CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter P1
Exam-style questions • Avoid the balling rolling to the side of
the track[1]
1 D[1]
• Measure the distance without introducing
2 B[1] parallax error.[1]
25.8 ± 3.3 cm or better 26 ± 3 cm[1]
3 a  Suggested improvements:

b 2.80 ± 0.18 cm or better 2.8 ± 0.2 cm[1] • Take readings at about five values of s

and plot a graph of T2 against s.[1]
c 
24.0 ± 0.1 g[1] • Take a video of the ball rolling down the
4 a 
1.1 ± 0.1 V[1] ramp with a timer in the background and
0.7 ± 0.1 V[1] play it back frame by frame[1]
• Use a metal ball, held to an electromagnet
b If R = kl then the two values of k are
at the same start position each time,
0.0440 Ω cm−1 and 0.0467 Ω cm−1[1]
turning off the magnet to start the ball.[1]
The criterion is that if the resistance
• Use longer distances.[1]
is proportional to length, then the
percentage difference in the values of k is • Have a groove down the middle of the
less than the percentage uncertainty in the track.[1]
value of V.[1] • Always view from directly above the
Percentage difference in k values mark on the track when using a rule.[1]
= 00..044
27
= 0.6%[1] • (Maximum [8] marks: [4] for the
problems, and the other [4] for solutions/
Percentage uncertainty in lowest value of improvements.)
V is 14%, so the data is consistent with R
proportional to l.[1] 6 a 
Values for m correct and to the same
number of significant figures, or one
5 Apart from taking only two readings, which is more than data[1]
not enough, it is difficult to:
Values for T correct and to the same
• Release the ball without giving it an initial number of significant figures, or one
velocity[1] more than data[1]
• Start the stopwatch as the ball is released[1] Mass / g T20 / s T/s
• Stop the stopwatch exactly as the ball m / g0.5
crosses the line[1] 20 12.2 4.5 0.610
• Release the ball exactly on the line[1] 50 15.0 7.1 0.750
• Measure small times that are not much 100 18.7 10.0 0.935
larger than reaction times[1]
150 21.8 12.2 1.090
200 24.5 14.1 1.225
190 24.0 13.8 1.200

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

1.4 d, e   See comments for experiment 2, plus the

1.2 difficulty of measuring to the middle
of the trolley for l and s (measure from
1.0
end of trolley and add on half the
0.8 length of a trolley found separately),
T/s
0.6 difficulties that may occur as the toy car
0.4 hits the straight section (have a slightly
curved join), and difficulties with the
0.2
car not running straight (have wheels in
0.0 grooves)[8]
0 5 10 15
m / g 0.5  (Marks: [1] for each sensible source of
 
uncertainty, to a maximum of [4]; and
b S
 ensible axes used and labelled with
[1] for each sensible improvement, to a
quantity and unit[1]
maximum of [4])
All points plotted to within half a
8 a 
Average value of voltage was 5.9 V and
small square[1]
uncertainty is ±0.2 or possibly 0.3 V
All points close to line[1]
Percentage uncertainty is between 3%
Line of best fit correct[1] and 5%[1]
c  radient drawn with more than half
G b i  0.42 °C V−2[1]
length of drawn line; value between and 0.35 °C V−2[1]
0.062 and 0.064[1] ii Two sig. figs, as V was measured to 2
y-intercept between 0.30 and 0.32[1] sig. figs and θ was measured to 3 sig.
figs. Choose the lower number.[1]
 = value given for y-intercept with
d C
unit s, e.g. 0.31 s[1] iii 
Percentage difference in values of
k is 18%. This is larger than the 5%
k = value given for gradient with uncertainty in V (which is larger than
unit, e.g. 0.063 s g−0.5[1] the percentage uncertainty in the value
7 a i 127 cm[1] of θ). Thus, the data is not consistent
ii 3 cm[1] with the suggested relationship.[1]
2%[1] c Only two voltage readings is not enough.[1]
iii 4.7 s[1] The voltmeter reading fluctuates because
of contact resistance.[1]
iv 0.1 s[1]
The voltmeter reading fluctuates because
2%[1] of a change in mains voltage.[1]
When l = 40 cm, v = 27 cm s−1;
b i  The voltmeter reading falls because
when l = 60 cm, v = 38 cm s−1[1] the resistance of the wire changes as it
ii Two sig. figs, as this was the lower of heats up.[1]
the number of sig. figs for s (3 sig. figs) The temperature increases after the switch
and t (2 sig. figs)[1] is turned off (while heat passes from the
resistor to the water).[1]
c  = sl = 3.175 and 3.167; the percentage
i k
(Maximum of [4] marks)
difference in k values is 0.26%[1]
d Clean the wires first.[1]
This is less than the percentage
Use a car battery.[1]
uncertainty in s = 2%, so the data is
consistent with s proportional to l.[1] Use a metal whose resistance changes
little with temperature.[1]
ii v2/l = 59 and 24[1]
Use more than two voltages and plot a
Percentage difference 130% much graph of θ against V2. or Calculate more
larger than percentage uncertainty than two values of k.[1]
in v and so not consistent[1] Stir well and take the highest reading on
the thermometer after switching off.[1]
(Maximum of [4] marks)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020