Cambridge O Level

PHYSICS 5054/22
Paper 2 Theory May/June 2020
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 75

Published

Students did not sit exam papers in the June 2020 series due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

This mark scheme is published to support teachers and students and should be read together with the
question paper. It shows the requirements of the exam. The answer column of the mark scheme shows the
proposed basis on which Examiners would award marks for this exam. Where appropriate, this column also
provides the most likely acceptable alternative responses expected from students. Examiners usually review
the mark scheme after they have seen student responses and update the mark scheme if appropriate. In the
June series, Examiners were unable to consider the acceptability of alternative responses, as there were no
student responses to consider.

Mark schemes should usually be read together with the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers. However,
because students did not sit exam papers, there is no Principal Examiner Report for Teachers for the June
2020 series.

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

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the June 2020 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™ and Cambridge International A & AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 13 printed pages.

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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.

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5 ‘List rule’ guidance (see examples below)

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.

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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For every question with more than 2 marks, place a tick at the first place in the answer where each mark is earned.

Preamble
M marks are method marks upon which further marks depend. For an M mark to be scored, the point to which it refers must be seen in a
candidate's answer. If a candidate fails to score a particular M mark, then none of the A marks that follow can be scored.
B marks: are independent marks, which do not depend on other marks. For a B mark to scored, the point to which it refers must be seen
specifically in the candidate’s answers.
A marks In general A marks are awarded for final answers to numerical questions. If a final numerical answer, eligible for A marks, is correct,
with the correct unit and an acceptable number of significant figures, all the marks for that question are normally awarded. It is very
occasionally possible to arrive at a correct answer by an entirely wrong approach. In these rare circumstances, do not award the A
marks, but award C marks on their merits. However, correct numerical answers with no working shown gain all the marks available.
C marks are compensatory marks. These can be scored even if the point to which they refer are not written down by the candidate,
provided subsequent working gives evidence that they must have known it. For example, if an equation carries a C mark and
the candidate does not write down the actual equation but does correct substitution or working which shows he knew the equation,
then the C mark is scored.
brackets ( ) around words or units in the mark scheme are intended to indicate wording used to clarify the mark scheme, but the marks do not
depend on seeing the words or units in brackets e.g. 10 (J) means that the mark is scored for 10, regardless of the unit given.
bold indicates that this must be seen in the answer offered, or something very similar.
Spelling Be generous about spelling and English usage. Credit answers that can be understood to mean what we want.
not Indicates that an incorrect answer is not to be disregarded, and indeed may cancel another otherwise correct alternative offered by
the candidate i.e. right plus wrong penalty applies.
Ignore Indicates this is something which is not correct but is to be disregarded and does not cause a right plus wrong penalty.
ecf meaning "error carried forward" is mainly applicable to numerical questions, but may in particular circumstances, but rarely, be
applied in non-numerical questions. This indicates that if a candidate has made an earlier mistake and has carried an incorrect
value forward to subsequent stages of working, marks indicated by ecf may be awarded, provided the subsequent working is
correct, bearing in mind the earlier mistake. ecf applies from one marked section to another not within a section and should be
applied except where specifically stated.
Sig. Figs Answers are normally acceptable to any number of significant figures ⩾ 2. Any exceptions to this general rule will be specified in the
mark scheme. Any answer which when rounded to the number of sig. figs in the answer gives the answer in the scheme should be
accepted.

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Units Deduct one mark for each incorrect or missing unit from an answer that would otherwise gain all the marks available for that
answer: only 1 mark can be lost per question even for different units. No deduction is incurred if the unit is missing from the final
answer but is shown correctly in the working.
ae meaning “arithmetic error”. Deduct one mark if the only error in arriving at a final answer is clearly an arithmetic error. This
deduction is for the last mark in a series (e.g. C1, A1), a missing unit does not involve further penalty.
Transcription Deduct one mark if the only error in arriving at a final answer is because the candidate clearly made an error in copying a given
numerical value or one previously calculated, e.g. by transposing two digits. (Note: A further penalty would apply if there was also
an arithmetic error.)
Fractions e.g. ½, ¼, 1/10 are only acceptable where specified.
Crossed out Work which has been crossed out and not replaced but can easily be read, should be marked as if it had not been crossed out.
Look to see if it has been replaced by work on a blank page or nearby.
Use of NR (# key on the keyboard) Use this if the answer space for a question is completely blank or contains no readable words, figures or
symbols.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) constant gradient B1

1(b) 1 C1
use of area (under graph) or vt or average speed 4.5 (m/s)
2

9(.0) m A1

1(c) line of decreasing slope after 2 s B1

horizontal line at 12 m/s from 5.5 to 8 s B1

line, curved or straight, from (8, 12) to (11,10) B1

Question Answer Marks

2(a) 96 m B1

2(b)(i) increases B1

time unchanged but speed faster B1

2(b)(ii) decreases B1

(force of) friction larger B1

Question Answer Marks

3(a)(i) force × distance C1

force × perpendicular distance A1

3(a)(ii) smaller distance to pivot (than from P to pivot) B1

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Question Answer Marks

3(b) same / equal pressure on piston P and piston Q B1

larger area of piston Q (than piston P) B1

3(c)(i) (W = Fd) numerical or algebraic C1

12 J A1

3(c)(ii) (efficiency) = work output / work input numerical or algebraic, e.g. 400 × 0.02 / 12 C1

0.67 or 67% A1

Question Answer Marks

4(a)(i) 60° B1

4(a)(ii) 0(°) B1

4(a)(iii) back along the initial path B1

4(b) Any three of B3

• same size (as object)
• same distance (from mirror as object)
• upright
• virtual
• laterally inverted

Question Answer Marks

5(a) microwaves → satellite television B1

ultraviolet → sunbeds B1

5(b)(i) (microwaves) must pass through or not be absorbed (by container) or not reflected B1

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Question Answer Marks

5(b)(ii) convection and/or conduction named B1

(convection involves) hot liquid rises (cold liquid falls) B1

(conduction involves) energy passes from molecule to molecule B1

Question Answer Marks

6(a) worn insulation → visual check B2

loose wire in live → earth wire
cable too hot → circuit breaker

ALL three correct B2

one or two correct B1

6(b)(i) energy used by (a device of power) 1 kW for 1 hour B1

6(b)(ii) (number of kW h =) 1.2 × 20 / 60 or 0.4 seen C1

8 c A1

Question Answer Marks

7(a)(i) T and Q or U and R B1

7(a)(ii) different number of neutrons (in nucleus) B1

7(b)(i) time when decay occurs / particle emitted is not known / not constant or direction in which particle is emitted is not B1
known / can be at any angle / direction

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Question Answer Marks

7(b)(ii) 218
84 Po
B1

4 4 B1
2 α2He or

7(c)(i) electron or beta particle B1

7(c)(ii) (R gains or S has) one more proton B1

(R loses or S has) one less neutron B1

Question Answer Marks

8(a)(i) resistance decreases as temperature increases B1

current increases (and voltage constant) as temperature increases B1

8(a)(ii) volume (of liquid/gas), expansion (of solid/liquid or gas), length (of solid), pressure (of gas) length (of bimetallic strip), B1
e.m.f. (of thermocouple), colour (of liquid crystals or very hot objects)

8(b)(i) temperature of melting ice or freezing water B1

8(b)(ii) temperature of boiling water (at 1 atmosphere) B1

8(c)(i) work done / energy change ÷ charge B1

(passed through a component)

8(c)(ii) (R =) V / I in any form C1

(I = ) 0.014(0) (A) C1

260 Ω A1

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Question Answer Marks

8(c)(iii) (V across R =) 25-3.6 or 21(.4 V) C1

OR (total resistance =) 25 / 0.0014

15 000 Ω A1

8(d)(i) (a thermometer where the quantity) changes a lot per unit temperature rise / °C / same temperature rise B1

8(d)(ii) at high temperatures B1

large(r) change in current / meter deflection for unit temperature rise / °C / same temperature rise B1
or large(r) gradient

8(e) heat (thermal energy) produced in the thermistor / resistor B1

Question Answer Marks

9(a)(i) core becomes magnetised (due to current in coil) B1

iron armature attracted to core B1

contacts touch B1

9(a)(ii) steel is a permanent magnet or iron is a temporary magnet B1

with a steel core motor stays on or contacts stay closed (if switch S is opened) B1

9(a)(iii) (with relay) B1

safer or switch S connected to low voltage
or switch only handles low currents

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Question Answer Marks

9(b)(i) at least two lines inside coil and horizontal near centre and covering at least six wires of coil B1

correct shape of lines fanning out at ends of coil B1

at least two lines passing outside the coil from one end to the other B1

correct direction of field lines on at least one line and none wrong B1

9(b)(ii) N-pole on right hand side B1

9(c)(i) move magnet into / near coil or move coil C1

move magnet / coil quickly or move strong magnet A1

9(c)(ii) lines of magnetic field cut the coil or flux in coil changes B1

induced e.m.f. / voltage produced (in complete circuit) B1

Question Answer Marks

10(a)(i) filament is hot / heated B1

10(a)(ii) attracted by a positive potential or repelled by filament or filament is negative B1

10(a)(iii) 2000 × 1.6 × 10−19 C1

3.2 × 10−16 J A1

10(b)(i) two divisions C1

6(.0) V A1

10(b)(ii) 40 ms B1

10(c)(i) longitudinal B1

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Question Answer Marks

10(c)(ii) oscillation described, e.g. back and forth B1

in direction of travel (of wave / energy) or compressions and rarefactions stated or described B1

10(c)(iii) more waves seen on screen B1

higher frequency (of sound) or more waves per second or time for one wave less B1

10(d)(i) diode passes current in only one direction or current only flows for half the cycle / oscillation or current is d.c. / direct B1

10(d)(ii) at least one top half and no bottom half or one bottom half and no top half C1

three top halves of the wave and flat sections along mid line or two bottom halves of the wave and flat sections along A1
mid line

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