Answers to key concept questions

Answers to questions for Key concepts: Forces (p.90–93)

Answers Marks Comments
1ai to ensure its speed of projection was the same every time the test was 1
carried out
ii It might dislodge the bar on impact. 1
It might bend the tube as it rolled down inside it. 1
bi mean value of y / mm: 20.3, 71.7, 159, 278.3, 433, 637.7 2 2 marks for all correct
2 1 mark for 3 correct
x / m : 0, 0.0420, 0.162, 0.355, 0.645, 0.990, 1.452
2 2
as above
ii t = x / U (from x = Ut rearranged) 1
substituting in y = 12 gt2 gives
y = 12 g(x / U)2 = (12 g / U2)x2 = kx2
where k = 12 g / U2 1

iii graph: Three sets of measurements are given of

0.8 the vertical distance fallen for different
horizontal distances. In part b, the hypothesis
0.6 is given that vertical distance is directly
proportional to the horizontal distance
y/m

0.4 squared. The mean value of each vertical

distance has to be calculated then used to
0.2
plot a graph of the vertical distance against
0 the horizontal distance squared in order to
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 test the hypothesis.
x2 / m2

labelled correctly 1
correct units shown on axes 1
points plotted correctly 1
best-fit line drawn 1
iv k = the gradient of the straight line 1 Accept answer for U in the range
3.1–3.5 m s−1.
= 0.61/1.4 = 0.44 m−1 1
g 9.8
so U =
2k √
= √
2 × 0.44
= 3.3 m s−1 1

c The y values for each distance measurement have a range of more than 2 mm. 1 Part c asks about the precision and accuracy
(For example, for x = 1.205 m, the range of y is 12 mm.) of the measurements. You need to realise
here that the uncertainty of each mean value
So, the y values have a measurement error of more than 2 mm. 1
is not given by the precision of a mm scale,
For the x-values, although the readings using a mm rule can be made 1 but by estimating the spread of each set of
to within 1 mm, the exact position of impact on the bar is uncertain and measurements (e.g. half the range of the
1
introduces a further measurement error equal to the diameter of the bar. vertical distance measurements).
Total mark 20

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 Answers to key concept questions

Answers to questions for Key concepts: Electricity, waves and radioactivity (p.162–165)
Answers Marks Comments
1ai four out of five components shown correctly 1 The question is about an investigation into the
heating effects of an electric current. Part a
for all components shown correctly 1
tests your knowledge of electric circuits.

ii by adjusting the variable resistor if the current (or the ammeter reading) 1 Correct reference to ammeter and variable
changed to keep the ammeter reading the same in each test 1 resistor needed for both marks.
bi (Use the thermometer to) measure the water temperature at intervals after 1
the current is switched off.
The insulation is effective if the water temperature does not decrease 1 Reference to time scale of at least 600 s
(or change) over at least 600 s. necessary for the second mark.
ii The temperature rise depends on the heating time and the volume (or mass of 1
water).
If either of these quantities differs in a test, the temperature rise will be 1
unreliable.
ci the energy supplied to the heater in the time t = I2Rt 1 Here you have to use your knowledge of
electrical power and resistance to justify
The temperature rise is proportional to the energy supplied. 1
a given prediction and then use your data
analysis skills to plot a graph and use it to test
the prediction.
ii I2 / A2: 1.44, 4.00, 9.61, 13.7, 20.3 1
iii graph

40

30
increase in °C
temperature

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
I2 / A 2

for correctly labelled axes 1

for suitable scales 1
for correctly plotted points 1
for best-fit line 1
The graph is a straight line through the origin, so the temperature increase is 1
directly proportional to the current squared, as predicted. 1
d The resistance of the heater element increased as the water temperature 1 You are expected to use your knowledge
increased. and understanding about the effect of
temperature on the resistance of a metal to
The battery provided a constant e.m.f. 1
explain the observation.
So the resistance of the variable resistor had to be reduced to keep the total 1
circuit resistance constant and hence keep the current constant.
Total mark 18

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 Answers to key concept questions

Answers to questions for Key concepts: Fields (p.266–269)

Answers Marks Comments
1ai With the object on the spring: 1
mean value of x = 72 mm
e = 70 mm
ii 1.4% 1 Each reading was ±0.5 mm. As the extension
was the subtraction of two readings, the
absolute uncertainties are added to give
an absolute uncertainty of ±1.0 mm and a
1
percentage uncertainty of 70 × 100 = ±1.4%.
bi 0.551 s 1 Tav = 11.02 s
ii 0.6% 1 The absolute uncertainty can be taken as half
the range of the values, so the uncertainty in
Tav.is:
(11.11 − 10.97)/2 = ±0.07 s
ci mg = ke, therefore e = mg/k 1
ii Using the above equation gives 1
m e
=
k g
m
Substituting this expression for into the mass–spring time period equation
k
m
T = 2π √
k
gives the required equation. 1
d Plot either T2 against e or T against √e: 4 Draw a triangle or use points that cover over
half of the line you have drawn. It improves
correct labels and units
accuracy. Make sure the points used are
suitable scales on your line and not just two of the plotted
points.
all points plotted correctly
For example, the graph for T2 against e is
best-fit line
shown below. Its gradient = 4.074 s2 m−1.
According to the equation, the line should pass through the origin and the 1
Hence g = 4π2/4.074
gradient is equal to 4π2/g for the T 2 against e line or 2π/√g for the T against
√e line. = 9.69 m s−2
To determine g, the gradient of the line should be measured. 1 1.8
1.6
Gradient given the correct unit (s m or s mm ).
2 −1 2 −1
1 1.4
1.2
1 1.0
T 2 / s2

A large triangle used correctly to determine the gradient

0.8
and used with the appropriate gradient formula above to find g. 1 0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
extension e / m

e The line is straight through the origin. The uncertainty in the gradient can
be estimated by considering the uncertainty in each measurement and put
error bars on each plotted point, as explained on p.xxi. Draw best-fit lines
through the error bars with maximum and minimum gradients, and then give
an estimate of the uncertainty in the gradient value.
Total mark
An alternative method is to estimate the
uncertainty in the y-coordinate of the point
where the extension is 0.400 m, which is
between 1.62 s2 and 1.65 s2, giving a gradient
of between 1.62 s2/0.400 m (= 4.05 s2 m−1)
and 1.65 s2/0.400 m (= 4.13 s2 m−1) or 4.09
± 0.04 s2 m−1. Prove for yourself that these
estimates give g = 9.65 ± 0.09 m s−2.
20

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 Answers to key concept questions

Answers to questions for Key concepts: Thermal and nuclear physics, medical imaging and astrophysics
and cosmology (p.351–355)
Answers Marks Comments
1ai The 4
He nucleus has twice the charge of a 11 H nucleus or proton but it cannot be 1
2
just two protons because its mass is four times greater than the mass of proton.
• The extra mass of 2 units cannot be due to a single particle as mass
numbers are integer units.
Alternative: 1
Rutherford used the neutron–proton model to explain why the mass number
of any nucleus heavier than the 11 H nucleus is greater than its atomic number.
The extra mass must be due to ‘unit mass’ particles, as mass numbers are
integer units.
ii The 11 H nucleus is the smallest known nucleus and has the least charge / is a 1
single particle / is a proton.
9
bi
4
Be, 126 C 1
b ii any 3 from: 3 You may recognise that low-energy alpha
The α-particle has to have sufficient kinetic energy: particles are scattered elastically.

• to overcome the electrostatic repulsion of the nucleus

• to reach the nucleus closely enough
• to experience the strong nuclear force
• which pulls the α-particle into the nucleus
• as the strong nuclear force is stronger than the electrostatic force at close range.

EK = 12 mv2 = p , where p = momentum = mv

2
ci Don’t forget that the recoil nucleus has a
2m
From conservation of momentum, the momentum of the emitted α-particle 1 mass of 206 mu because the a-particle has
pα = −pnuc, where pnuc is the momentum of the recoil nucleus. left the Po-210 nucleus.

Therefore k E for the recoil nucleus =

( )
p2
2m nuc = mα = 4 1

( )
Ek for the α particle p2 mnuc 206
2m α
EK for the recoil nucleus = 4 × 5.3 MeV = 0.1 MeV 1
206
So the total energy released = 5.3 + 0.1 = 5.4 MeV. 1
c ii If R = kE , a graph of ln R on the y-axis against ln E on the x-axis should give a
n
This is an excellent example of the use of a
straight line with a gradient equal to n. log–log graph to determine the numerical
power of an equation of the form y = kxn. If
R / mm 39 48 53 57 66 78 1 this method does not generate a straight-line
E / MeV 5.3 6.0 6.5 6.8 7.4 8.3 graph, the equation cannot be of the form
ln R 3.66 3.87 3.97 4.04 4.19 4.36 above.
ln E 1.67 1.79 1.87 1.92 2.00 2.12
Correct values to 2 or more significant figures for:
• ln R 1
• ln E 1
suitable scales 1 4.4

correctly labelled scales 1

4.2
all points plotted correctly 1
ln (R / mm)

best-fit line 1 4.0

correct calculation of gradient 1
3.8
e.g. gradient = 4.34 − 3.72 = 1.55
2.10 − 1.70
n = 1.55 3.6
1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2
n in the range = 1.5 to 1.6 1
ln (E / MeV)

Total mark 20

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