A LevelPhysicsCIETopic Questions1. Physical Quantities & Units1.1 Physical Quantities

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Physical Quantities (CIE A Level Physics)

Topic Questions

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1
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Which definition is correct and uses only quantities rather than units?

  • Density is mass per cubic metre

  • Potential difference is energy per unit current

  • Pressure is force per unit area

  • Speed is distance travelled per second

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2
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What is a reasonable estimate of the average gravitational force acting on a fully grown woman standing on the Earth?

  • 60 N

  • 250 N

  • 350 N

  • 650 N

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3
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A physical quantity has the symbol V and the unit m3. Which physical quantity does the V represent?

  • Potential difference

  • Velocity

  • Pressure

  • Volume

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4
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Which answer option gives a reasonable estimate of the number of seconds in a year?

  • 3×107

  • 5×105

  • 1×106

  • 7×108

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5
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A physical quantity has the unit m s−2 and the symbol a. What is the correct name for this quantity?

  • Activity of a radioactive source

  • Amplitude

  • Avogadro constant

  • Acceleration

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1
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Which estimate is realistic?

  • The kinetic energy of a bus travelling on an expressway is 30 000 J

  • The power of a domestic light is 300 W

  • The temperature of a hot oven is 300 K

  • The volume of air in a car tyre is 0.03 m3

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2
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Which statement is incorrect by a factor of 100 or more?

  • Atmospheric pressure is about 1 × 105  Pa

  • Light takes 5 × 102 s to reach us from the Sun

  • The frequency of ultraviolet light is 3 × 1012 Hz

  • The life-span of a man is about 2 × 109 s

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3
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A boy jumps from a wall 5 m high. What is a reasonable estimate of the change in momentum of the boy when he lands without rebounding?

  • 4 × 100 kg m s–1

  • 4 × 101 kg m s–1

  • 4 × 102 kg m s–1

  • 4 × 103 kg m s–1

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4
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Which of the following answer options give a reasonable estimate for the time taken for light to cross the nucleus of a hydrogen atom?

  • 3 × 10−28 s

  • 3 × 10−24 s

  • 3 × 10−20 s

  • 3 × 10−16 s

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5
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The depth of the Mariana Trench is estimated to be around 11 000 m. Which of the following answer options provides a reasonable estimate of the total pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench?

  • 1 ×106 Pa 

  • 1 ×107 Pa 

  • 1 ×108 Pa 

  • 1 ×109 Pa 

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1
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For which quantity is the magnitude a reasonable estimate?

  • Frequency of a radio wave 500 p Hz

  • Mass of an atom 500 μg

  • The Young modulus of a metal 500 kPa

  • Wavelength of green light 500 nm

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2
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What is a reasonable estimate for the volume of 1 ml of water?

  • 0.1 cm3

  • 1 cm3

  • 10 cm3

  • 100 cm3

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3
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What is the symbol and the units for the gravitational constant?

  • Symbol: G

    Units: N m2 kg−2

  • Symbol: g

    Units: N kg−1

  • Symbol: g

    Units: m s−2

  • Symbol: ϕ

    Units: J kg−1

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4
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An adult male stands with a litre carton of milk balanced on his head. 

What is a reasonable estimate of the gravitational potential energy of the milk carton?

  • 2 J

  • 20 J

  • 200 J

  • 2000 J

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5
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Which of the following answer options provides a reasonable estimate for the density of a sugar cube?

  • 0.01 kg m−3

  • 0.1 kg m−3

  • 10 kg m−3

  • 1000 kg m−3

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