Topic 12: past paper questions
Real questions on topic 12
The newest 20 of 66 written questions, plus 33 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[1]
the height of the ball above the ground when it is released by the athlete. height above the ground = m
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[1]
the time taken for the ball to land on the ground. time taken = s
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[1]
Explain how the graph shows that the speed of the ball is changing.
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[3]
The ball travels a horizontal distance of 19.3 m. Use your answer to (a)(ii) in your calculation and give your answer to 2 significant figures. average speed = m / s Calculate the average horizontal speed of the ball.
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q10b[2]
Describe two effects of introducing non‑native species into ecosystems.
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · October/November 2025 · Q3b(i)[1]
Calculate the average time t av for the ball to roll down the track. Record your answer here and in Table 3.1 on page 10. t av = s
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · October/November 2025 · Q3c(i)[3]
On the grid provided, plot a graph of h on the x-axis against average speed on the y-axis. You do not have to start your graph at (0, 0). Include the value of h that you measured and the average speed that you calculated for d = 100 cm in your graph. Draw the line of best fit through your points. average speed cm / s h...
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q8[4]
Petroleum is a mixture of different hydrocarbons. Complete the sentences about petroleum. Petroleum is separated into useful fractions by . Refinery gas is a fraction used in homes for . The complete combustion of refinery gas forms water and .
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q13a[1]
Describe the role of a decomposer.
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q13b[4]
Outline two consequences of deforestation and explain how each one arises after deforestation has occurred. consequence explanation consequence explanation
See it on the paper → - 5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q13c[1]
State one way other than deforestation in which human activity harms ecosystems.
See it on the paper → - 5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q12a[2]
Some road signs are designed to reflect the light from a car’s headlamps back towards the car. Fig. 12.1 shows one of many glass beads on the surface of a road sign. The arrows show the path of a ray from the headlamp of a car passing into the glass bead and incident on its reflecting surface. glass bead incident ray r...
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · October/November 2024 · Q3c[1]
The student varies the height from which the ball is dropped and measures the horizontal distance between the point on the ramp where the ball bounces and the point on the floor where the ball lands. Fig. 3.3 shows the graph of her results. 70 60 50 horizontal distance / cm 40 30 20 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Fig. 3.3 Des...
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · October/November 2024 · Q1a[3]
On Fig. 1.1, draw a straight line from P 1 through P 2 to a point on the face AB of the block and label this point E. Draw another straight line from P 4 through P 3 to a point on the face DC of the block and label this point F. Draw a straight line from point E to point F. At point E, draw a vertical line, of length 5...
See it on the paper → - 5129/32 · October/November 2024 · Q1b[2]
Measure: the angle θ i between the line NE and the line P 1 E θ i = ° the angle θ r between the line GE and the line EF.
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · May/June 2024 · Q3a[1]
Measure and record the unstretched length l 0 of the spring shown in Fig. 3.1. l 0 = mm
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · May/June 2024 · Q3b[1]
A student hangs the spring from a clamp attached to a stand and attaches a load of 1 N as shown in Fig. 3.2. stand l 1 load Fig. 3.2 (not to scale) The new length l 1 of the spring is 53 mm. Calculate the extension x of the spring using the equation x = l 1 – l 0 . x = mm
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · May/June 2024 · Q3c[3]
The student investigates the oscillation of the load on the spring. The student: • • • • • • • pulls down on the load to extend the spring by another 5 mm releases the load so that it moves up and down (oscillates) on the spring measures the time t 20 for 20 complete oscillations calculates the period T for 1 oscillati...
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · May/June 2024 · Q3d[3]
On the grid provided in Fig. 3.3, plot a graph of the load on the x-axis against T 2 on the y-axis. Start your graph at (0,0). Draw the straight line of best fit through your points. T 2 load / N Fig. 3.3
See it on the paper → - 5129/31 · May/June 2024 · Q3e[1]
Suggest one practical reason why the student must not put more than a 5 N load on the spring.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Many candidates were uncertain how to calculate the volume of the block but were able to substitute their value into the equation for density and gain some of the marks. There were also errors in determining the unit even among candidates that performed the calculation correctly.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5129/22 Q4(a) (Cambridge)
Most candidates found this question demanding. This is an example of proportional reasoning in problem solving. 7.5 kg causes a 6 cm extension. Therefore, 5 kg causes only two-thirds of the extension.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5129/22 Q4(b) (Cambridge)
Candidates must be discouraged from discussing costs when identifying advantages and disadvantages. Claiming that a source of energy is cheap or expensive does not gain credit.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 5129/22 Q7(a) (Cambridge)
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