Cambridge O Level

PHYSICS 5054/42
Paper 4 Alternative to Practical October/November 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 30

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2023 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 7 printed pages.

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5054/42 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2023
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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

Science-Specific Marking Principles

1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.

2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the question should be ignored.

3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).

4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.

5 ‘List rule’ guidance

For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):

• The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
• Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
• Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
• Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response.
• Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.

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6 Calculation specific guidance

Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.

For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded
by the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.

For answers given in standard form (e.g. a  10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient (a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.

Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.

7 Guidance for chemical equations

Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a)(i) 5.5 (cm) 1

1(a)(ii) 12.1 (cm) 1

1(a)(iii) 24.8 (N / m) or 300 / candidate’s (ii) 1

1(a)(iv) description of parallax error 1

perpendicular viewing / view at eye level

1(b)(i) 13.6 (s) 1

1(b)(ii) 13.7 (s) 1

0.68 / 0.685 / 0.69 / 0.7 (s)

1(b)(iii) 0.46 / 0.47 / 0.48 / 0.49 / 0.5 (s2) 1

1(b)(iv) accept any answer within the range 23.6 – 25.7 (N / m) inclusive 1

1(c) reduces the effect of (reaction) timing errors / reduces the percentage error / uncertainty 1
/ the (reaction time) error is spread over 20 oscillations

Question Answer Marks

2(a)(i) 85.5 (ºC) 1

2(a)(ii) to give the (thermometric) liquid time to expand / to allow thermometer to reach the temperature of the hot water / to allow 1
thermometer to respond

2(b)(i) 2.5 or 0.04167 if seconds used – ignore any minus sign 3

answer given to 2 significant figures
ºC / min

2(b)(ii) 3(.0) (ºC / min) / 0.05(0) (ºC / s) – ignore any minus sign 1

2(c)(i) to equalise the temperatures within the liquid / to mix the liquid 1

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Question Answer Marks

2(c)(ii) can get close to thermometer scale to read it / 1

thermometer is held (steady) in a clamp or stand /
scale can be rotated (in clamp) to face observer /
thermometer is long enough to be clamped without jaws obscuring the scale

2(d) any one from: 1

same mass / volume / amount / quantity of water
same room temperature
same initial temperature of (hot) water
same (size of) beaker
same time

2(e) 22.5 (ºC) / room temperature 1

Question Answer Marks

3(a) V0 = 2.9 (0) (V) 1

3(b) I = 0.31 (A) 1

3(c) all columns with correct units (and I = 0.31 A added) 1

3(d) scales linear, not awkward and start from (0,0) 3

points plotted accurately, to the nearest ½ square

thin best-fit straight line drawn

3(e)(i) values / triangle indicated on the graph, ⩾ ½ distance between the extreme plotted points 2
m = 1.8 – 2(.0) inclusive

3(e)(ii) candidate’s intercept value  ½ small square 1

3(f) statement matches results (expect YES) 2

correct calculation to support the statement using both values of V0

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Question Answer Marks

3(g) wire becomes (too) hot / current exceeds full scale deflection of ammeter / crocodile clips may touch, causing a short 1
circuit / the wire is covered in insulating tape / it is too close to the insulating tape

3(h) correct symbol for variable resistor 2

correct series connection and voltmeter in parallel with supply

Question Answer Marks

4 method 6

MP1 mention of use of stopwatch / timer and either ruler / measuring tape or balance

MP2 measure / record / note the stopping distance and the time taken (from the bottom of the ramp to come to rest)

MP3 repeat with extra masses loaded onto the trolley

MP4 key variables

any one from:
• height of (end of) ramp above bench / angle of ramp
• release position of trolley (on the ramp)
• same (type of) trolley

MP5 table
table with columns for mass, distance and time with appropriate units

MP6 conclusion
compare the average speeds to see if / how the mass of the trolley affects the average speed
OR
plot a graph of mass against average speed

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