Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics
Physics
9702
Paper 2 – AS Level Structured Questions
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Contents
Contents .............................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4
Question 1 ........................................................................................................................ 8
Question 4 ...................................................................................................................... 17
Question 5 ...................................................................................................................... 25
Question 7 ...................................................................................................................... 29
Introduction
Introduction
The main aim of this booklet is to exemplify standards for those teaching Cambridge International AS &
A Level Physics (9702), and to show how different levels of candidates’ performance (high, middle and low)
relate to the subject’s curriculum and assessment objectives.
In this booklet candidate responses have been chosen to exemplify a range of answers. Each response is
accompanied by a brief commentary explaining the strengths and weaknesses of the answers.
For each question, each response is annotated with a clear explanation of where and why marks were
awarded or omitted. This, in turn, is followed by examiner comments on how the answer could have been
improved. In this way it is possible for you to understand what candidates have done to gain their marks and
what they will have to do to improve their answers. At the end there is a list of common mistakes candidates
made in their answers for each question.
This document provides illustrative examples of candidate work. These help teachers to assess the standard
required to achieve marks, beyond the guidance of the mark scheme. Some question types where the
answer is clear from the mark scheme, such as short answers and multiple choice, have therefore been
omitted.
The questions, mark schemes and pre-release material used here are available to download as a zip file
from Teacher Support as the Example Candidate Responses Files. These files are:
Past papers, Examiner Reports and other teacher support materials are available on Teacher Support at
https://teachers.cie.org.uk
Assessment at a glance
Candidates for Advanced Subsidiary (AS) certification take Papers 1, 2 and 3 in a single examination series.
Candidates who, having received AS certification, wish to continue their studies to the full Advanced Level
qualification may carry their AS marks forward and take Papers 4 and 5 in the examination series in which
they require certification.
Candidates taking the full Advanced Level qualification at the end of the course take all five papers in a
single examination series.
Candidates may only enter for the papers in the combinations indicated above.
Candidates may not enter for single papers either on the first occasion or for resit purposes.
Weighting
Component
AS Level A Level
This paper consists of 40 multiple choice questions, all with four options. All
questions will be based on the AS Level syllabus content. Candidates will 31% 15.5%
answer all questions.
This paper consists of a variable number of questions of variable mark value. All
questions will be based on the AS Level syllabus content. Candidates will 46% 23%
answer all questions.
This paper requires candidates to carry out practical work in timed conditions.
The paper will consist of two experiments drawn from different areas of physics.
The experiments may be based on physics not included in the syllabus content, 23% 11.5%
but candidates will be assessed on their practical skills rather than their
knowledge of theory. Candidates will answer both questions.
This paper consists of a variable number of questions of variable mark value. All
questions will be based on the A Level syllabus but may require knowledge of
– 38.5%
material first encountered in the AS Level syllabus. Candidates will answer all
questions.
Weighting
Component
AS Level A Level
This paper consists of two questions of equal mark value based on the practical
skills of planning, analysis and evaluation. The context of the questions may be
outside the syllabus content, but candidates will be assessed on their practical – 11.5%
skills of planning, analysis and evaluation rather than their knowledge of theory.
Candidates will answer both questions.
Teachers are reminded that the latest syllabus is available on our public website at www.cie.org.uk and
Teacher Support at https://teachers.cie.org.uk
Question 1
2 A complete answer
showing the equation
to be used (in
symbols), the
substitution and a final
correct answer.
(b) (iii) 2. This answer was determined using incorrect physics. The h in the formula for gravitational potential
energy is the height dropped by the toboggan. The candidate used the distance moved down the slope,
clearly identified as such a distance in (b) (ii). The candidate might have been able to see this if they had
marked the various distances involved on the diagram.
(b) (iv) The working clearly showed the use of the energy changes from (b) (iii). The correct substitution was
made and the correct answer was obtained for the answers the candidate gave for (b) (iii). This answer
would not have been awarded any marks if the working had not been shown.
(b) (v) The candidate did not relate the forces acting during this stage of the motion to the acceleration given
in the question. A sketch diagram of the forces acting drawn by the candidate might have helped with their
analysis of this part. The use of the frictional force from (b) (iv) showed a misconception for this part.
1 A correct equation
given in words is
1 accepted as a
definition.
8 This is a calculation of
the resultant force and
therefore does not
answer the question.
The expression F = ma
needs to be used as
the resultant force F
causes the
acceleration a.
(b) (i) The initial equation in symbols was not given but the subsequent substitution showed that the correct
equation was used. The answer to three significant figures was allowed as this would give the correct
answer if reduced to two significant figures.
(b) (ii) The initial value of the velocity was not shown as being zero; the equation given by the candidate just
took the value to be zero. An explanatory comment or the statement u = 0 would have been helpful here.
The answer for the distance was given to more than two significant figures, which helped the examiner to
know that the calculation had been completed.
(b) (iii) 1. The candidate did not determine the change in the kinetic energy. Using the change = final - initial
would have helped the candidate arrive at the correct answer. The ‘average’ kinetic energy calculated by the
candidate was not what was asked for and might have been due to not reading the question carefully.
(b) (iii) 2. The correct height was calculated and substituted into the correct equation, as required.
(b) (iv) The candidate equated the energy changes with a force and this showed a lack of understanding of
the problem. This kind of question needs practice with situations that involve work done being equated with
energy change rather than using equations of uniform acceleration.
(b) (v) The equation used was for the resultant force and did not answer the specific question, where more
than one force acts. A sketch diagram of the forces acting might have helped the candidate see into the
complexity of this question.
(b) (i) The full equation should have been the starting point here. The candidate should have written out the
values of the data given and related them to the correct symbols, for example u = 0, t = 19 s. The correct
answer was obtained but full working was not clearly shown.
(b) (ii) The full details were given here and full marks were awarded.
(b) (iii) 1. The equation for kinetic energy was stated but the arithmetic error suggested that the candidate
did not fully check their answer.
(b) (iii) 2. The height used was not sensible for the situation involved. A sketch diagram of the motion down
the slope and the height fallen would have helped the candidate see how to calculate the height.
(b) (iv) The question was not followed and the answers to (b) (iii) were not used. Practice with questions
equating work done to change in energy would have helped for these more complex questions.
(b) (v) The component of the weight down the slope was not included in the candidate’s answer. A sketch of
the force diagram for the situation in the last section might have helped the candidate see the relationship
between the forces acting and the acceleration of the man on the toboggan. This was a complex situation
and a diagram often helps with finding a solution.
(b) (i) & (ii) The answers here were generally correct, particularly where the equations and terms were
written out in full before the calculation was completed.
2 2 2
(b) (iii) 1. Some candidates used the calculation 1/2 m (v) instead of 1/2 m ( v – u ) for the change in
kinetic energy.
(b) (iii) 2. The distance down the slope was used instead of the height. A simple triangle sketch would have
helped candidates see that there was a trig function required.
(b) (iv) The difference in energy was equated with a force (the frictional force).
(b) (v) The equation F = ma was used. The F (the resultant force) was equated to the frictional force. The
component of the weight of the man and the toboggan was ignored by some candidates.
Question 4
1 There is no description
of the direction of
vibration or oscillation
of the particles that
1 allow the propagation
of the energy.
2 The description in
2
terms of wave motion /
travel is incorrect
physics. The direction
of the particle’s
vibrations with
reference to the
direction of energy
propagation defines
the type of wave
motion.
(c) (ii) The description of the effect on intensity was ignored. This is considered to be due to the distance
changing and not the motion of the star.
(d) The candidate did not gain full marks as not all the data given in the question were used. The candidate
should not use remembered data when a value is clearly included in the question.
(b) The candidate needed to read the question more carefully. The information needed for intensity was
given in the question but not used by the candidate. This was compounded by an arithmetic error in the
cancelling for the left-hand side of the equation. The working for the right-hand side should have been done
independently and not made to agree with the left-hand side. The subsequent errors meant that both sides
were incorrect. Checking of working is essential in such questions.
(c) (ii) The question gave a specific direction of motion for the star. This required a specific answer, and just
suggesting the frequency would change was not sufficient. The candidate should have given either an
increase or a decrease.
(d) The candidate should have written out the given formula from the formula page. The terms in the
question could then have been attributed to the symbols in that equation more carefully. The candidate
confused the two given frequencies and obtained an incorrect answer. The negative sign obtained should
have signalled to the candidate that something was wrong, but the negative sign was ignored.
1 These definitions
make no sense and
do not describe the
waves in the detail
1 required.
3 3 There is an apparent
change in the
frequency base units
to make units on each
side of the equation
equal. This means
that no marks can be
awarded.
4 4 A clear description is
given here.
5 A correct statement is
made here.
5
Mark for (c) = 2/2
6 Good presentation of
equation and correct
substitution of values.
A mathematical error
is made in the third
line, leading to an
6 incorrect final answer
and one mark not
awarded.
(b) The candidate needs to practise this kind of analysis of base units. Errors were made in the
determination of the base units of power, and these were not linked to the base units of intensity. The right-
hand side should have been completed independently and not influenced by the answer on the left-hand
side. If there was no agreement, then both sides should have been checked for errors, instead of one side
being ‘made’ to agree with the other. The working and result here were therefore not awarded any marks.
(d) The use of the given formula and correct substitution was well presented. The candidate needs to
practise rearranging equations of this type.
(b) The candidates did not always use the information for intensity given in the question. There were
mathematical errors when cancelling power terms. The two sides of the equation were often made to agree
with each other in terms of base units and this introduced more mistakes.
(c) (i) The frequency heard or measured was not described as being different from the source’s frequency
but a change in the frequency emitted from the source was implied. The need to have relative motion
between the source and the observer was also omitted. A change of distance between the source and
observer was also incorrectly suggested as a reason for the change in observed frequency.
(c) (ii) Many candidates merely mentioned the intensity change that would be observed. The effect of the
motion of the star was required. Some answers were not specific with the direction of the change in the
wavelength or frequency.
(d) Some answers did not use the formula given on the formula page. Many candidates did not fully
understand the meaning of the symbols and did not link the symbols to the data given in the question
correctly. There were mathematical errors in rearranging the equation and these often led to a negative
value for the speed. Some candidates then gave a positive answer without any comment.
Question 5
1 There is no direct
association with
diffraction at a grating
element but there is
1 sufficient detail for
marks to be awarded.
2 There is no explanation
of how the second
order maximum is
2
formed by the
interference of waves
overlapping from each
diffraction element.
3 The value of d is
correct. The conversion
–1 –1
from m to mm is
incorrect and gives a
rather inappropriate
answer.
3
(b) The diffraction grating equation was used and the given data interpreted correctly. There was a
mathematical error in the calculation and the final answer was not realistic. The candidate needed to be
more familiar with likely values for applications of basic theory.
1 Bending is
inappropriate for
diffraction and there is
no application to the
1 diffraction grating.
2 Interference in general
is described but there
is no answer to the
2 formation of the
second order
maximum as asked for
in the question.
3 There is complete
substitution of the
correct values in the
diffraction grating
equation. The use of
D rather than d is
allowed. The final
conversion of d to N is
not shown.
(b) The candidate needed to be aware of the relation between the number of lines per mm and the size of
the grating element in order to complete the question.
1 There is no proper
explanation of
diffraction in general or
1 to this application of
the diffraction grating.
‘Bending on an edge’ is
incorrect.
2 The description of
interference is
2 acceptable. There is no
description of this
application into the
production of the first
order maximum as
asked for in the
question.
(b) The candidate needed to practise the basic diffraction grating formula with many different examples.
(b) The angle given on the diagram was used as the angle in the diffraction grating equation. The distance
d was quoted as the number of lines per mm N. There were power of ten errors converting d in metres to N
−1
in mm .
Question 7
1 Basic theory
1 requirement of current
electricity not given
correctly.
(c) (i) More practice with the conversion of units might have helped the candidate to achieve full credit here.
(c) (ii) More practice with the applications of circuit theory might have helped here.
4 The conversion to m2
is incorrect. The
answer is correct
4 following this error so
one mark is awarded.
(b) (i) The calculation of 9 / 3.25 should have been stated before giving the answer to two significant figures,
as this answer is given in the question.
(b) (ii) The candidate misunderstood this calculation. The potential difference across the battery is not the
potential difference across the internal resistance, which is the lost volts.
2
(c) (i) In order to obtain full marks, the candidate needed more practice converting units, in this case mm to
2
m.
(c) (ii) The effect of the change in diameter on the resistance was described by the candidate. The effect of
the change in the resistance on the current was missed. This type of question can only be completed
successfully after having had greater practice with the applications of circuitry.
2 This is a complete
answer which is also
2
very well presented.
(b) (ii) The calculation showed a lack of understanding of lost volts and battery potential difference. Practice
with calculating potential differences in many different situations would have helped with this.
(c) (i) Practice with converting units would have helped the candidate with this question.
(c) (ii) Greater knowledge was required about the effect of changes in diameter / area on the resistance.
(b) (i) Some calculations omitted one of the resistances in the circuit, generally the internal resistance of the
battery.
(b) (ii) The potential difference across the internal resistance was given as the potential difference across the
battery.
(c) (i) The equation given on the formula page was not used, or the symbols in the equation were not
associated correctly with the data provided in the question.
(c) (ii) The effect of the change of resistance on the current in the circuit was not realised and the drift speed
was assumed to be inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area.