Cambridge O Level · 5054 · Paper 1 · Multiple choice
Physics 5054/11 May/June 2026 past paper
Cambridge O Level Physics (5054) Paper 1 (Multiple choice), variant 1, May/June 2026: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 40 questions worth 40 marks. Free to open, no account needed.
- Questions
- 40
- Marks
- 40
File names: 5054_s26_qp_11 · 5054_s26_ms_11
Topics in this paper
Which syllabus chapters 5054/11 May/June 2026 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.
Questions in 5054/11 May/June 2026
- Question 1
A car travels along a road at x, where x is 15m/s due north. Which term describes x? 1 acceleration A scalar B speed C vector D
- Question 2
A heavy sack is suspended from a ceiling by a rope. The sack is then pulled to one side and held stationary. 2 Which vector diagram represents the forces acting on the sack in its new position? …
- Question 3
The graph is the distance–time graph for the motion of a cyclist. …
- Question 4
The speed–time graph shows the motion of a lift working in a tall building. …
- Question 5
Which term is used to describe the property of resisting a change in the state of rest or motion of an object? 5 inertia A moment B momentum C resultant force D
- Question 6
An object of mass 5.4kg has a weight of 42N on planet P. The object is moved to Earth. Which statement is correct? 6 The gravitational field strength on planet P is 7.8N/kg. A The mass of the object increases. …
- Question 7
A box is pulled up a slope as shown. There is friction between the box and the slope. 7 direction of movement In which direction does friction act on the box? …
- Question 8
A block of mass 6.0kg is pulled across a rough surface by a 54N force. Force X also acts on the block but in the opposite direction. …
- Question 9
Force F1 and force F2 are a Newton’s third law pair of forces. Force F1 is a gravitational force that acts on object O. Which type of force is force F2, and what is the object that it acts on? …
- Question 10
A load–extension graph is plotted for a spring. Which point marks the limit of proportionality for this spring? 10 extension 0 0 load …
- Question 11
Which quantity is a measure of the turning effect of a force? 11 the direction of a force A the moment of a force B the momentum of a force C the perpendicular distance of a force D
- Question 12
Quantity 1 is equal to the change in quantity 2 per unit time. What are quantity 1 and quantity 2? 12 quantity 2 quantity 1 momentum force A acceleration impulse B velocity momentum C acceleration velocity D
- Question 13
A microwave oven has an efficiency of 60%. The useful power output of the microwave oven is 800W. What is the total power input to the microwave oven? …
- Question 14
Why are fossil fuels described as non-renewable? 14 Burning fossil fuels badly affects the environment. A Fossil fuels are being used up faster than they are replaced. B Fossil fuels are only found in some countries. C The energy in …
- Question 15
Two cylindrical vessels are joined together and filled with water as shown. …
- Question 16
What is the name of the change of state that occurs when a substance changes from a solid to a liquid? 16 boiling A condensation B evaporation C melting D
- Question 17
Liquid nitrogen boils at 77K. What is the boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen in …
- Question 18
Cooking oil of mass 0.25kg is heated using a heater of power 50W. The graph shows how the temperature of the cooking oil changes with time. …
- Question 19
Some of the liquid in a dish evaporates, as shown in the diagrams. 19 before evaporation after evaporation Which molecules leave the liquid and which molecules in the liquid have greater average kinetic energy? molecules in the liquid have greater …
- Question 20
The tubes inside solar heating panels use the Sun’s radiation to warm water. Why are the tubes painted black? 20 Black surfaces absorb radiation well. A Black surfaces conduct heat well. B Black surfaces emit radiation well. C Black surfaces …
- Question 21
The ray diagram shows light reflecting off a plane mirror. 21 50° What is the angle between the incident and reflected rays? …
- Question 22
Which equation gives the speed of a wave? 22 speed = amplitude ÷ frequency A speed = amplitude × frequency B speed = wavelength ÷ frequency C speed = wavelength × frequency D
- Question 23
A ray of red light from a laser passes into a semi-circular glass block. 23 M glass block What is shown at M? dispersion A rarefaction B reflection C refraction D
- Question 24
Light travelling in glass is incident on a glass–air boundary. The angle of incidence of the light is greater than the critical angle. Which arrow shows the direction of the light after it is incident on the boundary? 24 air …
- Question 25
Three students suggest an advantage of using optical fibre cables in telecommunications rather than using copper cables. 25 1 Optical fibre cables are more secure. 2 Optical fibre cables transmit over greater distances without boosting the signal. 3 Optical fibre …
- Question 26
An object of height 5.0cm is placed 2.0cm from a converging (convex) lens which is being used as a magnifying glass. The image produced is 6.0cm from the lens and has height 15.0cm. …
- Question 27
The approximate range of audible frequencies for a sheep is 100Hz to 30000Hz. Which statement is correct? 27 A human can hear sounds of higher frequencies than a sheep can hear. A A sheep can hear sounds of lower frequencies …
- Question 28
Which statement is correct? 28 Gamma rays have a longer wavelength than ultraviolet waves. A Infrared waves have a lower frequency than radio waves. B Microwaves have a longer wavelength than visible light. C X-rays have a higher speed in …
- Question 29
A bar magnet is placed on a table. A block of iron is placed close to the bar magnet. A block of aluminium is added close to the block of iron. 29 bar magnet N S block of iron P …
- Question 30
An uncharged plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth. The plastic rod gains a negative charge. Which statement is correct? 30 Electrons transfer from the cloth to the rod. A Electrons transfer from the rod to the cloth. B Protons …
- Question 31
What is a possible unit for electric current? 31 ampere/second A coulomb/second B joule/second C volt/second D
- Question 32
The resistance of a metal wire depends on its length and on its cross-sectional area. What are the relationships for the resistance of the wire? 32 resistance and cross-sectional area resistance and length direct proportion direct proportion A inverse proportion …
- Question 33
The diagram shows four identical lamps that are connected in parallel. …
- Question 34
The diagram shows a circuit that contains three resistors, a cell and a voltmeter. …
- Question 35
A student uses a radiation detector to measure the count from a radioactive source. Without any source present, the count he obtains in 2.0min is C1. With the counter next to the source, the count he obtains in 2.0min is …
- Question 36
A nucleus of molybdenum-99, , emits a beta particle (β-particle) as it decays to nucleus X. What is the nuclide notation for …
- Question 37
Most household smoke detectors contain a sample of an isotope of americium. The battery in a smoke detector is replaced very frequently, but the sample of the isotope of americium does not need to be replaced. Why does the americium …
- Question 38
The Sun radiates most of its energy in three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. What are these three regions? 38 gamma rays, microwaves and visible light A infrared radiation, radio waves and ultraviolet radiation B infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation and …
- Question 39
Towards the end of its life cycle, a red supergiant explodes and leaves behind a neutron star. What is the name of this type of explosion? 39 a big bang A a planetary nebula B a protostar C a supernova …
- Question 40
Light is emitted from a distant galaxy with a frequency fe and a wavelength λe. The light from the galaxy, when observed on Earth, has a frequency fo and a wavelength λo. How does fo compare with fe and how …
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