Skill Align HSC Physics - Free Online Pack 0
A complete independently authored HSC Physics practice paper with worked answers and question-specific marking guidance.
- Paper
- Question and Answer Book
- Reading
- 5 minutes
- Writing
- 3 hours
- Assessment
- 100 marks
Use the official NESA Physics formulae sheet, data sheet and Periodic Table provided separately. A NESA-approved calculator, a pair of compasses, a protractor and set squares may be used.
Section I: Objective-response questions
Attempt Questions 1-20. Allow about 35 minutes for this section. Select the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers each question.
Question 1
1 mark- A circular equatorial orbit with a 24-hour period in Earth's direction of rotation
- A polar orbit with a 12-hour period
- Any circular orbit with a 24-hour period
- An equatorial orbit travelling opposite Earth's rotation
Question 2
1 mark- 3600 V
- 16 V
- 240 V
- 3.6 V
Question 3
1 mark- It decreases in inverse proportion to wavelength.
- It is unchanged because the slit spacing is fixed.
- It increases in direct proportion to wavelength.
- It becomes zero once the wavelength increases.
Question 4
1 mark- Mass number A and atomic number Z - 1
- Mass number A - 1 and atomic number Z
- Mass number A + 4 and atomic number Z + 2
- Mass number A - 4 and atomic number Z - 2
Question 5
1 mark- Its vertical component is zero while its horizontal component remains non-zero.
- Both velocity components are zero.
- Its horizontal component is zero while its vertical component is non-zero.
- Its acceleration is zero because its path changes direction.
Question 6
1 mark- Its field always attracts the approaching pole.
- Its direction maximises the magnetic flux through the loop.
- Its field opposes the increase in magnetic flux through the loop.
- Its direction is independent of the pole's motion.
Question 7
1 mark- The maximum kinetic energy doubles, but current is unchanged.
- The photoelectric current increases, but the maximum electron kinetic energy is unchanged.
- Both maximum kinetic energy and stopping potential double.
- Emission stops because each photon has less energy.
Question 8
1 mark- 1/3
- 1/6
- 3/4
- 1/8
Question 9
1 mark- It becomes twice as large.
- It becomes four times as large.
- It becomes half as large.
- It is unchanged.
Question 10
1 mark- 1/25
- 1/5
- 5
- 25
Question 11
1 mark- 3.00 × 10^8 m s^-1
- 4.50 × 10^8 m s^-1
- 1.50 × 10^8 m s^-1
- 2.00 × 10^8 m s^-1
Question 12
1 mark- All elements absorb every wavelength equally.
- The lines show only the star's distance from Earth.
- Each element absorbs a characteristic set of photon energies associated with its electron transitions.
- Nuclear fission in the atmosphere creates evenly spaced gaps.
Question 13
1 mark- The second is twice the first.
- The second is four times the first.
- The second is half the first.
- They are equal.
Question 14
1 mark- When the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the field
- When the loop carries no current
- When the plane of the loop is parallel to the field
- When the loop's magnetic moment is parallel to the field
Question 15
1 mark- Only transverse oscillations can be restricted to one plane perpendicular to propagation.
- Only longitudinal waves can pass through two polarisers.
- Polarisation proves light has no electric field.
- Polarisation requires light to travel slower than sound.
Question 16
1 mark- Every distant galaxy is falling towards the Milky Way.
- Space is expanding so distant galaxies are generally receding from one another.
- The speed of light was lower when the galaxies emitted the light.
- All stars contain only cool hydrogen gas.
Question 17
1 mark- It moves directly to a larger circular orbit.
- It escapes because its speed decreased.
- It enters an elliptical orbit with the burn point as apoapsis.
- Gravity stops acting after the engine switches off.
Question 18
1 mark- Downward
- Upward
- East
- North
Question 19
1 mark- 1.10 × 10^-27 J
- 5.00 × 10^-15 J
- 1.99 × 10^-25 J
- 3.31 × 10^-19 J
Question 20
1 mark- uud
- udd
- uuu
- ddu
Section II: Written-response questions
Attempt Questions 21-40. Allow about 2 hours and 25 minutes for this section. Show relevant working and include units and directions where required.
Question 21
3 marksA weather balloon releases an instrument horizontally at 18.0 m s^-1 from 44.1 m above level ground. Air resistance is negligible. The supplied diagram shows the release and landing points.
Question 22
3 marksAn isolation transformer used with a 120 W medical device has 1200 primary turns connected to 240 V AC and 80 secondary turns. Assume an ideal transformer. The supplied diagram identifies both coils and the isolated load.
Question 23
3 marksA 520 nm laser illuminates two narrow slits separated by 0.300 mm. A screen is 2.00 m away. The supplied diagram identifies the slit separation and fringe spacing.
Question 24
2 marksA detector records a tracer at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h. The supplied graph gives 840, 460, 270, 175 and 128 counts s^-1 respectively. Background is constant at 80 counts s^-1.
Question 25
3 marksAn Earth-observation satellite follows a circular orbit of radius 7.00 x 10^6 m from Earth's centre. Use GM_E = 3.986 x 10^14 m^3 s^-2.
Question 26
3 marksA straight 0.120 m section of rail wire carries 4.00 A perpendicular to a uniform 0.350 T magnetic field.
Question 27
3 marksA glass optical fibre core has refractive index 1.48 and is surrounded by air. Consider a ray inside the glass meeting the glass-air boundary.
Question 28
3 marksA deuterium nucleus of mass 2.014102 u and a tritium nucleus of mass 3.016049 u fuse to form helium-4 of mass 4.002603 u and a neutron of mass 1.008665 u. Use 1 u c^2 = 931.5 MeV.
Question 29
3 marksA 0.400 kg cart moving east at 6.00 m s^-1 collides with a stationary 0.600 kg cart. They couple together on a level track.
Question 30
3 marksThe magnetic flux through each turn of a 250-turn search coil changes uniformly from 0.40 mWb to 2.20 mWb in 0.040 s.
Question 31
3 marksViolet light of wavelength 400 nm illuminates a metal with work function 3.20 x 10^-19 J.
Question 32
3 marksA star's intensity spectrum peaks at 500 nm. Use the supplied relationship lambda_max T = 2.898 x 10^-3 m K. A dark absorption line at 486 nm matches a line in a laboratory hydrogen spectrum.
Question 33
4 marksA 520 kg carriage moves through the top of a vertical loop of radius 11 m at 12.0 m s^-1. Riders remain restrained to the carriage.
Question 34
4 marksA regional network can transmit 8.0 MW at either 22 kV or 110 kV through the same line resistance. Transformer losses are small compared with line losses, and the voltage and resistance measurements have finite uncertainty.
Question 35
4 marksA monochromatic beam produces alternating bright and dark bands after passing through two narrow openings. Closing either opening removes the regular band pattern.
Question 36
5 marksA nearly uniform microwave spectrum is observed in every direction, closely matching a 2.7 K black-body curve but containing small temperature anisotropies.
Question 37
7 marksA communications mission requires continuous coverage of one equatorial ground station using one satellite. Engineers propose a circular orbit whose period equals Earth's sidereal rotation period.
Response - Question 37
7 marksQuestion 38
7 marksA remote workshop uses an electric motor to drive machinery and a rotating generator to recover energy during braking. Both devices contain coils in magnetic fields.
Response - Question 38
7 marksQuestion 39
7 marksDifferent experiments reveal reflection and refraction, interference and diffraction, black-body spectra, and electron emission from illuminated metals.
Response - Question 39
7 marksQuestion 40
7 marksAtomic models developed through observations including cathode rays, alpha-particle scattering, line spectra, electron diffraction and probability distributions for electron position.
Response - Question 40
7 marksWorked Solutions And Marking Guide
General marking principles
- Award credit for physically accurate equivalent wording and logically equivalent calculations.
- For discrete calculations, award each operation only once and carry forward a student's consistent earlier value where appropriate.
- For integrated responses, use the quality bands and indicative content together; the content is not a point-by-point tally.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 1
Answer: A circular equatorial orbit with a 24-hour period in Earth's direction of rotation
Matching Earth's angular velocity is not sufficient by itself: the orbit must also be circular, equatorial and prograde.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 2
Answer: 16 V
Using Vs/Vp = Ns/Np gives Vs = 240 × 80/1200 = 16 V. The turns ratio therefore reduces the voltage by a factor of fifteen.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 3
Answer: It increases in direct proportion to wavelength.
The small-angle relationship Delta y = lambda L/d shows that fringe spacing is directly proportional to wavelength.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 4
Answer: Mass number A - 4 and atomic number Z - 2
An alpha particle contains two protons and two neutrons, so the parent loses four nucleons and two units of charge.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 5
Answer: Its vertical component is zero while its horizontal component remains non-zero.
Gravity removes the upward velocity component momentarily, while no horizontal force changes the horizontal component.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 6
Answer: Its field opposes the increase in magnetic flux through the loop.
Lenz's law requires the induced magnetic effect to oppose the change that produces it, not simply the original field.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 7
Answer: The photoelectric current increases, but the maximum electron kinetic energy is unchanged.
Greater intensity supplies more photons per second, while each photon retains the same energy hf.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 8
Answer: 1/8
Thirty-six hours is three half-lives, leaving (1/2)^3 = 1/8 of the original nuclei.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 9
Answer: It becomes four times as large.
Because Fc = mv^2/r, doubling speed while mass and radius stay fixed multiplies the force by four.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 10
Answer: 1/25
At fixed transmitted power, current falls by five; because Ploss = I^2R, the loss falls by a factor of 25.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 11
Answer: 2.00 × 10^8 m s^-1
The speed is v = c/n = 3.00 × 10^8/1.50 = 2.00 × 10^8 m s^-1. Frequency remains fixed at the boundary while wavelength changes.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 12
Answer: Each element absorbs a characteristic set of photon energies associated with its electron transitions.
Quantised electron energy differences give each element a distinctive pattern of absorbed wavelengths.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 13
Answer: They are equal.
Field strength g = F/m is a property of the source and location; both force and test mass double together.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 14
Answer: When the plane of the loop is parallel to the field
Torque NIAB sin(theta) is maximum when the loop's normal is perpendicular to the field, so its plane is parallel.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 15
Answer: Only transverse oscillations can be restricted to one plane perpendicular to propagation.
A preferred oscillation plane can be selected only when the disturbance has transverse directions.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 16
Answer: Space is expanding so distant galaxies are generally receding from one another.
The systematic increase of wavelength is consistent with recession in an expanding universe.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 17
Answer: It enters an elliptical orbit with the burn point as apoapsis.
The retrograde burn lowers speed and orbital energy; at that radius the satellite is slower than circular speed and falls towards a lower periapsis.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 18
Answer: Upward
For a positive charge, v cross B gives east cross north, which points upward.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 19
Answer: 3.31 × 10^-19 J
E = hc/lambda = (6.626 × 10^-34)(3.00 × 10^8)/(600 × 10^-9) = 3.31 × 10^-19 J.
Section I: Objective-response questions Question 20
Answer: uud
Two up quarks and one down quark give charge +2/3 +2/3 -1/3 = +1 elementary charge.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 21
- Using vertical motion, 44.1 = 0.5 × 9.8 x t^2 gives t = 3.00 s.
- Horizontal velocity remains 18.0 m s^-1, so x = vt = 18.0 × 3.00.
- The instrument lands 54.0 m horizontally from the release point.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Using vertical motion, 44.1 = 0.5 × 9.8 x t^2 gives t = 3.00 s.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Horizontal velocity remains 18.0 m s^-1, so x = vt = 18.0 × 3.00.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The instrument lands 54.0 m horizontally from the release point.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 22
- Vs/Vp = Ns/Np gives Vs = 240 × 80/1200 = 16.0 V.
- The secondary current is Is = P/Vs = 120/16.0 = 7.50 A.
- For an ideal transformer Ip = P/Vp = 120/240 = 0.500 A.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Vs/Vp = Ns/Np gives Vs = 240 × 80/1200 = 16.0 V.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The secondary current is Is = P/Vs = 120/16.0 = 7.50 A.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: For an ideal transformer Ip = P/Vp = 120/240 = 0.500 A.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 23
- For small angles, Delta y = lambda L/d.
- Substitution gives Delta y = (520 × 10^-9)(2.00)/(0.300 × 10^-3).
- The fringe separation is 3.47 × 10^-3 m, or 3.47 mm.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: For small angles, Delta y = lambda L/d.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Substitution gives Delta y = (520 × 10^-9)(2.00)/(0.300 × 10^-3).
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The fringe separation is 3.47 × 10^-3 m, or 3.47 mm.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 24
(a) Subtracting background gives 760, 380, 190, 95 and 48 counts s^-1, so the corrected rate halves every 3.0 h and the half-life is 3.0 h.
Subtracting background gives 760, 380, 190, 95 and 48 counts s^-1, so the corrected rate halves every 3.0 h and the half-life is 3.0 h.
(b) At 12 h the corrected activity is 128 - 80 = 48 counts s^-1.
At 12 h the corrected activity is 128 - 80 = 48 counts s^-1.
Detailed marking criteria
Part (a) (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Subtracting background gives 760, 380, 190, 95 and 48 counts s^-1, so the corrected rate halves every 3.0 h and the half-life is 3.0 h.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Part (b) (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: At 12 h the corrected activity is 128 - 80 = 48 counts s^-1.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 25
- Equating gravitational and centripetal force gives v = sqrt(GM_E/r) = 7.55 × 10^3 m s^-1.
- The orbit circumference is 2 pi r, so T = 2 pi r/v.
- The period is 5.83 × 10^3 s, or about 97.2 minutes.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Equating gravitational and centripetal force gives v = sqrt(GM_E/r) = 7.55 × 10^3 m s^-1.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The orbit circumference is 2 pi r, so T = 2 pi r/v.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The period is 5.83 × 10^3 s, or about 97.2 minutes.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 26
- F = BIL sin 90 degrees = (0.350)(4.00)(0.120).
- The force magnitude is 0.168 N.
- Its direction is perpendicular to both current and field, found from the conventional-current right-hand rule.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: F = BIL sin 90 degrees = (0.350)(4.00)(0.120).
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The force magnitude is 0.168 N.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Its direction is perpendicular to both current and field, found from the conventional-current right-hand rule.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 27
- At the critical angle, sin theta_c = n_air/n_glass = 1.00/1.48.
- The critical angle is theta_c = 42.5 degrees.
- Total internal reflection occurs for incidence inside the glass at angles greater than 42.5 degrees, measured from the normal.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: At the critical angle, sin theta_c = n_air/n_glass = 1.00/1.48.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The critical angle is theta_c = 42.5 degrees.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Total internal reflection occurs for incidence inside the glass at angles greater than 42.5 degrees, measured from the normal.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 28
- The mass defect is (2.014102 + 3.016049) - (4.002603 + 1.008665) = 0.018883 u.
- Using E = Delta mc^2 gives E = 0.018883 × 931.5 MeV.
- The released energy is 17.59 MeV, or about 2.82 × 10^-12 J.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The mass defect is (2.014102 + 3.016049) - (4.002603 + 1.008665) = 0.018883 u.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Using E = Delta mc^2 gives E = 0.018883 × 931.5 MeV.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The released energy is 17.59 MeV, or about 2.82 × 10^-12 J.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 29
- Momentum conservation gives (0.400)(6.00) = (1.000)v, so v = 2.40 m s^-1 east.
- Initial kinetic energy is 7.20 J and final kinetic energy is 2.88 J.
- The kinetic energy transformed to sound, heat and deformation is 4.32 J.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Momentum conservation gives (0.400)(6.00) = (1.000)v, so v = 2.40 m s^-1 east.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Initial kinetic energy is 7.20 J and final kinetic energy is 2.88 J.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The kinetic energy transformed to sound, heat and deformation is 4.32 J.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 30
- The flux change per turn is 1.80 mWb = 1.80 × 10^-3 Wb.
- Faraday's law gives |emf| = N|Delta Phi|/Delta t.
- The average induced emf is 250 × 1.80 × 10^-3/0.040 = 11.25 V.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The flux change per turn is 1.80 mWb = 1.80 × 10^-3 Wb.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Faraday's law gives |emf| = N|Delta Phi|/Delta t.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The average induced emf is 250 × 1.80 × 10^-3/0.040 = 11.25 V.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 31
- Photon energy is hc/lambda = 4.97 × 10^-19 J, so Kmax = 1.77 × 10^-19 J.
- The stopping potential satisfies eVs = Kmax.
- Vs = 1.77 × 10^-19/(1.602 × 10^-19) = 1.10 V.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Photon energy is hc/lambda = 4.97 × 10^-19 J, so Kmax = 1.77 × 10^-19 J.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The stopping potential satisfies eVs = Kmax.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Vs = 1.77 × 10^-19/(1.602 × 10^-19) = 1.10 V.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 32
- Converting the peak wavelength gives lambda_max = 500 × 10^-9 m, so T = (2.898 × 10^-3)/(500 × 10^-9) = 5.80 × 10^3 K.
- Hydrogen atoms in the star's cooler outer atmosphere absorb photons whose energies match allowed electron transitions.
- The matching 486 nm line therefore identifies hydrogen in the outer atmosphere, while the continuum peak provides the surface-temperature estimate.
Detailed marking criteria
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Converting the peak wavelength gives lambda_max = 500 × 10^-9 m, so T = (2.898 × 10^-3)/(500 × 10^-9) = 5.80 × 10^3 K.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: Hydrogen atoms in the star's cooler outer atmosphere absorb photons whose energies match allowed electron transitions.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Integrated response (1 mark)
Awards one mark for this independently observable operation or conclusion: The matching 486 nm line therefore identifies hydrogen in the outer atmosphere, while the continuum peak provides the surface-temperature estimate.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept an equivalent equation, method, unit convention or physically accurate statement applied to the supplied context.
Do not credit by itself: States a formula or fact without the substitution, direction, unit or evidence link required by this criterion.
Section II: Written-response questions Question 33
- The required centripetal acceleration is v^2/r = 13.1 m s^-2 towards the centre.
- Gravity alone provides 9.8 m s^-2, less than the required centripetal acceleration.
- An additional inward force of m(v^2/r - g) is therefore required from the track and restraints.
- The inward track force is about 1.72 × 10^3 N, so the carriage cannot be treated as just losing contact at this speed.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response shows correct quantitative working with appropriate values and units and supports the required judgement with relevant physics.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 4 | Provides a clear, integrated and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Assess whether gravity alone can provide the required centripetal force at the top and explain the implication for the track force' and shows correct quantitative working with appropriate values and units and supports the required judgement with relevant physics. |
| 3 | Addresses most task components with relevant physics, but quantitative working and the supported judgement is uneven. |
| 2 | Provides some relevant physical information, but quantitative working and the supported judgement is incomplete. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Section II: Written-response questions Question 34
- At fixed power, the 110 kV option carries one-fifth of the current of the 22 kV option.
- Its I^2R line loss is therefore one twenty-fifth as large for the same cable resistance.
- Lower current also reduces voltage drop and heating, improving delivery efficiency.
- The higher voltage is preferred for transmission; the large loss ratio is robust to small measurement uncertainty, but insulation, clearance, transformer cost and non-ideal losses must be included in a real design.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response uses the relevant information from the stimulus, makes the required physics comparison explicit, and supports the required judgement with relevant physics.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 4 | Provides a clear, integrated and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Evaluate which voltage should be used, including the effect of measurement uncertainty and one practical limitation of the comparison' and uses the relevant information from the stimulus, makes the required physics comparison explicit, and supports the required judgement with relevant physics. |
| 3 | Addresses most task components with relevant physics, but use of the stimulus, the required comparison, and the supported judgement is uneven. |
| 2 | Provides some relevant physical information, but use of the stimulus, the required comparison, and the supported judgement is incomplete. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Section II: Written-response questions Question 35
- The two openings act as coherent sources whose waves overlap on the screen.
- Bright bands occur where path difference gives constructive interference and dark bands where destructive interference occurs.
- Removing one opening removes the superposition of two coherent waves and therefore the regular interference pattern.
- The observations strongly support a wave model for propagation, although they do not by themselves exclude photon behaviour in emission or detection.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response uses the relevant information from the stimulus and supports the required judgement with relevant physics.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 4 | Provides a clear, integrated and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Evaluate how these observations support a wave model of light' and uses the relevant information from the stimulus and supports the required judgement with relevant physics. |
| 3 | Addresses most task components with relevant physics, but use of the stimulus and the supported judgement is uneven. |
| 2 | Provides some relevant physical information, but use of the stimulus and the supported judgement is incomplete. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Section II: Written-response questions Question 36
- A thermal spectrum is expected from radiation that was once in equilibrium with hot, dense matter.
- Expansion stretches photon wavelengths and cools the radiation to the present microwave temperature.
- Near isotropy supports a universe that was broadly homogeneous, while small anisotropies provide seeds for later structure.
- The evidence strongly supports a hot early universe when combined with expansion and light-element abundances, although parameter estimates still depend on a cosmological model.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response uses the relevant information from the stimulus and supports the required judgement with relevant physics.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 5 | Provides a thorough, coherent and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Evaluate how this evidence supports an expanding hot-universe model', uses the relevant information from the stimulus and supports the required judgement with relevant physics, and uses precise physics terminology. |
| 3-4 | Provides a sound response addressing most task components with mostly accurate physics; use of the stimulus and the supported judgement may contain a minor omission. |
| 2 | Provides some relevant physics, but use of the stimulus and the supported judgement is incomplete. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Section II: Written-response questions Question 37
- The orbit must lie in Earth's equatorial plane so the satellite does not appear to move north and south.
- It must travel prograde with angular speed equal to Earth's rotation so its longitude remains fixed.
- Equating gravity and centripetal force with the sidereal period determines one geostationary orbital radius rather than any 24-hour radius.
- Launch energy must raise the satellite's gravitational potential energy and establish the required tangential orbital speed.
- A transfer orbit and final circularisation burn can achieve the orbit while conserving energy between powered manoeuvres.
- The model neglects lunar, solar and non-spherical Earth perturbations, so station-keeping propellant is required.
- The design supplies continuous regional coverage but has signal delay, high launch-energy demand and poor coverage at high latitudes, which must be weighed against multi-satellite alternatives.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response develops the relevant physical relationships in a logically connected explanation.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 7 | Provides a thorough, coherent and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Analyse the additional orbital requirements, energy considerations and limitations of the proposal', develops the relevant physical relationships in a logically connected explanation, and uses precise physics terminology. |
| 5-6 | Provides a sound response addressing most task components with mostly accurate physics; development of the scientific explanation may contain a minor omission. |
| 3-4 | Demonstrates some relevant physics, but development of the scientific explanation is incomplete or only partly connected. |
| 2 | Provides limited relevant physical information with little connected development. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Section II: Written-response questions Question 38
- In the motor, current-carrying conductors experience opposite magnetic forces that produce torque on the coil.
- The split-ring or electronic commutation maintains torque in a useful rotational direction.
- Electrical energy is converted principally to mechanical energy by the motor.
- In the generator, rotation changes magnetic flux through coils and induces an emf according to Faraday's law.
- Lenz's law makes the induced current oppose the change, producing the braking torque while mechanical energy becomes electrical energy.
- Resistance, eddy currents, hysteresis, friction, sound and aerodynamic drag transform some input energy to heat or other unwanted forms.
- Energy conservation therefore permits high efficiency but requires total useful output to remain below input; measured input and output power are needed for a supported efficiency claim.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response supports the required judgement with relevant physics.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 7 | Provides a thorough, coherent and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Analyse the operation of the motor and generator and assess why neither device can achieve 100% energy efficiency', supports the required judgement with relevant physics, and uses precise physics terminology. |
| 5-6 | Provides a sound response addressing most task components with mostly accurate physics; the supported judgement may contain a minor omission. |
| 3-4 | Demonstrates some relevant physics, but the supported judgement is incomplete or only partly connected. |
| 2 | Provides limited relevant physical information with little connected development. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Section II: Written-response questions Question 39
- Geometrical ray models efficiently predict reflection and refraction but do not explain interference structure.
- Interference and diffraction require phase and superposition, providing strong evidence for a wave model.
- Maxwell's theory identifies light as a transverse electromagnetic wave and accounts for its speed in vacuum.
- Classical wave ideas fail to explain the photoelectric threshold frequency and immediate emission at low intensity.
- The photon model uses E = hf to explain discrete energy transfer and the stopping-potential relationship.
- Single-photon detections coexist with probability distributions that form wave-like interference patterns.
- The modern model is selected by the phenomenon: wave mathematics predicts propagation probabilities while quantised photons describe energy-momentum exchanges.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response uses the relevant information from the stimulus.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 7 | Provides a thorough, coherent and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Analyse how evidence changed scientific models of light and explain why modern physics retains both wave and photon descriptions', uses the relevant information from the stimulus, and uses precise physics terminology. |
| 5-6 | Provides a sound response addressing most task components with mostly accurate physics; use of the stimulus may contain a minor omission. |
| 3-4 | Demonstrates some relevant physics, but use of the stimulus is incomplete or only partly connected. |
| 2 | Provides limited relevant physical information with little connected development. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Section II: Written-response questions Question 40
- Cathode-ray deflection established a universal negatively charged constituent and made an indivisible-atom model untenable.
- Rutherford scattering showed that positive charge and most mass occupy a very small nucleus, replacing the diffuse positive-sphere model.
- Discrete line spectra demonstrated quantised atomic energy changes that classical planetary electrons could not explain.
- Bohr's quantised levels explained hydrogen frequencies but did not adequately describe multi-electron atoms or the basis of allowed states.
- Electron diffraction established matter-wave behaviour, supporting de Broglie's wavelength relation.
- Schrodinger's wave equation predicts orbitals as probability distributions rather than fixed classical paths and yields quantised states from boundary conditions.
- The sequence shows models are retained, limited or replaced according to predictive agreement with reproducible evidence rather than treated as literal pictures of inaccessible particles.
Question-specific marking approach
Read the response as a whole and match its demonstrated quality to the best-fitting band. Indicative content is non-exhaustive.
Overall response quality
Award marks holistically using the quality bands below. The indicative content identifies possible evidence and is not a point tally.
Acceptable alternatives: Accept other physically accurate, relevant and well-supported approaches that complete the stated task.
Do not credit by itself: Do not award the top band unless the response uses the relevant information from the stimulus.
Holistic marking bands
| Marks | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| 7 | Provides a thorough, coherent and scientifically accurate response that completes the task 'Analyse how these observations drove changes from early atomic models to the quantum-mechanical model', uses the relevant information from the stimulus, and uses precise physics terminology. |
| 5-6 | Provides a sound response addressing most task components with mostly accurate physics; use of the stimulus may contain a minor omission. |
| 3-4 | Demonstrates some relevant physics, but use of the stimulus is incomplete or only partly connected. |
| 2 | Provides limited relevant physical information with little connected development. |
| 1 | States one relevant physical principle, relationship or observation. |
Diagnostic Checklist
| Review focus | Section | Reflection and next action |
|---|---|---|
| Module 5 - Advanced Mechanics | 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37 | Revise projectile, circular and orbital motion, gravitation, energy and momentum. |
| Module 6 - Electromagnetism | 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38 | Practise fields, forces, motors, generators, induction, transformers, AC and power transmission. |
| Module 7 - The Nature of Light | 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39 | Connect wave and photon models to interference, diffraction, polarisation, spectra, the photoelectric effect and special relativity. |
| Module 8 - From the Universe to the Atom | 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 | Review atomic and nuclear models, radioactivity, the Standard Model, stellar evidence and cosmology. |