OCR A-Level Physics B (Advancing Physics) sample questions and answers (H557)
Guide overview All 21 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
63 sample questions and answers
Taken from every topic of OCR A-Level Physics B (Advancing Physics), specification H557. The full guide has 2,455.
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Planning
45 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Choosing apparatus and techniques
What can a preliminary trial tell a planner?
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It shows whether the dependent variable changes measurably over the chosen range, and whether the apparatus, timings and resolution are adequate before time is spent on a full set of readings. -
Choosing apparatus and techniques
Why is a digital balance normally preferred to a spring balance for finding mass?
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It has a finer resolution, cannot be misread by parallax, and can be tared so that the mass of a container is removed automatically. -
Identifying and controlling variables
How is the temperature of a wire kept constant during a resistance experiment?
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The current is kept small and the circuit is switched on only while each reading is taken, so that little heating occurs between readings.
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Implementing
46 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Using apparatus and techniques correctly
What must be done before a thermometer reading is taken?
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The bulb must be fully immersed in the substance and left long enough for the thermometer to reach the same temperature as it. -
Using apparatus and techniques correctly
Why should a circuit be switched on only while each reading is taken?
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Current heats the components, and a rising temperature changes their resistance so the readings drift away from the value being measured. -
Units for measurements
What is the unit of resistivity?
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Resistivity is measured in Ω m.
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Analysis
51 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Processing results and reaching conclusions
Why is extrapolating a long way beyond the measured range unsafe?
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There is no evidence that the relationship continues to hold outside the range tested, and a different physical behaviour may take over. -
Processing results and reaching conclusions
A straight-line graph that theory says should pass through the origin has a small positive intercept. What does that indicate?
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It indicates a systematic error, such as a zero error in an instrument or a constant additional contribution such as the resistance of the leads. -
Significant figures and mathematical processing
Write 0.000 000 45 m in standard form.
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It is 4.5 × 10⁻⁷ m.
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Evaluation
45 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Drawing conclusions and identifying anomalies
What can cause a single anomalous reading?
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A misread or mistyped value, and a momentary change in conditions such as a loose contact, a draught or the apparatus being disturbed. -
Drawing conclusions and identifying anomalies
Why must a conclusion be limited to the range of values actually tested?
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Outside that range the relationship has not been examined and may not hold, so any statement about it would be unsupported by the evidence. -
Precision, accuracy and margins of error
A length is recorded as 25.0 ± 0.1 cm. Calculate its percentage uncertainty.
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The percentage uncertainty is (0.1 ÷ 25.0) × 100 = 0.4%.
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Practical Skills
75 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Investigative approaches and solving practical problems
A quantity cannot be measured directly. Describe the general strategy for obtaining it.
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Measure quantities that can be read directly and are linked to it by a known equation, then combine them, preferably from the gradient of a graph rather than a single set of values. -
Investigative approaches and solving practical problems
Why should a complicated practical problem be broken into separate measurable stages?
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Each stage can then be checked and its uncertainty estimated on its own, so a fault is traced to one measurement rather than to the whole experiment. -
Working safely with equipment and materials
What precautions must be taken when a high-voltage supply is used?
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Use only shrouded leads and a supply whose output current is limited, and switch off and disconnect before any change is made to the circuit.
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Use of Apparatus and Techniques
94 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Analogue apparatus and interpolation
Why should a spring newtonmeter be zeroed while held in the direction in which it will be used?
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The weight of its own moving parts acts along that direction, so the zero shifts if the instrument is checked horizontally and then used vertically. -
Analogue apparatus and interpolation
Why is a length measured with a rule normally started at an internal mark rather than at the end?
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The end of a rule is often worn or rounded, which would give a systematic error, so a clear internal mark is used and its value subtracted. -
Digital instruments and multimeters
Why does measuring the resistance of a resistor while it is still connected in a circuit give too low a value?
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The other components in the circuit provide additional paths in parallel with it, so the meter measures the combined resistance of all of them.
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Fundamental Data Analysis
89 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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Factors affecting accuracy and uncertainty
Distinguish the two kinds of contribution to the difference between a measurement and the true value.
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Random contributions scatter readings either side of the true value and are reduced by averaging repeats, while systematic contributions shift every reading the same way and are not. -
Factors affecting accuracy and uncertainty
Why should the largest source of uncertainty in an experiment be identified?
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The overall uncertainty is dominated by the largest contribution, so effort and any improvement must be directed at that quantity if the result is to become more certain. -
Units, prefixes, standard form and angles
An arc of a circle of radius 0.25 m subtends an angle of 1.20 rad at the centre. Calculate the length of the arc.
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Using s = rθ with θ in radians, s = 0.25 × 1.20 = 0.30 m.
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Imaging and Signalling
170 questions in the guide, across 12 subtopics. More from this topic
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Real images and the curvature of wave-fronts
Explain why the curvature added by a given thin lens is the same wherever the object is placed.
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The curvature added depends only on the shape of the lens surfaces and its refractive index, neither of which changes when the object moves. -
Lens power and focal length
A wave-front diverging with a curvature of 2.0 m⁻¹ reaches a +5.0 D lens. Describe the wave-front that leaves.
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The lens adds 5.0 m⁻¹ of curvature, so the wave-front leaves converging with a curvature of 3.0 m⁻¹ and comes to a focus 0.33 m beyond the lens. -
Linear magnification
An object 0.30 m in front of a lens gives an image 0.60 m beyond it. Calculate the magnification and describe the image.
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m = 0.60/(−0.30) = −2.0, so the image is real, inverted and twice the height of the object.
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Sensing
175 questions in the guide, across 12 subtopics. More from this topic
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Current and the flow of charge
Define the coulomb.
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One coulomb is the charge that passes a point when a current of one ampere flows for one second. -
Potential difference, e.m.f. and energy transfer
Explain why the e.m.f. of a cell is greater than the potential difference across its terminals when it delivers a current.
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Some of the energy given to each coulomb is transferred inside the cell in driving the charge through its own internal resistance. -
Series and parallel combinations
Calculate the combined resistance of 4.0 Ω and 6.0 Ω in parallel.
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The conductances add to 0.25 + 0.167 = 0.417 S, so the resistance is 2.4 Ω.
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Mechanical Properties of Materials
125 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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Elastic and plastic deformation and fracture
Define fracture stress.
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Fracture stress is the stress at which a material breaks, calculated from the greatest force it carried and its original cross-sectional area. -
Hooke's law and force-extension graphs
A spring of stiffness 25 N m⁻¹ is stretched by 80 mm. Calculate the force applied.
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F = 25 × 0.080 = 2.0 N. -
Elastic strain energy
A spring of stiffness 80 N m⁻¹ is stretched by 50 mm. Calculate the energy stored.
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E = ½ × 80 × 0.050² = 0.10 J.
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Waves and Quantum Behaviour
179 questions in the guide, across 12 subtopics. More from this topic
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Waves, phase and superposition
Define the path difference between two waves arriving at the same point.
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The path difference is the difference between the distances the two waves have travelled from their sources to that point. -
Standing waves on strings
What is the wavelength of the fifth harmonic on a string of length 1.2 m fixed at both ends?
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The wavelength is 2L/n = 2 × 1.2/5 = 0.48 m. -
Refraction, refractive index and Snell's law
State Snell's law for light crossing a boundary between two media.
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The ratio sin i / sin r equals the ratio of the speed of light in the first medium to the speed in the second, which for light entering a medium from air is the refractive index n.
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Space, Time and Motion
204 questions in the guide, across 14 subtopics. More from this topic
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Scalars, vectors and their representation
Define velocity.
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Velocity is the rate of change of displacement, and it is a vector pointing in the direction of that change. -
Resolving and adding vectors
A box is pulled along the floor by a rope at 25° to the horizontal with a tension of 120 N. What is the component of the tension pulling the box forwards?
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The forward component is 120 cos 25° = 109 N. -
Motion graphs
How is the instantaneous velocity found from a curved displacement–time graph?
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It is the gradient of the tangent drawn to the curve at that instant.
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Creating Models
245 questions in the guide, across 17 subtopics. More from this topic
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Capacitance and charge storage
A capacitor holds 4.4 × 10⁻³ C when the potential difference across it is 20 V. What is its capacitance?
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C = Q/V = 4.4 × 10⁻³ / 20 = 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ F, which is 220 μF. -
Capacitor discharge and the exponential model
How can you test from a table of discharge readings whether the decay is exponential?
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Take readings at equal time intervals and check that the ratio of each reading to the one before is constant. -
Charging a capacitor
What is the expression for the current during the charging of a capacitor?
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The current is I = I₀exp(−t/RC), with I₀ = V₀/R at the instant charging begins.
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Out into Space
135 questions in the guide, across 9 subtopics. More from this topic
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Gravitational and kinetic energy changes
A ball of mass 0.20 kg is dropped from 1.8 m. What is its speed on landing, ignoring air resistance?
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From mgh = ½mv², v = √(2 × 9.81 × 1.8) = 5.9 m s⁻¹. -
Motion in a uniform gravitational field
How are the horizontal and vertical motions of a projectile treated?
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They are treated as independent, the horizontal velocity staying constant while the vertical motion accelerates downwards at g. -
Gravitational force and the radial field
A 1500 kg satellite orbits 4.2 × 10⁷ m from the centre of an Earth of mass 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg. What gravitational force acts on it?
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F = GMm/r² = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ × 5.97 × 10²⁴ × 1500 / (4.2 × 10⁷)² = 3.4 × 10² N.
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Our Place in the Universe
76 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Radar measurement of distance and velocity
Why is radar unsuitable for measuring distances to other stars?
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The reflected pulse would be far too weak to detect after spreading over such distances, and the round trip would take years. -
Radar measurement of distance and velocity
Why must a radar pulse be short if small changes in distance are to be resolved?
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The uncertainty in the arrival time is roughly the pulse duration, so a shorter pulse gives a smaller uncertainty in the distance. -
Distance measured in units of time
How far away is an object described as one light-second distant?
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It is 3.00 × 10⁸ m away.
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Matter: Very Simple
149 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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Energy transfer and specific thermal capacity
A mass of 0.50 kg of water is heated from 20 °C to 100 °C. Taking c as 4200 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹, calculate the energy transferred.
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The energy transferred is 0.50 × 4200 × 80 = 1.7 × 10⁵ J. -
Finding specific thermal capacity by an electrical method
Why is the block lagged?
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Lagging cuts the energy escaping to the surroundings, so more of the energy supplied goes into raising the temperature of the block. -
Ideal gases and the gas laws
A gas at 1.0 × 10⁵ Pa occupies 250 cm³ and is compressed at constant temperature to 100 cm³. Calculate the new pressure.
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The new pressure is 1.0 × 10⁵ × 250 ÷ 100 = 2.5 × 10⁵ Pa.
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Matter: Hot or Cold
61 questions in the guide, across 4 subtopics. More from this topic
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Energy, temperature and the ratio E/kT
An energy step of 6.4 × 10⁻²⁰ J exists at 290 K. Calculate E/kT.
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kT = 1.38 × 10⁻²³ × 290 = 4.0 × 10⁻²¹ J, so E/kT = 16. -
Energy, temperature and the ratio E/kT
Water has a specific latent heat of vaporisation of 2.3 × 10⁶ J kg⁻¹ and a molar mass of 0.018 kg mol⁻¹. Estimate the energy needed for one molecule to escape.
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One mole needs 2.3 × 10⁶ × 0.018 = 4.1 × 10⁴ J, so one molecule needs 4.1 × 10⁴ ÷ (6.02 × 10²³) = 6.8 × 10⁻²⁰ J. -
The Boltzmann factor and populations of energy states
An energy step of 6.4 × 10⁻²⁰ J exists in a material at 290 K. Calculate the Boltzmann factor.
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kT = 4.0 × 10⁻²¹ J, so E/kT = 16 and the factor is e⁻¹⁶ = 1.1 × 10⁻⁷.
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Electromagnetism
136 questions in the guide, across 9 subtopics. More from this topic
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Magnetic flux, B-fields and flux linkage
A coil of 500 turns encloses a flux of 1.0 × 10⁻³ Wb. Calculate the flux linkage.
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Flux linkage = NΦ = 500 × 1.0 × 10⁻³ = 0.50 Wb-turns. -
Electromagnetic induction: Faraday's and Lenz's laws
The flux linkage through a coil falls steadily from 0.50 Wb-turns to zero in 0.020 s. Calculate the magnitude of the induced e.m.f.
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The magnitude of the e.m.f. is 0.50 ÷ 0.020 = 25 V. -
Graphs of current, flux and induced e.m.f.
At which points on a sinusoidal flux linkage graph is the induced e.m.f. zero?
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The e.m.f. is zero at the peaks and troughs of the flux linkage, where the gradient is momentarily zero.
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Charge and Field
123 questions in the guide, across 9 subtopics. More from this topic
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The uniform electric field
Calculate the force on an electron in a uniform field of strength 5.0 × 10⁴ V m⁻¹.
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F = qE = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ × 5.0 × 10⁴ = 8.0 × 10⁻¹⁵ N. -
Radial fields and the inverse square law
Calculate the electric field strength 0.050 m from a point charge of 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ C.
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E = kQ/r² = 8.98 × 10⁹ × 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ ÷ (0.050)² = 7.2 × 10⁴ V m⁻¹. -
Electric potential and potential energy
Calculate the electrical potential energy of a charge of 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ C placed 0.050 m from a charge of 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ C.
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The potential energy is kQq/r = 8.98 × 10⁹ × 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ × 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ ÷ 0.050 = 1.1 × 10⁻⁵ J.
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Probing Deep into Matter
121 questions in the guide, across 9 subtopics. More from this topic
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Particle accelerators and high-energy beams
What is the role of magnetic fields in a ring accelerator?
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Magnetic fields provide the centripetal force through F = qvB that bends the beam round the ring, and further magnets focus the beam so it stays narrow. -
Scattering and the nuclear atom
What conclusion follows from a few alpha particles being deflected through large angles?
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The positive charge and nearly all the mass of the atom are concentrated in a very small central region, because only a large charge and mass in a tiny volume could reverse a fast alpha particle. -
Paths of scattered particles and closest approach
Calculate the charge on a gold nucleus, which has 79 protons.
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The charge is 79 × 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ = 1.26 × 10⁻¹⁷ C.
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Ionising Radiation and Risk
111 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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The nature of ionising radiations
Rank alpha, beta and gamma radiation in order of ionising power, and explain the order.
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Alpha is the most ionising, then beta, then gamma, because the alpha particle carries twice the charge of a beta particle and moves comparatively slowly, so it interacts strongly with the electrons it passes. -
Effects on living tissue and radiation safety
State three precautions taken when handling a radioactive source in a school laboratory.
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The source is handled with long tongs and never with bare hands, it is pointed away from anyone present, and it is kept out of its lead store for the shortest possible time. -
Absorbed dose, effective dose and risk
Write the relationship between effective dose and absorbed dose.
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The effective dose in sieverts is the absorbed dose in grays multiplied by the quality factor of the radiation concerned.
OCR A-Level Physics B (Advancing Physics) Active Recall Guide
The other 2,392 questions, with the answers printed after each section.