The Physics Question Bank

Hints for every question on the June 2023 GCSE Physics Paper 1 Foundation (8463/1F). Get the paper from AQA’s GCSE Physics page (Filter → Question papers → June 2023). The hints tell you which equation to use and what to watch out for – but not the answer. Try each question first, and only open a hint if you’re stuck. ← All past papers

Question 1 – Filament lamp circuit (13 marks)

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• 01.1 P is not the variable resistor (that’s the rectangle with an arrow through it). Look at P’s symbol: a gap in the wire with a line that can open or close it. Which component turns a circuit on and off?
• 01.2 An ammeter measures amps. A voltmeter measures volts. What quantities are measured in amps and volts?
• 01.3 More resistance = harder for the current to flow. Start with the total resistance, then think about the current, then the lamp.
• 01.4 The equation is given: current = charge flow ÷ time. Put the numbers straight in. Unit: amps (A).
• 01.5 The equation is given: resistance = potential difference ÷ current. Unit: ohms (Ω).
• 01.6 A resistor at constant temperature gives a straight line through the middle. A diode only lets current flow one way – so one half of its graph is flat.
• 01.7 The ammeter isn’t connected to anything, so it should read zero. Does it?

Question 2 – Models of the atom (8 marks)

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• 02.1 The plum pudding model had tiny negative particles inside a ball of positive charge. Which particle was that?
• 02.2 “4.2 times larger” means multiply by 4.2.
• 02.3 An alpha particle is 2 protons + 2 neutrons. The nucleus contains protons. What charge do protons have?
• 02.4 Two things with the same charge – do they attract or repel?
• 02.5 The closer an alpha particle gets to the nucleus, the bigger the force. Which one gets closest – and gets bounced the most?
• 02.6 and 02.7 The order was: tiny spheres → plum pudding → nuclear → Bohr.

Question 3 – Radioactive isotopes (11 marks)

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• 03.1 Isotopes are the same element. The element depends on one type of particle – and the difference is the other type in the nucleus.
• 03.2 Half-life is about half the nuclei decaying – read each option carefully.
• 03.3 Least stable = decays fastest = the shortest half-life.
• 03.4 Contamination = radioactive material gets ON or IN you. Irradiation = you’re exposed to radiation from a source. Watch out: ultraviolet and mobile phones aren’t nuclear radiation.
• 03.5 A sticky floor can only pick up something that is actual stuff (matter) – not radiation.
• 03.6 Divide the pilot’s daily dose by the worker’s daily dose.
• 03.7 Fission splits a big, heavy nucleus. Fusion joins small, light nuclei. Which fuels are heavy and light?

Question 4 – Renewable energy and hydroelectricity (10 marks)

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• 04.1 All the parts of the chart add up to 100%. Add up the percentages you’re given, then take that away from 100.
• 04.2 The equation is given: GPE = mass × gravitational field strength × height. Multiply all three numbers. Unit: joules (J).
• 04.3 Find it on the equation sheet: E = P t.
• 04.4 Use E = P × t. ⚠️ Time must be in seconds: 60 minutes × 60 = ? seconds.
• 04.5 The generator is turned by river water. Why might there be more or less river water at different times of year? Give the reason AND say what it does to the power.

Question 5 – Insulation investigation (9 marks)

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• 05.1 Very hot water + spilling = could burn you. What kind of reason is that?
• 05.2 Bottle A has nothing on it, so you can compare the others with it. What is that called?
• 05.3 Name a piece of equipment that measures time.
• 05.4 (4 marks) For a fair test, only ONE thing should change. Look at Table 4 – are the start temperatures the same? Look at Figure 6 – is the thickness (number of layers) of insulation the same? Also think about the volume of water in each bottle, whether the bottles have lids, and repeating to get a mean. For each improvement, say what to change AND why it helps.
• 05.5 The insulation types are names (categories), not numbers. What graph do you use for categories?

Question 6 – Bungee jump (8 marks)

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• 06.1 At B the student is lower (so gravitational potential energy?), moving (so kinetic energy?), and the cord is stretching (so elastic potential energy?).
• 06.2 The equation is given: elastic PE = 0.5 × spring constant × extension². Square the extension FIRST (25 × 25), then multiply.
• 06.3 Look at the spring constants. A bigger spring constant means the cord is…?
• 06.4 A heavy person stretches the cord more. Which cord can stretch the furthest before snapping? Use the number from Table 5 in your reason.

Question 7 – Gas pressure and volume (10 marks)

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• 07.1 and 07.2 Gas particles bump into each other all the time, so their directions and speeds keep changing.
• 07.3 Plot each point with a neat cross (×). The points make a curve – draw one smooth curve through them, not a dot-to-dot or a straight line.
• 07.4 pressure × volume – use the numbers from the 300 kPa row.
• 07.5 Bigger volume = more space. The temperature stays the same, so the particles’ speed… ? With more space, do they hit the walls more or less often?

Question 8 – The National Grid (10 marks)

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• 08.1 Transformer X is next to the power station – it’s a step-UP transformer. If the p.d. goes up, the current goes…?
• 08.2 On the equation sheet, find the power equation with current squared.
• 08.3 Use P = I² R, so R = P ÷ I². Work out 2000 × 2000 first. Type the power using the ×10ˣ button.
• 08.4 Copy it from the equation sheet.
• 08.5 useful output = efficiency × total input. Just multiply the two numbers – the answer is in GJ.

Question 9 – Specific heat capacity practical (7 marks)

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• 09.1 Think about the thermometer, not the block. What does the thermometer need to do before its reading is right?
• 09.2 Use ΔE = m c Δθ, so c = ΔE ÷ (m × Δθ). Read the temperature at 5 minutes and at 10 minutes from the graph – Δθ is the difference between them.
• 09.3 Insulation stops energy escaping to the surroundings. Which two statements match that?

Question 10 – Heated windscreen (14 marks)

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• 10.1 “Direct” is about the direction. Don’t say the p.d. “flows”.
• 10.2 energy = charge × potential difference.
• 10.3 E = Q V, so Q = E ÷ V. Unit: coulombs (C).
• 10.4 E = m L, so L = E ÷ m. Unit: J/kg.
• 10.5 (6 marks) Write three short paragraphs: 1. Ice – how are the particles arranged and how do they move? 2. Melting – what happens to the particles and the bonds? (The temperature stays at 0 °C.) 3. Water warming up – how do the particles move now, and what happens to their speed as it gets warmer?

✅ Finished? Mark your paper with the mark scheme, then read the examiners’ report for the questions you found hardest. Find both on AQA’s GCSE Physics page (Filter → June 2023).