Cambridge O Level · 5054 · Paper 1 · Multiple choice
Physics 5054/12 Oct/Nov 2025 past paper
Cambridge O Level Physics (5054) Paper 1 (Multiple choice), variant 2, Oct/Nov 2025: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 40 questions worth 40 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.
- Questions
- 40
- Marks
- 40
- Grade A from
- 30
File names: 5054_w25_qp_12 · 5054_w25_ms_12
Grade thresholds for 5054/12 Oct/Nov 2025
The minimum raw marks Cambridge set for each grade on this component (out of 40). Thresholds change every session and variant, so always compare your score with the paper you actually sat.
| A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 14 |
Topics in this paper
Which syllabus chapters 5054/12 Oct/Nov 2025 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.
Questions in 5054/12 Oct/Nov 2025
- Question 1
A micrometer is used to measure the diameter of a piece of wire. 0 5 mm …
- Question 2
Two forces act on an object. 1.5 N acts vertically upwards and 2.0 N acts horizontally. …
- Question 3
Which equation defines acceleration? A taken time distance in change B taken time direction fixed a in distance in change C taken time speed in change D taken time velocity in change 1
- Question 4
The acceleration of free fall on the surface of the Moon is 6 1 the acceleration of free fall on the surface of the Earth. What is the approximate weight of a 1 kg mass on the Moon? …
- Question 5
A ship uses ultrasound to measure the depth of the sea. There is a time interval of 0.52 s between transmitting and detecting a pulse of ultrasound. The speed of ultrasound in sea water is …
- Question 6
Which row shows a definition of the mass of an object and an instrument used to measure mass? definition of mass measuring instrument A force experienced by an object electronic balance B force experienced by an object force meter C …
- Question 7
A quantity of water is poured into a measuring cylinder. A small piece of rock is then added carefully. The diagrams show the water levels and the measuring cylinder scales. …
- Question 8
Which list contains only quantities that can be changed by a force? A mass, shape, velocity B mass, shape, volume C mass, velocity, volume D shape, velocity, volume
- Question 9
A resultant force acts on an object and causes it to move in a straight line. The graph shows how the resultant force varies with time. resultant force time …
- Question 10
An object is at rest on a table. The length of the arrows in the free-body diagrams represent the magnitude and the direction of the forces acting on the object. Which diagram shows the free-body diagram for the object? weight …
- Question 11
The load–extension graph for a spring is shown. load extension …
- Question 12
A car moves in a circle at constant speed. What is the direction of the resultant force acting on the car? …
- Question 13
A long plank is pivoted at its centre of gravity. Two objects, X and Y, are then placed on the plank. X has a weight of 140 N and is 1.2 m to the left of the pivot. Y has …
- Question 14
Which statement about centre of gravity is correct? A Objects with a centre of gravity at the same height are less stable when the base is larger. B Objects with a centre of gravity at the same height are more …
- Question 15
Energy is stored in batteries, fuel and food. What is the name of this energy store? A chemical B electrostatic C nuclear D thermal
- Question 16
A rocket has mass M when empty. The rocket carries an additional mass M of fuel. The rocket and fuel travel at a speed v. When the engine of the rocket is fired, all of the fuel is expelled and …
- Question 17
What is the definition of efficiency? A efficiency = output energy total input energy useful B efficiency = output energy total input energy total C efficiency = input energy total output energy useful D efficiency = input energy total output …
- Question 18
An object of mass m is lifted through a vertical distance d in time t. Which equation is used to calculate the power P required to lift the object? …
- Question 19
A block of wood is placed on a bench. block bench The pressure exerted on the bench due to the block is 1.0 Pa. The area of the block in contact with the base is A. Which statement is possible? …
- Question 20
Different liquids are poured into four different containers. In which container is the force exerted by the liquid on the bottom of the container the greatest? area of base / cm2 3 cm / g liquid of density depth of …
- Question 21
A student compares the properties of the three states of matter. The partially completed table in the student’s notebook for one of the states is shown. …
- Question 22
Air is trapped in a glass tube by a liquid. When the tube is horizontal, the length of the trapped air is 50 mm and its pressure is …
- Question 23
The diagram shows two changes of state, X and Y. gas liquid solid X Y Which row gives the names of the two changes of state? …
- Question 24
Energy can be transferred by thermal radiation. Four surfaces have different colours and textures. The surfaces are at equal temperatures and have equal surface areas. Which surface transfers energy by thermal radiation at the fastest rate? A black and dull …
- Question 25
Four copper spheres have identical surface colours and identical surface textures. They have different surface temperatures and surface areas. Which sphere emits infrared radiation at the greatest rate? surface temperature / °C surface area / cm2 …
- Question 26
The table shows the speed and the wavelength for different sound waves in four different materials. wave …
- Question 27
Light passes into a transparent material that has a refractive index n. The angle of incidence at the surface of the transparent material is i. Which equation is used to calculate the angle of refraction …
- Question 28
Which diagram shows a ray of light that is reflected by a plane mirror? …
- Question 29
An object is placed in front of a plane mirror. Which statement describes the image produced? A real and smaller than the object B real and the same size as the object C virtual and smaller than the object D …
- Question 30
Three rays of light are incident on the boundary between a glass block and air. The angles of incidence are different. …
- Question 31
A student does an investigation using four thin lenses. The lenses are used to produce focused images of four different objects. The student measures the length of the image and the length of the object. The results are shown in …
- Question 32
Magnets M1, M2 and M3 are joined by iron balls W, X and Y as shown. …
- Question 33
A cardboard tube has two wires, P and Q, connected to its ends. Inside the tube, wire P and wire Q are connected to two resistors. The potential difference (p.d.) between wire P and wire Q is 9.0 V and …
- Question 34
A resistor of resistance R is connected to a variable resistor, a voltmeter and a power supply of electromotive force …
- Question 35
Which device works due to electromagnetic induction? A a battery B an electromagnet C a motor D a transformer
- Question 36
A beta-particle (-particle) travels to the right at a constant speed. Which field deflects the particle towards the top of the page? A a horizontal magnetic field directed out of the page B a horizontal magnetic field directed into the …
- Question 37
Which nuclide is produced when thorium-223, Th, 223 90 emits an alpha-particle? A Ra …
- Question 38
A radioactive source is placed 2.0 cm away from a Geiger–Müller (G.M.) tube that is connected to a counter. A sheet of paper is placed between the source and the G.M. tube. The count rate measured by the counter decreases …
- Question 39
Which statement about the Earth is correct? A It has an elliptical orbit around the Sun. B It is a star that takes approximately 365 days to orbit the Sun. C It rotates on its axis once every 28 hours. …
- Question 40
A teacher asks two students to describe redshift. Student 1 says: It is a decrease in the observed wavelength of electromagnetic radiation from stars. Student 2 says: It occurs because stars and galaxies move away from the Earth. Which students …
Other Physics papers from Oct/Nov 2025
- 5054/11 Multiple choice
- 5054/21 Theory
- 5054/22 Theory
- 5054/41 Alternative to Practical
- 5054/42 Alternative to Practical