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A Level Physics Paper 5 Tips
A Level Physics Paper 5 Tips
Compiled by
Imran Mirza
MSc Physics, PGCC,
Scoland, Uk
Planning
Analysis
And
Evaluation
A-level Physics
This booklet covers CIE A Level Physics Paper 5
By Imran Mirza
2009-2011
IT is forbidden...........
Marks will not be awarded to answers which are unclear. Try to write a reason for your choice of
apparatus and.....
Don't be intimidated........
Don't be intimidated by long questions...... they quite often are easier and quicker questions than
the shorter ones...........
Draw a neat and labeled diagram of the arrangement of apparatus which you propose to
use. Space is available for this in the question paper.
Write procedure in steps wise and high light control of certain variables to carry out a valid
investigation.
Write the safety aspect (where appropriate) of your investigation. Sometimes the question
specifically ask for these to be mentioned (e.g. in a design question where radioactive sources
are used) but any relevant safety point can be rewarded.
A number of marks are reserved for what is considered to be good further or relevant detail.
This is because your answers depend so much on the approach which has been taken!
Keep in mind!
Some students write copious amounts about the 'conclusions* of their investigation and draw
sketch graphs of what the result might be. Since no experimental work has actually been carried out
it is not possible to reward any work of this kind
Good marks can often be gained by giving relatively short concise answers. Keep
an eye on the time (watch)
The important thing is that you walk out at the en4 thinking.........
I DID MY BEST
Paper 5
This paper will consist of two questions of equal mark value (15 marks each) based on the practical
skills of planning, analysis and evaluation. The examiners will not be restricted by the subject content.
Candidates will answer all questions. Candidates will answer on the question paper.
Paper
5
Type of paper
Duration
Planning, Analysis
1 h 15 minutes
& Evaluation
Marks
30
Weighting
12%
15 marks
Breakdown of marks
Defining the problem
Methods of data collection
Method of analysis
Safety considerations
Additional detail
3 marks
5 marks
2 marks
1 mark
4 marks
Question 2
Skill
Analysis, conclusions and
evaluation
15 marks
Breakdown of marks
Approach to data analysis
Table of results
Graph
Conclusion
Treatment of errors
1 mark
2 marks
3 marks
4 marks
5 marks
Planning
Defining the problem
Candidates should be able to:
Identify the independent variable in the experiment.
Identify the dependent variable in the experiment.
identify the variables that are to be controlled.
Methods of data collection
Candidates should be able to:
describe the method to be used to vary the indepepdent-variable;
describe how the independent and dependent variables are to be measured;
describe how other variables are to be controlled;
describe, with the aid of a clear labeled diagram, the arrangement of an apparatus for the
experiment and the procedures to be followed.
For full marks to be scored in this section, the overall arrangement must be workable, that is, it should
be possible to collect the data required without undue difficulty if tie apparatus were assembled as
described. The measuring instruments chosen should be fit for purpose, in that they should measure the
correct physical quantity to a suitable precision for the experiment.
Method Of analysis
Up to three marks will be available for additional relevant detail. How these marks are awarded will depend
on the experiment that is to be planned, but they might for example include marks for
! describing
the control of additional variables, or for a diagram of a circuit needed to make a particular
measurement, or for additional safety considerations.
j
Analysis, conclusions and evaluation
Approach to data analysis
Candidates should be able to:
rearrange expressions into the forms y = mx + c, y = axn, and y = aekx ;
plot a graph of y against x and use the graph to find the constants m and c in an equation of the
form y = mx + c
plot a graph of log y against log x and use the graph to find the constants a and n in an equation of the
form y = axn;
plot a graph of In y against x and use the graph to find the constants a and k in an equation of the
form y = aekx;
decide what derived quantities to calculate from raw data in order to enable an appropriate graph to
be plotted.
Table of results
Candidates should be able to:
complete a table of results following the conventions required for Paper 3; Where logarithms are
required, units should be shown with the quantity whose logarithm is being taken, e.g. In (d/cm). The
logarithm itself does not have a unit
Graph
Candidates should be able to:
plot a graph following the conventions required for Paper 3;
show error bars, in both directions where appropriate, for each point on the graph;
draw a best-fit straight line and a worst acceptable straight line through the points on the graph.
The worst acceptable line should be either the steepest possible line or the shallowest possible line that
passes through the error bars of all the data points. It should be distinguished from the best-fit line either
by being drawn as a broken line or by being clearly labelled.
Conclusion
Candidates should be able to:
determine the gradient and y-intercept of a straight-line graph;
derive expressions that equate to the gradient or the y-intercept of their best-fit straight lines;
draw the required conclusions from these expressions. The
conclusion required will normally be the value of a constant
Q1. A fine wire mesh has individual wires that are spaced very close together. See flg. 1.1.
Fig. 1.1
The mesh behaves like two diffraction gratings placed at right angles to each other. The diffraction
grating formula is d sin = n
The spacing between the wires of the mesh is to be found accurately. Design a laboratory experiment
using light of a single wavelength to determine the spacing between the wires. You may assume that the
wavelength of the light is known.
You should draw a detailed labeled diagram showing the arrangement of your apparatus. In your
account you should pay particular attention to
(a) the type of light source to be used, giving a reason for your choke,
(b) the procedure to be followed and the measurements that would be taken,
(c) how the measurements would be used to find values of 0,
(d) how the spacing between the wires would be deduced,
(e) any safety precautions you may take.
Marking key:
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[2]
In this question candidates were required to design a laboratory experiment to investigate how to
determine the spacing between wires of a fine mesh using light of a single wavelength.
It was expected that candidates would show a labelled diagram of the setup showing a light source, a wire
mesh and a screen. It was expected that candidates would be able to identify a source giving
monochromatic light from a point source (e.g. laser, Sodium lamp plus slit to name a few possibilities).
Weak candidates used ultra-violet, infra-red, gamma, alpha, microwaves or 'white monochromatic
light'; Some candidates used a light bulb which when combined with a filter and a slit was credited.
Many candidates responded with a double slit setup or used a diffraction grating instead of the wire
mesh which was not credited. The best candidates realised that the pattern produced on the screen
would be a rectangular array of bright dots (candidates were not required to work this out). Answers that
referred to crossed patterns of lines or to circular fringes were allowed. Weak candidates showed no
pattern at all or made no reference to a pattern within the written text.
It was expected that candidates would state the quantities they would measure in order to find 0. Many
candidates used a protractor without credit (indicating candidates did not appreciate the size of angles
involved). Good candidates said they would measure D, the mesh to screen distance, and x, the dot
separation. Good candidates took these measurements and used tan = x/D to find and subsequently used
d sin = n (where n = 1) to find d. Weaker candidates confused the symbols and their meaning, for
example d, instead of being the 'spacing between the wires', became 'the distance between the mesh
and the screen. Also many candidates thought d = I/spacing. It was expected that n would be given a value
(e.g. n = 1) in order to use the equation d sin = n . Vague comments about the 'order of a fringe' did not
gain credit Some strong candidates labelled a spectrometer and gained marks for taking the angle from the
table and saying how they did this in detail. Some good candidates suggested plotting n , against sin to get
d from the gradient.
A good well-annotated diagram could gain up to half marks for this question, whereas a poor one
often received little or no credit
Sensible safety ideas only were given credit (e.g. 'do not look at the source directly' or 'use goggles to
prevent damage to eyes'). 'Do not point laser at skin as it will burn' was not credited.
Marks were available for good further detail. Many candidates were able to access these marks. No
credit was given for a darkened room as coherent light will produce visible fringes in a classroom.
However, few candidates appreciated the need for a coherent source.