IGCSE 2020 Physics 0625/42 May/June


Cambridge CIE IGCSE Past Papers and solutions.
Questions and Worked Solutions for IGCSE Physics 2020 0625/42 May/June Paper 4.

Related Pages
More IGCSE Past Papers




Share this page to Google Classroom

IGCSE 2020 0625/42 May/June (pdf)

  1. Fig. 1.1 shows the speed–time graph of a person on a journey.
    On the journey, he walks and then waits for a bus. He then travels by bus. He gets off the bus and waits for two minutes. He then walks again. His journey takes 74 minutes.
    (a) For the whole journey calculate:
    (i) the distance travelled
    (ii) the average speed.
    (b) State and explain which feature of a speed–time graph shows acceleration.
    (c) State and explain the acceleration of the person at time = 40 minutes.
  2. Fig. 2.1 shows a train.
    The total mass of the train and its passengers is 750000kg. The train is travelling at a speed of 84m/s. The driver applies the brakes and the train takes 80s to slow down to a speed of 42m/s.
    (a) Calculate the impulse applied to the train as it slows down.
    (b) Calculate the average resultant force applied to the train as it slows down.
    (c) Suggest how the shape of the train helps it to travel at high speeds.
    (d) The train took 80s to reduce its speed from 84m/s to 42m/ s. Explain why, with the same braking force, the train takes more than 80s to reduce its speed from 42m/ s to zero.
    (e) On a wet day, the train travels a greater distance before it stops along the same track. The train has the same speed of 84m/s before the brakes are applied.
    Suggest a reason for this.
  3. (a) A solar panel receives energy from the Sun at a rate of 5.0kW.
    Thermal energy is transferred from the solar panel to water with an efficiency of 20%.
    Cold water of mass 15kg enters the solar panel every hour.
    The specific heat capacity of water is 4200J /(kg°C).
    Calculate the temperature increase of the water.
    (b) State and explain one advantage and one disadvantage of heating the water in a solar panel compared with heating the water in a coal-burning boiler.



  1. Fig. 4.1 shows a liquid-in-glass thermometer without a temperature scale.
    The liquid inside the thermometer has a melting point of –39°C.
    (a) Describe simple experiments to mark the positions of the fixed points on this liquid-in-glass thermometer.
    (b) A scientist is measuring temperatures at the South Pole. These temperatures have a minimum value of –90°C.
    State why the liquid used in the thermometer in Fig. 4.1 would not be suitable for this scientist.
    (c) State a design change that:
    (i) increases the sensitivity of a liquid-in-glass thermometer
    (ii) increases the range of a liquid-in-glass thermometer.
    (d) State the property of the liquid which ensures that the scale on a liquid-in-glass thermometer is linear.
  2. Fig. 5.1 shows crests of a wave approaching a barrier where the wave is reflected.
    (a) On Fig. 5.1, draw three crests of the reflected wave.
    (b) The wave has a wavelength of 36cm and a speed of 1.2m/ s.
    Calculate the frequency of the wave.
    (c) Complete the following sentences.
    An echo is the name for a reflected ……. wave.
    The waves that form an echo are a type of longitudinal wave. Longitudinal waves are made up of ……. and rarefactions.
  3. (a) Fig. 6.1 shows an arrangement of glass prisms inside a box. The angles of the prisms are 45°, 45° and 90°.
    This is a device used to view objects that are behind a wall.
    The incident ray of light undergoes total internal reflection in the prisms.
    On Fig. 6.1, complete the path of the ray through the device and show the ray as it emerges from the box.
    (b) Show that the refractive index of glass with a critical angle of 45° is 1.41.
  4. (a) A student makes a transformer that uses an alternating current (a.c.) supply with an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of 12.0V to induce an output potential difference (p.d.) of 2.0V. The student is provided with two lengths of insulated wire and the U-shaped piece of iron shown in Fig. 7.1.
    (i) Complete and label Fig. 7.1 to show the transformer connected to the supply and the output from the transformer.
    (ii) Explain the function of the piece of iron in the transformer.
    (iii) The output of the transformer is connected to a lamp. The current in the lamp is 100mA. The transformer is 100% efficient.
    Calculate the input current to the transformer.
    (b) Another transformer is used in a school laboratory to step down a mains supply with a p.d. of 110V to 12V. This transformer is mounted in a metal case.
    State and explain an essential safety feature required for this arrangement.
  5. (a) A light-emitting diode (LED) is a diode that emits light when there is a current in it.
    Draw a circuit diagram showing an LED, connected so that it is lit, in series with a battery and a fixed resistor. Use standard electrical symbols.
    (b) The p.d. across the LED when lit is 3.1V and the current in the LED is 0.030A.
    Calculate the value of the resistance of the LED when lit.
    (c) Fig. 8.1 shows a power supply of e.m.f. 10.5V connected in series with a lamp and a heater.
    The p.d. across the lamp is 2.1V and the current in the lamp is 1.5A.
    Calculate:
    (i) the resistance of the heater
    (ii) the power of the heater.
  6. (a) Complete the truth table shown in Table 9.1 for a NAND gate.
    (b) The circuit shown in Fig. 9.1 contains two different types of gate, labelled X and Y.
    Table 9.2 shows a partially completed truth table for this circuit.
    (i) From Table 9.2, deduce the name of logic gate Y.
    Ring your answer from the list.
    AND NAND NOR NOT OR
    (ii) Complete the truth table in Table 9.2.
    (c) There is a current of 3.0A in a copper wire. Calculate how many electrons pass through the copper wire every 60s. The charge on an electron is 1.6 × 10–19C.
  7. Fig. 10.1 shows a vacuum tube with a radioactive source. The radioactive source emits α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays. There is a very strong magnetic field between the N pole and the S pole of the magnet.
    (a) The lead cylinder has a narrow central hole. State and explain the effect of the lead cylinder. (b) Describe the paths of the α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays as they pass through the magnetic field. Explain your answers.
    (i) α-particles
    (ii) β-particles
    (iii) γ-rays


Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.
Mathway Calculator Widget



We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.