M17/4/PHYSI/HP3/ENG/TZ1/XX/M

Markscheme

May 2017

Physics

Higher level

Paper 3

22 pages
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This markscheme is the property of the International

Baccalaureate and must not be reproduced or distributed to any
other person without the authorization of the IB Global Centre,
Cardiff.
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Section A

Question Answers Notes Total

1 a in order to keep the temperature constant  Accept answers in terms of
in order to allow the system to reach thermal equilibrium with the surroundings/OWTTE  pressure or volume changes
only if clearly related to 1 max
reaching thermal equilibrium
with the surroundings.
b recognizes b as gradient  Award [2 max] if POT error
in b.
calculates b in range 4.7 × 10 4 to 5.3 × 10 4  3
Allow any correct SI unit, eg
Pa m  kg s-2.
c 1
V ∝ H thus ideal gas law gives p ∝ 
H 2
so graph should be «a straight line through origin,» as observed 
d bA Answer must be to 1 or 2 SF.
n= OR correct substitution of one point from the graph 
RT Award [2] for a bald correct
−3 answer. 2
5 × 10 × 1.3 × 10
4
=n = 0.026 ≈ 0.03  Allow ECF from (b).
8.31× 300
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Question Answers Notes Total

1 e 1
very large means very small volumes / very high pressures 
H
at very small volumes the ideal gas does not apply
2
OR
at very small volumes some of the assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases do not hold 
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Question Answers Notes Total

2 a 4π2 × 1.60 For the first marking point
=g = 9.7907  answer must be given to at
2.5402
least 2 dp.
Accept calculations based on
∆L ∆T  0.01 0.005 
∆= + 2× = ) «9.7907 ×  + 2× = » 0.0997
2.540 
g g(
L T  1.60 gmax = 9.8908
3
OR gmin = 9.6913 .
gmax − gmin
1.0 %  = 0.099 ≈ 0.1
2

g (9.8 ± 0.1) «ms−2 » OR ∆g =

hence= 0.1 «m s−2 » 

b T Accept answer from interval

= 1.01  20 to 24.
T0
2
θmax = 22 « » 
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Section B
Option A — Relativity

Question Answers Notes Total

3 a a set of coordinate axes and clocks used to measure the position «in space/time of an object
at a particular time»
OR 1
a coordinate system to measure x,y,z,and t / OWTTE 

b i magnetic only 
2
there is a current but no «net» charge «in the wire» 

b ii electric only 
P is stationary so experiences no magnetic force  3
relativistic contraction will increase the density of protons in the wire 
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Question Answers Notes Total

4 a ΔtP / observer sitting in the train  1

b ∆tQ 1
γ= = «= » = 3.3 
∆tP 0.30 2
to give v = 0.95c 

c γ = 1.25 

«length of train according Q» = 125/1.25  2

«giving 100 m»

d i Award [1] for one gradient

correct and another
approximately correct.

5
axes drawn with correct gradients of for ct ′ and 0.6 for x′ 
3
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4 d ii

lines parallel to the x′ axis and passing through B and F 

intersections on the ct′ axis at B′ and F′ shown 
light at the front of the train must have been turned on first 

d iii 0.6 × 100 Allow ECF for gamma from

t ′ 1.25 ×
∆=  (c).
3 × 108
1
−7
«2.5 × 10 s»

d iv
( )
2
according to P: 3 × 108 × 2.5 × 10 −7 − 1252 =−
« » 10000 
2
( )
2
according to Q: 3 × 108 × 0 − 1002 =−
« » 10000 

e −0.7 − 0.6
u′ = c
1 + 0.7 × 0.6
2
= «−» 0.92c 
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Question Answers Notes Total

5 a γ = 1.96  Award [2 max] if Energy and
Potential difference are not
(γ − 1) m0c 2 =
Ek = 900 «Me V »  clearly distinguished, eg by 3
pd ≈ 900 «MV »  the unit.

b = γ=
energy of proton mc 2 1838 «Me V » 
total energy available = energy of proton + energy of antiproton = 1838 + 1838 = 3676
3
«MeV» 
momentum of a one photon = Total energy / 2c = 1838 «Me Vc–1» 

6 a E 14 400 × 1.6 × 10 −19

=
f «= » = «3.475 × 1018 Hz» 
h 6.63 × 10 −34
2
g × ∆h × f
=∆f « ≈» 8550 «Hz» 
c2

b «as the photon moves away from the Earth, » it has to spend energy to overcome the
gravitational field 
2
since E = h f, the detected frequency would be lower «than the emitted frequency» 
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Option B — Engineering physics

Question Answers Notes Total

7 a i M
vR  1
3

a ii M 2
evidence of use of: = ω (MR 2 +
L I= R )ω  1
3

a iii MvR 4
evidence of use of conservation of angular momentum, = MR 2ω 
3 3
v 1
«rearranging to get ω = »
4R

a iv Mv 2
initial KE = 
6
Mv 2
final KE =  3
24
Mv 2
energy loss = 
8
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Question Answers Notes Total

7 b i 3 Γ 3 0.01 Working OR answer to at
=α« = »  least 3 SF must be shown.
4 MR 2 4 0.7 × 0.52 1
«to give α = 0.04286  rads−2 »

b ii ωi2
θ
= «from ω=2
ωi2 + 2αθ » 
2α
f

v2 2.12
θ«
= = = » 12.8  12.9
OR «rad»  3
32R α 32 × 0.52 × 0.043
2

12.9
=
number of rotations « = » 2.0 revolutions 
2π
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Question Answers Notes Total

8 a «a process in which there is» no thermal energy transferred between the system and the
surroundings  1

b A to B AND C to D  1

c i PV The first mark is for

T = 
rearranging.
nR
 512 × 103 × 1.20 × 10 −3  2
=T  ≈ 493 «K » 
 0.150 × 8.31 

c ii PaVA The first mark is for

PB =  rearranging.
VB
2
PB = 267 k Pa 

d i 5 5 It is essential to see these 2

«B to C adiabatic so» PBVB 3 = PCVC 3 AND PCVC = nRTC «combining to get result»  relations to award the mark.
1

d ii  5
 −2

TC = 
PBVB 3 V 3 
 C
 nR 
 
2
 5
 −2
 267 × 103 × (2.30 × 10 −3 ) 3  −3 3
=TC « =  (2.90 × 10 ) » 422 «K » 
 0.150 × 8.31 
 

e the isothermal processes would have to be conducted very slowly / OWTTE  1

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Question Answers Notes Total

9 a ALTERNATIVE 1
pressure in a liquid increases with depth 
so pressure at bottom of bubble greater than pressure at top 
2
ALTERNATIVE 2
weight of liquid displaced 
greater than weight of bubble 

b weight  V ρa g ρa 1.2  −3
Award [1 max] if only mass of
=  = = = 10  the bubble is calculated and
buoyancy  V ρ l g ρ l 1200  2
identified as negligible to
since the ratio is very small, the weight can be neglected  mass of liquid displaced.

c 4 3
evidence of equating the buoyancy and the viscous force « ρ l 6 η rv t » 
πr g =π
3
2 1200 × 9.81 2
( )
2
=vt « −3
0.25 × 10 −3
= »0.16 «m s−1» 
9 1× 10

10 a the loss of energy in an oscillating system  1

b 162 Accept calculation based on

Q=
2π 2 ≈ 11  any two correct values giving
16 − 10.32 1
answer from interval 10 to 13.

c the amplitude decreases at a slower rate 

2
a higher Q factor would mean that less energy is lost per cycle 
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Option C — Imaging

Question Answers Notes Total

11 a i an image formed by extensions of rays, not rays themselves
OR 1
an image that cannot be projected on a screen 

a ii 1 1 1
= − 
v 3.0 4.0
1
«v = 12 cm»

a iii u = 18 − 12 = 6.0 «cm»  Award [2 max] for answer of

4.8 cm.
v = −24 «cm» 
Minus sign required for MP2. 3
1 1 1
« = − ⇒» f = 8.0 «cm» 
f 6.0 24

a iv line parallel to principal axis from intermediate image meeting eyepiece lens at P 
line from arrow of final image to P intersecting principal axis at F 

2
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Question Answers Notes Total

11 b i object is far away so intermediate image forms at focal plane of objective  No mark for simple addition of
focal lengths without
for final image at infinity object must also be at focal point of eyepiece  2
explanation.
«hence 87.5 cm»

b ii 85.0
=
angular magnification = 34 
2.50
2
−3
angular diameter 34 × 7.8 × 10= 0.2652 ≈ 0.27 «rad» 

c chromatic aberration is the dependence of refractive index on wavelength 

but mirrors rely on reflection

OR 2
mirrors do not involve refraction 
«so do not suffer chromatic aberration»
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Question Answers Notes Total

12 a i longer distance without amplification 
signal cannot easily be interfered with 
less noise  2 max
no cross talk 
higher data transfer rate 

a ii infrared radiation suffers lower attenuation  1

b 2.4
loss = 10log «= −7.959 dB» 
15
2
7.959
= « = »26.53 ≈ 27 «km» 
length
0.30

c a thin core means that rays follow essentially the same path / OWTTE 
and so waveguide (modal) dispersion is minimal / OWTTE  2
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Question Answers Notes Total

13 a bone and tissue absorb different amounts of X-rays
OR
bone and tissue have different attenuation coefficients  2

so boundaries and fractures are delineated in an image 

b I bone I 0e − µb x
= = e −( µb − µt ) x 
I tissue I 0e − µt x
I bone −2 −2
= e −1.2×10 ×(1.9−1.1)×10 × 5.4 ×10 
3

I tissue 3

I bone
= 0.60 
I tissue

c i to split the energy level of protons in the body

OR 1
to cause protons in the body to align with the field / precess at Larmor frequency

c ii to force/excite protons that are in the spin up/parallel state 

2
into a transition to the spin down/antiparallel state 

c iii the emitted radio frequency signal has a frequency that depends on the magnetic field 
with a gradient field different parts of the body have different frequencies and so can be 2
identified 
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Option D — Astrophysics

Question Answers Notes Total

14 a i stars fusing hydrogen «into helium»  1

a ii 1 Accept reverse working.

M =M (4 × 105 ) 3.5 =39.86M 
1
«M ≈ 40M »

a iii T4 Accept use of substituted

4 × 105 = 132 × 
6000 4 values into L = σ 4πR 2T 4.
2
T ≈ 42000 «K » 

a iv 1AU2 Accept use of correct values

4 × 10−11 =4 × 105 ×  L
d2 into b = .
4πd 2 2
d = 1× 108 « AU» 

b the gravitation «pressure» is balanced by radiation «pressure»  Award [1 max] if pressure

that is created by the production of energy due to fusion in the core / OWTTE  and force is inappropriately
mixed in the answer.
2
Award [1 max] for
unexplained "hydrostatic
equilibrium is reached".
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Question Answers Notes Total

14 c the Sun will evolve to become a red giant whereas Theta 1 Orionis will become a red super
giant 
the Sun will explode as a planetary nebula whereas Theta 1 Orionis will explode as a 3
supernova 
the Sun will end up as a white dwarf whereas Theta 1 Orionis as a neutron star/black hole 
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Question Answers Notes Total

15 a i black body radiation / 3 K  Do not accept: CMB provides
evidence for the Big Bang
highly isotropic / uniform throughout model.
2
OR
filling the universe 

a ii 2.9 × 10 −3
= «λ » ≈ 1.0 «mm»  1
2.8

b the universe is expanding and so the wavelength of the CMB in the past was much smaller 
2
indicating a very high temperature at the beginning 

c i v Award [1 max] for POT error.

«=
z ⇒» = « 0.48 × 105 km s−1» 
v 0.16 × 3 × 105 =
c
2
v 0.48 × 105
«d = ⇒v= = 706» ≈ 710 «Mpc » 
H0 68

c ii R R
z= − 1 ⇒ = 1.16 
R0 R0
2
R0
= 0.86 
R
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Question Answers Notes Total

16 a a star will form out of a cloud of gas 

when the gravitational potential energy of the cloud exceeds the total random kinetic energy of
the particles of the cloud 2
OR
the mass exceeds a critical mass for a particular radius and temperature

b 1010 × 365 × 24 × 3600 × 3.8 × 1026

number of reactions is −12
= 2.79 × 1055 
4.3 × 10 2
H mass used is 2.79 × 10 × 4 × 1.67 × 10 −27
55
= 1.86 × 1029 «kg» 

c nuclear fusion reactions produce ever heavier elements depending on the mass of the star /
temperature of the core 
2
the elements / nuclear reactions arrange themselves in layers, heaviest at the core lightest in
the envelope 
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Question Answers Notes Total

17 a curve starting earlier, touching at now and going off to infinity 

b i there is dark matter that does not radiate / cannot be observed  Unexplained mention of "dark
matter" is not sufficient for the 1
mark.
b ρ Λ 0.68
ii = = ρc 0.68 × 10 −26 «kgm−3 » 
2
energy in 1 m3 is therefore 0.68 × 10 −26 × 9 × 1016 ≈ 6 × 10 −10 «J» 