May 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.
Nuclear II: mass–energy; binding energy per nucleon; fission/fusion contexts (qual.)
Which estimate is closest to the energy released per event when a U-235 nucleus undergoes fission into two medium-mass fragments? A lab chart shows the average binding energy per nucleon rises from about 7.6 MeV in...
Waves II: stationary waves; harmonics; boundary conditions; string/air column examples
In a lab, a 0.75 m air column is closed at one end and driven by a loudspeaker at the open end. Strong resonances are observed at 230 Hz and then at 690 Hz. The cork is removed so the tube is now open at both ends; the...
Practical Skills & Data (M1)
A student investigates whether the electrical power P delivered to a small heater is proportional to the square of the current I through it. They obtain two readings: at I = 0.40 A, P = 1.9 W; at I = 0.80 A, P = 7.6 W....
Intensity vs photon rate (Quantum I)
Two monochromatic LEDs each illuminate the same small photodiode with equal intensity (same power per unit area). LED G emits green light at wavelength 500 nm; LED V emits violet light at 400 nm. Which statement must...
Archimedes’ principle (M3.2)
A cylindrical fishing float stands upright in fresh water with 75% of its volume submerged. It is then placed in a liquid that is 1.2 times as dense as fresh water. Assuming the float does not absorb liquid and its...
Foundations of Physics (M2)
A camping heater is marked 60 W at 12 V. For a short test it is powered from a 6.0 V DC supply. Assuming its resistance does not change significantly at the lower temperature, which is the best estimate of the power it...
Waves & Optics (M4)
A clean zinc surface in vacuum is illuminated in turn by two monochromatic LEDs, each adjusted to deliver the same power per unit area onto the metal. LED A emits light at 5.0×10^14 Hz; LED B emits at 1.0×10^15 Hz. The...
Materials (M3.3)
In a lab test, a 5.0 N weight is hung from a single light spring and the extension is 3.0 cm. The same weight is then hung from two identical springs arranged side by side (in parallel) supporting the weight together....
Materials: practical methods (Young modulus)
In a lab to determine the Young modulus of a metal wire by adding masses and measuring its extension, you want to reduce the percentage uncertainty in the extension reading without changing the measuring scale or the...
Waves & Optics (Module 4)
A laser illuminates two identical narrow slits to form an interference pattern on a distant screen. At the centre of the screen (a bright fringe), the measured light intensity with both slits open is I0. One slit is...
Fields: Gravitational, Electric & Magnetic (M5/M6)
In a lab e/m experiment, an electron beam of fixed speed enters a region of uniform magnetic field at right angles and traces a circular arc on a fluorescent screen. The coil current is increased so the magnetic flux...
Kinematics (displacement–time graphs)
A fitness tracker records a runner’s displacement from the start along a straight path. During one 10 s interval, the displacement–time graph is a straight line sloping downwards (time on the x-axis, displacement on...
DC Circuits (M4)
In a lab test, a 1000 μF capacitor is charged to 6.0 V, then allowed to discharge through a resistor while a data logger records the voltage. In trial 1 the resistor is 1.0 kΩ; in trial 2 it is 2.0 kΩ. Students measure...
Electrons, Waves and Photons (M4): DC circuits
In a lab, a 9.0 V supply is connected to two 100 kΩ resistors in series. A digital multimeter with 1.0 MΩ input resistance is connected across the upper 100 kΩ resistor to measure its potential difference. Which...
Nuclear physics (M6.4): mass–energy and binding energy; fission/fusion (qual.)
An R&D team compares two fuels for a compact power source: (i) deuterium–tritium fusion, 2H + 3H → 4He + n, and (ii) fission of 235U to typical mid‑mass fragments. Take average binding energy per nucleon for the...
Quantum physics (M4.5)
In a school photoelectric-effect experiment with a clean photocathode, monochromatic light of wavelength 400 nm gives a stopping potential of 0.80 V at a certain intensity. The light is then changed to 360 nm while the...
Electric fields: Coulomb; uniform fields; E = V/d; potential & equipotentials; motion of charges (qual.)
Two parallel horizontal conducting plates are separated by a distance d in a vacuum. A constant potential difference V is applied across the plates, creating a uniform electric field. A small sphere with a fixed...
Quantum (M4)
In a school electron diffraction tube, electrons are accelerated from a heated filament through a potential difference of 150 V towards a thin graphite target. The potential difference is then increased to 600 V with...
Forces and motion (M3): Equilibrium and moments
A cyclist tightens a bolt using a 0.10 m Allen key by pushing with a 50 N force at right angles to the key. They then switch to a 0.25 m key and push with the same 50 N at right angles. What is the new turning effect...
DC Circuits (M4)
In a lab investigation of a light sensor, a student makes a potential divider with a 10 kΩ fixed resistor in series with an LDR across a 6.0 V supply. The output V_out is measured across the LDR using a digital...
Waves & Optics (M4)
In a lab, two air columns each of length L are set up: Tube A is open at both ends, and Tube B is closed at one end. Tube B is adjusted to its next resonance above its fundamental (second resonance). Which harmonic of...
Electric fields: potential & equipotentials (M6)
In a lab, two large parallel metal plates are connected to a power supply, creating a uniform electric field between them. A small positive test charge is moved very slowly by an external force along a path that lies...
Foundations of Physics (M2)
In a lab tracking experiment, the displacement s of a trolley along a straight track is plotted against time t. The graph has three sections: 0–3 s: s increases linearly from 0 m to +6 m; 3–5 s: s remains constant at...
Uncertainties & percentage errors (AS Practical Skills)
In a lab test of a small winch, a student estimates its power using P = m g h / t. They use m = 0.200 kg measured with a balance of ±0.001 kg, h = 0.600 m found as the difference between two metre-rule readings each...
Mechanics & Materials (M3)
In a lab drop test, a steel ball is released from rest and falls vertically under gravity (take g = 9.81 m s−2; air resistance negligible). From a certain height, the average fall time is 0.50 s. The technician wants...
Cross-topic problem solving (mechanics <-> circuits energy; graphs & modelling)
In a lab, a mass is allowed to fall through height h, turning a small generator that charges a capacitor. For a given setup, students vary h and measure the final capacitor voltage V after the mass comes to rest. Their...
Cross-topic problem solving (mechanics ↔ circuits energy; graphs & modelling)
In a lab test, a 6.0 V DC supply powers a small winch to raise a 1.2 kg mass vertically. Over 5.0 s the mass rises 2.0 m at approximately constant speed. The current from the supply is 1.8 A for the first 3.0 s and 1.2...
Quantum (Module 4): photoelectric effect; stopping potential; work function
In a lab, two otherwise identical vacuum photocells X and Y are illuminated with the same monochromatic light. The lamp position is adjusted so that, at zero applied voltage, both cells have the same initial...
Electric fields (Module 6.2)
An oscilloscope uses horizontal parallel plates to deflect an electron beam that travels midway between them with constant horizontal speed. The plate separation is doubled while, at the same time, the potential...
Cross-topic: mechanics ↔ circuits energy, Work, energy & power (M3), DC Circuits (M4)
A small DC motor lifts a 0.60 kg load vertically at constant speed, raising it 1.5 m in 5.0 s. During the lift an ammeter in series with the battery reads 1.6 A and a voltmeter across the battery terminals reads 3.0 V....
Mechanics & Materials (M3)
In a lab, two low-friction trolleys are coupled by a rigid bar. A student pulls the front trolley with a horizontal force so that both trolleys speed up together along a straight track. Considering only the horizontal...
Foundations of Physics (M2)
A commuter cycles the same 2.4 km route on two days. On day 2 the average speed is 20% higher than on day 1. Assuming the distance is unchanged and the ride is steady on both days, which statement about the time taken...
Mechanics & Materials (M3)
During two test jumps, the same 80 kg skydiver adopts two body positions. In position S he presents projected area A to the airflow; in position L he spreads out to present 1.20 A. The drag force from air is opposite...
Thermal physics I: heating curves (qual.)
In a school lab, a 100 W immersion heater warms 200 g of crushed ice in a well‑insulated beaker. The mixture is stirred, and a temperature probe reads close to 0 °C for several minutes while the ice slowly disappears....
Archimedes principle
Which statement must be true when a small wooden block that initially floats at rest in water is covered by a thick layer of oil (less dense than water) so that, after settling, the block is completely submerged but...
Oscillations: SHM, damping & resonance (M5)
An engineer characterises a lightly damped mass–spring system by sweeping the driving frequency and plotting steady‑state amplitude against frequency. She then adds a small fluid damper to increase the damping...
Waves (Module 4): Wave optics I — total internal reflection (TIR)
In a school lab, a narrow laser beam travels inside a solid acrylic block (refractive index 1.49) and strikes the top flat surface to air. Inside the block the beam makes an angle of 42° to the surface at the point of...
Foundations of Physics (M2)
In a lab test, two identical steel spheres are released from rest onto the same floor: one from 1.25 m and the other from 5.00 m. Air resistance is negligible; take g = 9.81 m s^-2. Compared with the 1.25 m drop, what...