Foundation Tier - Grades 1-5

GCSE Combined Science Foundation Short Paper B

Covers Quantitative Chemistry, Chemical Changes, Energy and 3 more.

12 questions - 40 marks - calculator allowed

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Questions

Question 1 [2 marks]

Particle Model of Matter

A block of wood has a mass of 60 g and a volume of 75 cm^3.

Calculate the density of the wood. Use density = mass / volume.

Question 2 [2 marks]

Quantitative Chemistry

Magnesium oxide has the formula MgO.

Calculate the relative formula mass (Mr) of magnesium oxide. Relative atomic masses: Mg = 24, O = 16.

Question 3 [2 marks]

Energy

Energy can be transferred between different energy stores.

State the energy store that increases when a ball is thrown upwards.

State the energy store that increases when a car accelerates.

Question 4 [2 marks]

Chemical Changes

Acids react with reactive metals, such as magnesium and zinc.

State the two products formed in the general reaction between an acid and a reactive metal.

Question 5 [3 marks]

Energy

A car of mass 1200 kg travels at a speed of 15 m/s.

Calculate the kinetic energy of the car. Use KE = 1/2 m v^2.

Question 6 [3 marks]

Electricity

A UK three-pin plug contains a live wire, a neutral wire and an earth wire, each covered in insulation of a different colour.

State the colour of the insulation on each of the live, neutral and earth wires.

Question 7 [3 marks]

Energy

Energy is conserved in any change involving energy transfer.

State what is meant by the conservation of energy, and describe what eventually happens to energy that is dissipated (wasted).

Question 8 [3 marks]

Forces

A cyclist travels 450 m in 30 s.

Calculate the average speed of the cyclist. Use speed = distance / time.

Question 9 [5 marks]

Energy

A weightlifter raises a 120 kg barbell through a height of 2.0 m in 1.5 s.

Calculate the work done raising the barbell, and calculate the power developed by the weightlifter.

Question 10 [5 marks]

Electricity

Two resistors, of resistance 15 ohms and 25 ohms, are connected in series with a 20 V supply.

Calculate the current flowing in the circuit, and calculate the potential difference across the 15 ohm resistor.

Question 11 [5 marks]

Energy

A spring has a spring constant of 40 N/m.

The spring is stretched by 0.15 m from its natural length.

Calculate the elastic potential energy stored in the spring. Use elastic potential energy = 0.5 k e^2.

Question 12 [5 marks]

Quantitative Chemistry

A 12.0 g sample of magnesium carbonate is completely decomposed by heating, producing magnesium oxide and carbon dioxide gas.

6.6 g of carbon dioxide gas is given off.

Calculate the mass of magnesium oxide remaining, using conservation of mass, and calculate the percentage of the original mass that was lost as carbon dioxide gas.

Model solutions

Mark scheme for Question 1 [2 marks]
Question 1[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
substituting 60 / 75M1
0.8 g/cm^3A1
Mark scheme for Question 2 [2 marks]
Question 2[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
adding the relative atomic masses of Mg and OM1
40A1
Mark scheme for Question 3 [2 marks]
Question 3[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
the gravitational potential energy store increasingB1
the kinetic energy store increasingB1
Final answer: GPE store increases; KE store increases
Mark scheme for Question 4 [2 marks]
Question 4[2 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
salt as a productB1
hydrogen gas as a productB1
Final answer: salt + hydrogen
Mark scheme for Question 5 [3 marks]
Question 5[3 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
substituting into KE = 1/2 m v^2M1
15^2 = 225M1
135000 J (135 kJ)A1
Mark scheme for Question 6 [3 marks]
Question 6[3 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
the live wire being brownB1
the neutral wire being blueB1
the earth wire being green and yellowB1
Final answer: Live: brown; neutral: blue; earth: green and yellow
Mark scheme for Question 7 [3 marks]
Question 7[3 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
stating energy cannot be created or destroyedB1
stating energy can only be transferred, stored or dissipated, from one store to anotherB1
stating dissipated energy spreads out to the surroundings, becoming increasingly difficult to use for further useful workB1
Final answer: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between stores; dissipated energy spreads out and becomes harder to use usefully
Mark scheme for Question 8 [3 marks]
Question 8[3 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
substituting 450 / 30M1
15A1
the unit m/sB1
Final answer: 15 m/s
Mark scheme for Question 9 [5 marks]
Question 9[5 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
using work done = GPE = m g hM1
substituting 120 x 9.8 x 2.0M1
2352 JA1
power = work done / time, 2352 / 1.5M1
1568 WA1
Final answer: 2352 J of work done; 1568 W of power
Mark scheme for Question 10 [5 marks]
Question 10[5 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
total resistance = 15 + 25 = 40 ohmsM1
using I = V / R, substituting 20 / 40M1
0.5 AA1
using V = I R for the 15 ohm resistor, substituting 0.5 x 15M1
7.5 VA1
Final answer: 0.5 A current; 7.5 V across the 15 ohm resistor
Mark scheme for Question 11 [5 marks]
Question 11[5 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
using elastic potential energy = 0.5 k e^2M1
substituting 0.15^2 = 0.0225M1
0.5 x 40 x 0.0225M1
0.45 JA1
stating this calculation only applies while the spring is not stretched beyond its limit of proportionalityB1
Mark scheme for Question 12 [5 marks]
Question 12[5 marks]
Answer or workingMarks
using conservation of mass: total mass of reactants = total mass of productsM1
mass of magnesium oxide = 12.0 - 6.6M1
5.4 gA1
percentage = (6.6 / 12.0) x 100M1
55%A1
Final answer: 5.4 g of magnesium oxide remains; 55% of the original mass was lost as carbon dioxide gas