Mark Scheme (Results)

October 2021

Pearson Edexcel International

Advanced Subsidiary Level
in Physics (WPH12)
Paper 01 Waves and Electricity
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October 2021
Question Paper Log Number P67155A
Publications Code WPH12_01_2110_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2021
 General Marking Guidance

• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the
first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for
what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their
perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be
used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners
should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark
scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the
candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles
by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to
a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with
an alternative response.
Mark scheme notes

Underlying principle

The mark scheme will clearly indicate the concept that is being rewarded, backed up by
examples. It is not a set of model answers.

For example:

(iii) Horizontal force of hinge on table top

66.3 (N) or 66 (N) and correct indication of direction [no ue]  1

[Some examples of direction: acting from right (to left) / to the left /
West / opposite direction to horizontal. May show direction by arrow.
Do not accept a minus sign in front of number as direction.]

This has a clear statement of the principle for awarding the mark, supported by some
examples illustrating acceptable boundaries.

1. Mark scheme format

1.1 You will not see ‘wtte’ (words to that effect). Alternative correct wording should
be credited in every answer unless the ms has specified specific words that
must be present. Such words will be indicated by underlining e.g. ‘resonance’
1.2 Bold lower case will be used for emphasis.
1.3 Round brackets ( ) indicate words that are not essential e.g. “(hence) distance is
increased”.
1.4 Square brackets [ ] indicate advice to examiners or examples e.g. [Do not
accept gravity] [ecf].

2. Unit error penalties

2.1 A separate mark is not usually given for a unit but a missing or incorrect unit
will normally mean that the final calculation mark will not be awarded.
2.2 Incorrect use of case e.g. ‘Watt’ or ‘w’ will not be penalised.
2.3 There will be no unit penalty applied in ‘show that’ questions or in any other
question where the units to be used have been given, for example in a
spreadsheet.
2.4 The same missing or incorrect unit will not be penalised more than once within
one question (one clip in epen).
2.5 Occasionally, it may be decided not to penalise a missing or incorrect unit e.g.
the candidate may be calculating the gradient of a graph, resulting in a unit that
is not one that should be known and is complex.
2.6 The mark scheme will indicate if no unit error penalty is to be applied by means
of [no ue].
3. Significant figures

3.1 Use of an inappropriate number of significant figures in the theory papers will
normally only be penalised in ‘show that’ questions where use of too few
significant figures has resulted in the candidate not demonstrating the validity
of the given answer.
3.2 The use of g = 10 m s-2 or 10 N kg-1 instead of 9.81 m s-2 or 9.81 N kg-1 will be
penalised by one mark (but not more than once per clip). Accept 9.8 m s-2 or 9.8
N kg-1

4. Calculations

4.1 Bald (i.e. no working shown) correct answers score full marks unless in a ‘show
that’ question.
4.2 If a ‘show that’ question is worth 2 marks then both marks will be available for a
reverse working; if it is worth 3 marks then only 2 will be available.
4.3 use of the formula means that the candidate demonstrates substitution of
physically correct values, although there may be conversion errors e.g. power
of 10 error.
4.4 recall of the correct formula will be awarded when the formula is seen or
implied by substitution.
4.5 The mark scheme will show a correctly worked answer for illustration only.
4.6 Example of mark scheme for a calculation:

‘Show that’ calculation of weight

Use of L × W × H 
Substitution into density equation with a volume and density 

Correct answer [49.4 (N)] to at least 3 sig fig. [No ue]
[If 5040 g rounded to 5000 g or 5 kg, do not give 3rd mark; if conversion
to kg is omitted and then answer fudged, do not give 3rd mark]
[Bald answer scores 0, reverse calculation 2/3]

Example of answer: 3

80 cm × 50 cm × 1.8 cm = 7200 cm3

7200 cm3 × 0.70 g cm-3 = 5040 g

5040 × 10-3 kg × 9.81 N/kg

= 49.4 N
5. Quality of Written Communication

5.1 Indicated by QoWC in mark scheme. QWC – Work must be clear and organised
in a logical manner using technical wording where appropriate.
5.2 Usually it is part of a max mark, the final mark not being awarded unless the
QoWC condition has been satisfied.

6. Graphs

6.1 A mark given for axes requires both axes to be labelled with quantities and
units, and drawn the correct way round.
6.2 Sometimes a separate mark will be given for units or for each axis if the units
are complex. This will be indicated on the mark scheme.
6.3 A mark given for choosing a scale requires that the chosen scale allows all
points to be plotted, spreads plotted points over more than half of each axis
and is not an awkward scale e.g. multiples of 3, 7 etc.
6.4 Points should be plotted to within 1 mm.
• Check the two points furthest from the best line. If both OK award mark.
• If either is 2 mm out do not award mark.
• If both are 1 mm out do not award mark.
• If either is 1 mm out then check another two and award mark if both of
these OK, otherwise no mark.

For a line mark there must be a thin continuous line which is the best-fit line for the
candidate’s results.
Question Answer Mark
Number
1 B is the correct answer as it is a V-I graph for a filament lamp (1)

A is not the correct answer as it is not a V-I graph for a diode

C is not the correct answer as it is not a V-I graph for an ohmic
conductor
D is not the correct answer as it is not a V-I graph for a thermistor
2 C is the correct answer as the distance between the laser and (1)
diffraction grating is not required in the equation nλ = dsinθ

A is not the correct answer as the distance from the diffraction grating
to the screen is used to calculate θ in the equation nλ = dsinθ
B is not the correct answer as the distance from the central maximum
to the first order maximum is used to calculate θ in the equation nλ =
dsinθ
D is not the correct answer as the distance between the slits in the
diffraction grating is used to calculate d in the equation nλ = dsinθ
3 C is the correct answer as v represents the drift velocity of the (1)
charge carriers.

A is not the correct answer as n is the number of charge carriers per m3

B is not the correct answer as q is the charge per charge carrier
D is not the correct answer as A is the cross-sectional area
4 A is the correct answer as a higher temperature both increases the (1)
number of conduction electrons released by a thermistor and
increases the amplitude of the lattice vibrations.

B is not the correct answer as the number of conduction electrons does

not decrease
C is not the correct answer as the amplitude of lattice vibrations does
not stay the same
D is not the correct answer as neither the number of conduction
electrons decrease nor the amplitude of lattice vibrations stay the same.
5 A is the correct answer as R = V/I, and V is measured in JC−1 and I is (1)
measured in Cs−1.

B is not the correct answer as the units of resistance are not JC2s−1
C is not the correct answer as the units of resistance are not JC−1 s−1
D is not the correct answer as the units of resistance are not JCs
6 A is the correct answer as v = √(T/μ), where T = Mg and μ = mass m (1)
per unit length, where length = 4L/3
B is not the correct answer as this suggests the overall length of the
string is 2L/3
C is not the correct answer as this suggests the overall length of the
string is L
D is not the correct answer as this suggests the overall length of the
string is L/3
7 C is the correct answer as the path difference of 12cm is half (1)
the wavelength, causing destructive interference (no heating).

A is not the correct answer as the path difference of 12cm would

only cause maximum heating if it was a multiple of the wavelength
B is not the correct answer as the path difference of 12cm would
only cause maximum heating if it was a multiple of the wavelength.
D is not the correct answer as the path difference of 12cm would
only cause no heating if it was an odd half multiple of the
wavelength.
8 B is the correct answer as, for a uniform wire, the ratio of (1)
distances AS:SB is the same as the ratio R1:R2, and distance AS =
y, distance SB = x−y

A is not the correct answer as x is not the distance SB

C is not the correct answer as y is not the distance SB
D is not the correct answer as the ratio x/y is equivalent to the ratio
(R1+R2)/R1
9 B is the correct answer as λ is much smaller than the gap size (1)

A is not the correct answer as λ matches the gap size

C is not the correct answer as λ is larger than the gap size
D is not the correct answer as λ matches the gap size
10 D is the correct answer as Z is a full cycle from V, and (1)
compressions are separated by one full wave cycle.

A is not the correct answer as W is neither a compression nor a

rarefaction
B is not the correct answer as X is a rarefaction
C is not the correct answer as Y is neither a compression nor a
rarefaction
Question Answer Mark
Number
11a Use of n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2 (1)
Use of n = c/v with c = 3.00 × 108 (m s−1) (1)
v = 1.4 × 108 (m s−1) so material is cubic zirconia (1) 3

(For MP1, allow use of n = sin i / sin r)

(All marks can be achieved if candidate calculates n for all of the
gemstones and compares to value calculated in MP1)

Example of calculation
n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2, 1.00 sin (50°) = n2 sin (21°), n2 = 2.14
n = c/v , so v = (3.00 × 108 m s−1) / 2.14 = 1.4 × 108 m s−1

11bi Use of sin C = 1/ n where n = c/v (1)

Critical angle for diamond is 24° (1)
(40.5° > 24°) so diagram shows reflection at the boundary (1)
Ray completed showing TIR in correct direction by eye (1)

OR

(1)
Use of n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2
(1)
n1sinθ1 = 1.57
(1)
(sin θ2 > 1) so diagram shows reflection at the boundary
(1) 4
Ray completed showing TIR in correct direction by eye

(Only allow MP3 if TIR is drawn on the diagram, not just stated)

Example of calculation

sin C = 1/ n = (1.24 × 108 ms−1) / (3.00 × 108 ms−1) = 0.41.

C = sin−1 (0.41) = 24°
11bii Silicon carbide has a greater refractive index (than diamond)
Or silicon carbide has a smaller critical angle (than diamond)
Or critical angle for silicon carbide is 23°
Or critical angle is still less than the angle of incidence
Or sin θ2 is still > 1 (1)

So total internal reflection (TIR) would (still) take place

(MP2 dependent on MP1) (1) 2
(Calculation of n for silicon carbide not good enough for MP1)
Total for question 11 9
Question Answer Mark
Number
12(a) Waves have been reflected by the water surface (1)

Transmitted wave and reflected wave interfere

Or waves travelling in opposite directions interfere (1) 2

(For MP2, allow ‘superpose’ for ‘interfere’)

(For MP2, do not allow ‘opposite waves’)
12(b)(i) Use of v = fλ (1)
With λ = 4 × length of column (or see 0.772m) (1)
v = 340 ms −1 (1) 3

Example of calculation
λ = 4 × length of column = 4 × 0.193 m = 0.772 m
v = fλ = 440 Hz × 0.772 m = 339.7 ms−1
12(b)(ii) (Wave)length would be longer
Or node to antinode distance would be longer (1)

This would cause the value (for the speed of sound) to be higher
(than calculated value, which is therefore less accurate)
(1) 2

(MP2 dependent on MP1)

(Answer can be written in the converse e.g. the wavelength used in
the calculation is shorter, so the calculated speed is lower).

Total for Question 12 7

Question Answer Mark
Number
13a Use of P = V2 / R Or Use of P = VI and R = V/I (1)
Use of R = ρl / A (1)
Use of A = πr2 or πd2 / 4 (1)
Length of wire = 2.1 m (1) 4

Example of calculation
R = V2 / P = (12V)2 / 60 W = 2.4 Ω.
A = πr2 = π × (0.125 × 10−3 m)2 = 4.9 × 10−8 m2
l = RA / ρ = (2.4 Ω)( 4.9 × 10−8 m2) / (5.6 × 10−8 Ω m) = 2.1m
13b A has a lower resistance than B
Or (at 12V) RA = 2.4Ω. RB = 4.8Ω (1)

p.d. will not be shared equally between them

Or B requires/has greater p.d. than A
(1)

A will have less than 12V so will not operate normally (so the
student is incorrect)
Or B will have more than 12V so will not operate normally (so the
student is incorrect)
(1)

OR

(at 12V) IA = 5A, IB = 2.5A

(1)
(Circuit is series so) current should be the same for both
(1)
Either A will have too little current, so will not operate normally (so
student is incorrect)
Or B will have too much current, so will not operate normally (so
student is incorrect)

(1) 3
(For MP2 in second alternative, do not allow a calculation of total
circuit current = 3.3 A, as this would not be the current in this
circuit)

Total for question 13 7

Question Answer Mark
Number
14a (In the wave model) energy is built up over time
Or (in the wave model) the energy is spread across the wave (1)

So (photo)electrons would not be released

immediately/instantaneously (1) 2
Or so (photo)electrons would be released after a time delay

(MP1 – allow any wording indicating a time delay e.g. ‘slowly’)

(MP2 – do not allow “photoelectric emission” unless it is directly
linked to electron release)

14bi Use of hf = Φ + ½mv2max (1)

Converts from eV to J (1)
Use of Ek = ½mv2 (with m = 9.11 × 10−31)
(1)
Maximum speed of electrons = 7.3 × 105 ms−1
(1) 4

Example of calculation
Φ (in J) = 4.3 eV × (1.6 × 10−19 J eV−1) = 6.9 × 10−19 J
hf − Φ = ½mv2 = (9.3 × 10−19 J) – (6.9 × 10−19 J) = 2.4 × 10−19 J
2.4 × 10−19 J = ½ (9.11 × 10−31 kg) v2
v = 7.3 × 105 ms−1
14bii Lower work function (than zinc) would result in greater (maximum)
speed (of electrons) (1)

Greater wavelength (of ultraviolet light) would result in smaller

(maximum) speed (of electrons)
Or to achieve greater (maximum) speed (of electrons), a smaller
wavelength would be required (1)

The relative sizes of these changes are not known so no conclusion

could be reached
Or the first suggestion is correct, the second is incorrect
(1) 3
(MP1/MP2 – ignore references to KE)
Total for question 14 9
Question Answer Mark
Number
15a See IT = I1 + I2 (1)

See V/RT = V/R1 + V/R2 (1)

Divides both sides by V to give 1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2

Or V is the same in parallel, so 1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 (1) 3

(MP3 cannot be awarded for just seeing the equation as this is given on
the formula sheet).
15bi Use of resistors in parallel formula for N, P and Q (or see 3.3 Ω from
relevant working) (1)

Adds total to resistance of O (or see 8.3 Ω) (1)

Total resistance = 3.1 (Ω) (1) 3

(No unit penalty as is a “show that”)

(Each step in calculation could be achieved with product/sum
calculations, but need to see bracketed values for MP1 and MP2)

Example of calculation
Resistor N = 5.0 Ω,
P + Q = 5.0 Ω + 5.0 Ω = 10.0 Ω
1/RT for N parallel with (P+Q) = (1/5.0 Ω) + (1/10.0 Ω). RT = 10/3 = 3.3 Ω.
O in series with this 3.3Ω, so total for N,O,P,Q section = 25/3 = 8.3 Ω.
1/RT (for whole combination) = (1 / 8.3 Ω) + (1 / 5.0 Ω)
RT = 3.1 Ω

15bii Replace resistor M (1)

The resistance of a parallel combination is always less than a single

resistor in parallel with the others. (1) 2

(MP2 dependent on MP1)_

Total for question 15 8
Question Answer Mark
Number
*16a This question assesses a student’s ability to show a coherent and logically structure
answer with linkages and fully sustained reasoning. Marks are awarded for indicat
content and for how the answer is structured and shows lines of reasoning. The
following table shows how the marks should be awarded for indicative content.

IC points IC mark Max linkage mark Max final mark

6 4 2 6
5 3 2 5
4 3 1 4
3 2 1 3
2 2 0 2
1 1 0 1
0 0 0 0
The following table shows how the marks should be awarded for structure
and lines of reasoning.
Number of marks awarded for
structure of answer and
sustained line of reasoning
Answer shows a coherent and logical
2
structure with linkages and fully
sustained lines of reasoning
demonstrated throughout
Answer is partially structured with 1
some linkages and lines of reasoning

Answer has no linkages between points 0

and is unstructured

Indicative content
• Atoms/electrons absorb energy/photons
• Electrons move to higher energy levels
• Then drop down energy levels, releasing photons
• Energy levels are discrete
• For hydrogen atoms, there are only a small number of possible energy
level differences (that can occur to produce visible light) 6
• Since E = hf and v = fλ, only certain wavelengths are emitted

(For IC1, do not allow ‘gain energy’)

(For IC2 and IC3, allow electrons excited and de-excited)
(IC4, allow ‘atoms only have certain/specific energy levels’)

16b Air contains different gases/molecules/elements/atoms (1)

Each (different) gas has its own energy levels (so light with a large number of
wavelengths/frequencies are released)
(1) 2

(MP1 – do not accept ‘air is a mixture of different particles’)

Total for question 16 8
Question Answer Mark
Number
17a Use of V = W / Q or W = VIt (1)
ε = 1.56 (V)
(1)
Use of V = IR
(1)
Sum of e.m.f.s = Sum of p.d.s Or see ε = V + Ir
r = 2.6 Ω (1)
(1)
OR

Use of W = Pt
With P = I2R
(1)
with R = r + 12
(1)
All other data correctly substituted (50 = (0.107)2 (r + 12) 300)
(1)
r = 2.6 Ω
(1)
(1) 5
Example of calculation
ε = W / Q = (50 J) / (0.107 A)(300 s) = 1.56 V
ε = IR + Ir, 1.56 V = (0.107 A) (12 Ω) + (0.107 A) r,
r = 2.56 Ω

17b (Increasing R) decreases I

Or (Increasing R) gives R a greater share of the total resistance in
the circuit (1)

Less p.d. across internal resistance

Or Ir becomes less
(Accept decrease in ‘lost volts’) (1) 2

17c Take readings for p.d. and current (1)

Change resistance / R (1)
Plot a graph of V against I (1)
Gradient is −r. (1) 4

(MP4 conditional on MP3)

(Allow MP3/4 for graph of I-V with gradient −1/r)
(A sketch graph of V-I with the gradient labelled −r can achieve
MP3/4)

Total for question 17 11

Question Answer Mark
Number
18(a) Use of I = P / A (1)
A = 4πr2 with r = 1.50 × 1011 (m) (1)
Solar intensity at the solar panel = 1350 W m−2 (1) 3

Example of calculation
For intensity of sunlight at the panel:
I = P / A = (3.83 × 1026 W) / 4π (1.50 × 1011 m)2 = 1355 W m−2

18(b) Use of v = fλ with v = 3.00 × 108 m s−1 (1)

Use of E = hf (1)
Energy of photon = 3.7 × 10−19 (J) (1) 3

(Correct substitution into E = hc/λ can score both MP1 & MP2)

Example of calculation
v = fλ, (3.00 × 108 m s−1) = f × (532 × 10−9 m), f = 5.64 × 1014 Hz
E = hf = (6.63 × 10−34 J s) × (5.64 × 1014 Hz) = 3.74 × 10−19 J
18(c)(i) Use of speed = distance / time with v = 3.00 × 108 m s−1 (1)
Height of orbit = 4.8 × 105 m (1) 2

(Allow MP1 for candidates who fail to halve the time)

Example of calculation
Distance = speed × time = (3.00 × 108 m s−1) × (3.20 × 10−3 s / 2)
Height of orbit = 480 km
18(c)(ii) Photons from other/unknown sources also arrive at the satellite
Or only photons emitted (by the laser) should be recorded
Or other (wavelengths of) photons are not emitted (by the laser) (1) 1

(Allow ‘light’ or ‘waves’ for ‘photons’)

18(d) (For a flat surface) measurements give the same time/distance (1)

(Higher elevation means that) photons/light will return in less time

Or s = vt/2 gives smaller distance to the ice
(1) 2

Total for question 18 11

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