ZIMSEC O-Level Physics Paper 1 June 2025 Question Paper

ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL <br> General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level

**PHYSICS**

**PAPER 1 Multiple Choice**

**JUNE 2025 SESSION**

Additional materials: Multiple Choice answer sheet Soft clean eraser Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended.) Electronic calculator

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

Answer all questions. For each question, there are four possible answers, A, B, C and D. Choose the correct answer. Record your choice in soft pencil on the separate answer sheet.

Read very carefully the instructions on the answer sheet.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

There are forty questions in this paper. Each correct answer will score one mark. Any rough working should be done on this question paper.

Question 1

Which instrument accurately measures the internal diameter of a boiling tube?

A tape measure

B vernier calipers

C metre rule

D micrometer screw gauge

Question 2

What are the base units of force?

A \(\mathrm{kgm} / \mathrm{s}^{2}\)

B \(\mathrm{kgms}^{2}\)

C kgms

D \(\mathrm{kgm} / \mathrm{s}\)

Question 3

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of

A displacement.

B distance.

C velocity.

D speed.

Question 4

A piece of wire is 60 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter. What is its volume?

A \(18.85 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}\)

B \(12.00 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}\)

C \(7.54 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}\)

D \(1.88 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}\)

Question 5

A trolley is loaded with three concrete bricks and set in motion by a constant force producing an acceleration. If one brick is removed, the trolley will

A decelerate.

B accelerate more.

C maintain its velocity.

D maintain its acceleration.

Question 6

Similar metallic spheres were placed at different positions on a surface.

Which sphere A, B, C or D is the least stable?

Question 7

The diagram shows a manometer measuring gas pressure.

The pressure of the gas piped into the manometer is

A \(\operatorname{pgh}_{2}+\mathrm{A}\).

B \(\mathrm{ggh}_{1}+\mathrm{A}\).

C \(\mathrm{pgh}_{2}-\mathrm{A}\).

D \(\mathrm{ggh}_{3}+\mathrm{A}\).

Question 8

The diagram shows a fish pond with fish at different heights from the bottom of the pond.

Which fish \(\mathbf{A}, \mathbf{B}, \mathbf{C}\), or \(\mathbf{D}\) is experiencing the greatest pressure?

Question 9

What is the power generated when an object of mass 2 kg falls with a constant velocity of \(3 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\) ?

[Take acceleration due to gravity to be \(10 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}^{2}\)]

A 0 W

B 60 W

C 90 W

D 180 W

Question 10

The diagram shows a pulley system.

What is the work done by the effort, E, when the pulley system raises the load, L, by 4 m?

A 3600 J

B 4800 J

C 9600 J

D 14400 J

Question 11

When builders lay bricks, they are making

A lapped joints.

B pinned joints.

C mortised joints.

D grooved joints.

Question 12

Which process only occurs in a four stroke engine?

A ignition by compression

B ignition by spark plug

C filtration of air

D filtration of fuel

Question 13

An object of mass 2 kg is dropped from a height of 5 m.

What is the kinetic energy as it hits the ground?

A 10 J

B 20 J

C 100 J

D 500 J

Question 14

Air vents allow heat exchange mainly through

A radiation only.

B conduction and convection.

C radiation and convection.

D convection only.

Question 15

When a substance is melting or boiling its

A temperature increases.

B kinetic energy increases.

C latent energy increases.

D particle size increases.

Question 16

The amount of heat needed per unit mass to change the state of a substance at constant temperature is called

A latent heat.

B heat capacity.

C specific latent heat.

D specific heat capacity.

Question 17

Which property distinguishes longitudinal waves from transverse waves?

A ability to be refracted

B amplitude of vibration

C period of oscillation

D direction of vibration of particles

Question 18

Which diagram shows the correct path of a light ray travelling from glass to air?

Question 19

The diagram shows a wave profile for sound.

What cannot be obtained from the graph?

A amplitude

B wavelength

C loudness

D period

Question 20

When a tuning fork is struck in a vacuum, it

A produces sound.

B produces high pitch sound.

C produces low pitch sound.

D produces no sound.

Question 21

The diagram shows a diverging lens.

What name is given to point \(\mathbf{P}\)?

A principal focus

B focal length

C principal axis

D virtual point

Question 22

In sound waves pitch is related to

A speed.

B amplitude.

C frequency.

D wavelength.

Question 23

Which energy change takes place when electric current flows through a resistor?

A chemical to heat

B electrical to heat

C chemical to electrical

D heat to electrical

Question 24

Which fuse rating is suitable for an appliance rated \(800 \mathrm{~W}, 240 \mathrm{~V}\), to prevent overheating?

A 1 A

B 2 A

C 5 A

D 10 A

Question 25

A wire of length 2.5 m and area \(1.76 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{~m}^{2}\) has a resistance of \(0.5 \Omega\). What is its resistivity?

A \(\quad 2.20 \times 10^{-6} \Omega \mathrm{~m}\)

B \(3.52 \times 10^{-7} \Omega \mathrm{~m}\)

C \(8.80 \times 10^{-6} \Omega \mathrm{~m}\)

D \(7.10 \times 10^{5} \Omega \mathrm{~m}\)

Question 26

Which graph shows the variation of current, \(I\), and potential difference, \(V\), for an Ohmic conductor?