Cambridge O Level · 5054 · Paper 2 · Theory
Physics 5054/21 May/June 2025 past paper
Cambridge O Level Physics (5054) Paper 2 (Theory), variant 1, May/June 2025: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 9 questions worth 80 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.
- Questions
- 9
- Marks
- 80
- Grade A from
- 46
File names: 5054_s25_qp_21 · 5054_s25_ms_21
Grade thresholds for 5054/21 May/June 2025
The minimum raw marks Cambridge set for each grade on this component (out of 80). Thresholds change every session and variant, so always compare your score with the paper you actually sat.
| A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 34 | 23 | 18 | 13 |
Topics in this paper
Which syllabus chapters 5054/21 May/June 2025 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.
| Chapter | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear model of the atom | 1 | 11 |
| Electric circuits | 1 | 10 |
| Stars & the Universe | 1 | 10 |
| Motion | 1 | 9 |
| Electromagnetic effects | 1 | 9 |
| Forces | 1 | 8 |
| Energy, work & power | 1 | 8 |
| Sound | 1 | 8 |
| Kinetic particle model of matter | 1 | 7 |
Questions in 5054/21 May/June 2025
- Question 1
Fig. 1.1 shows a skydiver falling vertically through the air. Fig. 1.1 In the first part of the fall, her speed increases and her acceleration decreases. In the second part of the fall, her speed is constant. (a) On Fig. …
- Question 2
(a) State the principle of moments. (b) An airline passenger wishes to check the weight of a suitcase that he carries as hand luggage onto an aeroplane. He uses a uniform plank of wood, pivoted at its centre, as shown …
- Question 3
A battery, a pulley and a motor are used to lift a load as shown in Fig. 3.1. battery load pulley motor Fig. 3.1 (a) Describe the transfers between energy stores that occur as the load is lifted. (b) The …
- Question 4
(a) Evaporation of water from the surface of the skin causes cooling. (i) Describe, using ideas about particles, how evaporation causes cooling. (ii) State one difference between evaporation and boiling. (b) When a refrigerator is switched on, cooling coils placed …
- Question 5
(a) Fig. 5.1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of air particles as a longitudinal wave passes through them. Fig. 5.1 (i) On Fig. 5.1, mark the centre of a compression with the letter C, and mark the centre of …
- Question 6
A student sets up a circuit to determine the resistance of a length of wire. The circuit contains a battery of unknown e.m.f., a length of a wire used to make a resistor X, an ammeter, a voltmeter and a …
- Question 7
Fig. 7.1 shows an alternating current (a.c.) power supply connected to a transformer. primary coil secondary coil output voltage iron core power supply Fig. 7.1 (a) Explain how an alternating current in the primary coil produces an alternating output voltage. …
- Question 8
Plutonium-239 (23 9 9 4Pu) is an isotope that is used as the fuel in some nuclear reactors. (a) State the names of the types of particles found in a nucleus of plutonium-239, and state how many there are of …
- Question 9
(a) The life cycle of a star begins with a large cloud of dust and gas which collapses. Five later stages of the life cycle of a very massive star are: black hole protostar red supergiant stable star supernova Place …
Other Physics papers from May/June 2025
- 5054/11 Multiple choice
- 5054/12 Multiple choice
- 5054/22 Theory
- 5054/41 Alternative to Practical
- 5054/42 Alternative to Practical