CSCA Physics Practice Questions: 8 Worked Answers
Practice eight original CSCA Physics-style questions with worked answers on motion, forces, circuits, gases, optics and modern physics.
CSCA Physics practice questions should test understanding, not memorized formulas alone. The official Physics syllabus covers mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, optics and modern physics. Below are eight original single-answer questions with worked solutions. They are teaching examples, not official CSCA past-paper questions. Use them to find the step you miss, then practice that topic again.
What does the CSCA Physics paper test?
- Format: 48 single-answer multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes; the paper is scored from 0 to 100.
- Language: Physics is available in Chinese or English; follow your target university’s language requirement.
- Syllabus: mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, optics and modern physics.
- These eight questions are original examples aligned with syllabus topics; their difficulty and wording are not a prediction of an actual paper.
The syllabus is a scope guide, not a promise that each module receives equal weight. Before you rely on any practice set, compare it with the official CSCA syllabus and our Physics syllabus guide. Keep a notebook of mistakes by concept, equation, units and reading error. That turns each answer into a concrete revision task.
How do motion and force questions work?
Original practice question — constant acceleration. A cart starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2 m/s² for 5 s. How far does it travel?
- A. 10 m
- B. 20 m
- C. 25 m
- D. 50 m
Worked answer: C — 25 m
Choose the relationship
For constant acceleration, displacement s = ut + ½at². Initial speed u is zero, so the first term vanishes.
Calculate and check
Substitute a = 2 m/s² and t = 5 s: s = ½ × 2 × 5² = 25 m. The units are meters because (m/s²) × s² = m.
Avoid the common trap
The final speed is 10 m/s, but that is not the distance. Multiplying final speed by the full five seconds incorrectly treats the cart as moving at 10 m/s throughout.
Original practice question — net force. A 4 kg box is pulled horizontally with 18 N. Friction opposes the motion with 6 N. What is its acceleration?
- A. 1.5 m/s²
- B. 3 m/s²
- C. 4.5 m/s²
- D. 6 m/s²
Worked answer: B — 3 m/s²
Choose the relationship
Newton’s second law uses net force: Fnet = ma. Forces in opposite directions subtract.
Calculate and check
Fnet = 18 − 6 = 12 N, so a = 12 N ÷ 4 kg = 3 m/s². A newton is a kg·m/s², so the units check.
Avoid the common trap
Dividing 18 N by 4 kg gives 4.5 m/s², one of the options, but ignores friction. Draw a one-line force diagram before calculating.
The official mechanics module also includes momentum, energy, circular motion, gravitation and waves. In a timed paper, write down the known quantities and the requested quantity before selecting an equation. A two-second units check often rules out an attractive wrong answer. For a broader study route, use the CSCA exam guide alongside the subject checklist.
How do momentum and wave questions work?
Original practice question — impulse. A 0.2 kg ball moves right at 10 m/s and rebounds left at 5 m/s. What is the magnitude of its change in momentum?
- A. 1 kg·m/s
- B. 2 kg·m/s
- C. 3 kg·m/s
- D. 15 kg·m/s
Worked answer: C — 3 kg·m/s
Choose the relationship
Choose right as positive. Momentum p = mv, so initial momentum is +2 kg·m/s and final momentum is −1 kg·m/s.
Calculate and check
Change in momentum is final minus initial: −1 − (+2) = −3 kg·m/s. The question asks for magnitude, so report 3 kg·m/s.
Avoid the common trap
The rebound reverses direction. Treating both speeds as positive gives an incorrect 1 kg·m/s change. Set a positive direction first.
Original practice question — wave speed. A mechanical wave has frequency 5 Hz and wavelength 0.8 m. What is its speed?
- A. 0.16 m/s
- B. 4 m/s
- C. 5.8 m/s
- D. 6.25 m/s
Worked answer: B — 4 m/s
Choose the relationship
Use wave speed v = fλ, where f is frequency and λ is wavelength.
Calculate and check
v = 5 s⁻¹ × 0.8 m = 4 m/s. Frequency tells you cycles per second; wavelength tells you meters per cycle.
Avoid the common trap
Do not divide wavelength by frequency. Multiplication cancels the cycle units and gives the correct speed dimension.
For momentum questions, preserve direction signs until the final step, then take magnitude only if asked. For waves, sketch one wavelength and label frequency separately. These habits are useful even when the numbers change. Try a small group of free Physics practice questions after reviewing each explanation.
How do circuits and gas-law questions work?
Original practice question — parallel resistors. A 6 Ω resistor and a 3 Ω resistor are connected in parallel across a 12 V ideal source. What is the total current drawn?
- A. 1 A
- B. 2 A
- C. 4 A
- D. 6 A
Worked answer: D — 6 A
Choose the relationship
Parallel branches have the same 12 V across them. Either calculate branch currents or use reciprocal resistance.
Calculate and check
Branch currents are 12/6 = 2 A and 12/3 = 4 A. Add them: total current = 6 A. Equivalently, the combined resistance is 2 Ω and I = V/R = 6 A.
Avoid the common trap
Adding resistances to get 9 Ω is the series rule. In parallel, combined resistance is smaller than either branch resistance.
Original practice question — fixed-volume gas. An ideal gas in a rigid sealed container is at 100 kPa and 300 K. It is heated to 450 K. What is its new pressure?
- A. 67 kPa
- B. 100 kPa
- C. 150 kPa
- D. 450 kPa
Worked answer: C — 150 kPa
Choose the relationship
With the amount of gas and volume fixed, the ideal gas equation gives P/T = constant. Temperature must be absolute, in kelvin.
Calculate and check
P₂ = P₁ × T₂/T₁ = 100 kPa × 450/300 = 150 kPa. Pressure rises by the same factor, 1.5, as absolute temperature.
Avoid the common trap
Do not use Celsius values in a gas-law ratio. The rigid, sealed conditions are essential; changing volume or gas amount needs a different setup.
How do optics and modern-physics questions work?
Original practice question — thin lens. A converging thin lens has focal length 10 cm. An object is 30 cm from the lens. How far from the lens is the real image?
- A. 7.5 cm
- B. 10 cm
- C. 15 cm
- D. 30 cm
Worked answer: C — 15 cm
Choose the relationship
For a real object and real image, 1/f = 1/u + 1/v. Rearrange to 1/v = 1/f − 1/u.
Calculate and check
1/v = 1/10 − 1/30 = 2/30 = 1/15 cm⁻¹, so v = 15 cm. The image falls beyond the focal point.
Avoid the common trap
The subtraction is between reciprocals. Subtracting 30 − 10 gives a distance but does not solve the lens equation.
Original practice question — photoelectric effect. A photon of energy 5 eV strikes a metal with work function 2 eV. What is the maximum kinetic energy of an emitted electron?
- A. 2 eV
- B. 3 eV
- C. 5 eV
- D. 7 eV
Worked answer: B — 3 eV
Choose the relationship
In the photoelectric equation, photon energy is used first to overcome the work function; the remainder becomes maximum electron kinetic energy.
Calculate and check
Kmax = E − φ = 5 eV − 2 eV = 3 eV. Because the photon energy exceeds the work function, emission is possible in this idealized example.
Avoid the common trap
Adding the two energies is wrong. If photon energy were below the work function, no electron would be emitted, regardless of exposure time in the basic model.
The official optics module also includes reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction, while modern physics includes atomic and nuclear basics. These two examples cover only a narrow slice of that scope. Revise the full Physics syllabus instead of treating any short question set as comprehensive. If the wording of a source calls its own questions “real past papers,” check provenance before relying on it.
How should you review these answers before a timed test?
A practical review loop
Try without notes
Allow about a minute per question at first. Mark each response as certain, uncertain or guessed.
Explain the rule aloud
State the physical principle before the substitution. If you cannot explain the rule, mark the topic for revision even if you guessed correctly.
Record the error
Classify it as concept, setup, algebra, units or reading. Redo the same question after a day without looking at the solution.
Switch to mixed practice
Move from single-topic drills to a timed set that mixes mechanics, fields, thermal physics, optics and modern physics.
The live paper has 48 questions in 60 minutes, an average of 75 seconds per question. That is a planning average, not a rule to abandon every question at exactly 75 seconds. Finish easier items promptly and revisit slower calculations if the interface permits. Use the CSCA mock-test guide to build a realistic practice routine; check the official test client guidance for the actual exam interface.
Frequently asked questions
CSCA FAQ
Are these official CSCA Physics questions?
No. Every question above is an original teaching example aligned with topics in the published Physics syllabus; it is not an official sample or recalled paper.
How many questions are on the Physics paper?
The published format lists 48 single-answer multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, scored from 0 to 100.
Can I take CSCA Physics in English?
The published format offers Physics in Chinese or English. Choose the language required by your intended university or program.
Which Physics topics should I revise after this page?
Use the full syllabus: mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, optics and modern physics. These eight questions do not cover every subtopic.
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