Physics Unit 1 - Semester One Examination Practice Question/Answer Booklet

Sep 30, 2026

Semester One Physics Unit 1 examination practice booklet covering short-response, problem-solving, and comprehension question styles. The content specifies exam structure, allowed materials (including calculators and a formula/data sheet), answer formatting rules, significant-figure conventions, and guidance for showing working for full marks. Sample questions address kinetic particle model assumptions, heat transfer differences, internal energy comparisons using temperature, petrol engine efficiency, conduction in fluids, aluminium versus phosphorus conductivity, radiation properties, and a radioactivity half-life dose calculation context.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Section One: Short response (30%)

Question 1-8

Copyright for test papers and marking guides remains with West Australian Test Papers. They may only be reproduced within the purchasing school according to the advertised Conditions of Sale. Test papers should be withdrawn after use and stored securely in the school Semester One Examination PRACTICE Question/Answer Booklet PHYSICS UNIT 1 Name:_______________________________ Time allowed for this paper: Reading time before commencing work: 10 minutes Working time for paper: 3 hours Materials required/recommended for this paper To be provides by the supervisor This Question/Answer Booklet Formulae and Data Booklet To be provided by the candidate Standard items: pens, pencils (including coloured), sharpener, correction fluid, eraser, ruler, highlighters. Special items: up to three non-programmable calculators approved for use in the WACE examinations, drawing templates, drawing compass and a protractor. SEE NEXT PAGE STRUCTURE OF THIS PAPER | Section | No. of
Questions | No. of questions to be attempted | Suggested
working time
(minutes) | Marks available | Percentage of exam | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1: Short response | 13 | ALL | 50 | 54 | 30 | | 2: Problem-solving | 7 | ALL | 90 | 90 | 50 | | 3: Comprehension | 2 | ALL | 40 | 36 | 20 | | Total | | | | 180 | 100 | INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Write your answers in the spaces provided beneath each question. The value of each question (out of 180) is shown following each question. The enclosed Physics: Formulae and Constants Sheet may be removed from the booklet and used as required. Calculators satisfying conditions set by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority may be used to evaluate numerical answers. The calculator cannot be a “graphics” calculator. Answers to questions involving calculations should be evaluated and given in decimal form. Final answers should be given up to three significant figures and include appropriate units where appropriate. Despite an incorrect final result, credit may be obtained for method and working providing these are clearly and legibly set out. Questions containing specific instructions to show working should be answered with a complete, logical, clear sequence of reasoning showing how the final answer was arrived at; correct answers which do not show working will not be awarded full marks. Questions containing the instruction "ESTIMATE" may give insufficient numerical data for their solution. Show your working or reasoning clearly. Give final answers to a maximum of two significant figures and include appropriate units where applicable. SEE NEXT PAGE Section One: Short response 30%(54 marks) This section has 13 questions. Answer all questions. Answer the questions in the spaces provided. Suggested working time: 50 minutes. Question 1 (4 marks) (a) List two assumptions of the kinetic particle model. (2 marks) (b) Dry ovens cook food by circulating hot air around it. Steam ovens cook food by circulating steam. If both types of oven are set to 100 °C, a carrot cooks in a few minutes in a steam oven, but takes hours to cook in a dry oven. Suggest a reason why. (2 marks) Question 2 (4 marks) (a) Explain why heat transfer by conduction is more effective in liquids than in gases. (2 marks) (b) Explain why aluminium is a better conductor of heat than phosphorus, despite the fact that both are solids at room temperature and they have similar atomic masses. (2 marks) SEE NEXT PAGE Question 3 (4 marks) (a) Recent advances have increased the efficiency of some petrol engines to 35% . Explain what happens to the other 65% of the energy. (2 marks) (b) Describe two ways that a car engine can be cooled. (2 marks) Question 4 (4 marks) Below is a graph showing the distribution of kinetic energy of particles for two different samples of zinc that are at two different temperatures. Sample A Number of Particles Kinetic Energy SEE NEXT PAGE

FAQs

What are the key answer-writing requirements for calculation questions?

Answers should be evaluated in decimal form, with final answers given up to three significant figures and appropriate units. Incorrect final results can still earn method marks if working is clear and legible.

What calculators and equipment are allowed?

Up to three non-programmable calculators approved for WACE examinations may be used, along with standard stationery. A formula and data booklet is provided separately and may be removed from the booklet.

How are true/false radiation statements handled?

Each statement requires selecting True or False and is worth one mark per item. Examples include claims about nucleons, fusion versus fission energy, and the ability of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation to be deflected.

Sep 30, 2026

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