AQA GCSE Combined Science: Physics Paper 2
(Higher Tier) Ultimate Q&A Study Guide
2025/2026 | First Attempt Pass Guaranteed
1. How can a vector quantity be represented? - ANS--By an arrow in the
direction of the vector and of length in proportion to the magnitude of the
vector.
2. If two forces act on an object in opposite directions and the resultant force isn't
zero, what will the resultant force be? - ANS--The difference between the forces
and in the direction of the larger force.
3. If two forces act on an object in the same direction and the resultant force isn't
zero, what will the resultant force be? - ANS--The sum of the forces in the same
direction of both forces.
4. What are contact forces? - ANS--If two objects must touch each other to
interact, the forces are contact forces.
5. Give three examples of contact forces. - ANS--Friction, air resistance, tension
in ropes.
6. Give three examples of non-contact forces. - ANS--Magnetic force,
gravitational force, electrostatic force.
7. Give five examples of scalar quantities. - ANS--Distance, speed, time, mass,
energy (also power).
8. Give five examples of vector quantities. - ANS--Displacement, velocity, force,
weight, momentum (also acceleration).
,9. What are forces measured in? - ANS--Newtons (N).
10. What are scalar quantities? - ANS--Scalar quantities have magnitude (size)
but no direction.
11. List three different things that forces can do to objects. - ANS--Change shape,
change speed, change direction of motion.
12. What is the unit of weight? - ANS--Newtons (N).
13. What is the difference between weight and mass? - ANS--Weight is the force
due to gravity (in N), mass is the amount of matter (in kg).
14. State Newton’s first law of motion. - ANS--An object at rest stays at rest,
and an object moving at constant velocity continues at that velocity, unless
acted on by a resultant force.
15. State Newton’s second law of motion. - ANS--The acceleration of an object
is directly proportional to the resultant force and inversely proportional to its
mass (F = ma).
16. State Newton’s third law of motion. - ANS--When two objects interact, they
exert equal and opposite forces on each other.
17. Write the equation that links resultant force, mass and acceleration. - ANS--F =
m × a (resultant force = mass × acceleration).
18. What is the unit of acceleration? - ANS--Metres per second squared (m/s²).
19. A car has a mass of 1000 kg and a resultant force of 2000 N acts on it.
Calculate its acceleration. - ANS--a = F/m = 2000/1000 = 2 m/s².
20. What is the acceleration of an object with a mass of 50 kg if the resultant force
is 250 N? - ANS--a = 250/50 = 5 m/s².
, 21. Define the term ‘resultant force’. - ANS--The single force that has the same
effect as all the individual forces acting on an object.
22. If the resultant force on a moving object is zero, what happens to its motion? -
ANS--It continues moving at a constant velocity (same speed and direction).
23. If the resultant force on a stationary object is zero, what happens? - ANS--It
remains stationary.
24. What happens to the acceleration if the resultant force on an object is doubled
(mass constant)? - ANS--The acceleration also doubles.
25. What is inertia? - ANS--The tendency of an object to resist a change in its
motion (related to mass).
26. Write the equation for weight. - ANS--Weight = mass × gravitational field
strength (W = m g).
27. What is the approximate value of g on Earth? - ANS--9.8 N/kg (or 10 N/kg for
estimates).
28. An object has a mass of 5 kg. Calculate its weight on Earth (g = 10 N/kg). -
ANS--W = 5 × 10 = 50 N.
29. What is the difference between speed and velocity? - ANS--Speed is scalar
(magnitude only); velocity is vector (magnitude and direction).
30. How is acceleration calculated from a velocity-time graph? - ANS--The
gradient of the graph (change in velocity ÷ time).
31. How is distance travelled found from a velocity-time graph? - ANS--The area
under the graph.
32. What is the typical speed of sound in air? - ANS--330–340 m/s (approx).
(Higher Tier) Ultimate Q&A Study Guide
2025/2026 | First Attempt Pass Guaranteed
1. How can a vector quantity be represented? - ANS--By an arrow in the
direction of the vector and of length in proportion to the magnitude of the
vector.
2. If two forces act on an object in opposite directions and the resultant force isn't
zero, what will the resultant force be? - ANS--The difference between the forces
and in the direction of the larger force.
3. If two forces act on an object in the same direction and the resultant force isn't
zero, what will the resultant force be? - ANS--The sum of the forces in the same
direction of both forces.
4. What are contact forces? - ANS--If two objects must touch each other to
interact, the forces are contact forces.
5. Give three examples of contact forces. - ANS--Friction, air resistance, tension
in ropes.
6. Give three examples of non-contact forces. - ANS--Magnetic force,
gravitational force, electrostatic force.
7. Give five examples of scalar quantities. - ANS--Distance, speed, time, mass,
energy (also power).
8. Give five examples of vector quantities. - ANS--Displacement, velocity, force,
weight, momentum (also acceleration).
,9. What are forces measured in? - ANS--Newtons (N).
10. What are scalar quantities? - ANS--Scalar quantities have magnitude (size)
but no direction.
11. List three different things that forces can do to objects. - ANS--Change shape,
change speed, change direction of motion.
12. What is the unit of weight? - ANS--Newtons (N).
13. What is the difference between weight and mass? - ANS--Weight is the force
due to gravity (in N), mass is the amount of matter (in kg).
14. State Newton’s first law of motion. - ANS--An object at rest stays at rest,
and an object moving at constant velocity continues at that velocity, unless
acted on by a resultant force.
15. State Newton’s second law of motion. - ANS--The acceleration of an object
is directly proportional to the resultant force and inversely proportional to its
mass (F = ma).
16. State Newton’s third law of motion. - ANS--When two objects interact, they
exert equal and opposite forces on each other.
17. Write the equation that links resultant force, mass and acceleration. - ANS--F =
m × a (resultant force = mass × acceleration).
18. What is the unit of acceleration? - ANS--Metres per second squared (m/s²).
19. A car has a mass of 1000 kg and a resultant force of 2000 N acts on it.
Calculate its acceleration. - ANS--a = F/m = 2000/1000 = 2 m/s².
20. What is the acceleration of an object with a mass of 50 kg if the resultant force
is 250 N? - ANS--a = 250/50 = 5 m/s².
, 21. Define the term ‘resultant force’. - ANS--The single force that has the same
effect as all the individual forces acting on an object.
22. If the resultant force on a moving object is zero, what happens to its motion? -
ANS--It continues moving at a constant velocity (same speed and direction).
23. If the resultant force on a stationary object is zero, what happens? - ANS--It
remains stationary.
24. What happens to the acceleration if the resultant force on an object is doubled
(mass constant)? - ANS--The acceleration also doubles.
25. What is inertia? - ANS--The tendency of an object to resist a change in its
motion (related to mass).
26. Write the equation for weight. - ANS--Weight = mass × gravitational field
strength (W = m g).
27. What is the approximate value of g on Earth? - ANS--9.8 N/kg (or 10 N/kg for
estimates).
28. An object has a mass of 5 kg. Calculate its weight on Earth (g = 10 N/kg). -
ANS--W = 5 × 10 = 50 N.
29. What is the difference between speed and velocity? - ANS--Speed is scalar
(magnitude only); velocity is vector (magnitude and direction).
30. How is acceleration calculated from a velocity-time graph? - ANS--The
gradient of the graph (change in velocity ÷ time).
31. How is distance travelled found from a velocity-time graph? - ANS--The area
under the graph.
32. What is the typical speed of sound in air? - ANS--330–340 m/s (approx).
