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Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) Use of power equation

Or combination of power equation and V = IR

To get R = 96 (Ω). ✔
Must see some working
Do not allow reverse arguments
1

(b) Either calculation of current through one lamp

Condone use of any other method eg use of power = 4.5 W
and power equation.

And multiply by 3

OR

calculate total resistance ✔ (and use V = IR)

To give 0.38 A. ✔ (at least 2sf)

Allow ecf for their R from (a) used or their I
Use of 100 Ω gives 0.36 A (0.4A)
2

(c) Evidence of equation to calculate area . ✔

2.8 × 10–8 m2 ✔

Use of resistivity equation to get 49 Ω. ✔

Allow POT error in MP1
Evidence for MP2 may be in final answer
Accept 48 Ω
3

(d) Total resistance = 46 + 46 + 100/3 = 125 Ω. ✔

Allow ecf for incorrect resistance

Calculation of circuit current = 12/125 = 0.096 A. ✔

operating current of lamp (=1.5/12 = 0.13)/current for all 3 lamps to be fully on =

0.38 A. ✔

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 Yes demo works as lamps will be dimmer/ off (with constantan). ✔
If no other marks awarded, one mark each can be given for
(max 2)
• for resistance increases with length.
• Too much p.d. dropped across constantan
• Resistivity of constantan is greater than resistivity of
copper
For MP3 allow quoted comparison to previously calculated
current in (b)
For MP4 allow ecf if answer is yes and is consistent with
their calculation
4

(e) Advantage

Zero resistance/resistivity. ✔

Reduce heat/energy transfer / power loss in cables ✔

Difficulty

Difficult to maintain low temperature (over long distances) ✔

Must be kept at/below the critical temperature. ✔

Ignore references to critical field.
Allow very low resistance
Max 3
[13]

Q2.
(a) (i) (use of I = V / R)
first mark for adding resistance values 90 k Ω

I = 6.0 / (50 000 + 35 000 + 5000) = 6.7 × 10−5A

accept 7 × 10−5 or dotted 6 × 10−5
but not 7.0 × 10 and not 6.6 × 10
−5 −5

(ii) V = 6.7 × 10−5 × 5000 = 0.33 (0.33 − 0.35) V

OR
V = 5 / 90 × 6 = 0.33( V)
CE from (i)
BALD answer full credit
0.3 OK and dotted 0.3
2

(b) resistance of LDR decreases

need first mark before can qualify for second

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 reading increase because greater proportion / share of the voltage across R OR
higher current
2

(c) I = 0.75 / 5000 = 1.5 × 10−4 (A)

(pd across LDR = 0.75 (V))
pd across variable resistor = 6.0 − 0.75 − 0.75 = 4.5 (V)
R = 4.5 / 1.5 × 10−4 = 30 000 Ω
or
I = 0.75 / 5000 = 1.5 × 10−4 (A)
RtotalI = 6.0 / 1.5 × 10−4 = 40 000 Ω
R = 40 000 − 5000 − 5000 = 30 000 Ω
3
[9]

Q3.

(a) ✔

1 mark each for alpha and Th; numbers must be correct

Must see “+” for full marks
Condone He for alpha
If no other mark is given, one mark can be awarded if He-3
is used and A and Z are correct
MAX 1 for extra particles but condone “+ 2e(-)” (not 2β)
Ignore symbol that is used for Thorium
2

(b) Idea that a neutron changes to proton/beta minus decay ✔

The particle is W- because
For MP1 condone “down quark changes to up quark".
Evidence for MP1 can be found in the form of equations or
diagrams.

This is a weak interaction / it involves the weak force / there is a quark change

and indication that charge is conserved ✔

Second mark requires some explanation of why particle is
negative.
MAX 1 for a complete consistent inverse interaction leading
to W+.
2

(c) (FOR:)

Lines C is in (both) hydrogen (and helium spectra)

OR

Line E is in (both) sodium (and helium spectra) ✔

(AGAINST:)

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 Line D is missing (is in neither the hydrogen nor the sodium spectra) ✔
Treat references to A, B and F in FOR or AGAINST as
neutral.
Must link line to an element
Ignore any discussion of any “missing” lines in the helium
spectrum.
Condone use of 390 / 440 / 490 / 505 / 590 / 670 (nm) for
A/B/C/D/E/F
Condone emission for absorption
2

(d) Wavelength = 580 nm to 590 nm ✔

Use of E = hc/(their wavelength) ✔

Conversion of their E in J to eV ✔

Expect to see answer in range 2.11 to 2.14 (eV)

When an energy difference between two spectral
wavelengths is correctly calculated, only MP2 and MP3 can
be scored.
3

(e) Photon is energy carrier OWTTE ✔

In absorption atom becomes excited/moves to higher energy

state/level (by absorbing photon) ✔

In emission atom de-excited/moves to lower energy state (by

emitting photon) ✔
Treat discussion of any other irrelevant phenomenon or
incorrect physics as talk out in that marking point.
Allow “energy shell” but not “shell”.
Condone electron for atom.
Suggestions that limit transitions to/from ground state
penalise in either MP2 or MP3 once only.

Condone omission of reference to energy states/levels in

either MP2 or MP3 but not both.
3
[12]

Q4.
(a) Photons of light incident on the metal surface cause the emission of electrons ✔

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 The electrons emitted are those near the surface of the metal✔
2

(b) Use of = hc / λ condone errors in powers of 10✔

5.2 × 10−19J✔

Converts their energy in J to eV or work function to J

photon energy = 3.3 eV or work function = 3.7 × 10−19J✔

Compares the two values and draws conclusion✔

4

(c) Diffraction effects (spreading of light) when light passes through a single slit

OR

interference patterns (light and dark fringes) using two slits or diffraction grating✔

Only waves diffract and interfere✔

2
[8]

Q5.
(a) qq̄ ✔
1

(b) Total energy = 2keV + 2 × 511 keV = 1024 keV✔

= 1024 × 1.6 × 10−19 = 1.64 × 10−13J✔

Energy of each photon = 1.64 × 10−13/2 = 8.19 × 10−14 (J) ✔

First mark for calculating the total energy in keV.
Second mark is for converting correctly into joules.
Third mark is for dividing by two so ecf for incorrect
conversion into joules. Student must show at least 3sf.
3

(c) ✔

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 = 2.43 × 10−12 (m) ✔
First mark for the correctly rearranged equation or correct
values substituted into equation.
Correct answer only scores 2 marks, ecf from 1 (b)
2

(d) Ek= 2 keV = 2000 × 1.6 × 10−19 J = 3.2 × 10−16J✔

= 2.65 × 107(m s−1) ✔

First mark for converting KE into joules.
Second mark for rearranging equation correctly or
substituting correct values into equation.
Third mark for correct answer, must be to at least 3sf.
3

(e) ✔

= 2.75 × 10−11(m) ✔
First mark for rearranging equation correctly or substituting
correct values into equation.
Second mark for correct answer.
2

(f) Recognition that separation is 1.5 × 10−10 m and compared to 0.28 × 10−10 (ecf)✔

wavelength is about 5 times less than gap width✔

yes (diffraction would be observable)✔

Or words to that effect
4
[15]

Q6.
(a) Neutron
Condone misspelling eg nuetron
1

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 (b) Weak (interaction)
Ignore nuclear or references to beta
1

(c) Bosons
Accept ‘exchange particles’
Do not allow ‘force mediator'
1

(d) charge number

2/3 -1/3 – 1/3 → 2/3 +-1/3 + 2/3 - 1 + 0 ✔

Ignore equation if given, marking should be based on the
numbers

baryon number

1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 → 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 + 0 + 0 ✔

Allow 1 for both correct in terms of n & p instead of quarks:
0 → +1 + -1 + 0
1→1+0+0
2

(e) proton
Allow ‘free proton’
1

(f) Electron + an electron antineutrino + muon neutrino

All 3 needed
Condone anti-electron neutrino for electron anti-neutrino
No credit given for symbols
Allow antiparticle answer: positron, electron neutrino, muon
antineutrino
1
[7]

Q7.
(a) THREE FROM:

the strong interaction ✔

has short range OR mention range (less than 5 fm) ✔

attraction up to 5 fm ✔

repulsive (any distance below 1fm) ✔

is zero/negligible beyond 5 fm ✔

only affects hadrons/ baryons and mesons ✔

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 mediated by gluons/pions ✔
If wrong interaction identified then zero marks
If refer to strong interaction correctly then ignore any
subsequent reference to other interactions
1
1
1
(3 max)

(b) in alpha decay number of nucleons/protons and neutrons is unchanged OR baryons

in parent nucleus equals the total number of baryons in daughter nucleus and the

alpha particle ✔
1
in beta decay a neutron changes into a proton (and both have same baryon number)

✔
1
beta (-) particle and antineutrino have zero baryon number/beta(+) and neutrino

have zero baryon number ✔

If only refer to baryon number/nucleon number of alpha
particle then do not award first mark
Can be shown by equations
e.g.
Second marking point can also be shown in equation
1

(c) quark structure π– = u̅ d and p = uud

quark structure kaon = ds̅ ✔

1

hence as strong interaction quark structure Λ0 = uds ✔

If two of the quark structures correct then 1 mark
Any correct answer (uds) full marks
1

(d) strangeness is not conserved/lost ✔

1

(e) TWO FROM:

results of experiments must be independently checked/validated/peer reviewed

before they are accepted/can be confirmed ✔

particle accelerators are very expensive and collaboration helps to spread the cost

of building them ✔

many skills and disciplines are required (which one team are unlikely to have) ✔

lots of data to process (so more teams needed) ✔

1
1

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 (2 max)
[11]

Q8.
(a) down quark changes to up quark ✔
Allow “d⟶u”
Condone udd⟶uud
Condone U for u but not D for d.
Do not accept answers with extra particles.
1

(b) Idea that (graph shows that) beta particles (from C-14) have

a range of (kinetic) energies ✔

There is a fixed/maximum/total amount of energy (released

by C-14) so there must be another particle that carries the

energy differences/missing energy away ✔

A mention of conservation of energy on its own is insufficient
for MP2.
2

(c) neutron ✔
Condone “n” but not “N”.
Do not allow “udd”.
1

(d) Calculation of minimum energy produced in annihilation of

positron and electron (from rest mass energy ×2)

E.g. = 2 × 0.51 MeV = 1.6 × 10−13 J ✔

Calculation of the photon energy based on one particle can
get MP2.

(2 photons produced so) energy per photon = 8.2 × 10−14 J ✔

Conclusion consistent with their calculated minimum energy.

✔
The ‘correct’ answer would be a conclusion leading to G3
only.

ALTERNATIVE

One calculation of mass equivalence of photon energy. ✔

If no other mark awarded, award one mark for determining
rest energy of positron or electron in J.

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Calculation of remaining mass equivalents

OR

deduction about the other two photon energies

Only G3 has sufficient energy to have been made in annihilation. ✔

Allow mass equivalent calculations in (M)eV
Allow explanation in terms of positron and electron for
annihilation in alternative MP3
3
[7]

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