Cambridge IGCSE™

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PHYSICS 0625/32
Paper 3 Theory (Core) May/June 2020

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

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 10 N (acceleration of free fall = 10 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 [ ].

This document has 16 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (CJ/CB) 191838/3
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1 Some students observe drops of water falling from a tap that leaks, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

(a) The students measure the time for 50 drops to fall from the tap. The time for 50 drops to fall is
20 s.

Calculate the average time between two drops falling.

average time = ..................................................... s [2]

(b) The students collect some drops of water.

(i) The students measure the volume of the water they collect.

State the term for the equipment that is suitable for measuring the volume accurately.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) In a similar experiment, another student collects 0.21 kg of water.

Calculate the weight of this water.

weight of water = .................................................... N [3]

[Total: 6]

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2 (a) Some students determine the speed of a car on a road. The students measure the time for
the car to travel 30 m along the road. The time is 5.4 s.

Calculate the average speed of the car.

average speed = ................................................ m / s [3]

(b) Another car moves at a constant speed of 16 m / s for 4.0 seconds. During the next 2.0 seconds,
the car decelerates from a speed of 16 m / s to a speed of 13 m / s. It then continues at a
constant speed of 13 m / s for 3.0 seconds.

On Fig. 2.1, plot the speed–time graph for the motion of the car during these 9.0 s.

20
speed
m/s

15

10

0
0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

time / s

Fig. 2.1
[3]

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(c) A motorcycle accelerates as shown in Fig. 2.2. Calculate the distance the motorcycle travels
while it is accelerating. Use information from Fig. 2.2.

40
speed
m/s

30

20

10

0
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
time / s

Fig. 2.2

distance travelled = .................................................... m [3]

[Total: 9]

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3 Fig. 3.1 shows an archer pulling the string of a bow.

string
arrow

fingers
on string
hand
pushing
bow

archer bow

Fig. 3.1

(a) The archer uses a force of 120 N. The force acts on an area of 0.5 cm2 on the archer’s fingers.

Calculate the pressure on the archer’s fingers.

pressure on fingers = ............................................ N / cm2 [3]

(b) The archer’s other hand is pushing the bow with the same force of 120 N. This force acts on a
larger area than the force in (a).

State whether the pressure on this hand is greater than, the same as or less than the pressure
on the fingers holding the string.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) State the type of energy stored in the bow when the archer bends it as shown in Fig. 3.1.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 5]

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4 (a) Match each description with the correct state of matter in Table 4.1.

Write the correct letter in Table 4.1.

A – Molecules move around freely and are far apart from each other.

B – Molecules vibrate about fixed positions.

C – Molecules move around randomly and are close to each other.

Table 4.1

state of matter description

solids

liquids

gases

[2]

(b) Some students heat water in a beaker. They measure the temperature every minute. They
heat the water for 8 minutes until it boils, and then continue to heat it for a further 5 minutes.

Describe and explain how the temperature of the water changes during the 13 minutes.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 5]

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5 Fig. 5.1 shows a ray of red light passing through a semicircular glass block.

air
ray of
red light

q
p
r
s

semicircular glass block

Fig. 5.1

(a) (i) State the term for the dotted line shown in Fig. 5.1.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State which angle p, q, r or s is the angle of incidence for the ray of red light.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) State which angle p, q, r or s is the angle of refraction.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) State what happens to the speed of the red light as it enters the semicircular glass block
from the air.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(b) Fig. 5.2 shows the path of a ray of light entering a semicircular glass block. The critical angle
for the glass block is 42°.

On Fig. 5.2, continue the path of the ray. Show clearly its direction on leaving the glass block.

ray of light

62°

semicircular glass block

Fig. 5.2
[2]

(c) A ray of white light passes through two prisms as shown in Fig. 5.3.

prisms

D
E

ray of white light

Fig. 5.3

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Draw one line to link the letter for each position to the correct effect at that position.

position effect
(i)

refraction

D diffraction

total internal reflection

[1]

(ii)

reflection

E dispersion

diffraction
[1]

(iii)
red, green and blue light
only produced

F white light produced

spectrum of visible light

produced
[1]

[Total: 9]

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6 Fig. 6.1 shows a hot liquid in a vacuum flask. The vacuum flask keeps the temperature of the
liquid in the flask constant for a long time.

stopper

hot liquid shiny silver surface

vacuum (space without particles)

shiny silver surface

Fig. 6.1

(a) Describe how each feature helps to keep the liquid hot for longer.

(i) shiny silver surface

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) the vacuum between the silvered surfaces

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(b) (i) Suggest a material for the stopper that will help to keep the liquid hot for longer.

material ....................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Give a reason for your answer.

reason ...............................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 7]

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7 Fig. 7.1 shows a diagram of the main regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Two labels are
missing.

γ-rays

X-rays

ultraviolet

..................................

infrared

..................................

radio

Fig. 7.1

(a) (i) Complete the labels on Fig. 7.1. [2]

(ii) State two properties that are the same for all waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.

1. ..............................................................................

2. ..............................................................................
[2]

(b) State which region of the electromagnetic spectrum is used in each situation.

(i) detecting objects without opening baggage at a security check

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) television remote control

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) satellite television transmissions

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 7]
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8 Sound travels as a wave.

(a) Complete each sentence.

Sound is produced when an object .............................. .

An echo is produced when sound is .............................. from a hard surface.

Compared with a quiet sound, a loud sound always has a greater ........................... .

Compared with a high pitched sound, a low pitched sound always has a smaller ....................... .

Waves transfer energy without transferring ............................................................................. .

[5]

(b) State the meaning of the term ultrasound.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 6]

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9 Some students plot the magnetic field lines around a bar magnet. They have the apparatus shown
in Fig. 9.1 and a large sheet of paper.

bar magnet plotting compass pencil

Fig. 9.1

(a) Describe how the students use the apparatus in Fig. 9.1 to show the pattern of the magnetic
field lines around the bar magnet.

You may draw a diagram to assist with your description.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) Draw at least four lines above and below the bar magnet in Fig. 9.2 to show the magnetic
field around the bar magnet. Draw an arrow on the field lines to show the direction of the
magnetic field.

N S

Fig. 9.2
[3]

[Total: 6]
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10 A student connects three identical lamps J, K and L in a circuit, as shown in Fig. 10.1.

Switch S1 is open and the current in ammeter A1 = 0.2 A.

A1

K
A2

A3
L S1

Fig. 10.1

Use words from the box to complete the sentences.

Each word may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

the same increased decreased

(a) The switch S1 in Fig. 10.1 is closed. State and explain the effect on the circuit.

(i) The current in ammeter A1 is ............................ because the resistance of the whole

circuit is ............................ . [2]

(ii) The current in ammeter A2 is ............................ . [1]

(b) A student measures the potential difference (p.d.) across lamp J by using a voltmeter.

On Fig. 10.1, draw the correct electrical symbol for the voltmeter with the correct connections.
[2]

(c) The p.d. across lamp J is 3.0 V and the current shown by ammeter A3 is 0.15 A.

Calculate the resistance of lamp J. Include the unit in your answer.

resistance of lamp J = ..................... unit..................... [4]

[Total: 9]
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11 A model train uses an electric motor. The motor has a coil of wire in a magnetic field.

(a) Fig. 11.1 shows a coil of wire in a magnetic field.

north pole
south pole

N
S
current

coil of
wire

Fig. 11.1

Describe two ways of increasing the turning effect on the coil.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) The motor for the model train uses an alternating voltage of 12 V. This is supplied by the
secondary coil of a transformer.

The primary coil of the transformer is connected to a mains voltage of 240 V.

The primary coil has 900 turns.

Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil.

number of turns on the secondary coil = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 5]

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12 (a) Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon. An atom of carbon-14 has 6 protons in its
nucleus.

Another isotope of carbon is carbon-12.

(i) Determine the number of protons in a carbon-12 nucleus.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Determine the number of neutrons in a carbon-14 nucleus.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Determine the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus of a single carbon-14 atom.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Carbon-14 decays by emitting a β-particle.

State what happens to a nucleus of carbon-14 when it emits a β-particle.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) People working with radioactive sources need to take safety precautions.

(i) A shielding material can absorb ionising radiation and reduce the damage to living tissue.

State a suitable material that will absorb all types of naturally occurring nuclear radiation.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Apart from using shielding, state how a person can reduce the amount of ionising
radiation they absorb when they handle samples of radioactive substances.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 6]

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