Physics 9702/52 February/March 2021: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Physics (9702), Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation, February/March 2021. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
A student investigates the vertical oscillations of a solid cylinder which floats in cooking oil. Fig. 1.1 shows a cylinder of radius r.
r
cylinder
Fig. 1.1
The student places the cylinder of mass m in the oil. The cylinder is displaced vertically from its equilibrium position and released so that it oscillates. The period T of the oscillations is determined.
A number of cylinders of different mass are available.
It is suggested that the relationship between T and m is πm
T=2 σ Kr 2 where σ is the density of the oil and K is a constant.
Design a laboratory experiment to test the relationship between T and m.
Explain how your results could be used to determine a value for K.
You should draw a diagram, on page 3, showing the arrangement of your equipment. In your account you should pay particular attention to:
• the procedure to be followed
• the measurements to be taken
• the control of variables
• the analysis of the data
• any safety precautions to be taken.
Diagram
…… [15]
Mark scheme
1 Defining the problem
Mass of cylinder m is the independent variable and period T is the dependent variable, or vary mass of cylinder m and 1
measure period T.
Keep radius of cylinder constant. 1
Methods of data collection
Labelled diagram of workable experiment including: 1
• beaker with (cooking) oil on a bench or container supported by stand where stand is on a bench
• cylinder partially submerged in (cooking) oil
• cylinder and (cooking) oil labelled.
Method to determine mass m of cylinder, e.g. use a (top pan) balance. 1
Method to determine period or T, e.g. use a stopwatch / timer to time oscillations. 1
Method to determine diameter of cylinder, e.g. micrometer or calliper 1
Method of Analysis
Plots a graph of T2 against m. 1
(Allow other valid graphs, e.g. lg T against lg m)
Relationship valid if a straight line passing through the origin is produced. 1
(Allow gradient = 0.5 for log T against log m).
4π 1
K=
gradient × σ r 2
4π
( K = 2×y-intercept for lg T against lg m).
10 ×σr 2
1 Additional detail including safety considerations 6
Max 6
Use gloves to prevent oil contacting skin / slippery hands OR D1
Perform experiment in a tray to prevent oil spillages.
Keep density / temperature of the (cooking) oil constant or keep σ constant. D2
Mass of oil = mass of beaker and oil – mass of beaker and D3
use a measuring cylinder to determine the volume of the oil.
Do not accept (calibrated) beaker.
Methods to measure volume of oil and determine mass of oil and use equation density σ = mass / volume for D4
measurements.
Time n oscillations and divide nT by n D5
where n ⩾ 5.
Description of method of counting oscillations with position of fiducial mark / mark on cylinder / beaker / fixed point shown in D6
diagram.
Repeat experiment for each value of m and average T. D7
r = diameter / 2 provided diameter measured. D8
Repeat measurements of diameter in different directions and average. D9
Wait for oscillations to become even / steady. D10
A student investigates the collision of two gliders A and B on a linear air-track, as shown in Fig. 2.1.
card
L light gate connected to timer
glider A glider B
bench
Fig. 2.1
The light gate is connected to a timer. A card of length L is attached to glider B. The mass of glider
B and the card is m. Glider B is initially at rest.
The student releases glider A so that it travels at a constant velocity u towards the stationary glider
B. The gliders collide and then separate.
The card on glider B passes through the light gate. The student records the time t for the card to pass through the light gate from the timer.
The student changes the mass of glider B and repeats the experiment.
It is suggested that the velocity v of glider B as it passes through the light gate and m are related by the equation
2uA v= m+A where A is the mass of glider A.
1
(a) A graph is plotted of on the y-axis against m on the x-axis. v
Determine expressions for the gradient and y-intercept.
gradient = ……
y-intercept = ……
[1]
(b) Values of m and t are given in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1
m/g t/s 1 / s cm−1 v
271 0.23 ± 0.01
369 0.26 ± 0.01
490 0.31 ± 0.01
632 0.36 ± 0.01
741 0.40 ± 0.01
840 0.44 ± 0.01
Calculate and record values of 1 / s cm−1 in Table 2.1 where v
1= t v L and L = 5.0 ± 0.1 cm.
Include the absolute uncertainties in 1 . [2]
v
1 −1
(c) (i) Plot a graph of / s cm against m / g. v
Include error bars for 1 . [2]
v
(ii) Draw the straight line of best fit and a worst acceptable straight line on your graph. Both lines should be clearly labelled. [2]
(iii) Determine the gradient of the line of best fit. Include the absolute uncertainty in your answer.
gradient = …… [2]
0.095
0.090
1
/ s cm–1 v
0.085
0.080
0.075
0.070
0.065
0.060
0.055
0.050
0.045
0.040
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 m/g
(iv) Determine the y-intercept of the line of best fit. Include the absolute uncertainty in your answer.
y-intercept = …… [2]
(d) (i) Using your answers to (a), (c)(iii) and (c)(iv), determine values of u and A. Include appropriate units.
u = ……
A = ……
[2]
(ii) Determine the percentage uncertainty in A.
percentage uncertainty in A = …… % [1]
(e) The experiment is repeated. Determine the mass m of glider B and the card when t has a value of 0.50 s.
m = …… g [1]
[Total: 15]
Mark scheme
2(a) 1 1
Gradient =
2uA
1
y-intercept = .
2u
2(b)
0.046
0.052
0.062
0.072
0.080
0.088
1 1
First mark for values of / s cm–1; allow 3sf.
v
Second mark for absolute uncertainties from 1
± 0.003 to ± 0.004.
2(c)(i) Six points plotted correctly. 1
Must be accurate to the nearest half small square. Diameter of points must be less than half a small square.
1 1
Error bars in plotted correctly.
v
All error bars to be plotted. Total length of bar must be accurate to less than half a small square and symmetrical.
2(c)(ii) Line of best fit drawn. 1
Points must be balanced.
Do not allow line from top plot to bottom plot.
Line must pass between
(320, 0.050) and (345, 0.050) and between (795, 0.085) and (815, 0.085).
Worst acceptable line drawn. 1
Steepest or shallowest possible line.
Mark scored only if all error bars are plotted.
2(c)(iii) Gradient determined with clear substitution of data points into Δy / Δx; distance between data points must be at least half 1
the length of the drawn line.
Gradient of WAL determined and 1
uncertainty = (gradient of line of best fit – gradient of worst acceptable line)
or
uncertainty = ½ (steepest worst line gradient – shallowest worst line gradient)
2(c)(iv) y-intercept determined by substitution of correct point into y = mx + c 1
y-intercept of worst acceptable line determined by substitution into y = mx + c. 1
uncertainty = y-intercept of line of best fit – y-intercept of worst acceptable line, or
uncertainty = ½ (steepest worst line y-intercept – shallowest worst line y-intercept)
Do not accept ecf from false origin method.
2(d)(i) u determined using y-intercept and 1
u and A given to 2 or 3 sf.
1
u=
2 × y − intercept
A determined using gradient with correct substitution and 1
Units with correct power of ten for u and A.
y − intercept 1
A= or A =
gradient 2 × u × gradient
2(d)(ii) Percentage uncertainty in A. 1
Δgradient Δy -intercept
%uncert. = + × 100
gradient y -intercept
OR
Δu clearly determined and
Δgradient Δu
%uncert. = + × 100
gradient u
OR
Correct substitution for max/min methods.
2(e) Value of m determined from (d)(i) OR (c)(iii) and (c)(iv) with correct number substitution into relevant equation and correct 1
power of ten.
2uAt 2uA
e.g. m = −A= − A , or
L 10
t 1
m= − × 2uA or
L 2u
t
− y -intercept
m= L .
gradient
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Physics 9702/52, February/March 2021 (9702_m21_ms_52), and the question paper (9702_m21_qp_52), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
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Physics 9702/52 for February/March 2021 is out of 30 marks, with 1 hour 15 minutes to answer it.
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