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GCSE Physics Practice Questions

Practice exam-style questions covering all GCSE Physics topics. Each question includes detailed step-by-step solutions.

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Question 1
Forces Easy

Calculate the weight of a 5 kg mass on Earth.

Use g = 10 m/s²

Solution:
  1. Use the formula: Weight = mass × gravitational field strength
  2. Given: mass = 5 kg, g = 10 m/s²
  3. Calculate: W = 5 × 10 = 50 N
Answer: 50 N
Question 2
Electricity Medium

A current of 2 A flows through a 6 Ω resistor.

Calculate the potential difference across the resistor.

Solution:
  1. Use Ohm's Law: V = IR
  2. Given: I = 2 A, R = 6 Ω
  3. Calculate: V = 2 × 6 = 12 V
Answer: 12 V
Question 3
Energy Easy

Calculate the kinetic energy of a 2 kg object moving at 5 m/s.

Solution:
  1. Use the formula: KE = ½mv²
  2. Given: m = 2 kg, v = 5 m/s
  3. Calculate: KE = ½ × 2 × 5² = 1 × 25 = 25 J
Answer: 25 J
Question 4
Forces Medium

A car accelerates from rest to 20 m/s in 5 seconds.

Calculate the acceleration.

Solution:
  1. Use: a = (v - u) / t
  2. Given: u = 0 m/s, v = 20 m/s, t = 5 s
  3. Calculate: a = (20 - 0) / 5 = 4 m/s²
Answer: 4 m/s²
Question 5
Waves Hard

A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and wavelength of 6 m.

Calculate the wave speed.

Solution:
  1. Use the wave equation: v = fλ
  2. Given: f = 50 Hz, λ = 6 m
  3. Calculate: v = 50 × 6 = 300 m/s
Answer: 300 m/s
Question 6
Electricity Medium

Calculate the total resistance of two 4 Ω resistors in series.

Solution:
  1. For resistors in series: R_total = R₁ + R₂
  2. Given: R₁ = 4 Ω, R₂ = 4 Ω
  3. Calculate: R_total = 4 + 4 = 8 Ω
Answer: 8 Ω
Question 7
Energy Hard

A 3 kg object is lifted 4 m above the ground.

Calculate the gravitational potential energy gained. (g = 10 m/s²)

Solution:
  1. Use: GPE = mgh
  2. Given: m = 3 kg, g = 10 m/s², h = 4 m
  3. Calculate: GPE = 3 × 10 × 4 = 120 J
Answer: 120 J
Question 8
Forces Hard

A 1000 kg car traveling at 15 m/s stops in 3 seconds.

Calculate the braking force.

Solution:
  1. First find acceleration: a = (v - u) / t = (0 - 15) / 3 = -5 m/s²
  2. Use Newton's 2nd Law: F = ma
  3. Calculate: F = 1000 × (-5) = -5000 N
  4. The magnitude of braking force is 5000 N
Answer: 5000 N
Question 9
Waves Medium

Light travels at 3 × 10⁸ m/s.

Calculate the frequency of red light with wavelength 700 nm.

Solution:
  1. Convert wavelength: 700 nm = 700 × 10⁻⁹ m = 7 × 10⁻⁷ m
  2. Use: v = fλ, rearrange: f = v / λ
  3. Calculate: f = (3 × 10⁸) / (7 × 10⁻⁷) = 4.29 × 10¹⁴ Hz
Answer: 4.29 × 10¹⁴ Hz
Question 10
Electricity Hard

A 2 kW kettle is used for 5 minutes.

Calculate the energy transferred in kWh.

Solution:
  1. Convert time to hours: 5 minutes = 5/60 hours = 1/12 hours
  2. Use: Energy = Power × Time
  3. Calculate: E = 2 kW × (1/12) h = 0.167 kWh
Answer: 0.167 kWh (or 1/6 kWh)