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O Level / IGCSE Physics MCQs with answers

Practise O Level / IGCSE Physics (5054 / 0625) with 723 exam-style MCQs, each with the answer and a short explanation. Every test is marked the moment you finish and shows your score chapter by chapter, so you know what to revise next. It is free and needs no sign-up.

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O Level / IGCSE Physics MCQs with answers

Practise O Level / IGCSE Physics (5054 / 0625) with 723 exam-style MCQs, each with the answer and a short explanation. Every test is marked the moment you finish and shows your score chapter by chapter, so you know what to revise next. It is free and needs no sign-up.

723 questions · 6 chapters · 14 Cambridge past papers · 5 mock exams

What each chapter covers 6 chapters

The questions follow the syllabus chapter by chapter. You can test the whole subject or one chapter at a time.

  1. Motion, forces and energy 224 questionsPhysical quantities and measurement techniques, Motion, Mass and weight, Density, Forces, Momentum, Energy, work and power, Pressure
  2. Thermal physics 90 questionsKinetic particle model of matter, Thermal properties and temperature, Transfer of thermal energy
  3. Waves 114 questionsGeneral properties of waves, Light, Electromagnetic spectrum, Sound
  4. Electricity and magnetism 176 questionsSimple magnetism and magnetic fields, Electrical quantities, Electric circuits, Practical electricity, Electromagnetic effects, Uses of an oscilloscope
  5. Nuclear physics 63 questionsThe nuclear model of the atom, Radioactivity
  6. Space physics 56 questionsEarth and the Solar System, Stars and the Universe
Sample O Level / IGCSE Physics MCQs with answers 12 questions

12 questions from the test, one or two from each chapter. Try each one, then open the answer.

1. Why do modern cars have crumple zones at the front?

  1. A
    to make the car lighter
  2. B
    to increase the time of the collision and so reduce the force
  3. C
    to increase the momentum of the car
  4. D
    to stop the car faster
Show answer

Answer: B. Force = change in momentum ÷ time. The momentum change is fixed, so a longer collision time gives a smaller force on the passengers.

2. A gas is kept at constant temperature while its volume is halved. What happens to its pressure, and why?

  1. A
    it halves, because the particles slow down
  2. B
    it doubles, because the particles hit the walls more often
  3. C
    it stays the same, because temperature is constant
  4. D
    it doubles, because the particles move faster
Show answer

Answer: B. At constant temperature the particles keep the same speed, but in half the volume they strike the walls twice as often, so pressure doubles (pV = constant).

3. Which radiation harms the body mainly by heating soft tissue, rather than by ionising it?

  1. A
    gamma rays
  2. B
    microwaves
  3. C
    ultraviolet
  4. D
    X-rays
Show answer

Answer: B. Microwaves are absorbed by the water in tissue and heat it, which can cause burns. Ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays are ionising and can cause cell mutation and cancer.

4. Resistors of 4.0 Ω and 12 Ω are connected in parallel. The current in the 4.0 Ω resistor is 0.90 A. What is the current in the 12 Ω resistor?

  1. A
    0.30 A
  2. B
    0.90 A
  3. C
    1.2 A
  4. D
    2.7 A
Show answer

Answer: A. Parallel resistors have the same p.d.: V = 0.90 × 4.0 = 3.6 V. Current in 12 Ω = 3.6 ÷ 12 = 0.30 A. The larger resistor takes the smaller current; 2.7 A has the ratio upside down.

5. A nucleus of radium, 22688Ra, emits an alpha particle and becomes a nucleus of radon, Rn. What is the nuclide notation for the radon nucleus?

  1. A
    22286Rn
  2. B
    22288Rn
  3. C
    22486Rn
  4. D
    22687Rn
Show answer

Answer: A. An alpha particle is 42He, so the nucleon number falls by 4 (226 → 222) and the proton number by 2 (88 → 86).

6. The Milky Way is about 100 000 light-years in diameter. How long does light take to travel from one side of the Milky Way to the other?

  1. A
    about 100 000 seconds
  2. B
    about 100 000 days
  3. C
    about 100 000 years
  4. D
    about 100 000 light-years
Show answer

Answer: C. One light-year is the distance light travels in one year, so 100 000 light-years takes light about 100 000 years. "100 000 light-years" is a distance, not a time.

7. A student times 20 complete swings of a pendulum and gets 30.0 s. What is the period of the pendulum?

  1. A
    0.67 s
  2. B
    1.5 s
  3. C
    15 s
  4. D
    600 s
Show answer

Answer: B. Period = time for one swing = 30.0 ÷ 20 = 1.5 s. Timing many swings reduces the effect of reaction time.

8. A fixed mass of gas at constant temperature has a pressure of 2.0 × 105 Pa when its volume is 30 cm3. Which other pair of values lies on the same pressure–volume curve?

  1. A
    1.0 × 105 Pa and 15 cm3
  2. B
    1.5 × 105 Pa and 40 cm3
  3. C
    3.0 × 105 Pa and 45 cm3
  4. D
    4.0 × 105 Pa and 60 cm3
Show answer

Answer: B. pV must stay at 2.0 × 105 × 30 = 6.0 × 106. Only 1.5 × 105 × 40 = 6.0 × 106. The other pairs treat p and V as directly proportional.

9. An earthquake produces seismic P-waves and S-waves. Which row describes them correctly?

  1. A
    P-waves: transverse; S-waves: longitudinal
  2. B
    P-waves: transverse; S-waves: transverse
  3. C
    P-waves: longitudinal; S-waves: longitudinal
  4. D
    P-waves: longitudinal; S-waves: transverse
Show answer

Answer: D. P-waves (primary) are longitudinal: the ground vibrates along the direction of travel. S-waves (secondary) are transverse: the vibration is at right angles to the direction of travel.

10. An oscilloscope trace shows exactly 2 complete cycles across 10 horizontal divisions. The timebase is set to 0.1 ms per division. What is the frequency of the signal?

  1. A
    200 Hz
  2. B
    1000 Hz
  3. C
    2000 Hz
  4. D
    5000 Hz
Show answer

Answer: C. The 10 divisions last 10 × 0.1 ms = 1.0 ms and hold 2 cycles, so the period is 0.5 ms = 0.0005 s. Frequency = 1 ÷ 0.0005 = 2000 Hz. Taking 1.0 ms as one period gives 1000 Hz.

11. A radioactive tracer is injected into a patient to check kidney function. Which isotope properties are most suitable?

  1. A
    alpha emitter, long half-life
  2. B
    gamma emitter, short half-life
  3. C
    beta emitter, very long half-life
  4. D
    alpha emitter, short half-life
Show answer

Answer: B. Gamma passes out of the body to be detected and is weakly ionising; a short half-life limits the dose after the test. Alpha inside the body would cause severe damage.

12. Which object contains most of the mass of the Solar System?

  1. A
    Jupiter
  2. B
    the Sun
  3. C
    the asteroid belt
  4. D
    the Earth
Show answer

Answer: B. The Sun contains almost all (over 99%) of the mass of the Solar System; Jupiter is the most massive planet but far less massive than the Sun.

Try 711 more questions

Ways to practise 7 ways

When you get a question wrong, a short note called "The idea behind this" explains the topic it belongs to, with the rules to remember and a worked example.

Topics explained 25 topics

Each topic has a short explanation, the rules to remember, a worked example and practice questions.

Physical quantities and measurement techniquesMotionMass and weightDensityForcesMomentumEnergy, work and powerPressureKinetic particle model of matterThermal properties and temperatureTransfer of thermal energyGeneral properties of wavesLightElectromagnetic spectrumSoundSimple magnetism and magnetic fieldsElectrical quantitiesElectric circuitsPractical electricityElectromagnetic effectsUses of an oscilloscopeThe nuclear model of the atomRadioactivityEarth and the Solar SystemStars and the Universe

All O Level / IGCSE Physics rules on one pageO Level / IGCSE Physics past papers: solve online

O Level / IGCSE Physics: frequently asked questions

Is this O Level / IGCSE Physics test free?

Yes. Every test, answer and explanation is free, and you do not need an account. Sign in only if you want your results kept across devices.

How many O Level / IGCSE Physics questions are there?

723 MCQs with answers, covering 6 chapters of the syllabus. Each test draws new questions, so you can practise many times.

Are these O Level / IGCSE Physics past paper questions?

No. The 723 MCQs are our own, written to the syllabus in the style of the exam. The 14 Cambridge past papers are listed separately inside the test.

How is the test marked?

Instantly. You see your score, the right answer and an explanation for every question, and the topics to work on next. Questions you got wrong are saved so you can retry them.

Can I practise one chapter or only my weak topics?

Yes. Pick a chapter, build your own test from chosen topics, or practise your weakest topics and your past mistakes.

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Yes. It runs in the browser on any phone or computer, and you can add it to your home screen like an app.

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