6PH05 01 Pef 20120307
6PH05 01 Pef 20120307
6PH05 01 Pef 20120307
January 2012
Examiner Comments
This is a correct method, but the final Always work out numerical answers fully,
answer is not fully calculated. giving a decimal fraction where appropriate
for your final answer.
4 GCE Physics 6PH05 01
Question 12 (a)
This was answered successfully by a large proportion of candidates. The most common
mistakes were in not squaring the radius or not taking the fourth power of temperature.
Some candidates did not convert radius and temperature into correct units. A few did not
use the correct formula for area.
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The radius is not squared at the Check carefully as you go from a statement of
substitution stage. the formula to the substitution.
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The Stefan-Boltzmann constant has been Physical constants are given in a list at
omitted at the substitution stage. the end of the question paper.
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The candidate seems to convert the wavelength Use SI units throughout in any
from m to km when making the substitution. calculations that you carry out.
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There is a unit penalty here. Watch out for units - all final answers
should be quoted with appropriate units.
Question 13 (a)
Although many correct definitions were given, poor use of English often prevented
candidates from being given full credit. In good responses, the idea of proportionality
together with an opposite direction between acceleration/force and displacement was clearly
stated. However, when marks were lost it was usually because candidates did not qualify the
word “displacement” with “from the equilibrium position”.
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Question 15 (b)
(b)(i) was well answered, although there were some power conversion errors.
In (b)(ii) many answers suffered from lack of specific detail - responses referring to the
efficiency of the washing machine and vague statements of “heat loss” were common. To
gain credit candidates need to say where the “lost” energy might go. Only about half the
candidates could give the answer that no energy was lost to the surroundings.
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Question 16 (a)
Very few students could explain clearly that the Moon is held in place by the gravitational
pull of the Earth. The mutual attraction between the two bodies was a common way of
expressing candidates’ understanding. A large proportion of candidates were not able to
demonstrate a clear grasp of what affects the radius of Moon’s orbit. Most answers indicated
gravitational force provided by the Earth was involved. Some lost marks by presenting a list
of possible factors.
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Question 16 (b)
The most commonly awarded mark was for a reference to a centripetal force. However,
very few candidates seemed to understand the application of Newton’s 2nd law to circular
motion. Centrifugal force was commonly seen, along with the bottom of the bucket
attracting the water and holding it in the bucket. There was still the tendency in some
candidates’ minds to think of the centripetal force as an actual physical force, in addition to
weight and reaction, instead of it being provided by the weight and reaction.
Candidates who knew that there was a centripetal force, often attempted to explain the lack
of downwards motion by using Newton’s 3rd law and have a ‘centrifugal’ force making the
water move outwards. Very few candidates seemed to understand that the weight of the
water was supplying the centripetal force and so long as the required force was greater than
weight the weight could not pull the water down.
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No marks here.
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Just 2 marks here - for the high pressure and the confinement
problems. The reference to molecules is worrying at this level.
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