Six Physics challenges

GCSE Physics

The pressure rises — but the particles do not speed up when temperature stays constant.

3 marks

A sealed syringe contains a fixed mass of air. The plunger is pushed in slowly, so pressure rises while temperature stays constant. Explain why.

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More Physics challenges

2 marks

Curriculum

Uncertainty from repeated readings

Does upward acceleration increase weight?

Why does the moving train slow after a collision?

Why does an ice-cream bowl need metal and plastic?

Why does a current-carrying wire move?

Where does current add in a parallel circuit?

Why does a trolley speed up on a hard floor?

Why does a radiographer use a screen?

Why do parachutes lower terminal velocity?

Which reaction time belongs in the calculation?

Forces on a stationary parcel

Why does pressure rise in a bicycle pump?

What happens when a fixed gas volume increases?

Can you calculate uncertainty from temperatures?

Where does the uncertainty calculation go wrong?

Does mass change on the Moon?

Does acceleration change an object’s weight?

Where does the trolley’s momentum go?

Can you conserve momentum when objects join?

Which material slows conduction through a loft?

Why use low conductivity for a pan handle?

Why does the wire move when current flows?

Does only the wire feel the motor-effect force?

Can you combine currents at a junction?

Is potential difference shared in parallel?

Can you calculate acceleration from opposing forces?

Why does a loaded van accelerate less?

What does a radiation dose tell you?

Why does a falling parachutist stop accelerating?

Does tiredness change braking distance?

Do balanced forces disappear?

Which energy stores change as a car brakes?

Is the height change the final altitude?

Can water’s specific heat capacity cover the glass beaker?

What is the hotplate’s average power?

Can dissipated energy be destroyed?

Which way round is the efficiency fraction?

Can one wrong rearrangement break the whole energy account?

Can you complete all three backstage energy checks?

Which brake-disc store increases as a bicycle stops?

How accurate is the planetarium’s symbol audit?

What potential difference operates the locker’s release coil?

Why does a lantern filament stop behaving proportionally?

Which colours complete the stage-light cable check?

Which current change boosts a greenhouse fan’s power?

Where does the drill power calculation first fail?

Can two incomplete networks become the National Grid?

How did two rubbed strips gain the same charge?

Which position gives the charged ball the stronger force?

What really changes a filament lamp's resistance?

Can an inverter test separate two kinds of supply?

Can you isolate volume without flipping density?

Does cutting aluminium change its specific heat capacity?

Can you finish a wax latent-heat calculation correctly?

What is missing from this expanding-gas explanation?

Can mixed energy units spoil this gas calculation?

Can a ceramic tile expose a density equation error?

Why does the same energy input heat oil more?

Does a melting wax store keep getting hotter?

Which charge error spoils the wafer note?

Which radiation can monitor changing sheet thickness?

Where do alpha-decay numbers first stop balancing?

Does any activity remain after sixty hours?

Can tumour-control evidence settle a radiation treatment decision?

What keeps a fission chain reaction going?

Which fusion event has the larger mass change?

Can you compare two half-lives without reversing the ratio?

Can one reading show how quickly a stomach empties?

Does the same speed mean the same velocity?

Do identical sample boxes always have equal weight?

Can motionless water exert pressure on a wall?

Which way does sealed air push a chamber wall?

Where did the irrigation-tank pressure calculation first go wrong?

Has the pressure change been converted correctly?

Has the balloon’s displacement been fully stated?

When does less time mean greater average speed?

Why is velocity different on opposite sides of a circle?

Do increasing distance readings mean a dolly is speeding up?

Which velocity change gives the acceleration?

What happens when another push joins the first?