Question

Answer Notes Marks

number
1 (a) (i) B; 1

(ii) A; 1

(iii) Similarity:- Allow 1

any wave property e.g. transfer energy, reflection, diffraction
refraction, vibration; carry energy

Difference:- Allow 1
any one of
• longitudinal particles oscillate in {same • direction of energy
direction/ parallel to} the direction of travel; transfer for direction of
• transverse {particles oscillates/vibration} at travel
right angles to the direction of travel;
• only transverse waves can
be polarised
• transverse waves cannot
travel through a liquid

Ignore
mention of vacuum/ medium
  

Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
2 (a) (i) arrows in opposite directions and allow 1
(roughly) parallel with the length of the  a line with a
spring; double head
 arrows to R & L

ignore arrow length

arrows need not be

adjacent to the spring

judge by eye

(ii) any suitable example; ignore waves in a 1

e.g. slinky
sound
ultrasound
‘p’ wave

(b) (i) suitable horizontal line (labelled W); judge by eye but 1
e.g. should start and finish
from peak to peak at suitable points
from trough to trough
from midpoint to corresponding
midpoint
between any adjacent points in phase

(ii) 2.5 (cm) do not allow 1

5/2
allow 2 ½

(iii) substitution into f=1/T; no mark for equation 3

as it is given on page
2
evaluation; -1 for POT error
ignore answers given
as fractions
unit;

e.g.
f=1/15 allow
0.067 0.07, 0.0667
Hz s-1
condone incorrect
truncation e.g. 0.06,
0.066, 0.0666

 
 

(iv) (ring oscillates) perpendicular / at right 2

angles};
to the direction the wave travels/eq; allow direction of
energy transfer

reject 2nd mark if

reference to
longitudinal wave e.g.
‘ring moves parallel to
the direction of the
wave’

(v) any suitable example; allow wave on a rope 1

e.g.
a named EM wave
EM wave
‘s’ wave

total marks = 10

 
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
3 (a) D; 1

The only correct answer is D

A is not correct because it’s the

wavelength

B is not correct because it’s half the

wavelength

C is not correct because it’s twice the

amplitude

(b) evidence of frequency being number of explicit or implied 3

waves per unit time; by working
evaluation;
matching unit; must match units
used in calculation

e.g.
(f =) 18/12
(f =) 1.5
Hz allow hertz, s-1,
(waves) per second

allow any suitable

unit of frequency
for 1 mark if no
other mark scored

(c) any 1 of: 1

named part of the EM spectrum; allow ‘EM waves’
light;
(waves on a) rope / string;
(waves on a) slinky if appropriately
described;
allow (secondary)
seismic wave
(d) allow suitably 3
labelled diagrams
vibrations / oscillations / disturbance;
(are) parallel or perpendicular to direction
of energy transfer / wave
(travel/movement);
correct identification of both types;
e.g.

gets 3 marks

Total for question 3 = 8 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
4 (a) (i) A - amplitude; 1

(ii) B - frequency; 1

(b) (i) Any of - Allow 1

e.g. • slinky if described correctly
Light, (any named) electromagnetic wave, water • wave on a string
waves, S(econdary) seismic waves;
Ignore ‘heat waves’
(ii) Longitudinal - Ignore left to right, up and down, to and fro, 2
Idea that vibration is parallel to energy transfer; side to side
e.g. Accept
vibration is in the same direction that the wave • oscillation for vibration
travels • information transfer for energy transfer
they (vibrations) are in the same direction that the • clear labelled diagrams, e.g.
wave moves

Condone for longitudinal

‘particles oscillate in the same direction that
the wave goes’
Transverse –
Idea that vibration is perpendicular to energy
transfer;
e.g.
vibration is at 90º to the direction that the wave
travels
they (vibration) are at right angles to the direction
the wave moves

(Total for Question 4 = 5 marks)

 

Question
Answer Notes Marks
number

5(a) MP1. Substitution into correct equation; 4

MP2. Rearrangement;

MP3. Divide by 2;

MP4. Conversion between km and m; Accept x 1000 at any point in calculation

e.g.

1.5 x 1000 = 1500

Speed = distance
0.26
Distance = 1500 x 0.26 = 390 (m) 0.39 gets 2 marks

So distance to fish = 195 m 390 gets 3 marks

(b) Any two of 2

MP1. Reflected from different depths within

shoal;

MP2. So (reflected pulse(s)) travels different

distances;

MP3. Fish move;

MP4. Reflection from sea bed;

Total 6 marks

 
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
6 (a) C (sound waves are longitudinal 1
waves);

(b) (i) C (the same as the amplitude of 1

sound P);

(ii) 0.004 (s); Allow 1

answer by calculation or
by reading from graph
Allow
equivalent value with
matching unit,
e.g. 4 ms

(iii) 500 (Hz) Treat ii and iii as 1

independent, but allow an
ecf from ii to iii if seen
Accept “double” P

Total 4 marks
 

Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
7 (a) idea that higher frequency gives higher allow reverse 1
pitch; argument
condone idea of
proportionality /
linearity

(b) (i) (wave) speed = frequency × allow abbreviation, 1

wavelength e.g.
v = f × λ or
rearrangements

(ii) substitution into correctly rearranged 2

equation;
evaluation;

e.g.
(v =) 340 / 160
(v =) 2.1 (m) allow 2.125, 2.12,
2.13
or 2 (if supported)

(c) (i) straight line of best fit drawn within line does not need to 1
indicated area; be extended beyond
data range for this
mark

(ii) line of best fit extended to 20°C; 2

student’s own value from graph ± half
a square;

 
 

(d) any 2 from: 2

MP1. speed (of sound) decreases (with allow ‘sound slows
temperature); down’
ignore references to
particle speed
MP2. frequency is constant;

MP3. so wavelength decreases (with allow λ is smaller

temperature);

Total 9 marks

 
Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
8 a i number of waves/cycles = 3.5; 3.5 seen or implied 2

0.60 = 0.17 (m); 0.1714 (m)

3.5 17 cm
17.14 cm

For 1 mark only

17 (m), 17.14(m), 0.2
(m), 0.15 (m), 0.085
(m)

ii wave speed = frequency x wavelength allow words or accepted 1

symbols and
rearrangements
iii substitution; allow ecf from ai 3
rearrangement;
evaluation;
eg.
3.0x108 = 0.17 x f (1 mark)

3.0x108 /0.17 (2 marks)

1.8 x 109 (Hz) (3 marks) 1.76 x 109 (Hz)

1.75 x 109 (Hz)

POT = -1
b i diffraction; NO LONGER ON SPEC 1
so don't worry too much!
ii any two from: 2

MP1. microwaves not diffracted as must have quantifier-e.g

much; ‘little’
ignore ‘microwaves not
diffracted’
MP2. diffraction (only seen) when size
of barrier/gap comparable to
wavelength;

MP3. radio-waves have (much) longer wavelength of

wavelength than microwaves/RA; microwaves (much)
smaller than size of
barrier
allow an implied
comparison

total =9 marks
 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
9 (a) a microphone; 2

a loudspeaker;

b i v= f x ; in words or 1
accepted
symbols any
rearranged form
ii changing kHz into Hz; seen anywhere 3
substitution;
evaluation;
e.g.
12 000 = 12 000 000
v = 25 x 12 000 000
300 000 000 (m/s) 3.0 x 108 (m/s)
POT error loses
the conversion
mark

Total 6 marks
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
10 An explanation including: Ignore references to
volume or loudness
 frequency decreases (1)
 wavelength increases (1) Allow ‘pitch’ for
 (because) wave speed is constant frequency
(1)
3

Total for Question 10 = 23 marks

42 Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in Physics – Sample Assessment Materials

Issue 1 – June 2016 © Pearson Education Limited 2016
11. A girl and a boy are in a race and they pass a parked car, as shown below. The parked
car sounds its horn, which emits a sound a frequency 425 Hz. The boy hears this sound as a
frequency of 400 Hz.

(a) What is the name given to the effect which results in the apparent change of
frequency?

DOPPLER EFFECT (1)

(b) In the diagram shown above, the girl is catching up with the boy. Suggest what
frequency she may hear as she approaches the car.

frequency = > 425, e.g. 450 Hz

(2)

(c) Describe another example where the above effect occurs in sound.

EMERRGENCY VEHICLE PASSING BY WITH SIREN SOUNDING

BUZZER EMITTING NOTE OF CONSTANT PITCH BEING WHIRLED AROUND ON A STRING!

(1)
(Total for Question 11 = 4 Marks)
12.

(a) The diagram shows a police car sounding a siren as its travels along a road. There are two
people; A standing behind the car and B standing in front of the car.

A and B experience a different pitch note.

(a)(i) Which person, A or B, experiences the higher pitch note?

B
(1)
(a)(ii) Which person, A or B, experiences the higher frequency note?

B
(1)
(b)The car now travels at a faster speed. Describe and explain how, if at all, the sound heard
changes for the driver of the car from when they were travelling at a lower speed.

THE DRIVER OF THE CAR ALWAYS HEARS THE TRUE PITCH OR FREQUENCY (1)

SINCE THE SIREN IS NOT MOVING RELATIVE TO THEM

(2)
(c) The same effect is noted with light waves when stars which move away from Earth at a
very high speed. If the star emitted mostly green light, what colour would someone on Earth
see the light if the star was moving away from the Earth at a very fast speed? Explain your
answer.

COLOUR SEEN WOULD BE RED OR ORANGE OR YELLOW

SINCE THESE COLOURS HAVE A LOWER FREQUENCY/LONGER WAVELENGTH

(2)
(Total for Question 12 = 6 Marks)