Cambridge IGCSE™

* 7 2 3 4 2 2 6 1 0 5 *

PHYSICS 0625/52
Paper 5 Practical Test October/November 2020

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: The materials and apparatus listed in the confidential instructions

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 40.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

For Examiner’s Use

Total

This document has 12 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (CE/CGW) 196152/3
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1 In this experiment, you will investigate the stretching of a spring.

Carry out the following instructions, referring to Fig. 1.1.

metre rule

spring

clamp
stand

bench

Fig. 1.1

(a) The metre rule is clamped in position near to the spring. Do not change the position of the
metre rule.

(i) Use the set square provided to take readings from the metre rule to determine the
unstretched length L of the coiled part of the spring. Record the value of L.

L = ................................................... mm [1]

(ii) Draw a diagram to show clearly how you used the set square to obtain an accurate
reading from the metre rule.

[1]

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(b) • Suspend a load P = 0.20 N on the spring. Record in Table 1.1 the new length l of the
spring.

• Repeat the procedure using loads P = 0.40 N, 0.60 N, 0.80 N and 1.00 N.

Table 1.1

P/N l / mm
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
[2]

(c) Plot a graph of l / mm (y-axis) against P / N (x-axis). Start both axes at the origin (0,0).

[4]
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(d) The intercept on the y-axis of the graph is numerically equal to the length l0 of the spring
when P = 0. Determine the value of l0. Show clearly on the graph how you obtained the
necessary information.

l0 = ......................................................... [2]

(e) Calculate L – l0.

L – l0 = ......................................................... [1]

[Total: 11]

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2 In this experiment, you will investigate the refraction of light in a transparent block.

Carry out the following instructions, using the separate ray-trace sheet provided. Refer to Fig. 2.1.

E
hole
N

30°

F
A B

D G C

ray-trace sheet

eye

Fig. 2.1

(a) • Place the transparent block, largest face down, on the ray-trace sheet supplied. The
block should be approximately in the middle of the paper.

• Draw and label the outline of the block ABCD.

• Remove the block and draw the normal NL at the centre of side AB. Continue the normal
so that it passes through side CD of the block.

• Label the point F where the normal NL crosses side AB.

• Label the point G where the normal NL crosses side CD.

[1]

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(b) (i) • Draw the line EF at an angle i = 30° to the normal as shown in Fig. 2.1.

• Place the paper on the pin board.

• Place two pins P1 and P2 on line EF at a suitable distance apart for this experiment.

• Replace the block and look from the position of the eye shown in Fig. 2.1, to observe
the images of P1 and P2 through side CD of the block. Adjust your line of sight until
the images of P1 and P2 appear one behind the other.

• Place two pins P3 and P4 between your eye and the block so that P3, P4, and the
images of P1 and P2 seen through the block, appear one behind the other.

• Label the positions of P1, P2, P3 and P4.

• Remove the block and the pins.

• Draw a line joining the positions of P3 and P4. Continue the line through the outline
of the block until it extends to just outside the outline of the block. Label the end of
the line K.

• Label the point H where the line meets side CD.

• Label the point J where the line meets the normal NL.

• Draw the line FH.

[2]

(ii) Measure and record the length a of the line GH.

a = ......................................................... [1]

(iii) Measure and record the length b of the line FH.

b = ......................................................... [1]

(c) Measure and record the acute angle θ between the line NL and the line JK. An acute angle is
less than 90°.

θ = ......................................................... [2]

(d) State one precaution that you took in order to produce an accurate ray-trace.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(e) A student suggests that i should be equal to θ within the limits of experimental accuracy. In
this experiment, i = 30 °. Suggest a range of values for θ that match this suggestion for your
experiment.

range .................................................................................................................................. [1]

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(f) A student plans to test the suggestion that, in this experiment, i = θ for all possible values of i.

Explain briefly how you would test the suggestion.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

Tie your ray-trace sheet into this Question Booklet between pages 6 and 7.

[Total: 11]

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3 In this experiment, you will investigate the resistance of samples of resistance wire.

Carry out the following instructions, referring to Fig. 3.1.

The circuit shown in Fig. 3.1 has been provided for you.

power supply

resistance wire

C D
B E

Fig. 3.1

Table 3.1 shows how the samples of wire are connected into the circuit.

Table 3.1

section resistance wire

BC one 30 cm piece
CD two 30 cm pieces
DE three 30 cm pieces

(a) (i) • Switch on.

• Measure the current I in the circuit.

I = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) Connect the voltmeter across section BC of the resistance wire.

Measure and record the potential difference (p.d.) V1 across section BC. Switch off.

V1 = ......................................................... [1]

V1
Calculate the resistance R1 of section BC using the equation R1 = .
I
Give your answer to a suitable number of significant figures for this experiment and
include the unit.

R1 = ......................................................... [1]

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(iii) Disconnect the voltmeter and its leads from section BC. Connect the voltmeter across
section CD. Switch on.

Measure and record the potential difference (p.d.) V2 across section CD. Switch off.

V2 = ...............................................................

V2
Calculate the resistance R2 of section CD using the equation R2 = . Give your answer
I
to a suitable number of significant figures for this experiment and include the unit.

R2 = ......................................................... [1]

(iv) Disconnect the voltmeter and its leads from section CD. Connect the voltmeter across
section DE. Switch on.

Measure and record the potential difference (p.d.) V3 across section DE. Switch off.

V3 = ...............................................................
V3
Calculate the resistance R3 of section DE using the equation R3 = . Give your answer
I
to a suitable number of significant figures for this experiment and include the unit.

R3 = ...............................................................
[3]

(b) (i) The sections BC, CD and DE are all the same length and made of the same metal.

Tick the box to show your conclusion from the results.

The resistance of a section increases as the number of wires increases

The resistance of a section decreases as the number of wires increases

The resistance of a section is independent of the number of wires. [1]

(ii) Justify your conclusion in (b)(i) by reference to your results.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Explain how you would change this experiment to investigate the relationship between the
length of a sample of wire and its resistance.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 11]
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4 A student investigates the length of time taken for ice cubes to melt when they are placed in water.
She uses beakers of water at different temperatures to investigate how the initial temperature of
the water affects the time taken for the ice cubes to melt.

Plan an experiment to investigate how the initial temperature of the water affects the time taken
for the ice cubes to melt. You are not required to carry out this experiment.

The following apparatus is available:

thermometer
supply of ice cubes
250 cm3 beakers
supply of cold water

In your plan, you should:

• write a list of additional apparatus to use

• explain how to carry out the investigation

• state the key variables to keep constant

• draw a table, or tables, with column headings, to show how to display the readings (you are
not required to enter any readings in the table)

• explain how to use the readings to reach a conclusion.

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.................................................................................................................................................... [7]

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