Physics 0625/32 February/March 2025: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625), Paper 3 Core Theory, February/March 2025. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for a ball falling through the air.
4.0
speed
3.0 m/s
2.0
1.0
0.0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
time / s
Fig. 1.1
(a) Determine the speed of the ball at time = 1.0 s.
speed = …… m / s [1]
(b) Describe the speed of the ball between time = 2.0 s and time = 5.0 s.
…… [1]
(c) Calculate the distance moved by the ball between time = 2.0 s and time = 5.0 s.
distance = …… m [3]
(d) Fig. 1.2 shows the two vertical forces acting on the ball at time = 3.0 s.
X
ball
Y
Fig. 1.2
Give the term used to describe each force.
[2]
[Total: 7]
Mark scheme
1(a) 3.55 (m/s) B1
1(b) constant/steady (speed) OR B1
zero acceleration
1(c) (distance travelled =) 12 (m) A3
(distance travelled =) 4(.0) × 3(.0) (C2)
(distance travelled =) area under graph OR b × h (C1)
1(d) (upward force × is) air resistance OR friction OR drag B1
(downward force Y is) weight OR (force of) gravity B1
(a) A student determines the density of a liquid, by using the equipment shown in Fig. 2.1.
0.0 g
measuring liquid in balance cylinder beaker
Fig. 2.1
Describe how the student uses the equipment to determine the density of the liquid.
…… [3]
(b) Fig. 2.2 shows a metal block.
3.0 cm
2.0 cm
2.0 cm
Fig. 2.2
The density of the metal is 8.0 g / cm3 .
Calculate the mass of the metal block.
mass = …… g [4]
[Total: 7]
Mark scheme
2(a) Any two from: B2
idea of using measuring cylinder to measure (liquid) volume
measure mass of cylinder / beaker empty / with liquid
measure (any) mass with balance
Any one from: B1
idea of subtracting mass of empty beaker
use of density = mass ÷ volume
2(b) (mass =) 96 (g) A4
(mass =) 8(.0) × 12 (C3)
(mass =) density × volume (C1)
(volume of block =) 2 × 2 × 3 OR 12 (cm3) (C1)
Fig. 3.1 shows a cross-section through the centre of a solid cone and a cross-section through the centre of a solid cuboid. The cone and the cuboid are placed on the ground as shown in Fig. 3.1.
The solid cone is more stable than the solid cuboid.
The symbol × indicates the position of the centre of gravity of each object.
cone cuboid ground
Fig. 3.1
(a) Explain why the solid cone in Fig. 3.1 is more stable than the solid cuboid.
…… [1]
(b) The weight of the solid cuboid is 48 N. The area of the solid cuboid in contact with the ground is 32 cm2.
Calculate the pressure exerted by the solid cuboid on the ground.
pressure on ground = …… N / cm2 [3]
(c) A horizontal force of 15 N tilts the solid cone, as shown in Fig. 3.2.
15 N
18 cm
pivot
Fig. 3.2
Calculate the moment of the 15 N force about the pivot.
moment = …… N cm [3]
[Total: 7]
Mark scheme
3(a) (has) lower centre of gravity owtte B1
3(b) (P =) 1.5 (N / cm2) A3
(P =) 48 ÷ 32 (C2)
(P =) F ÷ A (C1)
3(c) (moment =) 270 (Ncm) A3
(moment =) 15 × 18 (C2)
moment = force × (perp.) distance (from pivot) (C1)
A power station uses biofuels to generate electrical power.
(a) Describe how the power station generates electrical power from the chemical energy stored in biofuels.
…… [4]
(b) State one advantage and one disadvantage, apart from cost, of generating electrical power using biofuels compared with generating electrical power using fossil fuels.
advantage ……
disadvantage ……
[2]
[Total: 6]
Mark scheme
4(a) any FOUR from: B4
idea of burning (bio)fuel
burning fuel produces thermal energy
(this is) used to heat water OR to produce steam
(steam) turns / powers / rotates / spins turbine
(turbine) turns generator
4(b) any one advantage from: B1
(use a) renewable form of energy
less contribution to global warming
less atmospheric pollution
can be grown in most / many countries
reduce dependence on foreign oil / fossil fuels
any one disadvantage from: B1
not enough biofuel to meet demand
loss of land for food production
use of fertilisers
use of water (for irrigation)
problems with monoculture / growing same crop (for fuel each year)
An electric motor lifts a load, as shown in Fig. 5.1.
battery electric motor
cable
load
Fig. 5.1
(a) After lifting the load, the motor is switched off. Fig. 5.2 represents the transfer of energy from the battery to the load in Fig. 5.1.
In Fig. 5.2, add the names of the energy stores.
kinetic energy in
the electric motor and energy store in the battery the moving load energy store in the load
Fig. 5.2
[2]
(b) The weight of the load is 8.0 N. The motor lifts the load through a vertical distance of 0.60 m.
Calculate the work done on the load.
work done on load = …… J [3]
(c) The current in the motor is 0.40 A. The potential difference across the motor is 6.0 V.
Calculate the power of the electric motor.
power of electric motor = …… W [3]
[Total: 8]
Mark scheme
5(a) chemical (energy) B1
gravitational potential (energy) B1
5(b) 4.8 (J) A3
(work done =) 8(.0) × 0.6 (C2)
(work done =) force × distance (moved in direction of force) (C1)
5(c) 2.4 (W) A3
(power input =) 0.4(0) × 6(.0) (C2)
(power input =) I × V (C1)
A student warms some water in a metal container using an electric heater, as shown in Fig. 6.1.
water
metal container
electric heater (hotplate)
Fig. 6.1
(a) Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles in liquid water.
…… [3]
(b) State how thermal energy moves through the metal container from the heater to the water.
…… [1]
(c) Describe how thermal energy spreads throughout the water.
…… [3]
(d) The water is heated until it is boiling. The air pressure in the room is standard atmospheric pressure.
State the temperature at which the water boils.
temperature = …… °C [1]
[Total: 8]
Mark scheme
6(a) any three from (particles are:) B3
in a random arrangement
close together OR slightly further apart than in solids
move freely OR slide over each other
collide (with each other)
moving randomly
6(b) conduction B1
6(c) any three from: B3
convection
idea that water at bottom of pan is warmed / temp of water at bottom increases
warm water is less dense
less dense / warm water rises OR more dense/colder water sinks
6(d) 100 (°C) B1
(a) Fig. 7.1 represents a ray of red light entering one side of a glass block.
glass block
air
air
ray of red light
Fig. 7.1
On Fig. 7.1 draw the path of the ray of red light through the glass block and into the air. [2]
(b) Fig. 7.2 represents the dispersion of white light by a glass prism.
air air
white light red light
glass prism violet light
Fig. 7.2
Two of the colours of the visible spectrum are shown in Fig. 7.2.
State the other five colours of the visible spectrum in the correct order.
red
violet
[1]
(c) Fig. 7.3 represents the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
infrared gamma radio waves microwaves visible light X-rays waves rays
Fig. 7.3
(i) In Fig. 7.3, one region is unlabelled.
State the name of the unlabelled region.
…… [1]
(ii) Describe one use of gamma rays.
…… [1]
(iii) Describe one harmful effect on people of excessive exposure to gamma rays.
…… [1]
[Total: 6]
Mark scheme
7(a) ray refracted toward normal as it enters glass (by eye) B1
ray refracted away from normal on leaving glass (by eye) B1
OR
emergent ray parallel with incident ray (by eye)
7(b) orange B1
yellow
green
blue
indigo
7(c)(i) ultraviolet (rays / light) B1
7(c)(ii) detecting / treating cancer OR sterilising food / medical equipment B1
OR (medical) imaging OR detecting leaks in (underground) pipes
7(c)(iii) mutation or damage to cells / organs / DNA OR cancer B1
A student strikes a tuning fork on a wooden block. The tuning fork is held close to the students’ ear as shown in Fig. 8.1.
Fig. 8.1
(a) Describe how the tuning fork produces sound.
…… [1]
(b) State the normal frequency range of sounds that humans can hear. Give the unit.
from …… to …… [2]
(c) Two students determine a value for the speed of sound in air. Fig. 8.2 illustrates the method they use.
stopwatch metal plates clash together
metal plates
60 m
Fig. 8.2 (Not to scale)
The girl starts the stopwatch when she sees the metal plates clash together. She stops the stopwatch when she hears the sound of the clashing metal plates. The students use the time on the stopwatch to calculate the speed of sound.
The value for the speed of sound obtained by the students is different from the true value for the speed of sound in air.
Explain why the students’ value is different.
…… [1]
[Total: 4]
Mark scheme
8(a) vibrations OR oscillations
8(b) 20 to 20 000 B1
hertz OR Hz B1
8(c) reaction time B1
OR
distance / time interval is too small
A student set up the electrical circuit that is shown in Fig. 9.1.
switch ammeter metal wire battery
lamp
voltmeter
variable resistor
Fig. 9.1
(a) Fig. 9.2 shows part of the circuit diagram for the circuit in Fig. 9.1.
A
battery switch ammeter
Fig. 9.2
Complete the circuit diagram in Fig. 9.2 to represent the circuit in Fig. 9.1. Use standard circuit symbols. [4]
(b) The potential difference (p.d.) across the lamp is 11 V and the current in the lamp is 0.44 A.
Calculate the resistance of the lamp.
resistance = …… Ω [3]
(c) The student moves the sliding contact from position A to position B, as shown in Fig. 9.3.
metal bar sliding contact in position A
connection to lamp
connection
to battery coil of resistance wire
sliding contact in position B metal bar
connection to lamp
connection to battery coil of resistance wire
Fig. 9.3
State and explain any effect on the current in the circuit when the sliding contact is moved from position A to position B.
…… [2]
[Total: 9]
Mark scheme
9(a) correct symbol for: B1
voltmeter
lamp B1
variable resistor B1
lamp and variable resistor connected in series circuit AND B1
voltmeter in parallel with lamp
9(b) 25 (Ω) A3
11 ÷ 0.44 (C2)
(R =) V ÷ I or V = I × R or in any form (C1)
9(c) current increases B1
(because) resistance (of variable resistor) decreases OR there is less resistance wire (in the circuit / for current to move B1
through)
Fig. 10.1 shows the apparatus used by a student to demonstrate electromagnetic induction.
permanent
S magnet
solenoid
V voltmeter
N
Fig. 10.1
(a) Describe how the student uses the apparatus to demonstrate electromagnetic induction.
…… [2]
(b) State two separate changes the student must make to the apparatus to increase the
electromotive force (e.m.f.) induced in the coil.
1 ……
2 ……
[2]
(c) Fig. 10.2 represents a transformer.
transformer core
primary
coil coil X
100 V (40 turns) (80 turns)
Fig. 10.2
(i) State a suitable material for the transformer core.
…… [1]
(ii) State the term used to describe coil X in Fig. 10.2.
…… [1]
(iii) State the term used to describe the type of transformer represented in Fig. 10.2.
…… [1]
[Total: 7]
Mark scheme
10(a) move the magnet M1
{into OR out of OR relative to} the solenoid / coil A1
10(b) any two from: B2
use a stronger magnet
increase the number of turns on the coil
increasing the speed of (movement of the) magnet
10(c)(i) (soft) iron B1
10(c)(ii) secondary (coil) B1
10(c)(iii) step-up (transformer) B1
(a) Table 11.1 gives information about the particles in an atom.
Table 11.1
name of particle relative charge location in the atom proton +1 in the nucleus neutron electron orbiting the nucleus
Complete the table by writing the correct information in the three empty spaces. [3]
(b) State the relative charge on an alpha particle.
…… [1]
(c) Compare the penetrating abilities of alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays.
…… [2]
[Total: 6]
Mark scheme
11(a) B3
name of particle relative charge location in the atom
proton +1 in the nucleus
neutron 0 OR zero in the nucleus
electron –1 OR minus 1 orbiting the nucleus
B1 B1 B1
11(b) +2 OR plus two B1
11(c) any two from: B2
gamma (rays) most / more penetrating
alpha (particles) least / less penetrating
beta are between alpha and gamma
Fig. 12.1 represents the Earth’s orbit of the Sun.
Sun Earth
Fig. 12.1 (Not to scale)
(a) State the term used to describe the force that keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun.
…… [1]
(b) Explain why the Earth has an annual cycle of seasons.
…… [1]
(c) The distance of the Earth from the Sun is 1.48 × 1011 m. The speed of light is 3.0 × 108 m / s.
Calculate the time it takes light from the Sun to reach the Earth.
time taken to reach Earth = …… s [3]
[Total: 5]
Mark scheme
12(a) gravitational (attraction) B1
12(b) Earth’s axis is tilted (relative to its orbital plane) B1
OR
idea that in part of orbit, N or S pole points towards/away
from Sun
12(c) 490 (s) A3
1.48 × 1011 ÷ 3(.0) × 108 (C2)
speed = distance ÷ time OR (t =) d ÷ s (C1)
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for IGCSE Physics 0625/32, February/March 2025 (0625_m25_ms_32), and the question paper (0625_m25_qp_32), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
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Physics 0625/32 for February/March 2025 is out of 80 marks, with 1 hour 15 minutes to answer it, across 12 questions.
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