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QCE Physics Units 3&4 — Paper 2 Question and Response Book

QCE Physics Units 3&4 — Paper 2 Question and Response Book — Free Online Pack 0

Read QCE Physics Units 3&4 — Paper 2 Question and Response Book online for free, including every question, worked solution, marking note and diagnostic action. No public PDF download or checkout is provided.

QCE Units 3&4 External Examination 2026 Edition - Pack 0 v1.0
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Exam-pack paper structure

This full-length showcase paper is available to read online.

QCE Physics Units 3&4 — Paper 2 Question and Response Book

9 questions

50 marks

Estimated duration: Perusal time 5 minutes; working time 90 minutes

Reading: 5 minutes perusal · Writing: 90 minutes

Read QCE Physics Units 3&4 — Paper 2 Question and Response Book online

Skill Align

Skill Align QCE Physics - Free Online Pack 0 Paper 2

An independently authored QCE Physics practice paper with worked answers and question-specific marking guidance.

Paper
Paper 2 Question and Response Book
Reading
5 minutes perusal
Writing
90 minutes
Assessment
50 marks

The current QCAA Physics formula and data book is supplied separately. A QCAA-approved scientific or graphics calculator may be used.

Short-response questions

Questions 1-9 are short response. Answer every part, show relevant working and justify interpretations using the supplied evidence.

Question 1

2 marks
Stimulus

A survey boat moves at 4.00 m s^-1 east relative to the water. The river current is 3.00 m s^-1 north.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
(a) 2 marks
Determine the boat's velocity relative to the riverbank.

Question 2

5 marks
Stimulus

An ideal transformer supplies a 36.0 W field instrument. Its 1500-turn primary is connected to 240 V AC and its secondary has 75 turns.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
Diagram Preview
AC supply 240 V ideal step-down transformer primary: 1500 turns secondary: 75 turns instrument circuit 36.0 W
(a) 2 marks
Calculate the secondary voltage.
(b) 2 marks
Determine the primary and secondary currents.
(c) 1 mark
Explain why the two currents differ in the ideal model.

Question 3

5 marks
Stimulus

A maglev carriage has proper length 120 m and passes an inertial track observer at 0.750c.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
(a) 3 marks
Calculate the carriage length measured by the track observer.
(b) 2 marks
Explain how the track observer must define the two endpoint positions for this measurement.

Question 4

8 marks
Stimulus

Star A has a black-body peak at 480 nm and Star B has a peak at 620 nm. Both spectra are broad and contain narrow absorption lines. Use b = 2.898 x 10^-3 m K.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
(a) 3 marks
Determine the surface temperature indicated for each star.
(b) 3 marks
Analyse what the continuous curves and narrow absorption lines represent.
(c) 2 marks
Interpret one limitation of treating each star as an ideal black body.

Question 5

5 marks
Stimulus

A high-energy electron and positron collide and form a muon-antimuon pair: e- + e+ -> mu- + mu+.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
(a) 2 marks
Classify all four particles in the Standard Model.
(b) 3 marks
Apply the relevant conservation laws to this interaction.

Question 6

11 marks
Stimulus

A mapping satellite follows a circular orbit 500 km above Mars. Mars has radius 3.39 x 10^6 m and GM_M = 4.283 x 10^13 m^3 s^-2.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
Diagram Preview
Mars mapping satellite 500 km circular orbit
(a) 3 marks
Determine the orbital radius and gravitational-field strength at the satellite.
(b) 4 marks
Calculate the orbital speed and period.
(c) 4 marks
Interpret the force and energy model for the circular orbit.

Question 7

5 marks
Stimulus

A 400-turn coil of area 0.0150 m^2 is perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field. The field increases uniformly from 0.100 T to 0.580 T in 0.240 s.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
(a) 3 marks
Calculate the magnitude of the average induced emf.
(b) 2 marks
Explain the direction and energy source of the induced current when the circuit is closed.

Question 8

4 marks
Stimulus

A probe clock passes two beacons at rest in one inertial laboratory. The laboratory measures 10.0 s between the passage events, while the probe moves at 0.800c.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
(a) 3 marks
Determine the time recorded by the probe clock between the events.
(b) 1 mark
Explain why this does not contradict the invariance of light speed.

Question 9

5 marks
Stimulus

A hydrogen atom emits a photon when its electron changes from n = 3 to n = 2. Use E_n = -13.6 eV/n^2 and 1 eV = 1.602 x 10^-19 J.

Use the following stimulus to answer all parts of this question.
Diagram Preview
Hydrogen emission n = 3, -1.51 eV n = 2, -3.40 eV n = 1, -13.6 eV downward transition 656 nm photon
(a) 3 marks
Determine the photon energy.
(b) 2 marks
Calculate its wavelength and identify the process as emission or absorption.

QCE and QCAA external assessments are administered by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). Skill Align is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with, authorised by, sponsored by, approved by, or endorsed by QCAA or the Queensland Government.

Copyright (c) 2026 Skill Align. Free for personal, non-commercial online viewing at https://skillalign.au. You may share the Skill Align page link. Except as permitted by law or with Skill Align's prior written permission, the pack itself must not be resold, copied, redistributed, republished, automatically extracted, or uploaded to a question bank. Every question, dataset, answer and marking description in this pack is original Skill Align content.

Worked Solutions And Marking Guide

General marking principles

  • Award each listed mark independently when the required physical relationship, working step or evidence statement is demonstrated.
  • Accept physically correct equivalent wording and logically equivalent calculations with appropriate units.
  • Carry forward a candidate's earlier numerical value when later working is physically consistent, unless the resulting answer is impossible.

Question 1

(a)
  • The perpendicular components give speed sqrt(4.00^2 + 3.00^2) = 5.00 m s^-1.
  • The direction is tan^-1(3.00/4.00) = 36.9 degrees north of east.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The perpendicular components give speed sqrt(4.00^2 + 3.00^2) = 5.00 m s^-1.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The direction is tan^-1(3.00/4.00) = 36.9 degrees north of east.

Question 2

(a)
  • The turns relationship is V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p = 75/1500.
  • V_s = 240 x 75/1500 = 12.0 V.
(b)
  • The secondary current is I_s = P/V_s = 36.0/12.0 = 3.00 A.
  • The primary current is I_p = P/V_p = 36.0/240 = 0.150 A.
(c)
  • Ideal power conservation requires V_pI_p = V_sI_s, so the lower-voltage winding carries the proportionally larger current.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The turns relationship is V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p = 75/1500.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: V_s = 240 x 75/1500 = 12.0 V.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The secondary current is I_s = P/V_s = 36.0/12.0 = 3.00 A.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The primary current is I_p = P/V_p = 36.0/240 = 0.150 A.

Part c (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Ideal power conservation requires V_pI_p = V_sI_s, so the lower-voltage winding carries the proportionally larger current.

Question 3

(a)
  • The proper length 120 m is measured in the carriage rest frame.
  • At 0.750c, gamma = 1/sqrt(1 - 0.750^2) = 1.512.
  • The track-frame length is L = L_0/gamma = 120/1.512 = 79.4 m.
(b)
  • The track observer records the positions of the front and rear at the same track-frame time.
  • Simultaneous endpoint measurements are necessary because the carriage moves between non-simultaneous observations.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The proper length 120 m is measured in the carriage rest frame.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: At 0.750c, gamma = 1/sqrt(1 - 0.750^2) = 1.512.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The track-frame length is L = L_0/gamma = 120/1.512 = 79.4 m.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The track observer records the positions of the front and rear at the same track-frame time.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Simultaneous endpoint measurements are necessary because the carriage moves between non-simultaneous observations.

Question 4

(a)
  • For Star A, T_A = b/lambda_max = 2.898 x 10^-3/(480 x 10^-9) = 6.04 x 10^3 K.
  • For Star B, T_B = 2.898 x 10^-3/(620 x 10^-9) = 4.67 x 10^3 K.
  • The shorter-wavelength peak therefore identifies Star A as hotter.
(b)
  • The broad continuum approximates thermal radiation from a dense photosphere.
  • The peak position provides a temperature estimate through Wien's displacement law.
  • Narrow dark lines arise when cooler outer gas absorbs photons at element-specific transition energies.
(c)
  • Real stellar atmospheres alter the spectrum through absorption, scattering and wavelength-dependent opacity.
  • Consequently the Wien temperature is a model-based effective surface estimate rather than a complete description of every atmospheric layer.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: For Star A, T_A = b/lambda_max = 2.898 x 10^-3/(480 x 10^-9) = 6.04 x 10^3 K.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: For Star B, T_B = 2.898 x 10^-3/(620 x 10^-9) = 4.67 x 10^3 K.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The shorter-wavelength peak therefore identifies Star A as hotter.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The broad continuum approximates thermal radiation from a dense photosphere.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The peak position provides a temperature estimate through Wien's displacement law.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Narrow dark lines arise when cooler outer gas absorbs photons at element-specific transition energies.

Part c (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Real stellar atmospheres alter the spectrum through absorption, scattering and wavelength-dependent opacity.

Part c (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Consequently the Wien temperature is a model-based effective surface estimate rather than a complete description of every atmospheric layer.

Question 5

(a)
  • The electron and muon are negatively charged leptons from different generations.
  • The positron and antimuon are their positively charged antiparticles.
(b)
  • Total electric charge is zero before and after the interaction.
  • Total lepton number is zero before and after because each lepton is paired with an antilepton.
  • Baryon number remains zero because no baryons participate.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The electron and muon are negatively charged leptons from different generations.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The positron and antimuon are their positively charged antiparticles.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Total electric charge is zero before and after the interaction.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Total lepton number is zero before and after because each lepton is paired with an antilepton.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Baryon number remains zero because no baryons participate.

Question 6

(a)
  • The orbital radius is r = 3.39 x 10^6 + 0.500 x 10^6 = 3.89 x 10^6 m.
  • The field strength is g = GM_M/r^2.
  • Substitution gives g = 4.283 x 10^13/(3.89 x 10^6)^2 = 2.83 m s^-2.
(b)
  • Equating gravitational and centripetal acceleration gives v = sqrt(GM_M/r).
  • The speed is v = sqrt(4.283 x 10^13/3.89 x 10^6) = 3.32 x 10^3 m s^-1.
  • The period relationship is T = 2pi r/v.
  • T = 2pi(3.89 x 10^6)/(3.32 x 10^3) = 7.37 x 10^3 s, or about 123 min.
(c)
  • Gravity is the only modelled force and points continuously towards the centre of Mars.
  • The gravitational force supplies centripetal acceleration and changes velocity direction rather than speed.
  • The satellite's kinetic and gravitational potential energies remain constant in the ideal circular orbit.
  • Atmospheric drag, non-spherical gravity and external bodies are neglected, so a real low orbiter may require corrections.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The orbital radius is r = 3.39 x 10^6 + 0.500 x 10^6 = 3.89 x 10^6 m.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The field strength is g = GM_M/r^2.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Substitution gives g = 4.283 x 10^13/(3.89 x 10^6)^2 = 2.83 m s^-2.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Equating gravitational and centripetal acceleration gives v = sqrt(GM_M/r).

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The speed is v = sqrt(4.283 x 10^13/3.89 x 10^6) = 3.32 x 10^3 m s^-1.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The period relationship is T = 2pi r/v.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: T = 2pi(3.89 x 10^6)/(3.32 x 10^3) = 7.37 x 10^3 s, or about 123 min.

Part c (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Gravity is the only modelled force and points continuously towards the centre of Mars.

Part c (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The gravitational force supplies centripetal acceleration and changes velocity direction rather than speed.

Part c (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The satellite's kinetic and gravitational potential energies remain constant in the ideal circular orbit.

Part c (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Atmospheric drag, non-spherical gravity and external bodies are neglected, so a real low orbiter may require corrections.

Question 7

(a)
  • The flux change per turn is Delta Phi = A Delta B = (0.0150)(0.480) = 7.20 x 10^-3 Wb.
  • Faraday's law gives |emf| = N Delta Phi/Delta t.
  • The average emf is 400(7.20 x 10^-3)/0.240 = 12.0 V.
(b)
  • The induced field opposes the increase in magnetic flux, as required by Lenz's law.
  • Mechanical or electrical work done by the apparatus changing the field supplies the energy dissipated in the coil circuit.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The flux change per turn is Delta Phi = A Delta B = (0.0150)(0.480) = 7.20 x 10^-3 Wb.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Faraday's law gives |emf| = N Delta Phi/Delta t.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The average emf is 400(7.20 x 10^-3)/0.240 = 12.0 V.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The induced field opposes the increase in magnetic flux, as required by Lenz's law.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Mechanical or electrical work done by the apparatus changing the field supplies the energy dissipated in the coil circuit.

Question 8

(a)
  • The probe clock is present at both passage events, so its reading is the proper time Delta t_0.
  • At 0.800c, gamma = 1.667.
  • Delta t_0 = Delta t/gamma = 10.0/1.667 = 6.00 s.
(b)
  • Special relativity permits different elapsed times between separated events while every inertial frame still measures light in vacuum at c.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The probe clock is present at both passage events, so its reading is the proper time Delta t_0.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: At 0.800c, gamma = 1.667.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Delta t_0 = Delta t/gamma = 10.0/1.667 = 6.00 s.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Special relativity permits different elapsed times between separated events while every inertial frame still measures light in vacuum at c.

Question 9

(a)
  • E_3 = -13.6/9 = -1.51 eV and E_2 = -13.6/4 = -3.40 eV.
  • The emitted photon energy is |E_2 - E_3| = 1.89 eV.
  • In joules this is (1.89)(1.602 x 10^-19) = 3.03 x 10^-19 J.
(b)
  • Lambda = hc/E = (6.626 x 10^-34)(3.00 x 10^8)/(3.03 x 10^-19) = 6.56 x 10^-7 m, about 656 nm.
  • The electron moves to a lower energy level, so the 656 nm photon is emitted.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: E_3 = -13.6/9 = -1.51 eV and E_2 = -13.6/4 = -3.40 eV.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The emitted photon energy is |E_2 - E_3| = 1.89 eV.

Part a (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: In joules this is (1.89)(1.602 x 10^-19) = 3.03 x 10^-19 J.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: Lambda = hc/E = (6.626 x 10^-34)(3.00 x 10^8)/(3.03 x 10^-19) = 6.56 x 10^-7 m, about 656 nm.

Part b (1 mark)

Awards one mark for accurately establishing this question-specific point: The electron moves to a lower energy level, so the 656 nm photon is emitted.

Diagnostic Checklist

TopicQuestionsMarksMarks LostAction
Unit 3 Topic 1 - Gravity and motion Q1, Q6 13 ___ Review vectors, projectiles, circular motion, gravitation, satellites and Kepler's laws.
Unit 3 Topic 2 - Electromagnetism Q2, Q7 10 ___ Review electric and magnetic fields, forces, induction, generators, transformers and electromagnetic radiation.
Unit 4 Topic 1 - Special relativity Q3, Q8 9 ___ Review frames, simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, momentum and mass-energy equivalence.
Unit 4 Topic 2 - Quantum theory Q4, Q9 13 ___ Review interference, black-body radiation, photons, atomic spectra and matter waves.
Unit 4 Topic 3 - The Standard Model Q5 5 ___ Review particle families, quark structure, gauge bosons, conservation laws and interaction diagrams.

What is included

Paper 1 Combined Independent Practice Book questions (51 marks)

Paper 2 Question and Response Book questions (50 marks)

Links to the current official examination resources supplied separately by the assessment authority

Worked solutions and marking guidance shown online

Diagnostic checklist shown online

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Official examination resources

Open these current official resources alongside the Skill Align paper. They remain hosted and controlled by the assessment authority and are not republished by Skill Align.

Official QCAA Physics formula and data book Current official QCAA examination resource supplied separately. Opens on the QCAA website.

Independent practice resource

Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) subjects and external assessments are administered by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). Skill Align is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with, authorised by, sponsored by, approved by, or endorsed by QCAA or the Queensland Government.

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What is included in Physics Free Online - Pack 0?

Pack 0 includes 2 full-length showcase papers, worked solutions, marking guidance and diagnostic checklists, all shown online.

Is Pack 0 really free?

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No. The questions are original Skill Align material. Skill Align is independent and is not affiliated with, authorised by, sponsored by, approved by, or endorsed by any state assessment authority.