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GCSE physics revision questions

Free GCSE physics practice for Year 11, nine months out from the May/June 2027 exams. Every question below comes from GradeNinja's own bank - 1,898 Physics questions across 23 topics.

What to prioritise in Physics

Physics rewards knowing the equations cold and being ruthless about units. Most dropped marks at GCSE are not conceptual - they are the wrong rearrangement, or an answer left in the wrong unit.

Learn which equations are given on the sheet and which you have to produce from memory. That list is short, it is on the specification, and knowing it changes what you spend September on.

Exam board

Our Physics questions follow the AQA specification. If your school uses a different board most of the content still overlaps, but check your own spec.

How to use these

Answer before you open the explanation. The moment of not-quite-knowing is the part that does the work, and skipping to the answer skips the learning.

Anything you get wrong, come back to tomorrow rather than immediately. Getting it right straight after seeing the answer proves nothing.

The nine months ahead

Physics practice questions

Real questions from GradeNinja's own bank, with the answer and the explanation the app gives. Tap to reveal.

Question 1 · Magnetism and Electromagnetism
An induced magnet differs from a permanent magnet because:
  1. An induced magnet is only magnetic when near another magnet and loses magnetism when removed
  2. An induced magnet always has stronger magnetism
  3. An induced magnet repels both poles of other magnets
  4. An induced magnet cannot attract iron
Show the answer

An induced magnet is only magnetic when near another magnet and loses magnetism when removed

Induced magnets are made of soft magnetic materials (like iron) that become magnetic in the presence of a magnetic field but quickly lose their magnetism when the field is removed. Permanent magnets retain their magnetism. This makes soft iron ideal for electromagnet cores.

Question 2 · Forces & Motion
Which equation links force, mass and acceleration?
  1. F = mv
  2. F = ma
  3. F = m/a
  4. F = ½mv²
Show the answer

F = ma

Newton's second law: F = ma, where F = resultant force (N), m = mass (kg), a = acceleration (m/s²).

Question 3 · Forces & Motion
Impulse is defined as:
  1. F × d
  2. F × t (force × time)
  3. m × a
  4. m × d
Show the answer

F × t (force × time)

Impulse = F × Δt (force × time). Impulse equals the change in momentum: FΔt = Δ(mv). Unit: N s = kg m/s.

Question 4 · Space Physics
What is the red-shift of light from distant galaxies evidence for?
  1. The universe is contracting
  2. The universe is expanding
  3. Stars are cooling down
  4. Light travels slower in space
Show the answer

The universe is expanding

The red-shift of light from distant galaxies shows they are moving away from us. This is evidence that the universe is expanding.

Question 5 · Forces & Motion
On a velocity-time graph, what does the gradient represent?
  1. Speed
  2. Distance
  3. Acceleration
  4. Force
Show the answer

Acceleration

The gradient of a velocity-time graph equals acceleration: gradient = Δvelocity/Δtime. A positive gradient = acceleration; negative gradient = deceleration.

Question 6 · Physics Questions
An electric motor converts electrical energy into which form of energy?
  1. Heat energy
  2. Light energy
  3. Mechanical energy
  4. Chemical energy
Show the answer

Mechanical energy

Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy (motion).

Question 7 · Forces & Motion
Terminal velocity is reached when:
  1. The object stops moving
  2. Driving force equals friction/drag — resultant force is zero and velocity is constant
  3. Acceleration is at its maximum
  4. All forces are removed
Show the answer

Driving force equals friction/drag — resultant force is zero and velocity is constant

Terminal velocity occurs when resistive forces (drag, friction) exactly balance the driving force (e.g. weight for a falling object). Resultant force = 0, so acceleration = 0 and velocity is constant.

Question 8 · Electricity
What does an ohmmeter measure?
  1. Resistance
  2. Current
  3. Voltage
  4. Power
Show the answer

Resistance

An ohmmeter measures resistance in ohms (Ω). It works by passing a known current through the component and measuring the resulting voltage, then calculating R = V/I. In practice, a multimeter can measure resistance, current (as an ammeter), and voltage (as a voltmeter) by selecting the appropriate setting.

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Common questions

How should I revise Physics for GCSE?

Short, frequent sessions of active recall beat long sessions of re-reading. Test yourself, check, and revisit anything you got wrong a day or two later rather than immediately.

Which exam board are these Physics questions for?

AQA. Content overlaps heavily between boards, so they are still useful on another spec, but check your own specification for anything board-specific.

When are the GCSE exams?

GCSEs are sat across May and June, so for the current Year 11 that means May/June 2027. Exact paper dates come from the exam boards and your school.

How many questions are there in the app?

1,898 in Physics alone, and 44,980 across 28 GCSE subjects. Signing up is free.

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