3 Fig. 3.1 shows a car moving forward along a road. The road goes over a hill. not to scale Fig. 3.1 Fig. 3.2 shows a speed–time graph for the car shown in Fig. 3.1. 0 1 2 3 4 time / s speed m / s 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 10 15 Fig. 3.2 (a) State the speed of the car before it reaches the hill. … m / s [1] (b) (i) State what is meant by the term acceleration. … [1] (ii) On Fig. 3.2 write an X at a point on the graph when the car is accelerating. [1] (c) The journey shown in Fig. 3.2 is a total distance of 83 m. Calculate the average speed of the car. speed = … m / s [2] (d) Fig. 3.3 shows the car moving forward along a level road at a constant speed. Fig. 3.3 (i) On Fig. 3.3 draw a force arrow to show the driving force acting on the car. [1] (ii) Suggest why there has to be a driving force to keep the car moving at constant speed. … … [1] (e) The car engine uses gasoline (petrol) to do work to move the car along the road. Complete the sentence below that describes the useful energy change as the car moves. The gasoline provides … energy that is changed into the … energy of the moving car. [2] [Total: 9]

3(a) 10 (m / s) ; 1 3(b)(i) increase of speed (per unit time) ; 1 3(b)(ii) X at any point on line between t=3 s and t=6 s ; 1 3(c) average speed = distance ÷ time / 83 ÷ 9.0 ; = 9.2 (m / s) ; 2 3(d)(i) force arrow horizontal, pointing to right ; 1 3(d)(ii) air resistance / friction / opposing forces ; 1 3(e) chemical potential ; kinetic ; in this order 2 To earn marks, you need to state the correct speed from the graph, define acceleration as the increase of speed per unit time, mark an 'X' on the accelerating part of the graph, calculate average speed using the correct formula and value, draw a horizontal arrow pointing right for the driving force, and explain that a driving force is needed to overcome opposing forces like air resistance or friction. For the energy change, you must identify 'chemical potential' as the initial energy and 'kinetic' as the final useful energy, in that specific order.

3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows a cylinder made of solid copper. Fig. 3.1 The cylinder has a: • height of 25 cm • radius of 10 cm • mass of 70 000 g. (i) Show that the volume of the copper cylinder is 7850 cm3. π = 3.14 [2] (ii) Use the information above to calculate the density of copper in g / cm3. density = … g / cm3 [2] (b) Fig. 3.2 shows two electrically charged copper spheres next to each other. + + sphere A sphere B + + + + + + + + + + – – – – – – – – – – – – Fig. 3.2 (i) State which sphere is charged with an excess of electrons. Give a reason for your answer. sphere … reason … … [1] (ii) On Fig. 3.2 the force arrow shows the direction of the force exerted on sphere A by sphere B. Explain why sphere B exerts this force on sphere A. … … [2] (c) A length of thin copper wire has a resistance of 3 Ω. The potential difference (p.d.) across the wire is 12 V. Calculate the current in the copper wire. State the unit of your answer. current = … unit … [3] [Total: 10]

3(a)(i) volume of cylinder = πr2 l ; 3.14 × 100 × 25 (= 7850 cm3) ; 2 3(a)(ii) density = mass ÷ volume / ρ = m ÷ V / = 70 000 ÷ 7850 ; (density =) 8.9(2) (g / cm3) ; 2 3(b)(i) sphere: B (no mark) reason: negatively charged ; 1 3(b)(ii) opposite charges ; attract ; 2 3(c) R = V ÷ I / I = V ÷ R / = 12 ÷ 3 ; (current =) 4 ; (unit) amp / A ; 3 (a)(i) To earn these marks, you must show the formula for the volume of a cylinder (πr²l) and then correctly substitute the given values to calculate 3.14 × 100 × 25, resulting in 7850 cm³. (a)(ii) You need to show the formula for density (mass ÷ volume) or substitute the given mass and calculated volume (70000 ÷ 7850), and then provide the correct answer of 8.9(2) g/cm³. (b)(i) The mark is earned by identifying sphere B and stating that it is negatively charged. (b)(ii) You must explain that opposite charges attract to earn these marks. (c) To earn these marks, you need to show the formula I = V ÷ R or substitute the values (12 ÷ 3), calculate the current as 4, and include the correct unit 'amp' or 'A'.

3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows a man lying down on a sandy beach on a sunny day. Fig. 3.1 Visible light is one type of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun. The man is also affected by ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the Sun. Fig. 3.2 shows the electromagnetic spectrum. X-rays X visible light micro- waves Fig. 3.2 Identify X in Fig. 3.2 and state one effect it will have on the man. X is … effect … … [2] (b) The man stands up. There is a mark in the sand to show where he was lying. When he stands up, his feet make deeper marks in the sand. Explain why the marks are deeper in the sand when he is standing. … … … … [2] (c) Fig. 3.3 shows the man holding a beach ball. Fig. 3.3 (i) The ball has a mass of 0.25 kg. The ball exerts a downward force on the man’s hand of 2.45 N. Calculate the gravitational field strength, g. g = … N / kg [2] (ii) The man throws the ball vertically upwards in the air. He catches it as it falls down. Complete the sentences about energy below. The ball gains … energy as it moves upwards. The ball gains … energy as it falls down. [2] (d) The man throws the ball to a friend. The friend catches the ball 4.2 s later. The distance travelled by the ball is 15 m. Show that the average speed of the ball is 3.6 m / s. [1] [Total: 9]

3(a) X is: ultraviolet ; effect: sunburn ; 2 3(b) pressure due to weight ; over smaller area on feet / over larger area lying down ; 2 3(c)(i) W = mg (in any form) / g = 2.45 / 0.25 ; (g =) 9.8 (N / kg) ; 2 3(c)(ii) gravitational potential ; kinetic ; in this order 2 3(d) 15 / 4.2 (= 3.6 m / s) ; 1 (a) To earn marks, you must identify X as 'ultraviolet' and state a correct effect on the man, such as 'sunburn'. (b) You need to explain that the pressure is due to the man's weight and that this weight is distributed over a smaller area when standing compared to lying down.

3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows a wave. X Y Fig. 3.1 Use Fig. 3.1 to complete the two sentences about the wave. • X shows the … of the wave. • Y shows the … of the wave. [2] (b) Table 3.1 shows the frequency ranges of sounds emitted by different species of whale. Table 3.1 species frequency range / Hz beluga whale 40–60 000 blue whale 10–39 dwarf minke whale 50–9 400 fin whale 16–40 State which species of whale emits sounds that are all heard by a healthy human ear. Give a reason for your answer. species of whale … reason … … [2] (c) A whale is swimming at a constant speed. (i) State the size of the resultant force on the whale. Give a reason for your answer. resultant force = … N reason … … [1] (ii) The whale swims at a constant speed of 6.1 m / s for 15 minutes. Calculate the distance the whale travels in this time. distance = … m [3] (iii) Energy is transferred while the whale is swimming. Complete the boxes to show the energy transfers that take place. chemical potential energy in the whale’s body … energy of the moving whale + … energy in the sea [2] [Total: 10]

3(a) X wavelength ; Y amplitude ; 2 3(b) dwarf minke (whale) ; all within audible frequency range of 20–20 000 Hz ; 2 3(c)(i) zero / 0 (N) AND (at constant speed there is) no resultant force ; 1 3(c)(ii) conversion of minutes to seconds / 15 × 60 = 900 ; distance = speed × time in any form / 6.1 × 900 ; 5500 (m); 3 3(c)(iii) kinetic ; thermal ; 2

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) Motion, forces and energy past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — Motion, forces and energy with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

530 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Motion, forces and energy in IGCSE Combined Science 0653 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Motion, forces and energy accounted for 571 questions worth 2,556 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	76	333
2021	107	491
2022	99	393
2023	108	465
2024	111	489
2025	70	385

Most-tested subtopics

P1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques1086 marks
P1.5 Forces860 marks
P1.6 Energy, work and power858 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 172 qs
Paper 2 · 176 qs
Paper 3 · 54 qs
Paper 4 · 64 qs
Paper 5 · 34 qs
Paper 6 · 71 qs

All most-tested Combined Science topics

2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q3 · 9 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q3 · 10 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q3 · 9 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q3 · 10 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q14 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q14
Answer: B
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