Cambridge IGCSE™

* 3 9 2 2 0 8 3 4 5 6 *

PHYSICS 0625/62
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical May/June 2021

1 hour

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

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 [ ].

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (MS/SW) 199686/3
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1 A student determines the density of sand.

Fig. 1.1 shows a beaker with a mark at the 250 cm3 level.

250 cm3

Fig. 1.1

(a) Estimate the volume of water VW that the beaker would hold when filled to the top.

VW = .................................................. cm3 [1]

(b) The student uses string and a metre rule to determine the circumference c of the beaker.
21.3 cm
c = ...............................................................

Explain briefly how to use the string and the metre rule to determine the circumference c as
accurately as possible. You may draw a diagram.

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

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

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

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

(c) The student measures the height h of the beaker.

(i) Show clearly on Fig. 1.1, the height h that he should measure. [1]

His reading is 9.0 cm

h = ...............................................................

(ii) Calculate the external volume VB of the beaker using the equation
hc 2
VB = .
12.6

VB = .................................................. cm3 [2]

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(d) The student measures the mass of the beaker on a balance, as shown in Fig. 1.2.

(i) Write down the mass mB of the beaker, to the nearest gram.

208.3 g

Fig. 1.2

mB = ...................................................... g [1]

The student fills the beaker to the top with dry sand. He measures the mass m of the beaker
containing the sand.
724 g
m = ...............................................................

(ii) Calculate the mass mS of sand in the beaker. Use the equation mS = (m – mB).

mS = ...................................................... g [1]

(iii) Calculate the density ρ of the sand using the equation

m
ρ = S.
VB
Include the unit.

ρ = ......................................................... [2]

(e) The student uses a measuring cylinder to measure the volume of dry sand. Draw a diagram
of the measuring cylinder and show the line of sight that the student must use to obtain an
accurate volume reading.

[1]

[Total: 11]
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2 A student investigates the position of the image in a plane mirror.

Fig. 2.1 shows the ray-trace sheet that the student uses.

M R

P3

P4

eye

Fig. 2.1

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(a) • The line MR shows the position of a plane mirror. Draw a normal to this line that passes
through its centre. Continue the normal so that it reaches the bottom of the ray-trace
sheet. Label the normal NL. Label the point at which NL crosses MR with the letter B.

• Draw a line CD 5.0 cm below MR and parallel to MR.

• Label the point X where CD crosses NL.

• Draw a line EF 5.0 cm below CD and parallel to CD.

• Label the point Y where EF crosses NL.

[2]

(b) Draw a line 7.0 cm long from B at an angle of incidence θ1 = 20° to the normal below MR and
to the left of the normal. Label the end of this line A. [1]

(c) The student places two pins, P1 and P2 , on line AB. Suggest a suitable distance x between
the pins for this type of ray-trace experiment.

x = ......................................................... [1]

(d) The student views the images of pins P1 and P2 from the direction indicated by the eye in
Fig. 2.1. She places pin P3 on line CD so that the images of P2 and P1 appear exactly behind
pin P3.

She places pin P4 on line EF so that pin P3, and the images of P2 and P1, all appear exactly
behind pin P4. The positions of P3 and P4 are shown on Fig. 2.1.

(i) Measure and record the distance a from X to P3.

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

(ii) Measure and record the distance b from Y to P4.

b = ......................................................... [1]
a
(iii) Calculate .
b
a
= ......................................................... [1]
b

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(e) The student repeats the procedure using an angle of incidence θ2 = 40°. She records the new
values of a and b.
4.2 cm
a = ...............................................................

8.3 cm
b = ...............................................................
a
Calculate the new value .
b
a
= ......................................................... [2]
b

a
(f) State and explain whether the two values of can be considered to be equal in this
b
experiment.

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

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

(g) A student carries out this experiment with care. Suggest a practical reason why the results
may not be accurate.

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

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

[Total: 11]

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3 A student investigates resistance.

Fig. 3.1 shows the circuit used.

power supply

l resistance
R wire

B C D
sliding
contact S
V

Fig. 3.1

(a) The student measures the current I in the circuit.

He places the sliding contact S at C and measures the potential difference (p.d.) V1 across
the resistor R.

The voltmeter and ammeter are shown in Fig. 3.2 and Fig. 3.3.

2 3 0.4 0.6
1 4 0.2 0.8

0 5 0 1.0
V A

Fig. 3.2 Fig. 3.3

(i) Write down the readings.

Include the units for potential difference, current or resistance where appropriate in all
parts of the question.

V1 = ...............................................................

I1 = ...............................................................
[2]
V1
(ii) Calculate the resistance R1 of the resistor using the equation R1 = .
I1

R1 = ...............................................................
[2]
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(b) The student disconnects the voltmeter from terminal B and connects the voltmeter to
terminal C.
He places the sliding contact S at a distance l = 20.0 cm from C. He records, in Table 3.1, the
reading on the voltmeter.
He repeats the procedure using l = 40.0 cm, 60.0 cm, 80.0 cm and 100.0 cm. His readings are
shown in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1

l / cm V/V

20.0 0.4

40.0 0.8

60.0 1.1

80.0 1.5

100.0 1.9

Plot a graph of V / V (y-axis) against l / cm (x-axis). Start both axes at the origin (0,0).

0
0
[4]

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(c) Use your value of V1 from (a)(i) to find the length l R of resistance wire that has the same
resistance as resistor R. Show clearly on the graph how you obtained the necessary
information.

l R = ................................................... cm [2]

(d) The resistance of the resistance wire is proportional to its length. Estimate the resistance of
100 cm of the resistance wire.

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

[Total: 11]

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4 A student investigates springs made from different metals.

Plan an experiment to investigate the extension of springs made from different metals.

The following apparatus is available:

boss, clamp and stand

metre rule
springs made from different metals
selection of loads with hangers.

You can also use other apparatus and materials that are usually available in a school laboratory.

In your plan, you should:

• write a list of suitable metals for the springs

• draw a diagram of the set up you would use

• explain briefly 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 your readings (you are
not required to enter any readings in the table)

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

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

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© UCLES 2021 0625/62/M/J/21