1 The units of all physical quantities can be expressed in terms of SI base units. 9702/13/O/N/12

Which pair contains quantities with the same base units?

A force and momentum

B pressure and Young modulus
C power and kinetic energy
D mass and weight

2 Two physical quantities P and Q are added. The sum of P and Q is R, as shown. 9702/13/O/N/12

R
P

Which quantity could be represented by P and by Q?

A kinetic energy
B power
C speed
D velocity

3 A 1.5 V cell supplies 0.20 A to a lamp for seven hours before the lamp goes out. 9702/13/O/N/12

What is a sensible estimate for the initial chemical energy content of the cell?

A 1 × 102 J B 1 × 104 J C 1 × 106 J D 1 × 108 J

4 Three of these quantities have the same unit. 9702/13/O/N/12

Which quantity has a different unit?

energy
A
distance
B force

C power × time
D rate of change of momentum

Physical Quantities and Units

 

1 Which pair of quantities contains one vector and one scalar quantity? 9702/11/M/J/13

A displacement; force
B kinetic energy; power
C acceleration; momentum
D velocity; distance

2 One property Q of a material is used to describe the behaviour of sound waves in the material.
Q is defined as the pressure P of the sound wave divided by the speed v of the wave and the
surface area A of the material through which the wave travels: 9702/11/M/J/13

Q= P .
vA

What are the SI base units of Q?

A kg m2 s–3 B kg m–3 s–1 C kg m–4 s–1 D kg m–2 s–2

1 Which pair includes a vector quantity and a scalar quantity? 9702/12/M/J/13

A displacement; acceleration
B force; kinetic energy
C power; speed
D work; potential energy

3 Two forces act on a circular disc as shown. 9702/12/M/J/13

3N

4N

Which diagram shows the line of action of the resultant force?

A B C D
5N

5N 5N 5N

Physical Quantities and Units

 

2 The unit of resistivity, expressed in terms of base units, is given by 9702/12/M/J/13

kg x3 y–2 z–3 .

Which base units are x, y and z?

x y z

A ampere metre second

B metre ampere second
C metre second ampere
D second ampere metre

1 The diagram shows a displacement vector. 9702/13/M/J/13

5.0 km

53°

What is the vertical component of this displacement vector?

A 3.0 km B 4.0 km C 5.0 km D 6.6 km

2 What is the unit of power, expressed in SI base units? 9702/13/M/J/13

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

3 Which statement is incorrect by a factor of 100 or more? 9702/13/M/J/13

A Atmospheric pressure is about 1 × 105 Pa.

B Light takes 5 × 102 s to reach us from the Sun.

C The frequency of ultra-violet light is 3 × 1012 Hz.

D The life-span of a man is about 2 × 109 s.

Physical Quantities and Units

 

4 A cyclist is travelling due south with velocity u. The wind is blowing from the north-east with
velocity w. 9702/13/M/J/13

cyclist wind

u w

The wind has a velocity v relative to the cyclist, where v = w – u.

Which vector diagram shows the magnitude and direction of velocity v?

A B C D

v v v
v

2 A pendulum bob is held stationary by a horizontal force H. The three forces acting on the bob are
shown in the diagram. 9702/11/O/N/13

30°
T

The tension in the string of the pendulum is T. The weight of the pendulum bob is W.

Which statement is correct?

A H = T cos 30°

B T = H sin 30°

C W = T cos 30°

D W = T sin 30°

Physical Quantities and Units

 

1 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

3 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

3 Two forces of equal magnitude are represented by two coplanar vectors. One is directed
eastwards and the other is directed northwards. 9702/13/O/N/13

What is the direction of a single force that will balance these two forces?

A towards the north-east

B towards the north-west
C towards the south-east
D towards the south-west

4 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

Physical Quantities and Units

 

1 Which estimate is realistic? 9702/13/O/N/13

A The kinetic energy of a bus travelling on an expressway is 30 000 J.

B The power of a domestic light is 300 W.
C The temperature of a hot oven is 300 K.
D The volume of air in a car tyre is 0.03 m3.

2 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

14 An archer draws his bowstring back to position X. The bowstring and arrow are shown. The
tension T in the string is also shown. Then he draws the bowstring back further to position Y.
9702/11/O/N/13

T = 100 N T = 120 N

65° 55°
X Y
65° 55°

T = 100 N T = 120 N

The resultant force on the arrow is greater when the arrow is released from position Y.

What is the increase in force?

A 15 N B 27 N C 40 N D 53 N

1 The maximum theoretical power P of a wind turbine is given by the equation 9702/12/M/J/14

P = kρAv n

where ρ is the density of air, A is the area swept by the turbine blades, v is the speed of the air
and k is a constant with no units.

What is the value of n ?

A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

Physical Quantities and Units

 
1 Which pair of units contains one derived unit and one SI base unit? 9702/11/M/J/14

A ampere coulomb
B kilogram kelvin
C metre second
D newton pascal

2 What is equivalent to 2000 microvolts? 9702/11/M/J/14

A 2 μJ C–1 B 2 mV C 2 pV D 2000 mV

3 The speed v of a liquid leaving a tube depends on the change in pressure ΔP and the density ρ of
the liquid. The speed is given by the equation 9702/11/M/J/14

⎛ ΔP ⎞n
v = k ⎜⎜ ⎟
⎟
⎝ ρ ⎠

where k is a constant that has no units.

What is the value of n ?

1 3
A 2
B 1 C 2
D 2

2 What is the unit of resistance when expressed in SI base units? 9702/12/M/J/14

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

1 Which quantity can be measured in electronvolts (eV)? 9702/13/M/J/14

A electric charge
B electric potential
C energy
D power

2 The unit of specific heat capacity is J kg–1 K–1. 9702/13/M/J/14

What is its equivalent in terms of SI base units?

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

Physical Quantities and Units

 

3 What is the vertical component of this displacement vector? 9702/13/M/J/14

5.0 km

37°
horizontal

A 3.0 km B 3.8 km C 4.0 km D 5.0 km

1 When the brakes are applied on a vehicle moving at speed v, the distance d moved by the
vehicle in coming to rest is given by the expression 9702/13/O/N/14

d = kv 2

where k is a constant.

What is the unit of k expressed in SI base units?

A m–1 s2 B m s–2 C m2 s–2 D m–1 s

2 Which list contains one vector quantity and two scalar quantities? 9702/13/O/N/14

A displacement, weight, velocity

B force, acceleration, time
C momentum, mass, speed
D work, density, energy

2 What is equivalent to the unit of electric field strength? 9702/11/O/N/14

–1 –1 –3 –1 3 –3 –1
A JCm B NsA C kg m s A D kg m s A

1 Which statement includes a correct unit? 9702/13/M/J/15

A energy = 7.8 N s
B force = 3.8 N s
C momentum = 6.2 N s
D torque = 4.7 N s

2 What is the joule (J) in SI base units? 9702/13/M/J/15

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

Physical Quantities and Units

 

3 The diagram shows the reading on an analogue ammeter. 9702/11/O/N/14

5 10

milliamperes (mA)

0 15

Which digital ammeter reading is the same as the reading on the analogue ammeter?

display units display reading

A μA 1600
B μA 160
C mA 16.0
D A 1.60

1 Which definition is correct and uses only quantities rather than units? 9702/12/M/J/15

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.

2 The average kinetic energy E of a gas molecule is given by the equation 9702/12/M/J/15

3
E= 2
kT

where T is the absolute (kelvin) temperature.

What are the SI base units of k ?

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

Physical Quantities and Units

 
1 Which is an SI base unit? 9702/11/M/J/15

A current
B gram
C kelvin
D volt

2 Which pair contains one vector and one scalar quantity? 9702/11/M/J/15

A displacement acceleration
B force kinetic energy
C momentum velocity
D power speed

3 When a constant braking force is applied to a vehicle moving at speed v, the distance d moved
by the vehicle in coming to rest is given by the expression 9702/11/M/J/15

d = kv 2

where k is a constant.

When d is measured in metres and v is measured in metres per second, the constant has a value
of k1.

What is the value of the constant when the distance is measured in metres, and the speed is
measured in kilometres per hour?

A 0.0772 k1 B 0.278 k1 C 3.60 k1 D 13.0 k1

Physical Quantities and Units