Edexcel GCSE Physics Paper 1 Higher, June 2025: question 2

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PrepWise guide: Edexcel GCSE Physics Paper 1 HigherQuestion 22 of 10

Figure 2 shows a beach ball falling through air, with a downward weight of 2.5 N and an upward air resistance. In Figure 3 students use a newton meter to hold a trolley still on a runway whose raised end is at height h. Figure 4 plots the force needed against h.

Figure 2
A beach ball with a long downward arrow labelled weight 2.5 N beneath it and a shorter upward arrow above it labelled air resistance, with no value given for air resistance.
Figure 3
Side view of a runway sloping down to the right, raised at its left end above a flat surface. A trolley sits near the high end, held by a newton meter that a hand holds. A vertical double-headed arrow labelled h shows the height of the high end.
Figure 4
Graph of force F in newtons from 0.0 to 3.5 against height h in metres from 0.00 to 0.80, with a grid. Four crosses, at h = 0.10, 0.30, 0.50 and 0.70, are joined by a straight line that rises steadily to the right.
02.1[3 marks]

(a)(i) The ball, mass 0.25 kg, has a downward resultant force of 0.92 N. Calculate its acceleration in m/s2.

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Only the resultant force makes the ball accelerate, so F in the equation is 0.92 N, not the 2.5 N weight.

Start with the equation:. F = m × a. Rearrange for the acceleration:. a = F over m. = 0.92 over 0.25

a = 3.68. So the acceleration is 3.7 m/s2.

3 marks

How the marks are earned

  1. One mark: use the resultant force, 0.92 N, as F in F = m × a, not the weight. If nothing else scores, writing a = F ÷ m on its own earns one mark.
  2. One mark: rearrange and substitute, a = 0.92 ÷ 0.25. The substitution still counts if the two values are multiplied, or divided the other way round. This mark still follows if a wrong force, for example the weight or the air resistance, is used correctly in force ÷ 0.25.
  3. One mark: the acceleration, 3.7 m/s2. Any value that rounds to 3.7, such as 3.68, is fine. Using 250 g unconverted gives 0.0037, which scores two marks. A wrong force that gives 10, 14 (13.7), 6.3 or 1.8 also scores 2 marks, and negative values are ignored.
  4. The right final answer on its own earns full marks.

Why it scores

The resultant is what is left after air resistance has been taken from the weight. Choosing it earns the first mark.

The rearranged form with the values in earns the second mark.

The final mark is for the value. Leaving the mass as 250 g would give 0.0037 and lose only this mark.

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02.2[1 mark]

(a)(ii) With a 2.5 N weight and a 0.92 N resultant downwards, how strong is the upward drag on the ball, in N?

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The ball falls, so the resultant is the weight minus the air resistance.. air resistance = 2.5 − 0.92. = 1.58 N. This is about 1.6 N.

1 mark

How the marks are earned

  1. Air resistance = 2.5 − 0.92 = 1.58 N. Either 1.58 N or 1.6 N is accepted.
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02.3[1 mark]

(b)(i) At h = 0.60 m the four force readings in newtons were 2.1, 2.7, 2.5 and 2.2. Find their mean.

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Add the four readings:. total = 2.1 + 2.7 + 2.5 + 2.2. = 9.5. Divide by 4:. mean = 9.5 over 4. = 2.375. So the mean force is about 2.4 N.

1 mark

How the marks are earned

  1. Mean = total ÷ 4 = 9.5 ÷ 4 = 2.4 N. The values 2.375 and 2.38 are also accepted.
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02.4[2 marks]

(b)(ii) From Figure 4, estimate the force at a height of 0.80 m.

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Use a ruler to continue the straight line to the gridline at 0.80 m on the h axis, then read across to the force axis. F is about 3.1 N.

2 marks

How the marks are earned

  1. One mark: carry the straight line on until it reaches h = 0.80 m.
  2. One mark: read the force there, 3.1 N. Any value from 3.05 to 3.20 N is accepted.
  3. The right final answer on its own earns full marks.

Why it scores

One mark for continuing the line and one for the reading. The crosses lie on a straight line, so extending it is fair. As a check, the gradient 3.9 N/m × 0.80 m gives 3.1 N.

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02.5[2 marks]

(b)(iii) How steep is the straight line plotted for force against height? Give the slope in N/m.

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Take two points far apart on the line, such as (0.10 m, 0.40 N) and (0.70 m, about 2.75 N), or draw a big triangle under the line.

gradient = fraction: change in F over change in h, end of fraction. = fraction: 2.75 − 0.40 over 0.70 − 0.10, end of fraction. = 2.35 over 0.60. = 3.9 N/m

2 marks

How the marks are earned

  1. One mark: pick any two points on the line, or draw any triangle on the graph. Points far apart are better advice, but they are not required.
  2. One mark: gradient = change in F ÷ change in h, giving 3.9 N/m. Anything from 3.80 to 4.00 is accepted.
  3. The right final answer on its own earns full marks.

Why it scores

Points far apart keep the error from reading the graph small. This earns the first mark.

The evaluation earns the second mark. The gradient says how many newtons of force each extra metre of height needs.

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Official Edexcel paper (PDF, opens on page 5)