February 2026 Daily Physics questions
Free AS and A2 Daily MCQs from PhysicsUK. Questions appear here after a 7-day delay so pupils can practise with the answer and explanation available.
Dynamics: forces, drag and terminal velocity (Module 3)
Two solid plastic spheres are geometrically similar and made of the same material. Sphere B has twice the radius of sphere A. Each is dropped from rest in still air and allowed plenty of time to reach a constant...
Efficiency (M3.3)
In a lab, a small motor draws a steady 120 W while lifting a 100 N load vertically at a constant speed of 0.80 m s−1. Which value best estimates the motor’s efficiency?
Kinematics (displacement–time)
In a lab, a trolley moves along a straight air track and its displacement s from the start is recorded against time t. The s–t graph is described as follows: 0 ≤ t < 4 s: s increases linearly from 0 m to +2.0 m. 4 s ≤...
Conservation of momentum (1D)
On a near-frictionless air track, a 0.30 kg glider moves to the right at 2.4 m/s and collides with, then sticks to, a stationary 0.60 kg glider. Assuming no significant external horizontal forces during the brief...
Dynamics: terminal velocity and drag (qualitative)
A skydiver of fixed mass descends steadily at terminal speed with parachute A. They then use parachute B of the same design but with double the canopy area, in the same air conditions. At these speeds, the drag force...
Mechanics & Materials (M3)
In a lab test, a dynamics trolley on a level track is slowed by a magnetic brake that provides nearly constant deceleration. From a launch speed of 1.5 m/s, it comes to rest in 1.2 m. If the same trolley–brake setup is...
DC Circuits — internal resistance and combining cells (Module 4.2.3)
A camping lamp has a 4.0 Ω LED driver. It can be powered by two identical 1.5 V cells, each with internal resistance 1.0 Ω, connected either in series or in parallel. Assume the driver’s resistance stays 4.0 Ω. Which...
Electricity (Module 4)
A 6.0 V cell with internal resistance 1.0 Ω powers a small lab heater that can be switched between 1.0 Ω and 2.0 Ω. When you switch from 1.0 Ω to 2.0 Ω, what happens to the power dissipated in the heater?
Capacitance I (M6.1)
In a lab, a metal-plate capacitor is connected to a steady DC power supply. A thin plastic sheet (dielectric) is slid fully between the plates. Which statement must be true?
DC circuits: potential dividers (M4)
A student builds a potential divider with a fixed resistor R1 in series with an adjustable resistor R2 across a 9.0 V supply. With R2 set to 3.0 kΩ, the voltmeter across R2 reads 6.0 V. R1 is left unchanged. If R2 is...
Archimedes principle
An irregular metal object is hung from a Newton meter. In air, the reading is 50 N. When it is fully submerged in fresh water, the reading is 30 N. The object is then fully submerged in a sugar solution of density 1.25...
Momentum & impulse; conservation of momentum (1D)
On a low-friction air track, a 0.40 kg glider moves to the right at 5.0 m/s and collides head-on with a 0.80 kg glider moving to the left at 2.0 m/s. The gliders stick together on impact. Which statement must be true...
Magnetic fields: circular motion of charges (M6)
In a vacuum tube, a narrow electron beam enters a region of uniform magnetic field at right angles to the field lines and follows a circular path with radius r and period T at constant speed. The magnetic field...
Electric fields (A2): uniform fields; E=V/d
In a lab, two parallel metal plates are used to create a uniform electric field. With a 1.0 cm gap, a potential difference of 200 V gives the required field to suspend a tiny charged bead. The spacer is changed so the...
Foundations of Physics (M2)
A student walks 300 m east along a straight corridor, then 400 m west along the same corridor. Which statement must be true about the student’s displacement from the starting point?
Kepler's laws (Module 5.10.3)
Which statement must be true when an Earth satellite is moved from a circular orbit of radius R (measured from Earth’s centre) to a new circular orbit of radius 4R around the same planet? Compare (i) the orbital period...
Conservation of momentum (1D)
On a nearly frictionless air track, a 0.50 kg glider moves at 2.0 m s−1 to the right and collides head-on with a 1.50 kg glider moving at 0.50 m s−1 to the left. The gliders latch together on impact. Which option gives...
Nuclear Physics (M6)
In a lab, a sealed radioactive source is kept at a fixed distance from a Geiger–Müller tube. After subtracting background, the count rate drops from 800 counts min⁻¹ to 200 counts min⁻¹ in 12 hours. What is the...
High level GCSE electricity
A camper uses a 12 V battery to run two identical 6 Ω heating pads. They try wiring the pads (i) in series and (ii) in parallel across the same battery. Comparing the total electrical power drawn from the battery,...
Consolidation: mechanics & materials mixed reasoning
In a Young modulus practical, a student measures the gradient of a load–extension graph for a metal wire of length L and diameter d (small elastic extensions). They then replace it with a wire of the same material but...
Work, energy & power (M3)
A workshop hoist lifts crates vertically at constant speed. With a 20 kg crate, the electrical input power is 300 W and the hoist’s efficiency is 60%. The hoist now lifts a 40 kg crate at the same speed and with the...
Medical Imaging (M6)
A light-dependent resistor (LDR) is in series with a 2.0 kΩ fixed resistor across a stable 5.0 V supply. The output voltage V_out is measured across the fixed resistor. In bright light the LDR is about 200 Ω; in dim...
Projectile motion (Module 3.1.2)
From ground level, a student launches the same foam dart twice with the same initial speed: first at 30° above the horizontal, then at 60°. Air resistance is negligible and the dart lands back at launch height each...
Materials (M3.4), Measurements & Uncertainties (M2.1.2)
In a lab to estimate the stiffness of a metal using a wire, a student measures the small extension under a fixed 100 N load with a ruler (±0.5 mm reading uncertainty). They replace the wire with another of the same...
Mechanics: Kinematics (M3.1) — suvat problems
On a dry test track, the same car makes two emergency stops under identical conditions so its deceleration is effectively constant and unchanged on both runs. On the second run the initial speed is 30% higher than on...
Foundations of Physics (M2)
A cyclist on level ground brakes so that the deceleration is the same each time (uniform and constant). If the initial speed is doubled, what happens to the stopping distance and the stopping time until rest?
Circular Motion & SHM (M5)
On a wet, flat roundabout a car just avoids skidding when it travels at speed v0 around a lane of radius R. The driver then moves to an inner lane of radius R/2. The tyre–road grip (maximum friction) is unchanged and...
Electricity — high-level GCSE (M4)
An ideal 6 V bench supply powers one identical 6 V filament lamp. A second, identical lamp is then connected in parallel across the same supply using identical leads. Ignore lead resistance and assume the supply...
Cross-topic problem solving (mechanics ↔ circuits energy; graphs & modelling)
A bicycle bottle dynamo on a test rig produces an emf proportional to the wheel’s linear speed v. It powers an ohmic rear lamp of resistance 6 Ω; the dynamo’s internal resistance is 3 Ω. Ignore other losses. The...
Mechanics & Materials (M3)
A motion sensor on a skateboarder records a straight run: starting from rest, the speed increases uniformly to 8.0 m/s in 4.0 s, remains at 8.0 m/s for the next 10.0 s, then decreases uniformly to rest over the final...
Waves II: boundary conditions in air columns
In a resonance-tube experiment, a student holds a 300 Hz tuning fork above a vertical tube that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. The first loud resonance occurs when the air column length is 28 cm (ignore...
Deformation of materials (M3.4)
Two identical light springs support the same weight. In arrangement 1, the springs are in parallel (both attached to the support and the weight). In arrangement 2, the same two springs are connected in series...
Sensor circuits (M4)
A microcontroller reads the output of a 5.0 V potential divider used as an over‑temperature sensor on a heatsink. The divider has a fixed 10 kΩ resistor in series with an NTC thermistor; the output to the ADC is taken...
Foundations of Physics (M2)
Two electric kettles heat the same mass of water from the same starting temperature to boiling. Ignore heat losses so the energy required is the same in both cases. Kettle A is rated 2.0 kW and Kettle B is rated 1.5...
Mechanics & Materials (M3)
A technician suspends the same 3.0 kg motor using two identical light springs, each of spring constant k. Configuration S: the two springs are connected in series between the ceiling hook and the motor. Configuration...
Mechanics — Kinematics (suvat)
An athlete accelerates uniformly from rest along a straight track for 20 m, reaching speed v at the end of this phase. On a second attempt, the athlete doubles the acceleration but sustains it for only 10 m. Ignoring...
Materials — springs in series and parallel (Module 3.4)
Two identical elastic cords (each obeying a linear force–extension relationship within the range used) support a heavy hanging plant. First they are attached in parallel between the hook and the pot; later they are...
Mechanics & Materials (M3)
A small ball is launched straight up from a lab bench and lands back on the bench at the same level. Air resistance is negligible. If the launch speed is doubled, what happens to the total time the ball is in the air?...
Electromagnetic induction (M6.3.3)
A lab AC generator (coil of fixed area and N turns in a uniform magnetic field) drives a 24 Ω resistor. The generator’s internal resistance is negligible. Spun at 10 rev s−1 clockwise, the resistor dissipates 2.0 W on...
Electric circuits: potential dividers (Module 4)
A technician uses a 12.0 V supply and a potential divider made from a 3.0 kΩ resistor in series with a 6.0 kΩ resistor. The output voltage is taken across the 6.0 kΩ resistor. Later, both resistors are replaced by ones...
Thermal Physics & Gases (M5)
Two identical immersion heaters run at the same power for the same time. One heats 0.50 kg of cooking oil from 20 °C to 50 °C, while the other heats 0.80 kg of water from 20 °C to 32 °C. Assuming negligible losses and...
Forces in action (M3.2)
On a long, light plank balanced on a frictionless pivot, a 30 N toolbox sits 0.50 m to the left of the pivot. A 20 N paint can is placed a distance x to the right so the plank is in horizontal equilibrium. The toolbox...
Dynamics — terminal velocity and drag
Two skydivers of the same size, shape and body position fall with parachutes closed. In this regime, air drag is proportional to the square of speed. The second skydiver carries 25% extra mass (same area and drag...