O Levels Physics Mcq Simulation

This is a simulation for your MCQ physics paper.

The Actual paper is 40 questions and 1 hour long.

You will only have 50 minutes for this simulation. 40 minutes to do and 10 minutes to check your work.

Times up!

O level Pure physics

1 / 40

1) The diagram shows two buoys P and Q sitting on a pond. A wave moves across the pond from left to right.

At the moment shown, buoy Q is at the crest and buoy P is at the trough. Which row describes the movement of the buoys during the next cycle of the wave?

1. C

2. D

3. A

4. B

2 / 40

2) The half-life of a certain radioactive element is such that 7/8 of a given quantity decays in 12 days.

What fraction remains undecayed after 24 days?

1. 1/64

2. 1/32

3. 1/16

4. 1/128

3 / 40

3) A converging lens L acts as a magnifying glass when an object AB is placed 4.0 cm from the centre of the lens. The image CD is 6.0 cm from A. Focal length of the lens is 6.0 cm.

What are the characteristics of the image formed when the object is placed 12.0 cm away from the centre of the lens ?

1. virtual and diminished

2. virtual and same size as object

3. real and diminished

4. real and same size as object

4 / 40

4) The ends of three metal rods are tested by holding end Q of rod 1 close to each end of rods 2 and 3.

The results are as follows:

End Q attracts end R.

End Q attracts end S.

End Q attracts end T.

End Q repels end U.

Which of the metal rods is a magnet?

1. rod 2 only

2. rod 1 and rod 3 only

3. rod 1 only

4. rod 2 and rod 3 only

5 / 40

5) The diagram shows a water wave traveling towards the right.

Which of the following statements is not correct?

I. Particles at X and W are in phase.

II. Particle at X will move to W after a period.

III. Particle at Z will move up in the next instant.

IV. Wavelength of the wave is represented by XY.

1. II and IV only

2. I and III only

3. all the above

4. I, II and IV only

6 / 40

6) The diagram represents the surface of a transparent liquid. Two rays of light are travelling within the liquid. They both reach the surface. The path of each ray is shown.

What is the refractive index of this liquid?

1. 1.7

2. 1.3

3. 1.2

4. 1.6

7 / 40

7) In a Brownian motion experiment involving smoke particles in air, heavy particles settle quickly but very small particles remain suspended for long periods of time. Which statement explains why the very small smoke particles do not settle?

1. The Earth’s gravitational field does not act on very small smoke particles.

2. The small smoke particles have the same density as the air.

3. Molecular bombardment by air molecules keeps the very small smoke particles suspended.

4. Air pressure has a greater effect on very small smoke particles.

8 / 40

8) A water wave moves from deep water to shallow water. Its speed decreases in shallow water. Which statement correctly describes the frequency and wavelength of the wave in the shallow water?

1. Frequency decreases while wavelength remains unchanged.

2. Both frequency and wavelength decrease.

3. Both frequency and wavelength remain unchanged.

4. Frequency remains unchanged while wavelength decreases.

9 / 40

9) A plotting compass is used to trace the magnetic field lines around a bar magnet

1. B

2. D

3. C

4. A

10 / 40

10) The diagram shows a permanent magnet approaching a solenoid at a constant speed.

1. D

2. A

3. C

4. B

11 / 40

11) What is the function of the earth wire?

1. It closes the circuit so current may flow to operate a device.

2. It provides an alternative path for current to flow if a wiring fault occurs.

3. It allows excessive charges to be stored to conserve energy

4. It is a high resistance wire to reduce the amount of current to a safe level.

12 / 40

12) Pendulum X makes 25 complete oscillations in 10 s. Pendulum Y makes 15 complete oscillations in 15 s. Both pendulums were displaced by a small angle before their oscillations.

Which statement must be true?

1. Pendulum Y has a shorter period than pendulum X.

2. The mass of the bob of pendulum Y is smaller than that of pendulum X.

3. The angle of swing of release for pendulum Y is smaller than that of pendulum X.

4. The string of pendulum Y is longer than that of pendulum X.

13 / 40

13) A boy climbs slowly at a steady speed to the top of a small hill.

What is the main energy transfer taking place for the boy as he climbs?

1. kinetic store to gravitational potential store

2. chemical potential store to kinetic store

3. chemical potential store to gravitational potential store

4. internal store to kinetic store

14 / 40

14) The diagram below shows a simple d.c. motor

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

I. A current will flow round the coil in the direction WXYZ.

II. The coil will rotate in a clockwise direction about the axle.

III. The split-ring commutator will reverse the direction of the current every 360°.

1. I and III only

2. II and III only

3. I only

4. I and II only

15 / 40

15) James stands at a point J between two parallel walls as shown in the diagram below and fires a pistol.

He hears the first echo after 0.40 s and the second echo after 1.0 s.

How long after firing the pistol will James hear the third echo?

1. 2.8 s

2. 2.0 s

3. 0.8 s

4. 1.4 s

16 / 40

16) The velocity-time graph of an object being thrown up vertically into the air is shown.

Which information about the motion of the object is incorrect?

1. The acceleration of the object at time T is zero.

2. The only force acting on the object during its motion is gravitational force.

3. The displacement of the object at time 2T is zero.

4. The object is momentarily at rest at time T.

17 / 40

17) The diagram shows an ideal transformer. An alternating current supply of 100 V is supplied to the primary coil and a current of 0.50 A flows through it.

1. A

2. D

3. C

4. B

18 / 40

18) An object travels for 20 s with a constant speed of 10 m/s. For the next 10 s, it accelerates uniformly to 20 m/s.

What is the average speed of the object during the last 15 s of its motion?

1. 12.5 m/s

2. 15.0 m/s

3. 11.7 m/s

4. 13.3 m/s

19 / 40

19) Which statement about electromagnetic waves is correct?

1. Infrared rays are used in sunbeds for artificial sun tanning.

2. Visible light can damage human proteins and DNA.

3. X-rays are used to check for counterfeit notes.

4. Microwaves are used in satellite communications.

20 / 40

20) A box of mass 3.0 kg is initially at rest on a horizontal rough surface. Three parallel horizontal forces of magnitude 2.0 N, 3.0 N and 4.0 N act on the box . Friction that acts between the box and the ground is 1.5 N.

What is the minimum acceleration of the box?

1. 0.25 m/s^2

2. 2.5 m/s^2

3. 0.50 m/s^2

4. 1.0 m/s^2

21 / 40

21) A student investigates the changes that take place as molten wax solidifies.

Which of the following correctly describe these changes?

1. No transfer of energy but a change in temperature

2. A transfer of energy and a change in temperature

3. A transfer of energy but no change in temperature

4. No transfer of energy and no change in temperature

22 / 40

22) A stone has a mass of 390 g and a density of 2.7 g/cm3. Cooking oil has a density of 0.90 g/cm3.

Which mass of cooking oil has the same volume as the stone?

1. 1200g

2. 130 g

3. 900g

4. 160g

23 / 40

23) Which instrument is most suitable for measuring the internal diameter of a pipe?

1. manometer

2. measuring cylinder

3. digital calipers

4. digital micrometer

24 / 40

24) An observer hears a clap of thunder 3.0 s after seeing the flash of lightning. The speed of sound in air is 330 m/s.

How far from the observer was the lightning?

1. 330 m

2. 110 m

3. 1980 m

4. 990 m

25 / 40

25) A metal rod AB is placed on two smooth horizontal metal rails on the bench. The rail and the rod are subjected to an external magnetic field. The top view of the setup is shown below.

When switch S is closed, in which direction will rod AB move?

1. into the page

2. to the right of the page

3. to the left of the page

4. out of the page

26 / 40

26) Block A and block B are connected by a light inextensible string. A force of 12 N acts on block A as shown.

Given that the floor is smooth, what is the tension in the string connecting block A and block B?

1. 12 N

2. 4.0 N

3. 2.0 N

4. 8.0 N

27 / 40

27) The diagram shows two wires, X and Y, made of the same material.

Wire X has resistance R and length 𝑙𝑙. Wire Y is twice as long as wire X, and its radius, r, is half of that of wire X.

What is the resistance of wire Y?

1. 8R

2. R/2

3. 2R

4. 4R

28 / 40

28) Waves in the electromagnetic spectrum have different uses.

Which uses of the electromagnetic spectrum are incorrect?

1 . X-rays are used for prenatal scanning of the foetus.

2. Infra-red radiation is used in suntanning beds.

3. Microwaves are used in wireless telecommunications.

1. 1 and 2 only

2. 2 and 3 only

3. 1, 2 and 3

4. 1 and 3 only

29 / 40

29) Electromagnetic waves from the Sun are absorbed by a solar panel. These waves transfer energy electrically to a portable traffic light system.

A few solar panels with a total area 12 m2 were used to operate the traffic light system. 1.0 m2 of a panel receives 0.85 kJ of energy via electromagnetic waves from the Sun in 1.0 s.

If the efficiency of the panels is 16 %, how much power do they transfer electrically?

1. 1.6 kW

2. 160 kW

3. 64 kW

4. 2.2 kW

30 / 40

30) A transverse wave is produced on a rope. The diagram shows the rope at one instant. The wave travels at a speed of 4.0 m/s.

What are the wavelength and the frequency of the wave?

1. B

2. A

3. C

4. D

31 / 40

31) A ray of light passes from glass to air. In glass, the speed of light is 1.8 × 10^8 m/s.

What is the critical angle for light passing from glass to air?

1. 42 degrees

2. 18 degrees

3. 30 degrees

4. 37 degrees

32 / 40

32) The diagram below shows light travelling from water and undergoing refraction.

1. C

2. A

3. B

4. D

33 / 40

33) A parachutist falls from a stationary balloon at time t = 0 s. The velocity-time graph for the parachutist from time t = 0 s until the time when he is just above the ground is shown.

1. C

2. A

3. B

4. D

34 / 40

34) A uniform metre rule is supported by vertical wires P and Q and remains horizontal as shown in diagram 1. The tension in each wire is 1 N. When a weight of 4 N is hung from the metre rule at the position as shown in diagram 2, the tension in Q becomes 2.3 N while the metre rule remains horizontal.

What is the distance d of the weight 4 N from end P?

1. 57.5 cm

2. 67.5 cm

3. Cannot be found as tension in P is unknown

4. 32.5 cm

35 / 40

35) The diagram shows a transverse wave travelling along a rope at the time t = 0 s. A point on the rope is labelled X.

The period of the wave is 5.0 s.

1. B

2. D

3. C

4. A

36 / 40

36) The diagram shows an a.c. generator.

1. D

2. A

3. C

4. B

37 / 40

37) As air is sucked from a straw out of a sealed packet drink, the packet shrinks in volume.

Which of the following best explains why the packet drink shrinks in volume?

1. The collision of air molecules with the internal surface area of packet drink has decreased.

2. The kinetic energy of the air molecules in the packet drink has decreased and the frequency of collisions of the air molecules and packet wall has decreased.

3. The air molecules are in continuous random motion.

4. The air molecules move more quickly when they are heated.

38 / 40

38) The potential difference across a metal wire is kept constant. The length l and the diameter d of the wire are both varied. The type of metal is kept the same. How is the resistance of the wire related to l and d?

1. It is inversely proportional to l and directly proportional to d.

2. It is directly proportional to l and inversely proportional to d.

3. It is directly proportional to l and inversely proportional to d2.

4. It is inversely proportional to l and directly proportional to d2.

39 / 40

39) A horizontal beam of electrons passes between the two poles of a magnet.

In which direction is the beam deflected?

1. towards the north pole

2. into the page

3. towards the south pole

4. out of the page

40 / 40

40) Light in a vacuum strikes a glass surface at an angle of incidence of 42 °. In the glass, the angle of refraction is 29 °.

What is the speed of light in glass?

1. 3.0 × 10^8 m / s

2. 4.1 × 10^8 m / s

3. 2.1 × 10^8 m / s

4. 2.2× 10^8 m / s

Your score is

The average score is 14%

Physics MCQ Paper 1 now carries a 30% weightage under the current syllabus.
This is a significant portion that can easily impact your final grade by 2–3 bands. To maximise your score, aim for full marks by doing plenty of targeted practice. It might make the difference between A1 and A2.

Never underestimate the difficulty of multiple-choice questions — they are often designed to test your precision and attention to detail. Always check your answers carefully, manage your time wisely, and stay alert for tricky questions.

How are the questions being set?

-Knowledge with Understanding, approximately 45% of the marks with approximately 15% allocated to recall.

-Handling Information and Solving Problems, approximately 55% of the marks.