Examiners Report June 2011 GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Introduction
This is the third occasion that Unit 5 of the new specification has been examined. Once again the paper gave candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of a wide range of topics from this unit. All of the questions elicited responses across the range of marks, but the marks for Q15(c), Q17(b), and Q18(b) tended to be clustered at the lower end of the scale. Calculation and show that questions gave candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their problem solving skills to good effect. In general, good responses were seen to such questions. However, whereas the majority of candidates produced solutions that were well organised, there was evidence of poor layout in a number of scripts. Candidates should be aware that in answering numerical questions their work should be set out to enable the examiner to follow their reasoning. Candidates should also realise that they should substitute all values into an equation, as a wrong final answer with incomplete substitution in the previous steps will lead to little credit. Re-arrangement of equations was sometimes poorly attempted, leading to marks being lost. Candidates should be encouraged to substitute numerical values into an equation before attempting a re-arrangement, as this may demonstrate a correct use of the equation even if the final answer is incorrect due to poor algebra. Significant figures were a problem area for some candidates. Examples of incorrect rounding, too few significant figures used in the course of a calculation, or numbers rounded at each stage with a resulting inaccuracy in the final answer were all seen far too commonly for an examination at this level. In some questions well known quantities attracted unit errors. Candidates should be encouraged to check units carefully for all quantities that they calculate. Once again it was pleasing to see that candidates were generally able to access the correct data and equations from the list provided. However responses were seen to both Q14(b) and Q17(a)(i) in which 1/4 peo was used in place of the Boltzmann constant. Candidates need to be reminded that they should be familiar with all of the information provided in the data and equations section of the examination paper. Reasoning and explanation type questions need careful interpretation of the question and subsequent planning of the explanation or argument before the final answer stage is reached. In this way candidates may ensure that all relevant points are included in their answer in a logical sequence. The use of bullet points should be encouraged. The space allowed for responses was usually sufficient. However, candidates need to remember that the space provided does not have to be filled. If they either need more space or want to replace an answer with a different one, they should indicate clearly where that response is to be found. This year there too many instances of candidates continuing their work on another part of the paper with little indication to the examiner where the continuation work was to be found.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 11 (a)
Most candidates identified that the key feature of a standard candle was that its luminosity is known. The most common mistake was to state that it was an object with fixed, standard or the same luminosity. A small number of responses described the method of using the standard candle to calculate distance, or named a type of stellar object without indicating that the luminosity of the object must be known.

Examiner Comments

There is a large amount of detail included in this response, but the key idea of a known luminosity is clear.

Examiner Comments

Again this response includes a lot of detail, but the key information (that the luminosity of the object is known) is missing.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 11 (b)
This was generally well-answered. The most common mistake was to get the wrong units (typically either leaving the unit out completely, or to use Wm-1). In a small number of responses the distance wasnt squared.

Examiner Comments

The ux is incorrectly given the same unit as the luminosity of the star.

Examiner Tip

Check units carefully for any final answers that you calculate.

Examiner Comments

The power of ten has not been included in the final answer.

Examiner Tip

Transfer numbers carefully from your calculator display. Remember to include the full standard form value.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 12
(a) In the main this was well answered. However, many ignored the terminology used in the question and referred to m1 and m2 in their answers. A common mistake was to equate m with m1. (b) If a candidate lost this mark it was generally through using the wrong unit. Although it might have been expected that the units for gravitational field strength would be well known at this level, N, or N m-2, and even kg m-2 were seen. In some responses the units were omitted entirely.

Examiner Comments

It is not clear in (a) how g has been derived. m has been cancelled with either m1 or m2 which has then become m. Part (b) is correct.

Examiner Tip

When deriving a quantity, make sure that all the steps in your derivation are clear.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Examiner Comments

In part (a) the expression is correctly derived. However, in part (b) the unit for g is incorrect.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 13 (a)
Virtually every answer seen was correct with unit.

Examiner Comments

The equation for P is re-arranged incorrectly and so neither the substitution nor the final answer score any marks.

Substitute values into the equation before re-arranging. That way you will get the use of mark, even if you final answer is incorrect.

Examiner Tip

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 13 (b) (i)

Candidates were able to substitute into and manipulate the equation skilfully. Those who did not obtain the correct final answer either tried an incorrect method of converting to Kelvin, or subtracted the temperature of the air to give 10.6 oC as the final answer. A small number omitted unit, or omitted the C from oC. Some candidates were able to identify the correct equation to use for this question, but failed to make the link that energy per second was power and that they could therefore use the power given in the previous part of the question.

Question 13 (b) (ii)

In general candidates scored badly here. Some started with the electrical energy in the element and did not go far enough to gain the second marking point. Some gave too much detail of the kinetic energy of the molecules in the element and failed to use the words heat or thermal. There was a generally poor understanding and use of the concept of heat. Energy changes were not well expressed and were often on a very basic level, displaying confusion between bulk kinetic energy of the air and the KE of the molecules.

Examiner Comments

The response just misses the second marking point, as it doesnt state that the air molecules have an increased kinetic energy.

Examiner Comments

The candidate may know what is happening as air passes the heater, but this response is too vague to award either mark.

Ensure that your answers contain enough detail to be clear and unambiguous.

Examiner Tip

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 14
a)(i) There were many straightforward answers using P/T is constant. However, a number of candidates tried to make this calculation much more complicated by using PV = NkT and working out V and N. Many of these went on to get the correct answer, but some gave up and did not attempt part 14b, when their use of PV=NKT would have been appropriate. It was disappointing to see some candidates failing to convert 20 oC to 293K. (a)(ii) There were many correct answers, constant mass or constant number of molecules being the most popular. The majority of other wrong answers centred around the idea that the ball was a perfect sphere. In a number of answers the assumption that air behaves as an ideal gas was identified, which was fine. However, some candidates quoted individual assumptions of the kinetic theory (e.g. collisions between molecules are perfectly elastic etc.) and such answer did not gain credit. (b) Candidates found this calculation demanding to complete. Volume calculation errors were common (powers of 10, using 4pr2 instead of 4pr3/3 or diameter instead of radius). Only a minority of candidates realised that they had to find a pressure difference; the majority found (successfully or unsuccessfully) the number of air molecules at one of the temperatures only. For those who did attempt to find the pressure difference, accuracy suffered when they calculated the numbers of molecules at the two pressures separately, rather than using the pressure difference in one calculation.

Examiner Comments

In part (ii) the assumptions made are those of the kinetic theory not an assumption required to be able to use the gas law.

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Examiner Comments

Rounding errors have led to a final answer that is less than the actual answer.

Be careful when rounding - keep enough significant figures in your calculator memory to ensure that your final answer does not differ appreciably from the expected answer.

Examiner Tip

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Question 15 (a)
This was a textbook definition, and was well answered by most. However, it was clear that some candidates did not realise that a standard definition was required. Answers referring to general features of a system exhibiting simple harmonic motion were seen from these candidates.

Examiner Comments

The response focuses on the isochronous nature of simple harmonic oscillators. This is not a definition of s.h.m. There is an equation included, but the symbols are not defined and so credit cannot be given for this.

If you are using an equation to define a quantity, make sure that you state what each symbol in the equation represents.

Examiner Tip

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 15 (b)
This was calculated successfully by most of those who could work out the period. The most common error was in not realising that you had to halve 5cm to get the amplitude. Most candidates sensibly used the formula vmax = A . Those who brought in the sine function invariably got wrong values for vmax because they substituted inappropriate times into the equation. It was encouraging to see that many students are aware that answers to this type of question should not be left in terms of p.

Examiner Comments

The amplitude is incorrectly substituted as 0.05 m.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Question 15 (c)
This question was very poorly answered. Most candidates simply ignored the reference to standing waves in the rubric. The most common way of gaining credit was to make a comment relating the length to the frequency, but many candidates did not explain that the frequency would decrease as the length was increased, and so they did not gain credit. These candidates said frequency would change when the length changed or that a different length meant a different frequency. Other incorrect approaches were to talk about mass-spring systems, the simple pendulum and resonance. Some candidates were confusing amplitude with frequency and quite a few answers assumed there was a driving frequency somewhere which would resonate with one of the rulers.

Examiner Comments

There is no reference to standing waves in this response. The physics included is inappropriate and incorrect for this context.

Examiner Tip

Check the wording of the question to find pointers for the way in which you should structure your response.

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 16 (a) (b)

(a)(i) There were many correct answers to this question. The most common mistakes were to calculate the decay constant in yr-1, rather than s-1. Candidates should be encouraged to inspect the units for quantities given in questions carefully before they attempt a calculation. In this instance it should have been clear that, since the show that value was in Bq, they would have to work out a half-life in s-1. (a)(ii) Candidates tended to be able to either get all 3 marks relatively easily, or fail at the point they had converted MeV to J. Many candidates failed to appreciate the implication of power being energy per second. (b)(i) The statement 5% of the energy released is radiated away led a number candidates to assume that 5% was the amount to be discarded and that it was the 95% remaining that was to be used in the Stefan-Boltzmanns equation. Those who used 5% correctly generally went on to obtain the correct answer. A few candidates took 5% of the temperature they had worked out as their answer to the question. A small number of answers seen used a converse argument to answer the question. i.e. they started with a temperature of 1000 K and worked backwards to show that about 5% of the power is radiated away. Working a 3 mark show that question in reverse in this way restricts the maximum credit to 2 marks. (b)(i) The calculation was done well, often with the show that value for the temperature being used. Where candidates failed to score full marks it was mostly because the units were omitted from the answer. (b)(iii) Many candidates did not identify that the peak wavelength lay in the infrared region of the em-spectrum. This showed that their appreciation of this topic was purely theoretical. It is a reasonable assumption to expect candidates at this level to know that a body at a temperature of about 1000K predominately emits infrared radiation. Gamma rays and UV were the most common incorrect answers.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Examiner Comments

In part (a)(ii) the energy conversion is correct, but it is not clear what the rest of the calculation is about. In (b)(i) an inappropriate equation has been selected.

Examiner Comments

Examiner Tip

There is a unit error for the answer to (b) (ii), as the unit is not included.

Always check that units have been included.

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 16 (c)
This was answered well, with most candidates writing so much about alpha radiation that they covered the marking points. Common mistakes were to talk about polonium penetrating the skin, alpha particles not penetrating the body or being stopped by a few cm of skin.

Examiner Comments

The answer includes enough about alpha radiation to gain both marks, but the unnecessary detail relating to beta and gamma radiation is a distraction and may have resulted in the candidate missing out an important aspect of alpha radiation required by the question.

Examiner Tip

Answer the queation that is on the paper - dont just write everything down that you know about a topic.

Question 17 (a) (i)

This was answered well. The most common mistakes were to use the wrong k for the equation, or to incorrectly convert the mass from u to kg. A common error was the omission of the 1.0087 factor. Occasionally the calculation was not completed and the answer to velocity squared was given.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Question 17 (a) (ii-iii)

(a)(ii) This was a straightforward question which was answered well. (a)(iii) Most candidates could calculate a mass defect but forgot either all or some of the neutrons. They could all convert u to kg and use E=mc2. Many found it difficult to work out the fission rate, using E/P instead of P/E and hence finding the time between fissions instead of the rate. At this point it was clear that some did not know what G is as a prefix, using an incorrect factor of 10 in their substitution. For many of those candidates who did go on to obtain the correct final answer, missing units resulted in the final mark not being awarded.

Examiner Comments

In (a)(iii) the candidate has used an equation for kinetic erngy, rather than the Einstein mass-energy equation. Also, the value for the speed of light is incorrect, and so the final answer would have been incorrect even if the 0.5 factor had been omitted.

Examiner Tip

Check formulae and data carefully from the list given at the back of the paper.

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 17 (b) (i)

On the whole, answers to this question were disappointing. Conditions for fusion were relatively well known, but answers often lacked the detail needed to secure the marks. This is particularly true of the qualification of temperature and density as being very high. Practical details for sustainable fusion were rarely mentioned, many candidates deciding instead to focus their whole argument upon vague statements about the relative amounts of energy required to be put into the reactor compared to the amount of energy released as a result. Containment issues were often treated very superficially, and were often based around the idea that it was too expensive to build a reactor, or maintain the extreme conditions.

Examiner Comments

This response only says enough to gain the first marking point (extremely high temperature).

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Examiner Comments

This response contains enough detail for all 4 marks to be awarded.

Question 17 (b) (ii)

Even when the nuclear equation was correctly completed there was a wide variety of particle names identified.

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 17 (b) (iii)

Candidates tended to make statements about fusion without reference to fission. There were few comparative statements. Many thought that fusion produces no radioactive products, and comparative statements about energy production seldom referred to unit mass. Answers in terms of abundance tended to focus on just one (e.g. hydrogen is readily available OR Uranium is a limited resource). The idea that fusion is an intrinsically safer process since loss of containment causes it to stop, whereas a fission chain reaction might go out of control, was touched on, but not in enough detail for the mark. Usually the answer said it is safer because there is no chain reaction.

Examiner Comments

These two brief statements come close to gaining marks, but fall short due to lack of detail.

Examiner Tip

Read your answer back to check that it really is an answer to the question.

Examiner Comments

The first statement makes a comparison between fusion and fission, but the second statement does not.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Question 18 (a) (i)

The vast majority of answers scored 1 mark.

Examiner Comments

The centripetal force is a name for the force acting towards the centre of the circular path, rather than being the origin of the force that maintains the black holes in a circular path.

Read the question carefully, so that you are sure what you are being asked to do.

Examiner Tip

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Question 18 (a) (ii-iii)

(a)(ii) Most calculated the value correctly. Omission of the square factor once the values had been substituted occasionally led to the loss of both marks. (a)(iii) The majority of candidates who attempted this question followed a suitable method and arrived at an acceptable answer. A sizeable minority did not set out their calculations in an ordered way and as a result made errors that cost them some of the marks. In other responses in which marks were lost, an incorrect Keplers Law approach was commonly seen.

Examiner Comments

The candidate has used Newtons 2nd law to equate the expression for the gravitational force to that for the centripetal force. This is incorrect, as the value of r is different for each of these. If the candidate had used the value of the gravitational force from (a)(ii), then they would not have made this error.

A quantity that you calculate in one part of a question is often used in a subsequent part. This is often the case in a question in which there is a show that calculation.

Examiner Tip

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Question 18 (b) (i-ii)

(b)(i) This was generally well answered, although not all candidates could clearly express that red shift meant that the observed wavelength is longer. A common answer was that the light was shifted to the red, without a mention of wavelength or frequency. Some candidates referred to the black holes and not the galaxies, which excluded them from the second mark. The evidence for the expansion of the universe was well understood, if not always well expressed. Several referred to receding stars rather than galaxies and some candidates were clumsy with their wording, with suggestions that the galaxy itself was expanding. (b)(ii) This was a challenging question for most candidates. Even those who probably knew what the answer was were finding it difficult to put into words. Most candidates who scored mark here just explained that the system is moving away and did not attempt to compare the relative velocities of the rotational motion of the black holes in relation to the much larger velocity of recession.

Examiner Comments

The response refers to a shift in the wavelength, but it isnt clear what this means in terms of the value of the wavelength.

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Examiner Comments

This response includes half of the answer - that the binary sytem is moving away from us - but omits making a comparison with this effect and the rotation of the black holes within the binary system.

GCE Physics 6PH05 01

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Question 18 (b) (iii)

This question was generally well answered. The most common mistake was to use 0.38 as the velocity value, losing all 3 marks straight away.

Examiner Comments

The candidate has written down all of the information needed to obtain a correct answer, but jumbled it up in one big incorrect substitution.

Work out quantities one by one before making a substitution to calculate a final answer.

Examiner Tip

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GCE Physics 6PH05 01

Grade Boundaries
Grade boundaries for this, and all other papers, can be found on the website on this link: http://www.edexcel.com/iwantto/Pages/grade-boundaries.aspx

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