Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Unit
Solids, Liquids and Gases
279 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
31–40 of 133 · Easy
Question 31
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Figure 1 shows a simple barometer using oil instead of mercury. The oil has a density of 900 kg/m³. The height of the oil column is 1.4 m. Take g = 10 N/kg.
Figure 1: Simple oil barometer (a)[2 marks]Calculate the atmospheric pressure in Pascals.
(b)[1 mark]Suggest why mercury is usually used in barometers rather than oil.
Question 32
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A solid metal block is dropped into a tank of water so that it sinks to the bottom. The block has a mass of 0.60 kg and a volume of 0.0002 m³.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the density of the metal block in kg/m³.
(b)[1 mark]Use the equation for pressure in liquids to write down the formula linking pressure difference, height, density, and gravitational field strength.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why the metal block sinks in water, using your answers.
Question 33
4 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A diver descends in the sea to a depth of 15 m. The density of seawater is 1025 kg/m³. Take gravitational field strength g = 10 N/kg.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the increase in pressure on the diver at this depth, relative to the surface.
(b)[1 mark]Describe how pressure in a liquid acts on the diver at this depth.
(c)[1 mark]Explain how the force on a part of the diver’s body can be calculated using pressure and area.
Question 34
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State the SI unit for mass.
Question 35
1 mark · Easy
Answer and check →Which of the following changes will decrease the density of a block of wood?
- A.Decrease its mass only
- B.Increase its mass and volume by the same proportion
- C.Decrease its volume only, mass unchanged
- D.Increase its mass only, volume unchanged
Question 36
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A small plastic cube has a mass of 9.0 g and a volume of 12.0 cm³. Calculate its density in g/cm³.
Question 37
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State one property, besides density, that distinguishes a solid from a gas.
Question 38
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Describe how you would measure the mass and volume of a small glass marble to calculate its density. Do not include any calculations.
Question 39
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A liquid has a mass of 415 g and completely fills a measuring cylinder with a volume of 500 cm³. Calculate the density of the liquid, giving your answer in g/cm³.
Question 40
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A student wants to compare the density of water and cooking oil in the lab.
(a)[1 mark]Describe how she could measure the volume of 100 g of cooking oil.
(b)[1 mark]State why the measuring cylinder must be placed on a flat surface when finding the volume.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why repeating the measurement several times and averaging is useful.