Physics Paper 2

Question 1

What is a force?

Answer 1

A push or pull acting on an object due to interaction.

Question 2

What unit is force measured in?

Answer 2

Newtons (N).

Question 3

What can a force do to an object?

Answer 3

Change its speed, direction, shape, or cause it to stay still.

Question 4

What are contact forces?

Answer 4

Forces that occur when two objects are physically touching, like friction and air resistance.

Question 5

What are non-contact forces?

Answer 5

Forces that act at a distance, like gravity and magnetism.

Question 6

What’s the difference between scalar and vector quantities?

Answer 6

Scalar has size only; vector has size and direction.

Question 7

What is mass?

Answer 7

The amount of matter in an object (measured in kg).

Question 8

What is weight?

Answer 8

The force due to gravity acting on an object.

Question 9

What is a resultant force?

Answer 9

A single force that represents the combined effect of all forces acting on an object.

Question 10

What happens if the resultant force on an object is zero?

Answer 10

The object remains at rest or moves at constant speed.

Question 11

What is work done?

Answer 11

When a force moves an object and transfers energy.

Question 12

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic deformation?

Answer 12

Elastic returns to original shape; inelastic does not.

Question 13

What does a straight line on a distance–time graph mean?

Answer 13

Constant speed.

Question 14

What does a flat line on a distance–time graph mean?

Answer 14

The object is stationary.

Question 15

What does the slope on a velocity–time graph represent?

Answer 15

Acceleration.

Question 16

What does the area under a velocity–time graph show?

Answer 16

Distance travelled.

Question 17

What is stopping distance?

Answer 17

Thinking distance + braking distance.

Question 18

What factors affect thinking distance?

Answer 18

Reaction time, tiredness, alcohol, distractions.

Question 19

What factors affect braking distance?

Answer 19

Speed, road conditions, brakes, tyres.

Question 20

What is a wave?

Answer 20

A disturbance that transfers energy without transferring matter.

Question 21

What are the two main types of waves?

Answer 21

Transverse and longitudinal.

Question 22

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 22

Vibrations are at right angles to the direction of wave travel.

Question 23

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 23

Vibrations are in the same direction as the wave travels.

Question 24

Give examples of transverse waves.

Answer 24

Light, water waves, electromagnetic waves.

Question 25

Give examples of longitudinal waves.

Answer 25

Sound waves, ultrasound, seismic P-waves.

Question 26

What is amplitude?

Answer 26

The maximum displacement from the rest position.

Question 27

What is wavelength?

Answer 27

The distance from one peak to the next.

Question 28

What is frequency?

Answer 28

The number of waves per second (measured in Hz).

Question 29

What is reflection?

Answer 29

When a wave bounces off a surface.

Question 30

What is refraction?

Answer 30

When a wave changes direction due to a change in speed in a different medium.

Question 31

What happens to sound waves in solids?

Answer 31

They travel faster and can cause vibrations.

Question 32

What is ultrasound used for?

Answer 32

Medical imaging and detecting faults in materials.

Question 33

What are P-waves?

Answer 33

Longitudinal seismic waves that travel through solids and liquids

Question 34

What are S-waves?

Answer 34

Transverse seismic waves that travel through solids only.

Question 35

What is a magnetic field?

Answer 35

The area around a magnet where magnetic forces act.

Question 36

Which materials are magnetic?

Answer 36

Iron, steel, cobalt, nickel.

Question 37

Which direction do magnetic field lines go?

Answer 37

From north to south.

Question 38

What is a permanent magnet?

Answer 38

A magnet that produces its own magnetic field all the time.

Question 39

What is an induced magnet?

Answer 39

A material that becomes magnetic when placed in a magnetic field.

Question 40

What does the Earth act like?

Answer 40

A giant bar magnet with magnetic north and south poles.

Question 41

What is a solenoid?

Answer 41

A coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when current flows through it.

Question 42

How can you make a solenoid stronger?

Answer 42

Add an iron core, increase current, or add more turns.

Question 43

What is an electromagnet?

Answer 43

A magnet made using electricity.

Question 44

Name some uses of electromagnets.

Answer 44

Electric bells, motors, cranes, MRI machines.

Question 45

What is the motor effect?

Answer 45

A force on a wire carrying current in a magnetic field.

Question 46

What can change the direction of the motor effect?

Answer 46

Reversing the current or the magnetic field.

Question 47

How do loudspeakers work?

Answer 47

They use electromagnets to convert electrical signals into sound waves using the motor effect.