Past papers and mark schemes
Here you can find past papers for OCR 21st Century GCSE Physics. Use the links below to download question papers and mark schemes. If you’re unsure whether you need Foundation or Higher papers, consult your teacher.
June 2023
Breadth in physics - Foundation tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Breadth in physics- Higher tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Depth in physics - Foundation tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Depth in physics - Higher tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
June 2022
Breadth in physics - Foundation tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Breadth in physics- Higher tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Depth in physics - Foundation tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Depth in physics - Higher tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
November 2021
Breadth in physics - Foundation tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Breadth in physics- Higher tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Depth in physics - Foundation tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
Depth in physics - Higher tier - Past paper | Mark scheme
These resources were created to support your exam preparation. The past papers and mark schemes here belong to OCR and are shared with their permission.
Practicing questions
Practising questions will help you to prepare for your physics exam. By working through example problems, you can build your confidence and sharpen your understanding of key topics including graphs, formulas and laws.
These worked examples not only show you how to approach problems step-by-step but also include tailored tips for each topic to help you develop the skills to tackle similar questions on your own.
Use these questions to identify areas you feel confident in and those that need more practice.
Remember, the questions on the exam paper are not released until the day of the exam. The examples on this page are a guide to the topics and question structures that could be on the paper.
Top tips: Nuclear radiation
1. Show evidence
- Past paper trend: Questions often ask for descriptions of nuclear radiation.
- How to answer: A 'description' should include whether the radiation is a wave or particle, its charge (if any) and its composition (eg the number of protons and neutrons or 'is a helium nucleus'). Revise the descriptions of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
2. Properties of nuclear radiation
- Past paper trend: Questions often ask for the properties of nuclear radiation.
- How to answer: The two important comparisons of alpha, beta and gamma to include are penetrating power and ionising power. Check that you remember the information in the following table.
| Symbol | Penetrating power (stopped by) | Ionising power | Range in air | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | α | Skin/paper | High | < 5 centimetre (cm) |
| Beta | β | 3 mm aluminium foil | Low | ≈ 1 metre (m) |
| Gamma | γ | Lead/concrete | Very low | > 1 kilometre (km) |
3. Radioactive decay and half-life graphs
- Past paper trend: Questions about nuclear radiation often involve radioactive decay with graphs of half-life.
- How to answer: Revise radioactive decay and half-life.
The question may ask for a description of a graph. The description for this graph could be:
As time increases the activity decreases. This is not a straight line but a curve downwards. The line starts steeply, showing a large decrease to start with, and becomes less steep, showing a smaller decrease over time.
Questions may also require calculating the half-life from a graph:
The half-life is determined by finding the time taken for the activity to decrease by one half. It starts at 80 and after two days has halved to 40. After another two days it has halved again to 20. After another two days it has halved again to 10. The half-life is therefore two days.
4. Describing alpha, beta and gamma
- Past paper trend: Questions about nuclear radiation often involve nuclear equations.
- How to answer: These are easier to understand if you can remember the descriptions of alpha, beta and gamma. Alpha consists of two protons and two neutrons and is a helium nucleus. Beta is an electron (or positron). Gamma is an electromagnetic wave and not a particle.
For alpha decay it is likely you will be given a starting atom such as radon:
\(_{86}^{219}\textrm{Rn}\)
Alpha decay involves the emission of a helium nucleus. Remember that the mass number is reduced by the number of both protons and neutrons lost (4 total), giving a reduction from 219 to 215, whereas the atomic number reduces by the number of protons lost (2 total), going from 86 to 84.
This converts the radon atom into polonium. This is shown as:
\(_{86}^{219}\textrm{Rn} \rightarrow _{84}^{215}\textrm{Po} + _{2}^{4}\textrm{He}\)
For beta decay it is likely you will be given a starting atom such as carbon:
\(_{6}^{14}\textrm{C}\)
Beta decay involves the emission of an electron the loss of a neutron and the gain of a proton. So the mass number remains the same and the atomic number increases by one because of the added proton. This converts the carbon atom into nitrogen. This is shown as:
\(_{6}^{14}\textrm{C} \rightarrow _{7}^{14}\textrm{N} + _{-1}^{0}\textrm{e}\)
Gamma is an electromagnetic wave and not a particle so does not change the structure of the nucleus when emitted. There is therefore no nuclear equation for gamma.
Worked example question
Here is an example of the type of question you may encounter in the exam and an example answer with an explanation of how the marks have been awarded.
Practise the process of writing a short plan for all six-mark questions.
Try to make as many key points as there are marks on offer. For this six-mark question try to write a minimum of six points.
Question:
Compare the processes of alpha and beta decay. [6 marks]
Answer:
Alpha is a particle and not a wave. It consists of two protons and two neutrons. It is a helium nucleus. It has a positive charge. When emitted from a nucleus the mass number decreases by four. The atomic number decreases by two.
Beta is a particle and not a wave. It consists of one electron (or positron). It has a negative charge. When emitted the mass number does not decrease. A proton is gained but a neutron is lost. The atomic number therefore goes up by one.
Explanation of marks:
1 mark for alpha is a particle (and not a wave)
1 mark for alpha as two protons and two neutrons (or a helium nucleus)
1 mark for alpha having a positive charge
1 mark for alpha emission decreasing mass number by four
1 mark for alpha emission decreasing atomic number by two
1 mark for beta is a particle (and not a wave)
1 mark for beta as one electron (or positron)
1 mark for beta having a negative charge
1 mark for a neutron is lost and a proton is gained
1 mark for beta emission not decreasing mass
1 mark for beta emission increasing atomic number by one
This question tests multiple skills including factual knowledge about the types of radiation and also their comparison, which is why 6 marks are allocated.
Top tips: The electromagnetic spectrum
1. Uses of wavelengths
- Past paper trend: Questions often ask about the uses of long wavelength and short wavelength electromagnetic waves.
- How to answer: Ensure you know that long wavelengths of electromagnetic waves are radio waves, microwaves, infrared and visible light. Short wavelengths of electromagnetic waves are ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays.
| Electromagnetic wave | Wavelength | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Radio waves | Long(est) | Communication – broadcasting television and radio |
| Microwaves | Long | Cooking food, communications and for satellite communications |
| Infrared | Long | Electrical heaters, cooking food, remote controls, optical fibres, security systems and thermal imaging |
| Visible light | Long | Photography, illumination and fibre optic cables |
| Ultraviolet | Short | Energy efficient lamps, detecting forged bank notes and disinfecting water |
| X-rays | Short | Imaging broken bones and airport security scanners |
| Gamma rays | Short(est) | Sterilising food and medical equipment and the detection and treatment of cancer |
2. Drawing graphs
- Past paper trend: Questions often require you to draw a graph from a table of data and then describe or explain it.
- How to answer: Take care when drawing the graph and use a pencil in case of mistakes. Check each point is where it should be. You will need to be accurate here often to within one small square. The graph of results for this experiment is a bar chart because the independent variable (surface type) is discrete and not continuous.
Check whether the question is asking for a description of the graph. If it is then you say what you see. A description of the graph shown is:
The matt black surface emits the highest infrared intensity at 19 W/m2. Shiny black is the next highest emitter at 14 W/m2. Matt white is next at 5 W/m2. Shiny silver is the lowest emitter at 3 W/m2.
You might also be asked to explain the graph. Here you will need to give a reason for the shape of the graph. This is often easiest using the word ‘because’. An explanation of the graph above is:
Black coloured surfaces are the best emitters because both matt black and shiny black are higher than white or silver. There is not enough data to prove that white surfaces are better emitters than silver ones because only matt white and shiny silver were tested. The results of these cannot be directly compared.
Worked example question
Describe the dangers of electromagnetic radiation. [6 marks]
Answer:
Microwaves can heat cells internally. Infrared radiation may cause burns. Ultraviolet light damages skin cells leading to sunburn and increasing the risk of skin cancer. X-rays and gamma rays can damage cells, harm DNA and cause mutations.
Explanation of marks:
1 mark for correct damage from microwaves (internal heating of cells)
1 mark for correct damage from infrared (burns)
1 mark for correct damage from ultraviolet (damage skin cells causing sunburn and/or can cause skin cancer)
1 mark for correct damage from x-rays (damage to cells inside the body and/or can damage DNA)
1 mark for correct damage from gamma (damage to cells inside the body and/or damage DNA and cause mutations)
1 mark for additional correct damage from any radiation
This question tests multiple skills, including remembering the different types of electromagnetic radiation and describing the damage they can cause, which is why 6 marks are allocated.
Top tips: Hooke’s Law
1. Rearranging the Hooke's Law equation
- Past paper trend: Questions about Hooke’s Law often ask you to calculate the force, spring constant or extension.
- How to answer: Revise Hooke's Law.
Make sure you're familiar with rearranging the Hooke's Law equation depending on what you're asked to calculate. The equation can take three forms:
force = spring constant × extension
\(F = k e\)
spring constant = force ÷ extension
\(k = \frac{F}{e}\)
extension = force ÷ spring constant
\(e = \frac{F}{k}\)
Make sure to include units in the answer:
- force (F) is measured in newtons (N)
- spring constant (k) is measured in newtons per metre (N/m)
- extension (e), or increase in length, is measured in metres (m)
2. Spring extension experiments
- Past paper trend: Hooke’s Law questions are often linked to spring extension experiments.
- How to answer: This is often adding masses to a spring and measuring the extension. Practise writing the method for this practical.
Remember that the variable you will change (independent variable) is weight of the masses hung from the spring. The variable you will measure (dependant variable) is spring extension. A variable you will keep the same (controlled variable) is the spring.
Now forces don't just change the way that things move, they can also change the shape of things.
And a good example of that is Hooke's law. It says that if you apply a force to a spring, then the force stretches spring. And if you don't stretch too much, Hooke's law says that the amount of force you apply is proportional to the stretch.
So, that means that if you apply twice the force, you get twice the stretch. If you applied three times the force, you get three times the stretch.
Now, that works until you stretch the spring too much. Now, you probably know what happens if you overstretch a spring. It won't come back to its original shape, its original length.
Why is that? It's actually quite a nice and deep question with nice and deep answer.
It's because the spring is made up of lots of molecules that are all stuck together with their own little forces between them, and if you overstretch the spring you can break those bonds for good. They don't come back when you let go and so the spring doesn't come back to its original length.
So Hooke's law only applies if you keep all those bonds between the molecules together, that is to say, if you don't overstretch the spring.
3. Drawing graphs from tables
- Past paper trend: Questions often require you to draw a graph from a table of data and then describe or explain it.
- How to answer: Check that each point is accurately placed, often to within one small square. If asked to draw a line of best fit it should be a straight line or smooth curve passing through as many points as possible.
Check if the question asks for a description of the graph. 'Describe' means discussing the graph's shape without explaining the reasons behind it or what the data proves. A description of the graph shown is:
As the force increases so does the extension. This is linear until a point. After this the line curves horizontally.
You might also be asked to explain the graph. The word 'explain' means you will need to give a reason for the shape of the graph. This is often easiest using the word ‘because’. An explanation of the graph shown is:
As the force increases so does the extension. This is linear, or directly proportional, because force is calculated as spring constant multiplied by extension. It is linear until the elastic limit is reached. After this the spring cannot return to its original shape.
Worked example question
Describe the method you would use to investigate the extension of a spring. Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus. [6 marks]
Answer:
Set up the equipment shown in the diagram below. Measure the length of the spring. Hang a 100 g mass carrier from the top clamp and measure the length of the spring. Add 100 g masses to the mass carrier measuring the length of the spring after each one, until you have a total mass of 1000 g. Calculate the extension by subtracting the length of the spring without a mass from each subsequent reading. Calculate the force by multiplying mass by 10. Plot a graph of force (N) on the x-axis and extension (mm) on the y-axis.
Explanation of marks:
1 mark for labelled diagram
1 mark for measure the length of the spring
1 mark for hang a 100 g mass carrier from the top clamp and measure the length of the spring
1 mark for add 100 g masses to the mass carrier measuring the length of the spring after each one until a total mass of 1000 g
1 mark for correct method of calculating extension
1 mark for description of graph axes
This question tests multiple skills, including drawing the apparatus and describing the method and results analysis, which is why 6 marks are allocated.
Explore physics
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