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Cambridge IGCSE™
* 5 1 7 3 4 4 2 7 5 9 *

PHYSICS 0625/62
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical May/June 2024

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 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (LK/SW) 329906/3
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1 A student measures the spring constant k of a spring by two different methods.

The spring constant k of a spring is a measure of how difficult the spring is to stretch.

Method 1

(a) The student:

• attaches the spring to a clamp, as shown in Fig. 1.1

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clamp

stand

500 g mass
bench

Fig. 1.1

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• suspends a mass m = 500 g from the spring
• pulls the mass down a small distance and releases it.

The mass oscillates up and down.

(i) The student measures the time t taken for 20 oscillations of the mass.

The reading on the stop-watch is shown in Fig. 1.2.

Record t in Table 1.1.

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Fig. 1.2
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Table 1.1

m/g t/s T/s

500
[1]

(ii) The period T of the oscillations is the time taken for one oscillation.

Calculate the period T of the oscillations.

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Record your answer in Table 1.1. [1]

(b) Suggest how the procedure can be improved to increase the accuracy of the result.

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

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

(c) Calculate a value k1 for the spring constant of the spring.

Use the equation shown.

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k1 = 19.7
T2

k1 = ................................................. N / m [1]

Method 2

(d) The student measures the stretched length l of the spring, with the 500 g mass still attached,
in centimetres to the nearest 0.1 cm.
Fig. 1.3 shows the stretched spring drawn to a scale of one-quarter full size.
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Fig. 1.3

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(i) The length L of the spring is the distance between the dotted lines in Fig. 1.3.

Measure L.

L = ................................................... cm [1]

(ii) Calculate the actual stretched length l of the spring.

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l = ......................................................... cm

Record l in Table 1.2.

Table 1.2

m/g l / cm

500

400 18.3

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300 14.3

200 10.0

100 6.1
[1]

(e) The student removes the 100 g masses from the mass hanger, one at a time, and repeats the
procedure for masses of m = 400 g, 300 g, 200 g and 100 g.

The student records each value of l in Table 1.2.

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(i) Plot a graph of l / cm (y-axis) against m / g (x-axis). Start your axes at the origin (0, 0).

Draw the best-fit line.

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l / cm
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0
0

m/g
[3]

(ii) Calculate the gradient G of your line. Show all your working and indicate on the graph
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the values you use.

G = ......................................................... [1]

(iii) An estimated value k2 for the spring constant of the spring can be calculated using the
equation

k2 = 1 .
G
Calculate k2 using your value of G from (e)(ii) and the equation shown.
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k2 = ................................................. N / m [1]
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(f) Two quantities can be considered to be equal within the limits of experimental accuracy if
their values are within 10% of each other.

Compare your values of k1 from (c) and k2 from (e)(iii).

State whether your results indicate that the values can be considered to be equal.

Support your statement with a calculation.

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[2]

[Total: 13]

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2 A student investigates the resistance R of a diode using the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1.

+ –

A
10 Ω
X Y
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Fig. 2.1

(a) The student:

• closes the switch

• records the voltmeter reading V
• records the ammeter reading I
• opens the switch.

Fig. 2.2 shows the readings on the voltmeter and the ammeter.
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Record the readings on the voltmeter and the ammeter in the first row of Table 2.1.

0.5

0 1 0 1
V A
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Fig. 2.2
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Table 2.1

resistance between
V/V I /A R/Ω
X and Y / Ω
10

13 0.83 0.27

20 0.81 4.5
[2]

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(b) Calculate the resistance R of the diode using your meter readings from (a).

Use the equation R = V .

I
Record your answer in the first row of Table 2.1 to an appropriate number of significant
figures.

[2]

(c) The student:

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• connects a 3 Ω resistor in series with the 10 Ω resistor between terminals X and Y, as
shown in Fig. 2.3, and repeats the procedure in (a)
+ –

A
10 Ω 3Ω
X Y

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V

Fig. 2.3

• connects the 7 Ω, 10 Ω and 3 Ω resistors in series between X and Y, as shown in Fig. 2.4,
and repeats the procedure in (a).
+ –

A
10 Ω 3Ω 7Ω
X Y
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Fig. 2.4

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Table 2.1 is incomplete.

Complete Table 2.1 by adding the missing values of R and I. [2]

(d) As the resistance between terminals X and Y is increased, the current in the circuit changes.

Use your results in Table 2.1 to state the relationship between the current in the circuit and:

(i) the potential difference (p.d.) V across the diode

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

(ii) the resistance R of the diode.

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(e) A student attempts to set up the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1. The student finds that the ammeter
does not give a reading when the circuit is complete. The ammeter is not broken.
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Suggest what the student may have done incorrectly while setting up the circuit.

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

(f) Name a single device that can be used to control the current in the circuit instead of adding
extra resistors in series.

Draw the electrical symbol for the device.

name of device ..................................................................

electrical symbol
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[1]

[Total: 10]
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3 A student investigates the deviation of a ray of light passing through a transparent block ABCD
and measures a quantity called the refractive index n of the block.

(a) The student’s ray-trace sheet is shown full size in Fig. 3.1.

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A E B

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D C

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Fig. 3.1

(i) On Fig. 3.1, draw a normal at the point E. Extend the normal above AB and below CD.
Label the upper end of the normal with the letter N, the lower end of the normal with the
letter M and the point where the normal crosses side CD of the block with the letter G.
[1]
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(ii) Measure the angle θ between the lines FE and EN.

θ = ....................................................... ° [1]

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(b) The student:

• positions an illuminated slit on the ray-trace sheet so that a ray of light passes along the
line FE towards E
• marks and labels with small crosses (×) two points on the ray that leaves side CD of the
block
• removes the transparent block.

On Fig. 3.1:

• extend the line FE until it meets the right-hand edge of the ray-trace sheet
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• label the end of this line Z

• draw a straight line through the two crosses to meet side CD of the block
• label the point where the line meets CD with the letter H
• label the other end of the line with the letter J
• draw a straight line from E to H.
[1]

(c) (i) Measure the length l of EH.

l = ................................................... cm [1]

(ii) Measure the perpendicular distance d between the line HJ and the line FZ.
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d = ................................................... cm [1]

(iii) Calculate d .
l

d = ......................................................... [1]
l
(d) The measurement of a quantity is reproducible if a similar result is obtained when the
measurement is repeated by a different method or under different conditions.

Suggest how the student can adapt this experiment to check if the value of d is reproducible.
l
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...................................................................................................................................................

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(e) Suggest one source of inaccuracy in this experiment, even if it is carried out very carefully.

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(f) (i) Measure the length L of GH.

L = ................................................... cm [1]

(ii) Use your value of l from (c)(i) and L from (f)(i) to calculate a value n for the refractive
index of the block. Use the equation shown.

n = 0.866 × l
L

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n = ......................................................... [1]

[Total: 10]

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4 A student sets up a flexible track at the edge of a bench. The student investigates a metal ball
as it rolls from rest down the track and travels through the air. The metal ball travels a horizontal
distance d through the air and lands in a tray of sand placed on the floor.

Plan an experiment to investigate how one variable affects the size of this distance d.

The apparatus available includes:

• flexible track
• clamp, boss and stand to support the track
• selection of metal balls.

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Fig. 4.1 shows how the flexible track is supported.

stand clamp
flexible track
metal ball

bench
path taken
by ball

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floor sand

Fig. 4.1

In your plan:

• state the one variable you have chosen to investigate

• list any additional apparatus needed to measure this variable
• explain how to do the experiment

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• state the key variables to be kept constant
• draw a table, with column headings, to show how to display the readings (you are not required
to enter any readings in the table)
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