3 The speed v of a liquid leaving a tube depends on the change in pressure ∆P and the density ρ of the

liquid. The speed is given by the equation

n
∆P
v=k ρ

where k is a constant that has no units.

What is the value of n ?

A B 1 C D 2

© UCLES 2014
 9702/11/M/J/14
4

1 The maximum theoretical power P of a wind turbine is given by the equation

P = kρAv n

where ρ is the density of air, A is the area swept by the turbine blades, v is the speed of the air
and k is a constant with no units.

What is the value of n ?

A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4
9702/12/M/J/14
12

18 Which statement about molecules in a gas is correct?

A In Brownian motion experiments, the molecules can be seen moving randomly in all directions.

B The pressure exerted by a gas is caused by molecules bouncing against each other and changing
kinetic energy.

C The pressure exerted by a gas is caused by molecules rebounding from the walls of a container and
changing momentum.

D When the average speed of the molecules in a closed container increases, the density must also
increase.

19 The diagram shows the atoms of a substance with the atoms at the corners of a cube. The average
separation of the atoms at a particular temperature is 15 nm.
15 nm

When the temperature changes so that the average separation becomes 17 nm, by which factor will the
density of the substance change?

A 0.61 B 0.69 C 0.78 D 0.88

Space for working

© UCLES 2014
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15

Space for working

9702/13/O/N/14 [Turn over

16

20 A student is studying Brownian motion.

© UCLES 2014
 Using a microscope, she observes particles of smoke in a glass container, illuminated by a strong light. The
particles of smoke have a zig-zag path, constantly changing speed and direction.

What happens to the smoke particles if the air in the container is heated?

A The smoke particles become easier to see.

B The smoke particles change direction more frequently.

C The smoke particles increase in volume.

D The smoke particles move further apart.

21 The diagram shows two liquids, labelled P and Q, which do not mix. The liquids are in equilibrium in an
open U-tube.

P
x

x Q

density of P
What is the ratio ?
density of Q

A B C D 2

Space for working

© UCLES 2014
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© UCLES 2014
 10

20 Descriptions of three different types of material are listed.

1 a polycrystalline material made up of large numbers of small crystals

2 an amorphous material with little or no ordered arrangement of molecules

3 a polymeric material consisting of long chains of molecules

Which row correctly matches the descriptions to nylon, copper and glass?

1 2 3
A copper glass nylon
B copper nylon glass
C glass nylon copper
D nylon copper glass

21 The diagram shows the arrangement of atoms in a particular crystal.

Each atom is at the corner of a cube.

The mass of each atom is 3.5 × 10–25 kg. The density of the crystal is 9.2 × 103 kg m–3.

What is the shortest distance between the centres of two adjacent atoms?

A 3.8 × 10–29 m

B 6.2 × 10–15 m

C 3.4 × 10–10 m

D 3.0 × 10–9 m

© UCLES 2015
 9702/11/M/J/15
17 C 4.4 J D
4.6 J

B 4.3 J

18

molecules in ice
travel more slowly
than those in water
B a regular pattern of molecules in molecules in ice
ice but not in water travel more slowly
than those in water
C a regular pattern
of molecules in both ice and water molecules in
both ice and
D a regular pattern
water have
of molecules in both ice and water
the same
11 average
speed

20 The maximum pressure that granite rock can withstand is 2.0 × 108 N m–2. Above this pressure, the rock
begins to flow like a liquid. The density of granite is 2.7 × 103 kg m–3.

What would be the height of a pure granite mountain whose base is just beginning to flow?

A 3.8 × 103 m B 7.6 × 103 m C 3.7 × 104 m D 7.4 × 104 m

© UCLES 2015
 wooden block
of mass 95 g

impact bracket
velocity
4.0 m 200 m s–1

bullet
of mass 5.0 g

9702/12/M/J/15 [Turn over

14 Four cuboids with identical length, breadth and height are immersed in water. The cuboids are held
at the same depth and in identical orientations by vertical rods, as shown.

W X Y Z

4ρ 2ρ ρ 0.5ρ

Water has density ρ.

Cuboid W is made of material of density 4ρ.
Cuboid X is made of material of density 2ρ.
Cuboid Y is made of material of density ρ.
Cuboid Z is made of material of density 0.5ρ.

Which statement is correct?

A The upthrust of the water on each of the cuboids is the same.

B The upthrust of the water on W is twice the upthrust of the water on X. C The upthrust of the water

on X is twice the upthrust of the water on W.

D The upthrust of the water on Y is zero.

© UCLES 2015 9702/13/M/J/15

 9

15 An air bubble in a tank of water is rising with constant velocity. The forces acting on the bubble are X, Y and
Z as shown.

velocity
air
bubble
Y

What describes the three forces?

A Z is the viscous drag on the bubble, Y is the weight of the bubble, X is the upthrust on the bubble and
X = Y + Z.

B Z is the viscous drag on the bubble, Y is the weight of the bubble, X is the upthrust on the bubble and
X > Y + Z.

C Z is the weight of the bubble, Y is the viscous drag on the bubble, X is the upthrust on the bubble and
X = Y + Z. D Z is the weight of the bubble, Y is the viscous drag on the bubble, X is the upthrust on the
bubble and X > Y + z

© UCLES 2015 9702/13/M/J/15

 [Turn over
21 A W-shaped tube contains two amounts of mercury, each open to the atmosphere. Air at pressure P is
trapped in between them. The diagram shows two vertical distances x and y.

atmospheric atmospheric
pressure pressure

air at NOT TO
pressure P SCALE

x
y
50 mm

mercury

Atmospheric pressure is equal to the pressure that would be exerted by a column of mercury of height 760
mm. The pressure P is expressed in this way.

Which values of x, y and P are possible?

P / mm of
x / mm y / mm mercury

A 20 20 780

B 20 30 780

C 30 20 810

D 30 30 790

© UCLES 2015 9702/13/M/J/15

 12

T T

19

© UCLES 2015 9702/11/O/N/15

A U-tube closed at one end contains mercury. Air at a pressure of 5.0 × 104 Pa is trapped at the closed end. The
other end is open to the atmosphere and is fitted with a piston of mass 5.0 kg and cross-sectional area 5.0
× 10–4 m2.

The density of mercury is 13 600 kg m–3 and atmospheric pressure is 1.01 × 105 Pa.

trapped air at
pressure 5.0 × 104 Pa

area
5.0 × 10–4 m2 h

piston of mass
5.0 kg

mercury

What is the height h of the mercury column?

© UCLES 2015 9702/13/M/J/15

 11

18 An electric railway locomotive has a maximum mechanical output power of 4.0 MW. Electrical power is
delivered at 25 kV from overhead wires. The overall efficiency of the locomotive in converting electrical
power to mechanical power is 80 %.

What is the current from the overhead wires when the locomotive is operating at its maximum power?

A 130 A B 160 A C 200 A D 250 A

19 The table summarises some descriptions of evaporation.

Which row of the table is correct?

involves a reduction in the

involves a change in state occurs at a fixed
average kinetic energy
from liquid to vapour temperature
of the remaining atoms

A true true true B true false true

C true false false

D false true false

20 The diagram shows the cross-section of an Olympic-size swimming pool filled with water. It is not drawn to
scale. The density of the water is 1000 kg m–3.
water
50 m

2.35 m 2.00 m
Y
X

6.00 m bottom
of pool

What is the difference in pressure between X and Y?

A 0.35 kPa B 3.4 kPa C 21.3 kPa D 58.9 kPa

© UCLES 2015 9702/13/O/N/15

 [Turn over
18 Brownian motion can be demonstrated by illuminating smoke particles inside a closed, transparent
container. When the particles are viewed using a microscope, bright specks of light are observed to move
with constant, random motion.

What cannot be inferred from this observation?

A Air molecules are in constant motion.

B Air molecules are in random motion.

C Air pressure is due to air molecules colliding with the container. D The mass of an air molecule is

much less than the mass of a smoke particle.

19 A U-tube has one arm of area of cross-section A and the other of cross-section 4A. The tube contains water
of density 1000 kg m–3 and oil of density 850 kg m–3, as shown.

oil
x
30.0 cm

water

The column of oil on top of the water in the left-hand arm is of length 30.0 cm.

What is the difference in height x between the levels in the two arms of the tube?

A 4.5 cm B 6.2 cm C 23.8 cm D 25.5 cm

 12

10

13 A solid metal cylinder stands on a horizontal surface, as shown.

area A

cylinder
x

surface

The cylinder has length x and cross-sectional area A. The cylinder exerts a pressure p on the surface. The
acceleration of free fall is g.

Which expression gives the density of the metal of the cylinder?

gx p gx pA
A B C D p gx pA gx

cab

trailer X

30 kN
10 m 10 m

4 40

30

20

© UCLES 2015 9702/15/O/N/15

© UCLES 2016 9702/11/M/J/16
 12
13 In a large container in an oil refinery, three oils of different densities are mixed. No chemical activity occurs.

The mixture consists of

1200 kg of oil of density 1100 kg m–3,

1500 kg of oil of density 860 kg m–3, 4000 kg

of oil of density 910 kg m–3.

What is the density of the mixture?

A
B C
D

15 The density of air on the Earth decreases almost linearly with height from 1.22 kg m–3 at sea level to 0.74 kg
m–3 at an altitude of 5000 m.

Atmospheric pressure at the Earth’s surface on a particular day is 100 000 Pa. The value of g between the
Earth’s surface and an altitude of 5000 m can be considered to have a constant value of 9.7 m s–2.

What will be the atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 5000 m?

A 36 000 Pa B 48 000 Pa C 52 000 Pa D 59 000 Pa

© UCLES 2016 9702/12/M/J/16

20 Which condition must apply for the work done by an expanding gas to be p V, where p is the
pressure of the gas and V is its change in volume?

A No thermal energy must be supplied to the gas.

B The expansion must be at a constant rate.

C The pressure must be constant.

D The temperature of the gas must be constant.

© UCLES 2016 9702/11/O/N/16

FR

0
t1 t2 time t

\\

14 Which diagram best shows the forces acting on a ball falling at a constant velocity through a liquid?

A B C D

upthrustviscousviscousupthrust dragdrag
upthrustviscous
drag

weightweightweightweight
© UCLES 2016 9702/12/O/N/16
10 A metal cylinder is suspended vertically in equilibrium by a cord. The diagram shows the cylinder in four
different positions P, Q, R and S.

T T T T

water
P metal cylinder

Which statement explains the variation of the tension T in the cord?

A At P and at Q, the tension T in the cord is the same because the difference in pressure between the
top and bottom of the cylinder is the same.

B At Q, the tension T in the cord is less than at P because, at smaller depth, liquid pressure is smaller.

C At R, the tension T in the cord is less than at P because atmospheric pressure is less than water
pressure.

D At S, the tension T in the cord is greater than at P because atmospheric pressure at S exerts no force
on the top or bottom of the cylinder.

© UCLES 2017
 9702/12/M/J/17

A s–2 B kg2 s–2 C kg2 m2 s–2 D m2 s–2

© UCLES 2017
 9702/12/M/J/17 [Turn over

0.40 m 0.20 m

0.35 m 0.15 m

3.0 kg P 6.0 kg
centre of beam
of mass 1.4 kg

12 An air bubble is rising through a liquid at a constant speed. The forces on it are the upthrust U, the viscous
drag D and its weight W.

Which diagram shows the directions and relative sizes of the forces?

A B C D

U U U
U
D

WW
D
D W
D
W

© UCLES 2017
 9702/13/M/J/17
The diagram represents a sphere under water. P, Q, R and S are forces acting on the sphere due to the
pressure of the water.
water surface

S Q

Each force acts perpendicularly to the sphere’s surface. P and R act in opposite directions vertically. Q and
S act in opposite directions horizontally.

Which information about the magnitudes of the forces is correct?

A P < R and S = Q

B P > R and S = Q

C P = R and S = Q and P < S

© UCLES 2017
 9702/13/M/J/17 [Turn over

© UCLES 2017
 8

12 A block is submerged vertically in a liquid. The four diagrams show, to scale, the forces exerted
by the liquid on the block.

Which diagram correctly shows a possible situation as viewed from the side?

© UCLES 2017
 9702/11/O/N/17

10 Two blocks of masses M and m are joined by a thin string which passes over a frictionless pulley,
as shown.

pulley

a string
M

m a

The acceleration of free fall is g.

What is the acceleration a of the two blocks?

A (M + m) B (M – m) C M D m
g g g g
(M – m) (M + m) m M

11 The diagram shows a block of copper suspended in water.

face S

face R

The block experiences an upthrust from the water.

Which statement is the basis of an explanation for this upthrust?

A Copper is more dense than water.

B The area of face R is greater than the area of face S.

C The density of water increases with depth.

D The pressure of water increases with depth.

© UCLES 2017
 9702/12/O/N/17
11

15 Air is trapped inside a glass bulb which is immersed in water and attached to a U-tube containing
mercury. The densities of water and mercury are w and m respectively. The surface of the water
is open to the atmosphere where atmospheric pressure is P.
atmospheric pressure P
water surface
glass bulb

water
density ρρw air hw

hm

U-tube

mercury
density ρρm

The acceleration of free fall is g.

What is the pressure of the air in the glass bulb?

A P + g whw + g mhm

B P + g whw – g mhm

C g whw + g mhm

D g whw – g mhm

© UCLES 2017
 v h

P Q

B 1
2
mv 2 C mgh D 2mgh

9702/12 /O/N/17 [Turn over

9

16 A car of total mass 1560 kg is travelling with a constant speed of 32 m s–1. The driving force
provided by the car is 680 N. The kinetic energy of the car is 800 kJ and its momentum is
50 000 N s.

Which two items of data could be used to calculate the useful power output of the car?

A driving force and momentum

B kinetic energy and mass

C mass and momentum
D speed and driving force

17 A horizontal cylinder of cross-sectional area A is fitted with a frictionless piston and contains air at
pressure P. It is immersed in hot water and the length of the air column increases from x to y.
The pressure P is constant.

water water

air at air at
pressure pressure
P P

x y
piston piston

Which equation represents the work done by the trapped air during this process?

A PAy B –PAy C PA(y – x) D –PA(y – x)

© UCLES 2017
18 A trolley rolls along a horizontal surface and then travels up a slope before reaching a second
horizontal surface. The slope is of length L. The trolley has mass M. The slope is at an angle to
the horizontal surface. The second horizontal surface is at height h above the first surface.

L
M h
α

Assume negligible frictional forces. The acceleration of free fall is known.

In order to determine the minimum initial velocity of the trolley for it to reach the top of the slope,
which additional values are needed?

A h and M B M, L and h C , L, M D h only

9702/13/O/N/17 [Turn over

© UCLES 2017
 8

11 Blocks P, Q, R and S are made from material of the same density. Block T is made from a
material of twice the density of the material of the other blocks.

The cross-sectional area and height of each of the blocks are shown.

2h R 2h S

h P h Q h T

ground
A 2A A 2A A

Which two blocks exert the same pressure on the ground?

A P and T B Q and R C Q and S D S and T

12 Two parallel forces, each of magnitude F, act on a rod of length 5d.

Which diagram shows the positions of the two forces that will produce the largest torque on the
rod?

A B
F
d

F F F

C D
F
2d

2d
F F F

© UCLES 2018
 9702/11/M/J/18

10 The density of water is 1.0 g cm–3 and the density of glycerine is 1.3 g cm–3.

Water is added to a measuring cylinder containing 40 cm3 of glycerine so that the density of the
mixture is 1.1 g cm–3. Assume that the mixing process does not change the total volume of the
liquid.

What is the volume of water added?

A 40 cm3 B 44 cm3 C 52 cm3 D 80 cm3

11 An astronaut throws a stone horizontally near to the surface of the Moon, where there is no
atmosphere.

Which row describes the horizontal and vertical forces acting on the stone after release?

horizontal force vertical force

A non-zero and constant constant

B non-zero and constant decreasing
C zero constant
D zero decreasing

12 A cylindrical block of wood has cross-sectional area A and weight W. It is totally immersed in
water with its axis vertical. The block experiences pressures pt and pb at its top and bottom
surfaces respectively.

Which expression is equal to the upthrust on the block?

A (pb – pt)
B (pb – pt)A
C (pb – pt)A – W
D (pb – pt)A + W

© UCLES 2018 9702/13/M/J/18

 9702/12/M/J/18

10 Four cuboids with identical lengths, breadths and heights are immersed in water. The cuboids
are
held at the same depth and in identical orientations by vertical rods, as shown.

W X Y Z

4ρ 2ρ ρ 0.5ρ

Water has density .

Cuboid W is made of material of density 4 .
Cuboid X is made of material of density 2 .
Cuboid Y is made of material of density .
Cuboid Z is made of material of density 0.5 .

Which statement is correct?

A The upthrust of the water on each of the cuboids is the same.

B The upthrust of the water on W is twice the upthrust of the water on X. C The

upthrust of the water on X is twice the upthrust of the water on W. D The upthrust

of the water on Y is zero.

© UCLES 2018
 [Turn over

© UCLES 2018 9702/13/M/J/18

 8

11 A rectangular block of lead of density 1.13 × 104 kg m–3 has sides of length 12.0 cm, 15.0 cm and
10.0 cm.

What is the maximum pressure the block can exert when resting on a table?

A 1.13 kPa B 1.70 kPa C 11.1 kPa D 16.6 kPa

12 Which diagram shows a couple formed by two forces, each of magnitude F, acting on a rod?

A B
F

F F F

C F D

F F

13 Full-fat milk is made up of fat-free milk mixed with fat.

A volume of 1.000 × 10–3 m3 of full-fat milk has a mass of 1.035 kg. It contains 4.00% fat by
volume.

The density of fat-free milk is 1.040 × 103 kg m–3.

What is the density of fat?

A 1.25 × 102 kg m–3

B 9.15 × 102 kg m–3

C 9.28 × 102 kg m–3

D 1.16 × 103 kg m–3

14
15
16
17

© UCLES 2018 9702/13/M/J/18

18 Gas is trapped inside a cylinder by a piston of cross-sectional area A. The piston is not
frictionless.
P r Q

gas
atmospheric
pressure

The gas is heated and this causes it to expand, pushing back the piston through distance r from
position P to position Q. The length of the gas column is then s.

Which expression represents the amount of work done by the gas against the atmosphere during
this expansion?

A (atmospheric pressure) × Ar

B (atmospheric pressure) × As

C (pressure inside the gas) × Ar

D (pressure inside the gas) × As

[Turn over

© UCLES 2018 9702/13/M/J/18

 9

13 A vertical tube, closed at one end, is immersed in water. A column of air is trapped inside the tube.
water surface
20.0 cm
water
30.0 cm air

30.0 cm vertical tube

The density of water is 1000 kg m–3.

What is the difference between the pressure of the air in the tube and the atmospheric pressure?

A 1960 Pa B 2940 Pa C 4910 Pa D 7850 Pa

9702/11/O/N/18 [Turn over

© UCLES 2018
 8

pulley
cable

35°

35°
jib cable
1830 N

14 What is a unit for density?

A N m–3 B g mm–1 C kg cm–2 D μg mm–3

© UCLES 2018
 9702/13/O/N/18

12 A cylindrical iceberg of height H floats in sea water. The top of the iceberg is at height h above the
surface of the water.

iceberg

h
H
sea water

The density of ice is i and the density of sea water is w.

What is the height h of the iceberg above the sea water?

iH i1 wH iH
A1 B H C D
w w i w

F
pivot
tap

d d
F

© UCLES 2019
 9702/11/M/J/19

10

15 A volume of 1.5 m3 of water is mixed with 0.50 m3 of alcohol. The density of water is 1000 kg m–3
and the density of alcohol is 800 kg m–3.

The volume of the mixture is 2.0 m3.

What is the density of the mixture?

A 850 kg m–3 B 900 kg m–3 C 940 kg m–3 D 950 kg m–3

input power

© UCLES 2019
 9702/12/M/J/19

12

21 The diagram shows the arrangement of atoms in a particular crystal.

Each atom is at the corner of a cube.

The mass of each atom is 3.5 × 10–25 kg. The density of the crystal is 9.2 × 103 kg m–3.

What is the shortest distance between the centres of two adjacent atoms?

A 3.8 × 10–29 m

B 6.2 × 10–15 m

C 3.4 × 10–10 m

D 3.0 × 10–9 m

© UCLES 2019
 A B

stress loading stress loading

unloading

0 0
0 strain 0 strain

C D

stress loading stress loading

unloading

unloading

0 0
0 strain 0 strain

9702/12/M/J/19
9

15 N

15.0 cm 5.0 cm

15 N

A 0.75 N m B 1.50 N m C 3.00 N m D 5.25 N m

14 Water has a density of 1.0 g cm–3.

Glycerine has a density of 1.3 g cm–3.

A student measures out a volume of 40 cm3 of glycerine into a container.

The student adds water to the container to make a mixture of water and glycerine. Assume that
the total volume of water and glycerine does not change when the two liquids are mixed.

Which volume of water needs to be added to make a mixture of density 1.1 g cm–3?

A 4.0 cm3 B 8.0 cm3 C 34 cm3 D 80 cm3

© UCLES 2019
 9702/13/M/J/19 [Turn over

© UCLES 2019