 An observer stands at P and looks into a rock quarry. A small explosion takes place at X in the
quarry.
P Z
solid
rock
Y
DANGER – X small
BLASTING explosion
rock quarry
(a) The observer first hears the sound from the explosion 1.8 s after the explosion occurs.
The speed of the sound is 340 m / s.
(ii) The observer then hears a quieter sound from the explosion.
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(b) Before the explosion, a warning siren produces a sound. The wavelength of the sound is
0.28 m.
[Total: 8]
6 Fig. 6.1 shows light waves passing from air into a glass block.
wavefronts
air
glass
(a) (i) State the name of the process shown in Fig. 6.1 as the wavefronts enter the glass block.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) State two changes in the light waves as they pass from air into glass.
1 ........................................................................................................................................
2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]
(b) Fig. 6.2 shows a ray of red light travelling through a glass fibre. The glass fibre is made of
solid glass.
glass
air
Fig. 6.2
State and explain how the ray of red light travels through the glass fibre as shown in Fig. 6.2.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [3]
[Total: 6]
© UCLES 2023 0625/32/M/J/23
9
7 A student uses a permanent magnet to lift some unmagnetised nails. Some of the nails are made
of iron and some are made of steel. Fig. 7.1 shows the magnet lifting the nails.
N magnet S
iron
steel nails
nails
Fig. 7.1
(a) (i) Each nail lifts the nail below it by induced magnetism.
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) The student leaves the nails attached to the magnet for several hours, then removes the
magnet.
State a difference between a magnetic property of the iron nails and of the steel nails.
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) A metal wire XY is connected to a voltmeter. The wire is placed between the poles of a
permanent magnet. Fig. 7.2 shows the arrangement.
X
S voltmeter
V
N
movement
Y
Fig. 7.2
(i) State the reading on the voltmeter when the wire is stationary between the poles.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Give a reason for the reading on the voltmeter when the wire is moving in the direction
shown in Fig. 7.2.
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
[Total: 5]
© UCLES 2023 0625/32/M/J/23 [Turn over
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8 A student uses the circuit in Fig. 8.1 to measure the resistance of the heater in the circuit.
variable
resistor
heater
Fig. 8.1
(a) The symbols for the meters in Fig. 8.1 are incomplete.
Complete the symbols for the two meters by writing in the circles in Fig. 8.1. [2]
(b) The current in the heater is 1.4 A and the potential difference (p.d.) across the heater is 8.0 V.
(c) The heater is switched on for 30 s. The current in the heater is 1.4 A and the p.d. across it is
8.0 V.
[Total: 8]
9 A student has a desktop computer that connects to the 240 V a.c. mains electrical supply. Fig. 9.1
shows the desktop computer.
desktop
computer
Fig. 9.1
(a) The desktop computer has an on-off switch in one of the wires that connect it to the mains
supply.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [3]
(b) The desktop computer uses a transformer to change the 240 V a.c. voltage to a 12 V a.c.
voltage.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Describe the construction of this transformer. You may include a labelled diagram.
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [4]
[Total: 8]
10 Iodine-131 is a radioactive isotope of the element iodine. Fig. 10.1 shows the nuclide notation for
a nucleus of iodine-131.
131
I
53
Fig. 10.1
(b) When a nucleus of iodine-131 decays, it emits a beta (β)-particle and a gamma (γ) ray.
A beta-particle is .......................................................................................................................
Calculate the mass of iodine-131 remaining in the sample after 24.0 days.
[Total: 7]
11 Fig. 11.1 shows the Sun and the four innermost planets, A, B, C, and D, of the Solar System.
(a) In Table 11.1, write the names of the innermost planets. One is done for you.
Table 11.1
(b) Describe how the four innermost planets of the Solar System were formed.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [4]
[Total: 6]
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