Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

|

Practice Paper 1 (DP IB Physics: SL)

Practice Paper Questions

1
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1 mark

In an experiment, a radio-controlled car takes 1.50 ± 0.05 s to travel 30.0 ± 0.1 m.

What is the car’s average speed and the uncertainty in this value?

  • 20.0 ± 0.732 m s–1

  • 20.0 ± 0.0366 m s–1

  • 20.0 ± 0.066 m s–1

  • 20.0 ± 9.91 m s–1

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2
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1 mark

Blue light has a wavelength of 450 nm.

Which of the following also represents this wavelength?

  • 4.5 pm

  • 0.45 μm

  • 0.0045 mm

  • 0.45 km

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3
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1 mark

An object of mass 5.6 g is falling vertically at a constant speed in air. 

What is the approximate magnitude of the drag force acting on the object? 

  • 0 N 

  • 0.056 N

  • 56 N

  • 0.112 N

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4
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1 mark

The diagram shows vector p.q15_vectors--scalars_ib-sl-physics-mcq

In which of the following diagrams is vector p multiplied by a scalar represented?

q15-opt_vectors--scalars_ib-sl-physics-mcq

  

  • 1 and 4

  • 2 only

  • 2 and 4

  • 1 only

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5
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1 mark

A spring of mass m and spring constant k rests on top of a vertical spring whose base is attached to the floor.

What is the energy stored by the spring?

  • fraction numerator m squared g squared over denominator 2 k end fraction

  • fraction numerator m squared g squared over denominator 2 k squared end fraction

  • fraction numerator m g over denominator 2 k end fraction

  • fraction numerator m g over denominator 2 end fraction

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6
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1 mark

A sled with a child has a combined weight of 400 N and rests on a horizontal surface. The coefficient of static friction between the sled and the surface is 0.50 and the coefficient of dynamic friction is 0.30.

A horizontal force F is applied to the sled and its magnitude increases uniformly from zero. Once the sled starts moving, the pulling force no longer increases.

What is the minimum resultant force required on the moving sled?

  • 80 N

  • –80 N

  • 320 N

  • 0 N

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7
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1 mark

Which of the following is the correct definition for elastic potential energy?

  • Elastic potential energy is a measure of how much a material can be stretched or compressed

  • Elastic potential energy is the maximum amount that can be stretched or compressed

  • Elastic potential energy is a measure of the stiffness of a material

  • Elastic potential energy is the energy stored within a material (e.g. in a spring) when it is stretched or compressed

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8
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1 mark

A body of mass 3M at rest explodes into two pieces of mass 2M and M

What is the ratio fraction numerator k i n e t i c italic space e n e r g y italic space o f italic space italic 2 M over denominator k i n e t i c italic space e n e r g y italic space o f italic space M end fraction and fraction numerator italic m italic o italic m italic e italic n italic t italic u italic m italic space italic o italic f italic space italic 2 italic M over denominator italic m italic o italic m italic e italic n italic t italic u italic m italic space italic o italic f italic space italic M end fraction?

 

 

fraction numerator bold italic k bold italic i bold italic n bold italic e bold italic t bold italic i bold italic c bold italic space bold italic e bold italic n bold italic e bold italic r bold italic g bold italic y bold italic space bold italic o bold italic f bold italic space bold italic 2 bold italic M over denominator bold italic k bold italic i bold italic n bold italic e bold italic t bold italic i bold italic c bold italic space bold italic e bold italic n bold italic e bold italic r bold italic g bold italic y bold italic space bold italic o bold italic f bold italic space bold italic M end fraction fraction numerator bold italic m bold italic o bold italic m bold italic e bold italic n bold italic t bold italic u bold italic m bold space bold italic o bold italic f bold space bold 2 bold italic M over denominator bold italic m bold italic o bold italic m bold italic e bold italic n bold italic t bold italic u bold italic m bold space bold italic o bold italic f bold space bold italic M end fraction

A.

1 half

-1

B.

1

-1

C.

1 fourth

2

D.

1 half

-2

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9
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1 mark

A block of mass m rests on a trolley of mass M. The coefficient of dynamic friction between the block and the trolley is µ.

q17_forces_ib-sl-physics-mcq

A horizontal force F acts on the block causing it to slide over the trolley. What is the acceleration of the trolley?

  • fraction numerator F minus mu m g over denominator M end fraction

  • fraction numerator mu m g over denominator open parentheses M plus m close parentheses end fraction

  • fraction numerator F minus mu M g over denominator m end fraction

  • fraction numerator mu m g over denominator M end fraction

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10
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1 mark

Aluminium melts at 660 °C. A mass m of solid aluminium is initially at a temperature of 645 °C. The aluminium is heated and melts into liquid aluminium and continues to be heated up to a final temperature of 720 °C.

  • Specific latent heat of fusion of aluminium = Lf
  • Specific heat capacity of solid aluminium = cS
  • Specific heat capacity of liquid aluminium = cL

Which expression gives the energy needed for this change to occur?

  • m(15cS + Lf + 60cL)

  • m(cS + 15Lf + 75cL)

  • m(15cS + 60Lf + cL)

  • m(15cS + Lf + 75cL)

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11
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1 mark

A mass of 5 × 10−3 kg of Hydrogen is split between two gas bottles Y and Z. Y and Z are connected by a tube that has a negligible volume compared with the volume of each bottle. 

3-2-sl-mcq-hardh-q4-phy

Initially the valve X is closed and gas bottle Y has a volume 4V and contains Hydrogen at a pressure p. Gas bottle Z has a volume and contains Hydrogen at a pressure of 3p. Y and Z are initially at the same temperature. 

X is now opened.

What is the new gas pressure assuming there is no change in temperature?

  • 3 over 8 p

  • 1 over 6 p

  • 8 over 5 p

  • 7 over 5 p

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12
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1 mark

The variation of pressure with temperature is shown on the graph for a fixed mass of an ideal gas at constant volume. 

3-2-sl-mcq-hard-q2-phy

What is the ratio of pressure and temperature of the ideal gas?

  • 200 Pa K−1

  • 300 Pa K−1

  • 400 Pa K−1

  • 500 Pa K−1

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13
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1 mark

A sound wave has a wavelength of 0.40 m. What is the phase difference between two points along the wave which are 1.7 m apart?

  • zero

  • 45°

  • 90°

  • 180°

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14
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1 mark

Choose the graph that shows an oscillation beginning at equilibrium.

4-1-q7-sl-easy-mcq-phy

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15
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1 mark

A beam of unpolarised light, I0, is incident on a polarising filter X. The filter has been set up so that its transmission axis is parallel to that of a second filter Y.

Filter X is rotated by an angle which is approximately 30o.

LzgAYvTl_q17_wave-characteristics_ib-sl-physics-mcq

Which line correctly describes beam I2 being emitted from filter Y?

 

polarisation

intensity

A.

no change

different

B.

different

different

C.

no change

no change

D.

different

no change

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16
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1 mark

When moving from material A to material B, the direction of a ray of light moves away from the normal. If nA and nB are the refractive indices of materials A and B respectively, then which of the following statements is true in this situation? 

  • The ratio of n subscript A over n subscript B is larger than one

  • The ratio of n subscript A over n subscript B is less than one

  • The ratio of n subscript A over n subscript B is exactly than one

  • The ratio of n subscript A over n subscript B cannot be known without more information

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17
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1 mark

A standing wave is set up on a string with both ends fixed. The frequency of the first harmonic is 150 Hz. 

Determine the approximate length of the string, L and for the second harmonic, the approximate distances between two successive nodes, N and two successive antinodes, A.

The speed of sound is air = 340 m s−1 and the speed of sound on the string = 250 m s−1.

  L / m N / m A / m
A. 1.10 0.55 0.55
B. 1.10 0.24 0.55
C. 0.84 0.42 0.42
D. 0.84 0.42 0.56

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18
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1 mark

Which of the following statements about electric fields and potential differences is incorrect?

  • The presence of a potential difference requires an electric field

  • Work on or by an electron across a potential difference V is eV  

  • Work on or by an electron across a potential difference is path dependent

  • The electric field is a vector field

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19
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1 mark

Which of the following statements about discharging cells is incorrect?

  • The capacity of a cell is proportional to the amount of charge delivered to an external circuit over a cell’s lifetime 

  • The lifetime of a cell depends on its capacity 

  • The lifetime of a cell depends on the current it produces

  • The internal resistance of a cell gradually increases over its lifetime  

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20
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1 mark

An electrical circuit is designed to measure the current I through a variable resistor R. The cell used in the circuit has an emf ϵ and an internal resistance r.

A graph shows the variation of bold 1 over bold I with R. q15_electric-cells_ib-sl-physics-mcq

What is the magnitude of the gradient?

  • 1 over ϵ

  • 1 over R

  • 1 over r

  • r

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21
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1 mark

A plotting compass is placed next to a vertical wire AB. When there is no current in the wire, the compass points North due to an external magnetic field.

q18_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-mcq

Which diagram shows a possible direction for the compass to point when a current passes from A to B?

q18_2_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-mcq

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22
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1 mark

A horizontal disc rotates uniformly at a constant angular velocity about a central axis normal to the plane of the disc.

q13_circular-motion_ib-sl-physics-mcq

Point X is on a distance 3L from the centre of the disc. Point Y is a distance L from the centre of the disc. Point Y has a linear speed v and a centripetal acceleration a.

What is the linear speed and centripetal acceleration of point X?

 

Linear Speed of X

Acceleration of X

A.

3v

a

B.

v

a

C.

3v

3a

D.

2v

2a

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23
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1 mark

The diagram below shows three uniform masses in a straight line.

q13_newtons-law-of-gravitation_ib-sl-physics-mcq

The resultant gravitational force on the 1 kg mass is zero if the distance x is:

  • 45 over 7 straight m

  • 45 m

  • 27 over 5 straight m

  • 35 m

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24
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1 mark

A particular nucleus, X presubscript Z presuperscript A decays to form Y presubscript z presuperscript a, which then has two possible decay paths, resulting in either an isotope of Thallium (Tl) or Polonium (Po), as shown.

7-1-sl-mcq-hard-q2-phy

Which isotope could not be straight X presubscript straight Z presuperscript straight A?

  • Pb presubscript 82 presuperscript 215

  • Po presubscript 84 presuperscript 214

  • At presubscript 85 presuperscript 218

  • Pb presubscript 82 presuperscript 214

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25
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1 mark

A sample of californium−239 has an activity of 4000 Bq. The half−life of californium−239 is 1 minute.

What will the activity be after 4 minutes?

  • 4000 Bq

  • 1000 Bq

  • 500 Bq

  • 250 Bq

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26
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1 mark

The capital sigma to the power of 0 baryon has strangeness of −1 and is produced through the strong interaction between a pi to the power of plus meson and a neutron.

 pi to the power of plus space plus space n space rightwards arrow space capital sigma to the power of 0 space plus space X

What is the quark composition of particle X?

  • u s with bar on top

  • u u d

  • u d with bar on top

  • u u s

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27
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1 mark

Which of the four hadrons shown could be Ξ0?

7-3-sl-mcq-hard-q6-phy

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28
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1 mark

Which line in the table correctly shows a renewable and a non-renewable energy, and a major direct use for both energy sources?

 

Renewable

Non-renewable

Direct use of both

A.

geothermal

natural gas

heating homes

B.

nuclear fuel

oil

generating electricity

C.

geothermal

natural gas

transport

D.

solar energy

nuclear fuel

heating homes

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29
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1 mark

What is an advantage of pumped storage systems?

  • They can be sited in most areas where energy is needed

  • They are carbon neutral

  • Electricity can be generated rapidly at times of peak demand

  • Efficiency is greater than one since energy is being used to run them which would otherwise go to waste

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30
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1 mark

A black body has a total power radiated P and a surface area A. The surface area is reduced to one-quarter of and the total power is increased to four times P.

What is the value of the peak wavelength?

  • left parenthesis 1.5 space cross times space 10 to the power of negative 3 end exponent right parenthesis space cross times space fourth root of A over p end root

  • left parenthesis 1.5 space cross times space 10 to the power of negative 3 end exponent right parenthesis space cross times space square root of P over A end root

  • 2 space cross times space fourth root of P over A end root

  • left parenthesis 1.5 space cross times space 10 to the power of negative 3 end exponent right parenthesis space cross times space open parentheses P over A close parentheses to the power of negative 1 fourth end exponent

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