Year 10 Paper 1: Core Skills
Covers cell biology, organisation, atomic structure, bonding, energy and electricity.
Year 10 here means a typical teaching order, not a syllabus rule. No exam board defines what belongs to Year 10, and schools sequence the course differently. Check it against your own scheme of work before using it to decide what a class has covered.
Questions
Question 1 [2 marks]
Organisation
Amylase and protease are two enzymes involved in human digestion.
State the function of amylase and the function of protease in digestion.
Question 2 [2 marks]
Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter
Sodium chloride is an ionic compound with a giant ionic lattice structure.
State two properties typical of ionic compounds such as sodium chloride.
Question 3 [2 marks]
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
An atom is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.
State the relative charge and the relative mass of a proton.
Question 4 [2 marks]
Cell Biology
Prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells are the two basic types of cell.
State two differences between a prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell.
Question 5 [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 6 [3 marks]
Cell Biology
A plant cell contains a cell wall, a chloroplast and a permanent vacuole in addition to the structures found in an animal cell.
Describe the function of the cell wall, the chloroplast and the permanent vacuole in a plant cell.
Question 7 [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 8 [4 marks]
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Following the nuclear model of the atom, scientists further developed our understanding of atomic structure.
Describe how Niels Bohr adapted the nuclear model of the atom, and describe the later discovery that showed the positive charge of the nucleus is made up of smaller particles.
Question 9 [4 marks]
Electricity
A resistor at constant temperature and a filament lamp are both circuit components whose resistance can be investigated.
Describe how the resistance of a resistor at constant temperature changes as the current through it increases, and describe how the resistance of a filament lamp changes as the current through it increases.
Question 10 [5 marks]
Cell Biology
A student observes an onion cell under a microscope at a magnification of x600.
The length of the cell in the image is 3.0 mm.
Calculate the actual (real) length of the cell, in micrometres. Use real size = image size / magnification.
Question 11 [5 marks]
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
An atom of an element has 12 protons, 12 neutrons and 12 electrons.
The mass of a proton and the mass of a neutron are each approximately 1 relative unit, and the mass of an electron is negligible.
Calculate the approximate total relative mass of the atom, ignoring the mass of the electrons, and calculate the percentage of the atom's total number of subatomic particles that are found in the nucleus.
Question 12 [5 marks]
Electricity
A hairdryer transfers 1200 J of energy every 6 seconds when connected to the mains.
Calculate the power of the hairdryer, and calculate the current it draws from a 230 V mains supply. Use P = E / t and P = I V.
Question 13 [5 marks]
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Magnesium has three naturally occurring isotopes: magnesium-24 with an abundance of 79%, magnesium-25 with an abundance of 10% and magnesium-26 with an abundance of 11%.
Calculate the relative atomic mass of magnesium. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
Question 14 [5 marks]
Cell Biology
A student investigates the effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration on the rate of the reaction catalysed by catalase in celery extract, measuring the volume of oxygen gas produced in 60 seconds.
Using 1% hydrogen peroxide, 18 cm^3 of oxygen gas is collected in 60 seconds. Using 3% hydrogen peroxide, 54 cm^3 of oxygen gas is collected in 60 seconds.
Calculate the percentage increase in the rate of reaction caused by using the higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
Question 15 [5 marks]
Electricity
A diode is a component that is designed to let current flow through it in one direction only.
Describe the current that flows through a diode when it is connected in the forward direction, and describe what happens when it is connected in the reverse direction. State one use of a diode in a circuit.
Question 16 [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.
Model solutions
| Question 1[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| amylase breaking down starch into sugars | B1 |
| protease breaking down proteins into amino acids | B1 |
| Final answer: Amylase breaks down starch into sugars; protease breaks down proteins into amino acids | |
| Question 2[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| ionic compounds having high melting and boiling points | B1 |
| ionic compounds conducting electricity when molten or dissolved in water, but not when solid | B1 |
| Final answer: High melting/boiling points; conduct electricity only when molten or dissolved | |
| Question 3[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| relative charge of +1 | B1 |
| relative mass of 1 | B1 |
| Final answer: +1 charge, relative mass 1 | |
| Question 4[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| a eukaryotic cell having a nucleus, while a prokaryotic cell has no nucleus (genetic material free in the cytoplasm) | B1 |
| a eukaryotic cell being much larger than a prokaryotic cell | B1 |
| Final answer: Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and are larger; prokaryotic cells have no nucleus and are much smaller | |
| Question 5[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| stating energy cannot be created or destroyed | B1 |
| stating energy can only be transferred, stored or dissipated, from one store to another | B1 |
| stating dissipated energy spreads out to the surroundings, becoming increasingly difficult to use for further useful work | B1 |
| Final answer: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between stores; dissipated energy spreads out and becomes harder to use usefully | |
| Question 6[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the cell wall, made of cellulose, supporting and strengthening the cell | B1 |
| the chloroplast absorbing light energy to carry out photosynthesis | B1 |
| the permanent vacuole containing cell sap, helping to keep the cell rigid (turgid) | B1 |
| Final answer: Cell wall supports and strengthens the cell; chloroplast absorbs light for photosynthesis; vacuole contains cell sap and keeps the cell turgid | |
| Question 7[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the live wire being brown | B1 |
| the neutral wire being blue | B1 |
| the earth wire being green and yellow | B1 |
| Final answer: Live: brown; neutral: blue; earth: green and yellow | |
| Question 8[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| Bohr proposing that electrons orbit the nucleus at specific, fixed distances (in shells or energy levels) | B1 |
| stating this model agreed with experimental observations, unlike a nucleus with electrons able to orbit at any distance | B1 |
| later experimental work showing the positive charge of the nucleus could be divided into smaller particles | B1 |
| these particles being identified as protons, each with a relative charge of +1 | B1 |
| Final answer: Bohr proposed electrons orbit in fixed shells; later work showed the nucleus's positive charge is made up of protons, each with a +1 charge | |
| Question 9[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the resistance of a resistor at constant temperature staying constant as the current changes | B1 |
| the resistance of a filament lamp increasing as the current through it increases | B1 |
| stating this is because the temperature of the filament increases as more current flows | B1 |
| stating the resistance of a metal increases as its temperature increases, making it harder for the charge carriers to pass through | B1 |
| Final answer: A resistor's resistance stays constant with current; a filament lamp's resistance increases with current, because it heats up and a hotter metal has higher resistance | |
| Question 10[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| using real size = image size / magnification | M1 |
| substituting 3.0 / 600 | M1 |
| 0.005 mm | A1 |
| converting mm to micrometres by multiplying by 1000 | M1 |
| 5 micrometres | A1 |
| Final answer: 5 micrometres (0.005 mm) | |
| Question 11[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| relative mass = protons + neutrons, 12 + 12 | M1 |
| 24 | A1 |
| total number of particles = 12 + 12 + 12 = 36 | M1 |
| (24 / 36) x 100 | M1 |
| 66.7% | A1 |
| Final answer: Relative mass 24; 66.7% of the atom's subatomic particles are found in the nucleus | |
| Question 12[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| using power = energy / time | M1 |
| substituting 1200 / 6 | M1 |
| 200 W | A1 |
| rearranging P = I V to I = P / V, substituting 200 / 230 | M1 |
| 0.87 A (2 dp) | A1 |
| Final answer: 200 W; 0.87 A | |
| Question 13[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| multiplying each isotope's mass by its percentage abundance | M1 |
| (24 x 79) + (25 x 10) + (26 x 11) | M1 |
| a total of 2432 | A1 |
| dividing the total by 100 | M1 |
| 24.3 | A1 |
| Question 14[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| finding the rate with 1% hydrogen peroxide, 18 / 60 = 0.3 cm^3 per second | M1 |
| finding the rate with 3% hydrogen peroxide, 54 / 60 = 0.9 cm^3 per second | M1 |
| finding the increase in rate, 0.9 - 0.3 = 0.6 cm^3 per second | M1 |
| (0.6 / 0.3) x 100 | M1 |
| 200% | A1 |
| Final answer: 200% increase in the rate of reaction | |
| Question 15[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| stating that in the forward direction, the diode has a very low resistance and current flows easily | B1 |
| stating that in the reverse direction, the diode has a very high resistance | B1 |
| stating that almost no current flows through the diode in the reverse direction | B1 |
| a valid use, e.g. in a rectifier circuit, to convert alternating current to direct current | B1 |
| stating this also allows diodes to protect a circuit from being damaged if a power supply is connected the wrong way round | B1 |
| Final answer: A diode conducts easily in the forward direction but has very high resistance (blocks current) in reverse; used e.g. to rectify AC to DC or protect a circuit from reversed connections | |
| Question 16[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| using work done = GPE = m g h | M1 |
| substituting 120 x 9.8 x 2.0 | M1 |
| 2352 J | A1 |
| power = work done / time, 2352 / 1.5 | M1 |
| 1568 W | A1 |
| Final answer: 2352 J of work done; 1568 W of power | |