IB Physics SL Paper 1A Multiple-Choice Practice Paper (2025 syllabus)

Course: IB DP Physics SL (first assessment 2025) | Paper 1A: multiple choice | Time: 49 minutes | Total: 30 marks | Questions: 30

Paper at a glance

Paper	Time	Marks	Notes
Paper 1 (1A + 1B)	1 h 30 min	55	1A multiple choice 30 marks + 1B data-based 25 marks
This paper (1A only)	49 min	30	30 questions, 1 mark each

The 49 minutes come from scaling the official 1 h 30 min Paper 1 by 30/55. Marks and timing follow the official Physics guide (first assessment 2025); this paper is written to the same assessment model.

Topic coverage

Topic	Questions
Measurement and uncertainties	2
Mechanics and motion	8
Work, energy and power	3
Thermal physics and gases	4
Wave behaviour	4
Electricity	4
Circular motion and gravitation	2
Atomic and nuclear physics	3

Questions

Question 1 (1 mark) – Measurement and uncertainties

A length is measured as 12.0 ± 0.2 cm. What is the percentage uncertainty?　A 0.2%　B 1.2%　C 8.3%　D 1.7% (1 mark)

Question 2 (1 mark) – Measurement and uncertainties

Mass 24.0 ± 0.2 g and volume 8.0 ± 0.1 cm³. What is the percentage uncertainty in the density?　A 1.1%　B 0.8%　C 3.0%　D 2.1% (1 mark)

Question 3 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

Two perpendicular forces of 3.0 N and 4.0 N act on a point. What is the magnitude of the resultant?　A 7.0 N　B 1.0 N　C 12.0 N　D 5.0 N (1 mark)

Question 4 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

A body moving at 4.0 m/s accelerates uniformly at 2.0 m/s² for 5.0 s. What is its final speed?　A 20 m/s　B 30 m/s　C 10 m/s　D 14 m/s (1 mark)

Question 5 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

A body falls from rest for 2.0 s (g = 9.81 m s⁻²). What is the distance fallen?　A 39.2 m　B 4.9 m　C 9.8 m　D 19.6 m (1 mark)

Question 6 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

A car travelling at 20 m/s brakes with a deceleration of 5.0 m/s². What is the stopping distance?　A 10 m　B 20 m　C 40 m　D 80 m (1 mark)

Question 7 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

A ball is thrown horizontally at 15 m/s from a height of 20 m (g = 9.81 m s⁻²). What is its horizontal range?　A 40.0 m　B 45.0 m　C 15.0 m　D 30.3 m (1 mark)

Question 8 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

A resultant force of 12 N acts on a 3.0 kg mass. What is the acceleration?　A 4.0 m s⁻²　B 15 m s⁻²　C 36 m s⁻²　D 0.25 m s⁻² (1 mark)

Question 9 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

A 20 kg box is pulled horizontally with 80 N; the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.30 (g = 9.81 m s⁻²). What is the acceleration?　A 1.1 m s⁻²　B 3.0 m s⁻²　C 4.0 m s⁻²　D 0.6 m s⁻² (1 mark)

Question 10 (1 mark) – Mechanics and motion

A 0.15 kg ball hits a wall at 20 m/s and rebounds along the same line at 15 m/s. What is the magnitude of its change in momentum?　A 0.75 kg m s⁻¹　B 3.0 kg m s⁻¹　C 5.25 kg m s⁻¹　D 7.0 kg m s⁻¹ (1 mark)

Question 11 (1 mark) – Work, energy and power

A 1 200 kg car travels at 20 m/s. What is its kinetic energy?　A 1.2 × 10⁴ J　B 1.2 × 10⁵ J　C 2.4 × 10⁵ J　D 4.8 × 10⁵ J (1 mark)

Question 12 (1 mark) – Work, energy and power

A machine takes in 2 500 J and delivers 1 750 J of useful energy. What is its efficiency?　A 30%　B 43%　C 70%　D 143% (1 mark)

Question 13 (1 mark) – Work, energy and power

A 60 kg student climbs a 5.0 m staircase in 10 s (g = 9.81 m s⁻²). What is the average power?　A 30 W　B 59 W　C 294 W　D 2 940 W (1 mark)

Question 14 (1 mark) – Thermal physics and gases

0.50 kg of water is heated through 20 K (c = 4 180 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹). How much energy is absorbed?　A 4.18 × 10³ J　B 2.09 × 10⁴ J　C 4.18 × 10⁴ J　D 8.36 × 10⁴ J (1 mark)

Question 15 (1 mark) – Thermal physics and gases

0.20 kg of ice at 0 °C melts completely (specific latent heat 3.34 x 10⁵ J kg⁻¹). How much energy is needed?　A 6.68 × 10⁴ J　B 1.67 × 10⁵ J　C 6.68 × 10⁵ J　D 3.34 × 10⁴ J (1 mark)

Question 16 (1 mark) – Thermal physics and gases

What volume does 0.10 mol of an ideal gas occupy at 300 K and 1.0 x 10⁵ Pa (R = 8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹)?　A 2.5 × 10⁻³ m³　B 2.5 × 10⁻² m³　C 1.2 × 10⁻² m³　D 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ m³ (1 mark)

Question 17 (1 mark) – Thermal physics and gases

A 0.10 kg metal sample at 100 °C is placed in 0.20 kg of water at 20 °C; the final temperature is 26 °C (no heat loss, c of water = 4 180 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹). What is the specific heat capacity of the metal?　A 420 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹　B 680 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹　C 1.4 × 10³ J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹　D 2.1 × 10³ J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ (1 mark)

Question 18 (1 mark) – Wave behaviour

A sound wave has frequency 250 Hz and speed 340 m/s. What is its wavelength?　A 0.74 m　B 1.36 m　C 2.72 m　D 85 m (1 mark)

Question 19 (1 mark) – Wave behaviour

Light travels from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.50) at an angle of incidence of 45°. What is the angle of refraction?　A 28°　B 30°　C 42°　D 45° (1 mark)

Question 20 (1 mark) – Wave behaviour

In a double-slit experiment the slit separation is 0.25 mm, the screen distance is 2.0 m and adjacent maxima are 4.0 mm apart. What is the wavelength?　A 250 nm　B 400 nm　C 500 nm　D 625 nm (1 mark)

Question 21 (1 mark) – Wave behaviour

A 1.2 m string is fixed at both ends and carries waves at 240 m/s. What is the fundamental frequency?　A 50 Hz　B 100 Hz　C 200 Hz　D 240 Hz (1 mark)

Question 22 (1 mark) – Electricity

A potential difference of 12 V is applied across a 4.0 Ω resistor. What is the current?　A 0.33 A　B 3.0 A　C 8.0 A　D 48 A (1 mark)

Question 23 (1 mark) – Electricity

A 6.0 Ω resistor and a 3.0 Ω resistor are connected in parallel. What is the equivalent resistance?　A 1.5 Ω　B 2.0 Ω　C 4.5 Ω　D 9.0 Ω (1 mark)

Question 24 (1 mark) – Electricity

An appliance draws 0.50 A from a 230 V supply. What is its power?　A 60 W　B 115 W　C 230 W　D 460 W (1 mark)

Question 25 (1 mark) – Electricity

A copper wire is 2.0 m long, of cross-sectional area 1.0 x 10⁻⁷ m² and resistivity 1.7 x 10⁻⁸ Ω m. What is its resistance?　A 0.17 Ω　B 0.34 Ω　C 0.68 Ω　D 3.4 Ω (1 mark)

Question 26 (1 mark) – Circular motion and gravitation

A body moves on a circle of radius 2.0 m at a speed of 6.0 m/s. What is its centripetal acceleration?　A 3.0 m s⁻²　B 12 m s⁻²　C 18 m s⁻²　D 36 m s⁻² (1 mark)

Question 27 (1 mark) – Circular motion and gravitation

A satellite orbits at a radius of 7.0 x 10⁶ m (GM = 3.99 x 10¹⁴ m³ s⁻²). What is its period?　A 97 min　B 60 min　C 145 min　D 24 h (1 mark)

Question 28 (1 mark) – Atomic and nuclear physics

What is the energy of a photon of frequency 5.0 x 10¹⁴ Hz (h = 6.63 x 10⁻³⁴ J s)?　A 3.3 × 10⁻¹⁹ J　B 1.5 × 10⁻¹⁹ J　C 6.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ J　D 3.3 × 10⁻¹⁵ J (1 mark)

Question 29 (1 mark) – Atomic and nuclear physics

A radioactive sample passes through 4 half-lives in 80 minutes. What fraction remains?　A 6.25%　B 12.5%　C 25%　D 50% (1 mark)

Question 30 (1 mark) – Atomic and nuclear physics

An electron (mass 9.11 x 10⁻³¹ kg) moves at 2.0 x 10⁶ m/s. What is its de Broglie wavelength (h = 6.63 x 10⁻³⁴ J s)?　A 0.18 nm　B 0.36 nm　C 0.73 nm　D 3.6 nm (1 mark)

Answers and marking notes

Question 1 D: 0.2 / 12.0 x 100% = 1.7%. [1 mark]

Question 2 D: Density = 24.0 / 8.0 = 3.0 g cm⁻³; percentage uncertainty = 0.2/24.0 + 0.1/8.0 = 0.83% + 1.25% = 2.1%. [1 mark]

Question 3 D: Resultant = √(3.0² + 4.0²) = 5.0 N. [1 mark]

Question 4 D: v = u + at = 4.0 + 2.0 x 5.0 = 14 m/s. [1 mark]

Question 5 D: s = ½at² = 0.5 x 9.81 x 4.0 = 19.6 m. [1 mark]

Question 6 C: s = u² / (2a) = 400 / 10 = 40 m. [1 mark]

Question 7 D: t = √(2h/g) = √(40 / 9.81) = 2.02 s; range = 15.0 x 2.02 = 30.3 m. [1 mark]

Question 8 A: a = F / m = 12 / 3.0 = 4.0 m s⁻². [1 mark]

Question 9 A: Friction = 0.30 x 20 x 9.81 = 58.9 N; net force = 80 – 58.9 = 21.1 N; a = 21.1 / 20 = 1.1 m s⁻². [1 mark]

Question 10 C: Δp = m(v – u) = 0.15 x (15 – (-20)) = 5.25 kg m s⁻¹; the reversal supplies the minus sign. [1 mark]

Question 11 C: Ek = ½mv² = 0.5 x 1 200 x 400 = 240 000 J = 2.4 x 10⁵ J. [1 mark]

Question 12 C: Efficiency = 1 750 / 2 500 x 100% = 70%. [1 mark]

Question 13 C: P = mgh / t = 60 x 9.81 x 5.0 / 10 = 294 W. [1 mark]

Question 14 C: Q = mcΔT = 0.50 x 4 180 x 20 = 41 800 J = 4.18 x 10⁴ J. [1 mark]

Question 15 A: Q = mL = 0.20 x 3.34 x 10⁵ = 66 800 J = 6.68 x 10⁴ J. [1 mark]

Question 16 A: V = nRT / p = 0.10 x 8.31 x 300 / 1.0 x 10⁵ = 2.49 x 10⁻³ m³ ≈ 2.5 x 10⁻³ m³. [1 mark]

Question 17 B: Heat gained by water = 0.20 x 4 180 x 6.0 = 5 016 J; heat lost by metal = 0.10 x c x 74; c = 5 016 / 7.4 = 678 ≈ 6.8 x 10² J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹. [1 mark]

Question 18 B: λ = v / f = 340 / 250 = 1.36 m. [1 mark]

Question 19 A: sin θ₂ = sin 45° / 1.50 = 0.471, so θ₂ = 28.1°. [1 mark]

Question 20 C: λ = ax / D = (0.25 x 10⁻³ x 4.0 x 10⁻³) / 2.0 = 5.0 x 10⁻⁷ m = 500 nm. [1 mark]

Question 21 B: At the fundamental, λ = 2L = 2.4 m, so f = v / λ = 240 / 2.4 = 100 Hz. [1 mark]

Question 22 B: I = V / R = 12 / 4.0 = 3.0 A. [1 mark]

Question 23 B: 1/R = 1/6.0 + 1/3.0 = 0.50 Ω⁻¹, so R = 2.0 Ω. [1 mark]

Question 24 B: P = VI = 230 x 0.50 = 115 W. [1 mark]

Question 25 B: R = ρL / A = 1.7 x 10⁻⁸ x 2.0 / 1.0 x 10⁻⁷ = 0.34 Ω. [1 mark]

Question 26 C: a = v² / r = 36 / 2.0 = 18 m s⁻². [1 mark]

Question 27 A: T = 2π√(r³ / GM) = 2π√(3.43 x 10²⁰ / 3.99 x 10¹⁴) = 5.83 x 10³ s ≈ 97 minutes. [1 mark]

Question 28 A: E = hf = 6.63 x 10⁻³⁴ x 5.0 x 10¹⁴ = 3.3 x 10⁻¹⁹ J. [1 mark]

Question 29 A: Remaining fraction = (1/2)⁴ = 1/16 = 6.25%. [1 mark]

Question 30 B: λ = h / (mv) = 6.63 x 10⁻³⁴ / (9.11 x 10⁻³¹ x 2.0 x 10⁶) = 3.6 x 10⁻¹⁰ m = 0.36 nm. [1 mark]

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