π 5 Fresh Questions Every Day
Build a daily study habit! New questions every day for consistent practice. Questions are selected from the Cambridge IGCSE Science syllabus.
5 questions
5 syllabus topics
Full explanations included
Today's Date
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Questions
5
Question 1 of 5 Score: 0 / 0
5.2.5 - Safety precautions Core
Why is the rate of decay of a radioactive isotope unaffected by an increase in temperature?
Detailed Explanation
**EXPLANATION:**
Radioactive decay is a **nuclear process**, meaning it happens deep inside the atomβs nucleus. It is **spontaneous and random**, so it does not require external energy (like heat) to occur. Because the nucleus is tiny and well-shielded, external conditions like temperature or pressure cannot reach it to change how fast it decays.
**Why other answers are wrong:**
Incorrect choices often apply to **chemical reactions**. In chemistry, increasing temperature makes atoms collide more often, speeding up the reaction. However, nuclear decay happens from *within* a single atom and does not depend on collisions or electron interactions.
**Helpful Tip:**
Think of chemistry as dealing with the "skin" (electrons) of the atom and radioactivity as dealing with the "heart" (nucleus). While heat can easily affect the "skin," the "heart" remains untouched by outside changes!
Radioactive decay is a **nuclear process**, meaning it happens deep inside the atomβs nucleus. It is **spontaneous and random**, so it does not require external energy (like heat) to occur. Because the nucleus is tiny and well-shielded, external conditions like temperature or pressure cannot reach it to change how fast it decays.
**Why other answers are wrong:**
Incorrect choices often apply to **chemical reactions**. In chemistry, increasing temperature makes atoms collide more often, speeding up the reaction. However, nuclear decay happens from *within* a single atom and does not depend on collisions or electron interactions.
**Helpful Tip:**
Think of chemistry as dealing with the "skin" (electrons) of the atom and radioactivity as dealing with the "heart" (nucleus). While heat can easily affect the "skin," the "heart" remains untouched by outside changes!
2.2.3 - Melting, boiling and evaporation Core
Describe the temperature of water as it boils while thermal energy is supplied at a constant rate.
Detailed Explanation
**EXPLANATION:**
When water reaches its boiling point (373 K), it undergoes a **phase change**.
**Why A is correct:**
During boiling, the temperature remains constant even though thermal energy is being added. This energy doesn't make the molecules move faster (which would raise the temperature); instead, it is used to break the attractive bonds between molecules to turn liquid into gas. This increases the **internal potential energy**, not the kinetic energy.
**Why others are incorrect:**
* **Temperature rise:** Any answer suggesting the temperature increases is incorrect because boiling occurs at a fixed temperature plateau.
* **Kinetic energy:** Since temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy, if the temperature is constant, the kinetic energy must also remain constant.
**Helpful Tip:**
Energy has two "jobs": it can either change the **speed** of particles (Temperature/Kinetic Energy) OR their **bond strength/spacing** (Phase/Potential Energy). They never happen at the same time!
When water reaches its boiling point (373 K), it undergoes a **phase change**.
**Why A is correct:**
During boiling, the temperature remains constant even though thermal energy is being added. This energy doesn't make the molecules move faster (which would raise the temperature); instead, it is used to break the attractive bonds between molecules to turn liquid into gas. This increases the **internal potential energy**, not the kinetic energy.
**Why others are incorrect:**
* **Temperature rise:** Any answer suggesting the temperature increases is incorrect because boiling occurs at a fixed temperature plateau.
* **Kinetic energy:** Since temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy, if the temperature is constant, the kinetic energy must also remain constant.
**Helpful Tip:**
Energy has two "jobs": it can either change the **speed** of particles (Temperature/Kinetic Energy) OR their **bond strength/spacing** (Phase/Potential Energy). They never happen at the same time!
1.2.2 - Motion Core
A speed-time graph for an object shows a horizontal line above the time axis. Which statement describes the motion of the object?
Detailed Explanation
**EXPLANATION:**
On a speed-time graph, the vertical axis (y-axis) shows how fast an object is going. A **horizontal line** means that as time passes, the speed value stays exactly the same. Since the speed isn't changing, the object is moving at a **constant speed**.
**Why other answers are wrong:**
* **Object at rest:** If the object were stopped, the line would be flat **on** the time axis (speed = 0).
* **Changing speed (Acceleration/Deceleration):** If the speed were increasing or decreasing, the line would slant upwards or downwards.
**Helpful Tip:**
Always check the axis labels! On a **distance-time** graph, a horizontal line means the object has stopped. But on a **speed-time** graph, a horizontal line means it is moving at a steady pace. Don't mix them up!
On a speed-time graph, the vertical axis (y-axis) shows how fast an object is going. A **horizontal line** means that as time passes, the speed value stays exactly the same. Since the speed isn't changing, the object is moving at a **constant speed**.
**Why other answers are wrong:**
* **Object at rest:** If the object were stopped, the line would be flat **on** the time axis (speed = 0).
* **Changing speed (Acceleration/Deceleration):** If the speed were increasing or decreasing, the line would slant upwards or downwards.
**Helpful Tip:**
Always check the axis labels! On a **distance-time** graph, a horizontal line means the object has stopped. But on a **speed-time** graph, a horizontal line means it is moving at a steady pace. Don't mix them up!
4.2.4 - Resistance Extended
A student uses two copper wires, X and Y. Wire Y is twice as long and has twice the cross-sectional area of wire X. Show which statement about their electrical resistance is correct.
Detailed Explanation
To understand resistance, think of the formula: **Resistance = (Resistivity Γ Length) / Area**.
**Why A is correct:**
Resistance depends on two factors here:
1. **Length:** Wire Y is twice as long ($2L$), which doubles its resistance.
2. **Area:** Wire Y has twice the area ($2A$), which halves its resistance.
Because these two changes cancel each other out ($2 Γ· 2 = 1$), the resistance remains exactly the same as wire X.
**Why other answers are incorrect:**
Any answer claiming one wire has more resistance than the other is incorrect because it only focuses on one change. If you only consider length, Y seems higher; if you only consider area, Y seems lower. You must combine both!
**Helpful Tip:**
Think of a highway. If you make the road twice as long (more traffic), but also add twice as many lanes (more space), the "difficulty" of driving through stays the same!
**Why A is correct:**
Resistance depends on two factors here:
1. **Length:** Wire Y is twice as long ($2L$), which doubles its resistance.
2. **Area:** Wire Y has twice the area ($2A$), which halves its resistance.
Because these two changes cancel each other out ($2 Γ· 2 = 1$), the resistance remains exactly the same as wire X.
**Why other answers are incorrect:**
Any answer claiming one wire has more resistance than the other is incorrect because it only focuses on one change. If you only consider length, Y seems higher; if you only consider area, Y seems lower. You must combine both!
**Helpful Tip:**
Think of a highway. If you make the road twice as long (more traffic), but also add twice as many lanes (more space), the "difficulty" of driving through stays the same!
3.2.4 - Dispersion of light Core
A beam of white light enters a triangular glass prism. Name the color of light that is refracted the least.
Detailed Explanation
When white light enters a prism, it splits into a rainbow because different colors of light travel at different speeds inside the glass.
**Why Red is Correct:**
Red light has the **longest wavelength** and the highest speed in the glass. Because it stays faster than the other colors, it doesn't "trip" or slow down as much. This means it undergoes the smallest change in direction, so it is **refracted (bent) the least**.
**Why Others are Incorrect:**
Colors like orange, green, and blue have shorter wavelengths than red, so they slow down more and bend further. **Violet** has the shortest wavelength and slows down the most, meaning it is refracted the **most**.
**Helpful Tip:**
Remember the acronym **ROYGBIV**. The colors are always listed from least bent (Red) to most bent (Violet). Just remember: **Red stays ahead** because itβs the fastest!
**Why Red is Correct:**
Red light has the **longest wavelength** and the highest speed in the glass. Because it stays faster than the other colors, it doesn't "trip" or slow down as much. This means it undergoes the smallest change in direction, so it is **refracted (bent) the least**.
**Why Others are Incorrect:**
Colors like orange, green, and blue have shorter wavelengths than red, so they slow down more and bend further. **Violet** has the shortest wavelength and slows down the most, meaning it is refracted the **most**.
**Helpful Tip:**
Remember the acronym **ROYGBIV**. The colors are always listed from least bent (Red) to most bent (Violet). Just remember: **Red stays ahead** because itβs the fastest!
Why Topic Practice Quiz?
- Fresh questions: Not from past papers, so you can save those for full exam practice
- Syllabus-aligned: Every question targets specific Cambridge IGCSE topics
- Full explanations: Learn from detailed solutions showing why each answer is correct or wrong
- Topic filtering: Focus on specific areas you need to improve