AQA GCSE Physics

Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook

1 Specific heat capacity
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1 W or watts 1

1


 1

Any three from: 3

the group that used the insulation would have
more accurate results
insulation stops heat/energy escaping/
experiment with no insulation will lose energy to
3 heating the air surrounding the block
values for energy transferred/work done will be
inaccurate
leading to inaccurate graphs
value calculated from gradient will be inaccurate

measure the time for a larger temperature 1

4 increase
to reduce the error in the measurement. 1
5 195 1

amount of energy needed to increase the 1

6
temperature of a 1 kg mass by 1°C.

energy transferred 2
7 temperature change =
SHC × mass
8 5 1

even temperature/good thermal contact 1

9
accurate thermometer reading 1

continuous monitoring Allow any other 1

10a
guaranteed to record highest temperature sensible suggestion 1
10b expensive / cost 1
11a aluminium 1

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AQA GCSE Physics
Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
1 Specific heat capacity (continued)

11bi all points plotted correctly one mark for at least 6 2

of the points plotted
correctly
line of best fit 1
11bii construction lines when working out gradient 1
steel 1
11c not all of the data is calculated to the same 1
number of decimal places
important to keep resolution of data the same 1

12 it takes time for the block to warm up 1

transfer of energy to the water not linear 1
13 P = IV = 1.2 x 12 1
14.4 W 1
E=Pt = 14.4 x 240 1
= 3456̴ J 1
mass = 3456 / (385×8) 1
1.12 1

2 Thermal insulation
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1a Transferred to surroundings 1
1bi stop energy being transferred to surroundings by 1
evaporation/convection

1bii to measure equal amounts of water into each 1

container

1biii to measure the temperature change in each 1

container
1c more accurate recording of data Any two from the 2
points listed
continuous monitoring so can take more data
points
computer can be set up to plot graph as
experiments happen
experiment can be left unattended

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
2 Thermal insulation (continued)

1d line graph deduct one mark for 4

each incorrect answer
continuous
bar chart
independent
categoric
2a E = 0.8 × 4.2 × 23 1
77.3 allow ecf from 1
incorrect temp.
change
J or joules 1
2b  61 − 84  1
  × 100
 84 
─27.4 1

3 B would have greater decrease in temperature 1

air is a good thermal insulator 1
popping the bubbles means less insulation 1
more transfer of energy to the surroundings 1
4a All points plotted correctly (±½ square) allow one mark for 2
four or five points
correct

curved line of best fit 1

4b temperature decreasing 1
rate of temperature change high at start 1
rate of temperature change decreases/slows 1
down as temperature falls
4c tangent drawn 1
suitably large gradient triangle drawn 1
─1.4 (±0.2) Allow answers 1
consistent with
student’s LOBF

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AQA GCSE Physics
Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
2 Thermal insulation (continued)

5a student B correct student A: 1

answer should evaluate both student’s bubble wrap has 2
conclusions (see indicative content to the right) highest temperature
water after 30 minutes 1
use of data to support evaluation
this is because water
starter at higher
temperature (92 °C)
student B:
cotton wool has the
smallest fall in
temperature (─21 °C)
cotton wool has the
smallest percentage
decrease in
temperature (─44.7%)

5b any two from: 2

plot graph of data
use same starting temperature
calculate temperature change
calculate percentage temperature change

6 0.9 × 60 = 54 1
65 ─ 54 = 11 °C 1
recognition that water will not cool below room 1
temperature so the temperature after 1 hour will
be 25 °C

7a Any three from:

reduce electricity/heating bills/costs
reduce fossil fuel use allow reference to
climate change

reduce demand on national grid/energy

production
keep houses warmer

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AQA GCSE Physics
Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
2 Thermal insulation (continued)

7b any two from: 2

smaller scale
lower cost
shorter time
can use models for investigations that would be
impossible/unethical
may be easier to control variables

7c Level 3 (5–6 marks) 6

A detailed method describing the apparatus required, suitable measures
to control variables, and appropriate suggestions of how and when to
record results. The issue of how to control the thickness/volume of the
insulating material should be considered.
Level 2 (3–4 marks)
A method that would allow results to be recorded for the four materials,
but may lack detailed mention of equipment/timings of results. Details
may be lacking about how to control variables.
Level 1 (1–2 marks)
Some description of elements of a method, but lacking enough detail to
allow the method to be followed in order to record results.

3 Resistance
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1 ammeter 1
current 1
voltmeter 1
potential difference 1
2a voltmeter and ammeter are the wrong way round 1
2b close switch 1
2c 1.5 1
Ω 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
3 Resistance (continued)

3a any two points 20 cm apart 1

3b ammeter/voltmeter does not read zero 1
when the true value is zero 1
3c line must be straight 1
and through the origin

4a Test 2 for 60 cm 1

4b anomaly discarded 1
4.25 / 8.52 / 12.79 / 16.41 / 19.43 one mark for 4 correct 2
4c temperature of the wire was not controlled / 1
increased for each repeat.
resistance increases with increased temperature
1
became less repeatable as the values recorded
1
increased with each repeat
4d suitable scales on each axis 1
all points plotted correctly (±½ square) 1 mark for 4 points 2
correctly plotted
straight line of best fit 1

5a the resistance would decrease 1

by a factor of two 1
5b high current leads to increase in temperature 1
particles in wire vibrate more 1
electrons collide more often with metal ions 1
resistance will increase 1
6a 9 1
7 I = Q/t = 9/180 = 0.05 1
V = E/Q = 45/9 = 5 1
R = V/I = 5/0.05 1
100Ω 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook

4 I–V characteristics
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1 1

2ai axes labelled correctly 1

correct curved line drawn 1
passes through origin 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
4 I–V characteristics

2aii resistance is affected by temperature any four points from 4

those listed
higher temperature the higher the resistance
as temp increases I no longer proportional to V
so gradient flattens
gradient = 1/resistance
so gradient decreases as temp increases and R
increases
harder for electrons to pass through wire when
hotter as lattice atoms are vibrating more and
obstructing flow
3a component 1 points plotted correctly one mark for 5/ 6 2
component 2 points plotted correctly points correct for each
2
3b resistor (fixed or ohmic) 1
diode 1
3c for a diode:
no current flows on negative side of the graph as 1
resistance in very high
resistance very high at low voltage 1
as voltage increases resistance falls quickly 1
in a diode current can only flow in one direction, 1
whereas in a fixed resistor in can flow in both
direction
for a resistor:
1
resistance is constant
1
therefore current and voltage are proportional
3d 0.2 1
3e construction of large gradient triangle 1
change in pd
change in current 1

21 allow 20 1

4a 0.5 1
4b 7.4/14.8 = 0.5
0.5 × 9.2 1
4.6 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
4 I–V characteristics (continued)

5 when no current is flowing 1

there cannot be any potential difference 1
6 measure the effect of reversing the current 1
plot the negative sections of the characteristic 1
7 measure very small currents at a high resolution 1

5 Density
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1 Pebble—balance and a measuring cylinder 1

Textbook—balance and a ruler 1
Battery—balance and a ruler 1
2 volume of the object 1
3 get an accurate value for the volume 1
4a density = mass/volume allow other 1
arrangements of
formula
4b 0.065/0.0005 1
1300 1
5a 50 x 50 x 50 1
125 000 1
5b 4.2 × 125000 1
525 000 g 1
525 1
6 any two from: 2
not fully submerging the object
inaccurate measurement of sides of object
zero error on balance
7 honey is denser 1
water has a density of 1 g/ml 1
honey has a density if 1.45 g/ml 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
5 Density (continued)

8a correct substitution 1
63 1
8b fill the displacement can to the level just below 1
the spout
position a measuring cylinder under the spout 1
place the cylinder of wood in the can 1
record the volume of water that flows into the 1
measuring cylinder
repeat the process after carving 1
deduct the second measurement from the first 1
8c 44/63 = 0.70 g/cm3 1
33/0.7 = 1
47.1 1
9a C 1
9b resolution of balance will show if the value has 1
been rounded
show to one decimal place after given value 1
10 142.8 – 64.6 = 78.2 g 1
3
78.2/85 = 0.92 g/cm 1
olive oil 1
11 mass constant throughout 1
volume increases when water boils 1
therefore density decreases 1
12 object A is less dense 1
object A will float 1
object B is more dense 1
object B will sink 1
13 volume of object = 0.2 x 0.15 x 0.42 = 0.0126 m3 1
mas = density x volume =0.0126 x 9 300 1
117.18 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
6 Force and extension
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1 length of the spring (not extension) 1

2 0.2 × 9.8 1
1.96 1
3a 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 All correct for mark 1
3b points all correctly plotted 1
straight line of best fit drawn lobf should pass 1
through origin
3c directly proportional 1
3d straight line at first 1
limit of proportionality will be reached 1
graph will no longer be a straight line / start to 1
flatten out
3e change in length = 23 – 9 = 14 1
(14/9) ×100 1
156% 1
3f construction lines drawn 1
k = F/x = 6/0.14 1
42.9 1
4 Spring could snap and damage eyes. 1
5 to indicate the bottom of the spring and 1
accurately measure the point on the ruler

6a B and C 1
6b F and H 1
6c Student A 1
the results would not be as close to the true 1
value
the precision would not be affected as the repeat
1
values would all have the same error.
7 springs will have different gradients 1
stiffer spring will have shallower gradient 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
6 Force and extension (continued)

8a any two from: 2

direct measurement of the value that has
actually changed
difficult to measure the exact point where the
original length was
extension smaller value so more error.
8b elastic potential store of the spring increases 1
8c calculate the length which represents 5 cm 1
extension
draw construction lines across from this length 1
and read off the force
convert the force to g or kg
1

7 Acceleration
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1 acceleration 1
force 1
mass 1
2 0.8 × 5 1
4 1
3a light gates mean less error in timing results. 1
student A’s method simpler to set up 1
student A’s method less expensive. 1
student B’s method can be set up to measure 1
acceleration directly
3b difficult to time exactly when the trolley passes 1
the line
record video of experiment with timer and play
1
back
3c reduce friction 1
4a 1.5/1.25 = 1.2 1

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7 Acceleration (continued)

4b theoretical values don’t account for friction 1

resultant force smaller than the force pulling on 1
the trolley
therefore acceleration is not as great 1
5 pull from string forwards horizontally on trolley 1
(arrow longer than air resistance arrow)
friction/air resistance backwards horizontally 1
weight vertically downwards from centre of 1
trolley (arrow same length as reaction force)
normal / reaction force vertically upwards from 1
ground at wheels
6 Contact force Non-contact one mark for each 5
term
friction, air resistance, push, pull gravity

7 speed only has magnitude accept is scalar 1

velocity has magnitude and direction. accept is a vector 1
8a all points plotted correctly 1
line of best fit 1
8b force is directly proportional to acceleration 1
8c F = ma with substitution 1
10 1
9 a = ∆v/t = (5.1 – 4.5)/3 1
2
= 0.2 m/s 1
F = ma = 1.5 × 0.2 1
0.3 1

10a 𝑣𝑣 2 − 𝑢𝑢2 1
𝑎𝑎 =
2𝑠𝑠
10b a = (3.872 – 02) / 2 × 0.3 1
25.0 1
10c F = ma = 0.200 × 25.0 1
= 5.00 N 1
5/9.8 1
= 0.51 kg 1
510 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook

8 Waves
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1a transverse wave 1
wavelength labelled 1
amplitude labelled 1

1b energy is transferred parallel to the wave 1

movement of particles /oscillation is 1
perpendicular to the direction of the wave
2 wavelength can be 3
labelled between any
two identical points on
the wave

3a take an image with a camera/video/phone 1

use a meter rule in image as scale bar 1
measure wavelength and calculate value from 1
scale bar
3b lamp casts shadows of the waves on the white 1
screen
makes it easier to see / count waves 1
3c 22/5.0 1
4.4 1
3d v = fλ = 4.4 × 0.03 1
0.132 1
0.13 1
m/s 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
8 Waves (continued)

4 student is not correct 1

they could measure distance L 1
multiply by two 1
5 student B will get the most accurate data 1
reduce the effect of errors in measuring 1
as error will be divided by 10 1
6 one from: 1
regular waves
easily change frequency
higher frequency possible
7a count the waves passing a fixed point on the 1
screen in a fixed time
reference to using a long time interval to improve
1
accuracy/reduce error.
divide by number of seconds to calculate
frequency 1
measure distance between as many waves as 1
possible
divide by number of waves to calculate 1
wavelength
use v = fλ to calculate wavespeed
1
7b 17/11 1
1.5454 1
1.5 1
8 3 × 108 / 2.0 ×1013 1
correct conversion 1
1.5×10−5 m 1

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
9 Light
Question Answers Extra information Marks

1a 2

1b A — Incident 1
B — Reflected 1
C — Refracted 1
1c Any two from: 2
width of ray of light
inaccurate drawing
measurement error with protractor
1d angle of refraction would be 90° 1
would not be refracted 1
2a orange deduct one mark for 3
each incorrect answer
yellow
green
blue
indigo
2b speed 1
transverse 1
wavelength/frequency 1
frequency/wavelength 1
refraction 1
2c water waves accept other sensible 1
suggestion, e.g.,
microwaves
3a surface may not be perfectly flat 1

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9 Light (continued)

3b easier to calculate a mean value for a single 1

block
easier to compare angle of refraction against
1
other type of block
3c slower in perspex 1
rays refracted more 1
use/comparison of data 1
4a incident and reflected ray drawn on same side of deduct a mark if the 1
plane diagram has not been
drawn carefully with a 1
angles measured between ray and normal
ruler
angle of incidence = 65° ±1° 1
angle of incidence = angle of reflection 1
normal drawn at 90° to the plane 1

4b incident and refracted ray drawn on opposite deduct a mark if the 1

sides of plane diagram has not been
drawn carefully with a
angles measured between ray and normal 1
ruler
angle of incidence = 35° ±1° 1
angle of refraction = 22° ±1° 1
normal drawn at 90° to the plane 1
5 No refraction 1
total internal reflection of light waves 1

6 Level 3 (5–6 marks) for simulations 6

balanced evaluation with multiple points for and less time spent setting
against simulations up practical
equipment
AND
you know the
a justified opinion given
equipment is going to
Level 2 (3–4 marks) work
balanced evaluation with multiple points for and students have the
against simulations, but with no justified opinion chance to work
given individually and each
OR do the experiment
against simulations
a justified opinion given but only points for or
against simulations discussed (unbalanced cost of computers
evaluation)
requires internet
Level 1 (1–2 marks) access
An opinion stated with a single, possibly no practice of
simplistic, advantage or disadvantage stated practical skills

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Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
9 Light (continued)

7a path of light bends towards/away from normal 1

as light passes from one material to another 1
7b light travels at different speeds in different media 1
when light hits at an angle one side of the 1
wavefront hits the boundary first
this side of the wave changes speed first 1
so sides of a wavefront have different speeds 1
path of light ray bends towards/away from 1
normal
7c difference between the refractive index of the accept difference in 1
two materials densities of materials

10 Radiation and absorption

Question Answers Extra information Marks

1a microwaves, infrared,ultraviolet, x-ray 1 mark for 3 correct 2

1b infrared 1
1c the Sun 1
1d same speed 1
transverse 1
2a three from: 3
mass
volume
starting temperature
surface area
2b matt-black can 1
as final temp is lower so more heat (infrared) 1
has been transferred to surroundings

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10 Radiation and absorption (continued)
2c silver 98 – 62 = 36 1
36/300 = 0.12 1
matt-black 98 – 49 = 49 1
49/300 = 0.16 1
2d (98 – 62)/98 × 100 1
−37% 1
2e fill cans with cold/RT water 1
record temperature with thermometer 1
place the lamp a fixed distance from the cans 1
turn the lamp on and start timer 1
record the temperature at regular intervals 1
better absorber of radiation will have a faster 1
increase in temperature/higher final temp
3a infrared 1
emitted 1
directly 1
higher 1
3b straight line 1
positive relationship 1
4a type of surface 1
4b y-axis labelled with units, and an appropriate 1
scale
x-axis labelled 1
allow one mark if
all bars correct height three bars are correct 2

4c the data supports the hypothesis 1

matt black emits more than shiny silver 1
matt surfaces emit more than shiny 1
black emits more than silver 1
4d matt black best absorber 1
matt surface irregular / black reflects less IR 1
shiny silver surface worst absorber 1
shiny surface reflects IR 1

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