1 Which of the following pairs of units are both SI base units? 9702/1/M/J/02

A ampere, degree celsius

B ampere, kelvin
C coulomb, degree celsius
D coulomb, kelvin

2 Which formula could be correct for the speed v of ocean waves in terms of the density ρ of sea-
water, the acceleration of free fall g, the depth h of the ocean and the wavelength λ? 9702/1/M/J/02

g g
A v= gh B v= C v= lgh D v=
h l

3 A student measures a current as 0.5 A. 9702/01/O/N/03

Which of the following correctly expresses this result?

A 50 mA B 50 MA C 500 mA D 500 MA

4 The momentum of an object of mass m is p. 9702/01/O/N/03

p2
Which quantity has the same base units as ?
m
A energy
B force
C power
D velocity

5 The unit of work, the joule, may be defined as the work done when the point of application of a
force of 1 newton is moved a distance of 1 metre in the direction of the force. 9702/01/M/J/03

Express the joule in terms of the base units of mass, length and time, the kg, m and s.

A kg m–1 s2 B kg m2 s–2 C kg m2 s–1 D kg s–2

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6 Which of the following could be measured in the same units as force? 9702/01/M/J/04

A energy / distance
B energy x distance
C energy / time
D momentum x distance

7 The notation μs is used as an abbreviation for a certain unit of time. 9702/01/M/J/04

What is the name and value of this unit?

name value

A microsecond 10 –6 s
B microsecond 10 –3 s
C millisecond 10 –6 s
D millisecond 10 –3 s

8 What is the reading shown on this milliammeter? 9702/01/M/J/04

4 6
2 8
0 10

mA

A 2.35 mA B 2.7 mA C 3.4 mA D 3.7 mA

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9 Which line of the table gives values that are equal to a time of 1 ps (one picosecond) and a
distance of 1 Gm (one gigametre)? 9702/01/O/N/04

time of 1 ps distance of 1 Gm

A 10–9 s 109 m
B 10–9 s 1012 m
C 10–12 s 109 m
D 10–12 s 1012 m

10 Which of the following definitions is correct and uses only quantities rather than units? 9702/01/O/N/04

A Density is mass per cubic metre.

B Potential difference is energy per unit current.
C Pressure is force per unit area.
D Speed is distance travelled per second.

11 When a beam of light is incident on a surface, it delivers energy to the surface. The intensity of
the beam is defined as the energy delivered per unit area per unit time. 9702/01/O/N/04

What is the unit of intensity, expressed in SI base units?

A kg m–2 s–1 B kg m2 s–3 C kg s–2 D kg s–3

12 An Olympic athlete of mass 80 kg competes in a 100 m race. 9702/01/M/J/05

What is the best estimate of his mean kinetic energy during the race?

A 4 x 102 J B 4 x 103 J C 4 x 104 J D 4 x 105 J

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13 Decimal sub-multiples and multiples of units are indicated using a prefix to the unit. For example,
the prefix milli (m) represents 10–3. 9702/01/M/J/05

Which of the following gives the sub-multiples or multiples represented by pico (p) and giga (G)?

pico (p) giga (G)

A 10–9 109
B 10–9 1012
C 10–12 109
D 10–12 1012

14 A metal sphere of radius r is dropped into a tank of water. As it sinks at speed v, it experiences a
drag force F given by F = kr v, where k is a constant. 9702/01/M/J/05

What are the SI base units of k?

A kg m2 s–1 B kg m–2 s–2 C kg m–1 s–1 D kg m s–2

15 Which pair of units are both SI base units? 9702/01/O/N/05

A ampere, degree celsius

B ampere, kelvin
C coulomb, degree celsius
D coulomb, kelvin

16 The prefix ‘centi’ indicates x 10–2. 9702/01/O/N/05

Which line in the table correctly indicates the prefixes micro, nano and pico?

x 10–12 x 10–9 x 10–6

A nano micro pico

B nano pico micro
C pico nano micro
D pico micro nano

17 Which expression involving base units is equivalent to the volt? 9702/01/O/N/05

A kg m2 s–1 A–1
B kg m s–2 A
C kg m2 s–1 A
D kg m2 s–3 A–1
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18 In the expressions below 9702/01/O/N/06

a is acceleration,
F is force,
m is mass,
t is time,
v is velocity.

Which expression represents energy?

A Ft B Fvt C 2mv D at 2
t 2

19 Which product-pair of metric prefixes has the greatest magnitude? 9702/01/O/N/06

A pico × mega

B nano × kilo

C micro × giga

D milli × tera

20 Which row of the table shows a physical quantity and its correct unit? 9702/01/O/N/06

physical quantity unit

A electric field strength kg m s–2 C–1

B specific heat capacity kg–1 m2 s–2 K–1
C tensile strain kg m–1 s–2
D the Young modulus kg m–1 s–3

21 Which is a pair of SI base units? 9702/01/M/J/07

A ampere joule
B coulomb second
C kilogram kelvin
D metre newton
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1 µm 9702/01/M/J/07
22 What is the ratio ?
1 Gm

A 10–3 B 10–9 C 10–12 D 10–15

23 Which of the following correctly expresses the volt in terms of SI base units? 9702/01/M/J/08

A AΩ
B W A–1
C kg m2 s–1 A–1
D kg m2 s–3 A–1

24 The equation relating pressure and density is p = ρgh. 9702/01/O/N/07

How can both sides of this equation be written in terms of base units?

A [N m–1] = [kg m–3] [m s–1] [m]

B [N m–2] = [kg m–3] [m s–2] [m]
C [kg m–1 s–2] = [kg m–3] [m s–2] [m]
D [kg m–1 s–1] = [kg m–1] [m s–2] [m]

What is a reasonable estimate of the diameter of an alpha particle? 9702/01/O/N/07

25

A 10–15 m B 10–12 m C 10–9 m D 10–6 m

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26 Five energies are listed. 9702/01/M/J/08

5 kJ
5 mJ
5 MJ
5 nJ

Starting with the smallest first, what is the order of increasing magnitude of these energies?
9702/01/M/J/08
A 5 kJ → 5 mJ → 5 MJ → 5 nJ

B 5 nJ → 5 kJ → 5 MJ → 5 mJ

C 5 nJ → 5 mJ → 5 kJ → 5 MJ

D 5 mJ → 5 nJ → 5 kJ → 5 MJ

27 What is a reasonable estimate of the average kinetic energy of an athlete during a 100 m race
that takes 10 s? 9702/01/M/J/08

A 40 J B 400 J C 4000 J D 40 000 J

28 At temperatures close to 0 K, the specific heat capacity c of a particular solid is given by c = bT 3,

where T is the thermodynamic temperature and b is a constant characteristic of the solid.

What are the units of constant b, expressed in SI base units? 9702/01/O/N/08

A m2 s –2 K–3
B m2 s–2 K–4
C kg m2 s–2 K–3
D kg m2 s–2 K–4
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29 A laser emits light of wavelength 600 nm. 9702/01/O/N/08

What is the distance, expressed as a number of wavelengths, travelled by the light in one
second?

A 5 × 108 B 5 × 1011 C 5 × 1014 D 5 × 1017

30 Which statement, involving multiples and sub-multiples of the base unit metre (m), is correct?
9702/01/M/J/09
A 1 pm = 10–9 m
B 1 nm = 10–6 m

C 1 mm = 106 μm
D 1 km = 106 mm

31 The table contains some quantities, together with their symbols and units. 9702/11/O/N/09

quantity symbol unit

gravitational field strength g N kg–1

density of liquid ρ kg m–3
vertical height h m
volume of part of liquid V m3

Which expression has the units of energy? 9702/11/O/N/09

A gρ hV B ρ hV C ρg D ρ g2h
g hV

32 The drag force F acting on a moving sphere obeys an equation of the form F = kAv 2, where A
represents the sphere’s frontal area and v represents its speed. 9702/11/O/N/09

What are the base units of the constant k ?

A kg m5 s–4 B kg m–2 s–1 C kg m–3 D kg m–4 s2

33 The drag force F acting on a moving sphere obeys an equation of the form F = kAv 2, where A
represents the sphere’s frontal area and v represents its speed. 9702/12/O/N/09

What are the base units of the constant k ?

A kg m5 s–4 B kg m–2 s–1 C kg m–3 D kg m–4 s2

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34 The SI unit for potential difference (the volt) is given, in base units, by 9702/11/M/J/10

A kg m A–1 s–3.
B m2 A–1 s–2.
C kg m2 s–2.
D kg m2 A–1 s–3.

35 A signal has a frequency of 2.0 MHz. 9702/11/O/N/10

What is the period of the signal?

A 2 μs B 5 μs C 200 ns D 500 ns

36 A metal sphere of radius r is dropped into a tank of water. As it sinks at speed v, it experiences a
drag force F given by F = kr v, where k is a constant. 9702/11/O/N/10

What are the SI base units of k ?

A kg m2 s–1 B kg m–2 s–2 C kg m–1 s–1 D kg m s–2

37 Which row shows a base quantity with its correct SI unit? 9702/12/O/N/10

quantity unit

A current A
B mass g
C temperature °C
D weight N

38 The frictional force F on a sphere falling through a fluid is given by the formula 9702/12/O/N/10

F = 6πaηv

where a is the radius of the sphere, η is a constant relating to the fluid and v is the velocity of the
sphere.

What are the units of η ?

A kg m s–1 B kg m–1 s–1 C kg m s–3 D kg m3 s–3

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39 Which statement using prefixes of the base unit metre (m) is not correct? 9702/11/O/N/11

A 1 pm = 10–12 m
B 1 nm = 10–9 m
C 1 Mm = 106 m
D 1 Gm = 1012 m

40 Which group of quantities contains only vectors? 9702/11/O/N/11

A acceleration, displacement, speed

B acceleration, work, electric field strength
C displacement, force, velocity
D power, electric field strength, force

41 A cylindrical tube rolling down a slope of inclination θ moves a distance L in time T. The equation
relating these quantities is

⎛ a 2 ⎞⎟
L ⎜3 + = QT 2 sin θ
⎜ P ⎟
⎝ ⎠

Where a is the internal radius of the tube and P and Q are constants. 9702/11/O/N/11

Which line gives the correct units for P and Q?

P Q

A m2 m2 s–2
B m2 m s–2
C m2 m3 s–2
D m3 m s–2

42 Which quantity can be measured in electronvolts (eV)? 9702/12/O/N/11

A electric charge
B electric potential
C energy
D power

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43 What is the ratio 10 3 T Hz ? 9702/12/O/N/11
10 kHz

A 10–9 B 10–6 C 100 D 103

Physical Quantities and Units

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44 Which row shows an SI base quantity with its correct unit? 9702/11/O/N/13

SI base quantity unit

A charge coulomb
B current ampere
C potential difference volt
D temperature degree Celsius

45 The drag coefficient Cd is a number with no units. It is used to compare the drag on different cars
at different speeds. It is given by the equation
9702/11/O/N/13

2F
Cd =
ρv nA

where F is the drag force on the car, ρ is the density of the air, A is the cross-sectional area of the
car and v is the speed of the car.

What is the value of n?

A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

46 The spring constant k of a coiled wire spring is given by the equation 9702/13/O/N/13

4
k = Gr 3
4nR

where r is the radius of the wire, n is the number of turns of wire and R is the radius of each of the
turns of wire. The quantity G depends on the material from which the wire is made.

What is a suitable unit for G?

A N m–2 B N m–1 C Nm D N m2

47 Which unit is equivalent to the coulomb? 9702/13/O/N/13

A ampere per second

B joule per volt
C watt per ampere
D watt per volt

Physical Quantities and Units