Cambridge IGCSE™

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PHYSICS 0625/42
Paper 4 Theory (Extended) May/June 2023

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 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 [ ].

This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (CE/CT) 315744/3
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1 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows a helicopter which is stationary at a height of 1500 m above the ground.

1500 m

ground

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

(i) State the two conditions necessary for the helicopter to remain in equilibrium.

condition 1 .........................................................................................................................
no resultant force

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

condition 2 .........................................................................................................................
no resultant moment

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

(ii) The mass of the helicopter is 3200 kg.

Calculate the change in the gravitational potential energy of the helicopter as it rises
from the ground to 1500 m.

enegry= mgchange in h
=3200 x 9.8 x 1500
4.7 x 10^7 J

4.7 x 10^7 J
change in gravitational potential energy = ......................................................... [2]

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(b) Fig. 1.2 shows a vertical speed–time graph for a parachutist who jumps from a stationary
hot-air balloon.

A
3
speed 2

1
B
0
0 time

Fig. 1.2

The parachutist jumps from the balloon at time = 0 and reaches the ground at B. The point A
indicates when the parachute opens.

(i) On Fig. 1.2, label a point on the graph where the acceleration is:
• zero with ‘1’
• negative with ‘2’
• decreasing with ‘3’. [3]

(ii) Explain, in terms of forces, the changes in motion which occur from when the parachutist
leaves the hot-air balloon until point A.

...........................................................................................................................................
Initially there is acceleration due to weight, then air
resistance increases as speed increases, as air resistance
...........................................................................................................................................
increases resultant froce downwards decreases. Constant
speed when air resistance = weight / gravitational force
...........................................................................................................................................

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

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

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

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

..................................................................................................................................... [4]

[Total: 11]

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2 A student catches a cricket ball. The speed of the ball immediately before it is caught is 18 m / s.
The mass of the cricket ball is 160 g.

(a) Calculate the kinetic energy stored in the cricket ball immediately before it is caught.

kinetic energy= 1/2 x m x v^2

= 1/2 x 0.16 x 18^2
=26J

26 J
kinetic energy = ......................................................... [3]

(b) It takes 0.12 s to catch the ball and bring it to rest.

Calculate the average force exerted on the ball.

F x time=change of mass x velo

f= (0.16 x 18) / 0.12
= 24N

24N
average force = ......................................................... [2]

(c) As the student catches the ball, she moves her hands backwards.

Explain the effect of this action on the student’s hands.

longer time of impact and smaller force on them
...................................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 6]

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3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows a person moving across an ice-covered pond to reach a ball on the ice.

ball

ice

Fig. 3.1

Explain why this way of moving across the ice is safer than walking. Use your understanding
of pressure in your answer.
p = f/a
...................................................................................................................................................
greter area, force is same so pressure is lower so ice is less
likely to crack
...................................................................................................................................................

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

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

(b) Fig. 3.2 shows a side view of the pond with a layer of ice floating freely on the water.

ice
pond
0.45 m
water
X

Fig. 3.2

The surface area of the pond is 5.0 m2.

The mass of the ice is 690 kg.
The density of water is 1000 kg / m3.
Point X is 0.45 m below the ice.

Calculate the pressure at point X due to the ice and the water.

p=pgh
1000 x 9.8 x 0.45
=4410
W=mg
690 x 9.8
= 6762
6762 / 5 = 1352.4
4410 + 1352.4 =5762.4 Pa
5762.4 Pa
pressure = ......................................................... [4]

[Total: 7]
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4 (a) The temperature of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume is decreased.

State and explain, in terms of particles, how the pressure of the gas changes.

pressure decreases and particles have smaller velocity, lower

...................................................................................................................................................
rate of collision of particles, particles collide with smaller force
...................................................................................................................................................

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

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

(b) (i) State the value of absolute zero in °C.

-273
value of absolute zero = .................................................... °C [1]

(ii) Explain what is meant by the term absolute zero. Refer to particles in your answer.

Particles have least kinetic energy, lowest possible temperature

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

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

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

(c) Cylinder 1 contains 350 cm3 of gas at a pressure of 9.0 × 104 Pa. The gas is transferred to
cylinder 2 and the pressure increases to 1.6 × 105 Pa. The temperature remains constant.

Calculate the volume of cylinder 2.

PV=constant
9 x 10^4 x 350 = 1.6 x 10^5 x V
V= 200cm^3

200cm^3
volume = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 9]

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5 (a) Fig. 5.1 shows an electric heater used to heat a room.

Fig. 5.1

The dimensions of the room are 4.5 m × 6.1 m × 2.4 m.

The density of air is 1.2 kg / m3.

(i) Show that the mass of air in the room is 79 kg.

p=m/v
1.2 = m / 4.5 x 6.1 x 2.4
m= 79kg

[2]

(ii) The power of the heater is 1100 W. The specific heat capacity of air is 1000 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the time taken to increase the temperature of the air in the room from 16.0 °C
to 20.0 °C.
energy = mass x specfic energy x change in temp
enegry = 79 x 1000 x 4
enegry = 316000

energy= power x time

time = 1100 x 316000
= 287 s

287 s
time = ......................................................... [4]

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(iii) Suggest one reason why the time calculated in (a)(ii) is the minimum time needed to
increase the temperature of the air in the room from 16.0 °C to 20.0 °C.

thermal energy is transferred to walls in the room

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

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

(b) Fig. 5.2 shows a cross-section of a double-glazed window in the room.

outer
glass
pane

narrow air gap

inner glass pane

Fig. 5.2

State the main methods of thermal energy transfer from the room to outside which are
reduced by this type of window.

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

[Total: 8]

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6 Two types of seismic waves are P-waves and S-waves.

(a) State the types of wave that P-waves and S-waves can be modelled as.

longitudinal
P-waves ....................................................................................................................................

transverse
S-waves ....................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) The velocity of a P-wave in the Earth’s solid crust is 7.2 km / s and its frequency is 4.5 Hz.

Calculate the wavelength of this P-wave.

v=f x wavelength

7.2 / 4.5
=1.6km

1.6km
wavelength = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 5]

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7 Fig. 7.1 shows a container of oil.

container x
oil

Fig. 7.1

A ray of light shines on the surface of the oil. The refractive index of the oil is 1.47.

(a) On Fig. 7.1, draw the normal at the point where the ray enters the oil. [1]

(b) The angle x is 56°.

Calculate the value of the angle of refraction.

n= sin i /sin r
1.47= sin (56 - 34) / sin r
r= 22

22
angle of refraction = ......................................................... [3]

(c) State the approximate speed of light in air.

3.0 x 10^8 m/s
............................................................................................................................................. [1]

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(d) Calculate the speed of light in the oil.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

n = speed of light in air / speed of light in oil

1.47= 3 x 10^8 / x
x= 2.04 x 10^8 m/s

2.04 x 10^8 m/s

speed = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 7]

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8 (a) (i) State what is meant by a magnetic field.

region in which a magnetic pole experiences a force
...........................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) Define the direction of a magnetic field.

in the direction of the froce on the N pole
...........................................................................................................................................

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

(b) Fig. 8.1 shows a negatively charged metal sphere.

–
– –

– –

– –
–

Fig. 8.1

On Fig. 8.1, draw four lines to show the electric field and its direction. [2]

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(c) Fig. 8.2 shows a circuit.

R3

R1

R2

Fig. 8.2

The three cells are identical and have zero resistance.

The resistors R1, R2 and R3 are identical.
The reading on the voltmeter is 6.0 V.
When the diode is conducting, it has zero resistance and zero potential difference (p.d.)
across it.

(i) Determine the e.m.f. of one cell.

6/3 2V
e.m.f. = ......................................................... [1]
2
(ii) Determine the ratio of the p.d. across R2 to the p.d. across R3.

1:2
..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) All the cells are reversed.

1. State and explain the change in current in R1.

current is zero in R 1 and diode is in wrong direction
....................................................................................................................................

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

2. Determine the new value of the ratio of the p.d. across R2 to the p.d. across R3.
1:1
.............................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 8]

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9 (a) Table 9.1 shows some properties and values for α-particles, β-particles and γ-radiation.

Complete Table 9.1.

Table 9.1

type of number of number of charge / C stopped by

radiation protons neutrons
α 2 + 3.2 × 10–19 thin sheet of
2 paper
β 0 thin sheet of
0 -1.6 x 10^-19 aluminium
γ 0
0 0 thick lead

[3]

(b) State how β-decay changes the nucleus of an atom.

the nucleus has one less neutron and one more proton
............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) A radiation detector used in a laboratory detects a background count rate of 30 counts / min.
A radioactive source is placed in front of the radiation detector. The initial reading on the
detector is 550 counts / min. The half-life of the source is 25 minutes.

Calculate the expected reading on the detector after 75 minutes.

initial count rate= 550 -30 =520

count rate= 1/8
final count rate= (520/8) = 65

reading = ...................................... counts / min [4]

(d) State two safety precautions taken when moving, using or storing radioactive sources in a
laboratory.
wear gloves
1 ................................................................................................................................................

keep distance from sources

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

[Total: 10]

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10 (a) State the equation that defines the average orbital speed v of a planet. State the meaning of
any symbols you use.
v=2 x pie x r / T
...................................................................................................................................................
r= average radius of the orbit and T is period
............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Suggest why countries that are a significant distance from the Equator experience significant
temperature variation throughout the year.

rays from Sun strike teh country at different angles throough the year
...................................................................................................................................................

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

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

(c) Fill in the gaps in the paragraph about a star much more massive than the Sun.

The stage that follows the stable state in the life cycle of the star is the

red supergiant stage.

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

nebula
It then explodes as a supernova to form a ....................................... , this leaves behind a
black hole
neutron star or a ....................................... .
.......................................
[4]

(d) A galaxy is moving away from the Earth with a speed of 33 000 km / s.
The value of the Hubble constant is 2.2 × 10–18 per second.

Calculate the distance from the galaxy to the Earth. Give your answer in light-years.

H0=v/d
d= 33000 x 10^3 / 2.2 x 10^-18 x 9.5 x 10^15

1.6 x 10^9
distance = ....................................... light-years [2]

[Total: 9]

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