Physics 9702/52 October/November 2023: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Physics (9702), Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation, October/November 2023. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
Two identical beakers, each of mass M, are attached to each other using string and suspended from a pulley, as shown in Fig. 1.1.
pulley
string
surface beakers h
Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)
The beakers are held at rest at a height h above a surface. Cooking oil of volume V is added to one of the beakers.
The beakers are released so that the beaker with the oil begins to fall. The speed of the beaker as it reaches the surface is z.
It is suggested that z is related to V by the relationship
2h 2M 1
= + z2 abV b where a and b are constants.
Plan a laboratory experiment to test the relationship between z and V.
Draw a diagram showing the arrangement of your equipment.
Explain how the results could be used to determine values for a and b.
In your plan you should include:
● 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
V is the independent variable and z is the dependent variable or vary V and measure z 1
keep h constant 1
Methods of data collection
labelled diagram of workable experiment including: 1
• pulley supported by stand
• stand placed on surface/bench/floor
• minimum of two labels from stand, beaker, oil, surface/bench/floor, pulley, string
use (metre) rule to measure h or (metre) rule correctly positioned with h marked on diagram 1
use measuring cylinder to measure V 1
timing method to measure time t of fall of beaker to determine z 1
e.g. use timer/stopwatch or use light gate(s) connected to a timer/data logger
1 Method of Analysis
1 1 1 1 1
plot a graph of 2
against or equivalent (e.g. against 2 )
z V V z
Do not accept logarithms.
1 1
b=
2h × y -intercept
1 1 M × gradient gradient
(for against 2 : b = or b = − )
V z ah 2h × y -intercept
M 2M × y -intercept 1
a= or a =
bh × gradient gradient
1 1
(for against 2 : a = −2M × y -intercept )
V z
1 Additional detail including safety considerations 6
D1 precaution linked to oil spillage, e.g. use of cushion/sand box/tray for falling beaker to land or use of bungs/lids on
beakers or use foam on bench/floor or use foam to prevent rising beaker hitting pulley
D2 precaution linked to oil contact with skin e.g. use gloves to avoid contact with oil
D3 keep M constant
D4 use a (top-pan) balance to measure M
D5 method to keep h constant e.g. use a fiducial mark to release the beaker from the same position or release from the
same position on the clamped rule each time
D6 equation to determine z for method used, e.g.
for timing h, z = 2h / t
or
for one light gate, z = L / t where L is the length of the interrupted beam
or
for two light gates, z = distance between light gates / t
Do not accept h / t.
D7 additional detail on diagram to measure h, e.g. clamp (metre) rule with stand on surface or use of set squares
positioned on the surface to side of rule or spirit level positioned to side of rule
D8 use large value of h to increase time of fall of beaker
D9 repeat measurements of z for the same V and average z
1
D10 relationship valid if a straight line is produced (passing through )
2bh
Do not accept line passing through the origin.
A student investigates the discharge of capacitors in the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1.
CA CB
V
R
Fig. 2.1
The capacitors have capacitances CA and CB.
The student closes the switch to charge the capacitors.
The switch is opened and a stop-watch is started. The capacitors discharge through the resistor of resistance R. At a fixed time t the voltmeter reading V is recorded.
The experiment is repeated for different values of CA and CB.
For each combination of CA and CB, the combined capacitance C is calculated.
It is suggested that C and V are related by the equation
_ t
V = I0Re CR
where I0 is the initial current in the resistor.
1
(a) A graph is plotted of lnV on the y-axis against C on the x-axis.
Determine expressions for the gradient and y-intercept.
gradient = ……
y-intercept = ……
[1]
(b) Values of CA, CB and V are given in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1
CA / 10– 4 F CB / 10– 4 F 1 / 104 F–1 V/V ln (V / V)
C
2.2 2.2 2.45 ± 0.05
2.2 3.3 2.75 ± 0.05
2.2 5.6 3.05 ± 0.05
3.3 3.3 3.10 ± 0.05
3.3 5.6 3.50 ± 0.05
5.6 5.6 3.85 ± 0.05
The relationship between C, CA and CB is
1 CA + CB
= .
C CACB
1
Calculate and record values of C / 104 F–1 and ln (V / V) in Table 2.1.
Include the absolute uncertainties in ln (V / V). [2]
1
(c) (i) Plot a graph of ln (V / V) against C / 104 F–1.
Include error bars for ln (V / V). [2]
(ii) Draw the straight line of best fit and a worst acceptable straight line on your graph. Label both lines. [2]
(iii) Determine the gradient of the line of best fit. Include the absolute uncertainty in your answer.
gradient = …… [2]
1.40
1.35
In (V / V)
1.30
1.25
1.20
1.15
1.10
1.05
1.00
0.95
0.90
0.85
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
1 4 –1
C / 10 F
(iv) Determine the y-intercept of the line of best fit. Do not include the absolute uncertainty.
y-intercept = …… [1]
(d) (i) Using your answers to (a), (c)(iii) and (c)(iv), determine the values of R and I0. Include appropriate units.
Data: t = (30 ± 1) s
R = ……
I0 = ……
[3]
(ii) Determine the percentage uncertainty in R.
percentage uncertainty in R = …… % [1]
(e) The experiment is repeated with the same value of t. Determine the combined capacitance C that gives a value of V of 1.20 V.
C = …… F [1]
[Total: 15]
To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.
Mark scheme
2(a) t 1
gradient = −
R
y-intercept = ln I0R
2(b) 1
1 / C / 104 F–1 ln (V / V)
0.91 or 0.909 0.896 or 0.8961
0.76 or 0.758 1.012 or 1.0116
0.63 or 0.633 1.115 or 1.1151
0.61 or 0.606 1.131 or 1.1314
0.48 or 0.482 1.253 or 1.2528
0.36 or 0.357 1.348 or 1.3481
Values correct as shown above.
Uncertainties in ln (V / V) from ± 0.021 or ± 0.020 to ± 0.010 or ± 0.013 1
2(c)(i) Six points from (b) plotted correctly. 1
Must be within half a small square. Diameter of points must be less than half a small square.
Error bars in ln (V / V) plotted correctly. 1
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) Straight line of best fit drawn. 1
Do not accept line from top point to bottom point.
Points must be balanced.
Line must pass between (0.820, 0.95) and (0.845, 0.95) and between (0.400, 1.30) and (0.425, 1.30)
Worst acceptable line drawn (steepest or shallowest possible line that passes through all the error bars). 1
All error bars must be plotted.
2(c)(iii) Gradient determined with clear substitution of data points into Δy / Δx. 1
Distance between data points must be greater than half the length of the drawn line.
Gradient must be negative.
Gradient determined of worst acceptable line. 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 with consistent power of ten in m and x into y = mx + c. 1
2(d)(i) R determined using gradient. 1
30.0 30.0
R=− =
gradient (c)(iii)
I0 determined using y-intercept with method shown. 1
e y -intercept e(c)(iv)
I0 = =
R (d)(i)
R and I0 determined correctly using gradient and y-intercept 1
and
R and I0 given to 2 or 3 significant figures
and
R and I0 given with SI units with appropriate powers of ten.
Units:
R: Ω or s F-1
I0: A or V F s–1 or V Ω –1
2(d)(ii) Percentage uncertainty in R with method shown. 1
Δt Δgradient
percentage uncertainty in R = + × 100
t gradient
or
Correct substitution for max/min methods.
2(e) C determined to a minimum of 2 significant figures from (c)(iii) and (c)(iv) or (d)(i) with correct substitutions. 1
gradient gradient
C= or C = −
lnV − y -intercept y -intercept − lnV
or
t t
C=− or C =
R ( lnV − ln I0R ) R ( ln I0 R − lnV )
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Physics 9702/52, October/November 2023 (9702_w23_ms_52), and the question paper (9702_w23_qp_52), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
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Physics 9702/52 for October/November 2023 is out of 30 marks, with 1 hour 15 minutes to answer it.
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