OFFICIAL SUMMER 2025
PEARSON EDEXCEL
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE In Physics
(9PH0)
Paper 02: Advanced Physics II
MERGED QUESTION PAPER + MARK SCHEME
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OFFICIAL SUMMER 2025 PEARSON EDEXCEL Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE In Physics (9PH0, Exams of Physics
OFFICIAL SUMMER 2025 PEARSON EDEXCEL Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE In Physics (9PH0) Paper 02: Advanced Physics II MERGED QUESTION PAPER + MARK SCHEME
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OFFICIAL SUMMER 2025
PEARSON EDEXCEL
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE In Physics
(9PH0)
Paper 02: Advanced Physics II
MERGED QUESTION PAPER + MARK SCHEME
surname names
Number Number
Morning (Time: 1 hour 45 minutes) Paper
• Answer^ all^ questions.
• Try^ to^ answer^ every^ question.
• The^ marks^ for^ each^ question^ are^ shown^ in^ brackets
• Fill^ in^ the^ boxes^ at^ the^ top^ of^ this^ page^ with^ your^ name,
• Use^ black^ ink^ or^ ball-point^ pen.
• Check^ your^ answers^ if^ you^ have^ time^ at^ the^ end.
🟐 🟐
Physics
Advanced
PAPER 2: Advanced Physics II
Instructions
• If^ pencil^ is^ used^ for^ diagrams/sketches/graphs^ it^ must^ be^ dark^ (HB^ or^ B).
centre number and candidate number.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
- there may be more space than you need.
Information
• The^ total^ mark^ for^ this^ paper^ is^ 90.
- use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question. In the question marked with an asterisk ()* , marks will be awarded for your ability to structure your answer logically, showing how the points that you make are related or follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
• Read^ each^ question carefully^ before^ you start^ to^ answer^ it.
• You^ are^ advised^ to^ show^ your^ working^ in^ calculations,^ including^ units
P78683A
©2025 Pearson Education Ltd. Y:1/1/1/1/1/1/
where appropriate. (^) Turn over
2 ■■■■
Answer ALL questions.
All multiple choice questions must be answered with a cross in the box for the correct answer from A to D. If you change your mind about an answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross.
1 Which of the following gives the SI base units of stress?
A kg m s–^2
B kg m–^1 s–^2
C N m–^2
D Pa
(Total for Question 1 = 1 mark)
2 Which of the following provides evidence for the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation?
A diffraction
B interference
C photoelectric effect
D polarisation
(Total for Question 2 = 1 mark)
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3 ■■■■ Turn over
3 Light enters a semicircular glass block, as shown. The ray of light reaches the straight edge of the block at an angle of incidence θ.
The critical angle for glass is c.
θ
Which of the following statements for light incident at the straight edge of the block is correct?
A When θ is greater than c , then no light is reflected.
B When θ is greater than c , then no light is transmitted.
C When θ is less than c , then no light is reflected.
D When θ is less than c , then no light is transmitted.
(Total for Question 3 = 1 mark)
4 Scientists believe that our universe is currently expanding. One possible fate is for the universe to reach a maximum size and then start to contract.
Which of the following descriptions of a universe with this fate is correct?
A a closed universe
B a critical universe
C a flat universe
D an open universe
(Total for Question 4 = 1 mark)
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5 ■■■■ Turn over
7 A small ball bearing falls slowly through a liquid at terminal velocity. The temperature of the liquid is increased.
Which row of the table shows the change in viscosity of the liquid and the change in terminal velocity of the ball bearing?
A
B
C
D
(Total for Question 7 = 1 mark)
8 Some rocks contain polonium. The polonium is radioactive, and decays to a stable isotope of lead.
Which of the following graphs shows how the number N of lead atoms produced from the decay of polonium varies with time?
N N N N
Time A
Time B
Time C
Time D
A
B
C
D
(Total for Question 8 = 1 mark)
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Viscosity of liquid Terminal velocity of ball bearing
increases increases
increases decreases
decreases increases
decreases decreases
6 ■■■■
9 Light from a lamp passes through two polarising filters, P 1 and P 2 , as shown. The light intensity is recorded by a detector.
The filters initially have their planes of polarisation parallel.
light from P 1 lamp P 2
detector
plane of polarisation
Both filters are rotated in the same direction.
Which row of the table gives the changes that result in the minimum intensity of light at the detector?
A
B
C
D
(Total for Question 9 = 1 mark)
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Rotation of P 1 / rad Rotation of P 2 / rad
π 4
π 2
π 4 π
π 2 π
π 2
3π 2
8 ■■■■
11 A spectral line with wavelength 655.88 nm is detected on Earth from the Triangulum Galaxy. The wavelength of this spectral line measured using a laboratory source is 656.28 nm.
Calculate the velocity of the Triangulum Galaxy relative to the Earth.
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Magnitude of velocity = ......................................................
Direction = ......................................................
(Total for Question 11 = 3 marks)
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12 The image from the cover of a music album is represented below.
45
red light
violet light
White light enters the prism at an angle of incidence of 45°. The light disperses and splits into a spectrum of colours as it enters the prism.
In this image the angle of refraction for violet light at the first boundary is 22°. The angle between the red light and the violet light is 11°.
Evaluate whether the angle between the red light and the violet light is accurate.
speed of violet light in prism speed of red light in prism
= 0.
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(Total for Question 12 = 4 marks)
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9 Turn over
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4 * 1 Air molecules are trapped in a container by a piston, as shown.
piston
The position of the piston is adjusted so that the volume available to the air molecules is reduced. The temperature of the air stays constant.
Explain how the pressure exerted by the air changes. You should refer to the motion of the air molecules.
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(Total for Question 14 = 6 marks)
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11 Turn over
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12 ■■■■
15 A pulsar is a rotating neutron star. The pulsar emits electromagnetic radiation as it rotates.
Scientists have recently detected the highest ever energy gamma ray photons received from a pulsar.
(a) The energy of one of these gamma ray photons was determined to be 2.0 × 1013 eV.
Calculate the wavelength of these gamma rays. (4)
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Wavelength = ......................................................
(b) The pulsar is estimated to be travelling away from the Earth with a velocity of 750 m s–^1.
State why this motion away from the Earth does not significantly affect the wavelength of radiation received at the Earth. (1)
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(Total for Question 15 = 5 marks)
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14 ■■■■
17 The asteroid Bennu is in an approximately circular orbit around the Sun. Scientists consider that Bennu may collide with Earth within the next century.
(a) In 2060 Bennu will be 7.49 × 108 m from the Earth.
(i) Show that the mass of Bennu is about 7.8 × 1010 kg.
mean radius of Bennu = 245 m average density of Bennu = 1260 kg m–^3 (3)
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(ii) Calculate the magnitude of the force F between Bennu and Earth in 2060.
mass of Earth = 5.98 × 1024 kg (2)
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(b) The orbital time of Bennu around the Sun is 1.17 years.
Calculate the mass of the Sun.
average distance of Bennu from the Sun = 1.70 × 1011 m mass of Bennu = 7.8 × 1010 kg 1 year = 3.15 × 107 s
F = ......................................................
(4)
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Mass of Sun = ......................................................
(Total for Question 17 = 9 marks)
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15 ■■■■ Turn over
18 Glaciers are massive bodies of slowly moving ice. Over time, a fine sediment forms on the surface of a glacier. The sediment contains radioactive isotopes.
Caesium‑137, 137 Cs, is a common radioisotope found in the sediment.
(a) Complete the following nuclear equation to represent the decay of caesium.
Cs →
..... ..... Ba +
..... ..... β
(^0) – ν
(2)
55 ..... ..... ..... ..... 0 e
(b) The concentration of 137 Cs on a Norwegian glacier was investigated.
half‑life of 137 Cs = 9.5 × 108 s
(i) The activity of 137 Cs was determined to be 2.5 × 104 Bq per kg of sediment.
Calculate the number of atoms of 137 Cs in 1 kg of sediment. (3)
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Number of atoms of 137 Cs = ......................................................
(ii) Calculate the time taken for 10% of the 137 Cs atoms to have decayed. (2)
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Time taken = ......................................................
(Total for Question 18 = 7 marks)
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17 ■■■■ Turn over
(b) (i) It is claimed that 1% of the ice would melt if the ice sculpture were in direct sunlight continuously for 12 hours. Assume that radiation, of intensity I , from the Sun is directly incident upon the top of the sculpture, as shown below.
I = 1350 W m–^2
Deduce whether this claim is correct.
initial temperature of ice sculpture = – 20 °C intensity of the Sun = 1350 W m–^2 specific heat capacity of ice = 2.09 × 103 J kg–^1 K–^1 specific latent heat of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg–^1 (6)
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(ii) Give two reasons why your analysis of the situation may be incorrect. (2)
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............................................................................................................................................ ...................................................................................................... (Total for Question 1 9 = 10 marks)
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18 ■■■■
20 The photograph shows the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which are the world’s tallest twin buildings.
(Source: © saiko3p/Shutterstock)
(a) Each tower is supported by 16 cylindrical concrete columns.
Calculate the stress at the base of each cylindrical concrete column.
mass of each tower = 3.0 × 108 kg diameter of each column = 2.4 m (5)
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Stress at the base of each column = ......................................................
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