INTERNATIONAL

A-LEVEL
PHYSICS
(PH04)
Unit 4: Energy and energy resources
Example responses with commentary
For teaching from September 2016 onwards
For A-level exams in May/June 2018 onwards

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

This guide includes some examples of student responses to a

selection of questions from the summer 2018 PH04 unit.

The question parts are reproduced, along with the final mark scheme,
student responses and a commentary from the Lead Examiner on each
of the students’ answers.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

01.1

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

The level of explanation in the solution is poor. The maximum power

(as a value) does not appear explicitly anywhere in the solution neither
does the conversion from diameter to radius. The working is a jumble
of unsupported letters and numbers. Only the correct answer
appearing on the answer line saves it and allows full credit.

2 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

Although this scores no marks, the work does illustrate how students
can make their working plain to the examiner. The correct equation is
shown but equally clear are the failures to incorporate the density of air
into the calculation and also to square the radius of the turbine blades.

0 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

01.2

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UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

The first sentence answers the question posed in Question 1.3 (not
shown here) but is not an argument for the reduction in electrical
power output. The second sentence is close to a sensible answer for
the inability of the turbine to recover all the kinetic energy of the wind.
However, it does not go far enough and muddles the ideas by
suggesting that a 100% usage would mean that the turbine blades
cannot rotate.

Note that ‘back marking’ (marking work that is written as a response to

the wrong question) is not used.

0 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

Again there is no credit here. The student is moving towards some

credit but the reference to energy losses in the turbine mechanism is
too vague.

0 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

02.1

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UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

This response scores full marks. This was the case for the whole
cohort of students. The working here is clear.

Only one example of Question 2.1 is shown as answers were similar.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

02.2

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

In this response there are two errors:

• The calculation of surface area is incorrect (the factor 6 is missing
and no allowance has been made for the thickness of the walls).
• The answer is out of the tolerated range even though there are no
further substitution errors.

2 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

Again, there is an error in the calculation of the area where a circular

shape has been assumed. However the continuing substitution is
correct but the answer is out of range.

2 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

02.3

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

The student has forgotten that the cube will remain at 0°C while it is
melting and that this process takes two days. Only after that does the
temperature begin to increase and the closer the cube temperature
approaches the room temperature the smaller the gradient of the graph
will be.

1 mark awarded.

Only one example of question 2.3 is shown as answers were similar.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

03.1

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

Only 1 mark is scored in this confused account. The conversion from

8.0 MeV to its joule equivalent is correct. There is no clear attempt to
equate the electrostatic potential energy stored in the system at closest
approach to the kinetic energy of the alpha particle when well away
from the nucleus.

1 mark awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

1
Student B is attempting a solution via the use of the equation R = R0 A 3
. However, this is not appropriate where the expectation is that the
kinetic energy and electric potential energy will be equated.

0 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

03.2

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

The student uses the third approach in the mark scheme and uses the
known equation essentially to calculate R0 . The method is well
explained and the calculations are accurate. Full credit is obtained
from this approach.

3 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

The approach is confused and the calculation has no physical

significance. This method does not approximate to any of the three
mark scheme methods and scores no credit.

0 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

03.3

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

Only one comment corresponds to the six possible points in the mark
scheme. The student suggests that the electrons can travel faster than
the alpha particle and this is close to the energy comment (marking
point three). One mark is awarded with some benefit of the doubt.

1 mark awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

The ‘very short wavelength’ is not good enough for the fifth marking
point as there is lack of technical vocabulary here (no mention of the
de Broglie wavelength, for example). The comment regarding
electrostatic repulsion, although not explicitly mentioned on the mark
scheme, is good physics and a point well made. Credit is given for an
alternative correct answer.

1 mark awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

04

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

This set of answers to Question 4 shows a student in full control of the

material.

For the calculations (Questions 4.1–4.5), the methodology is clear

although always expressed in equation form without definition of
symbols. However, the student uses conventional symbols as used in
the Formula and relationship sheet. Answers are quoted to three
significant figures throughout with rounding apparent where necessary.

In Question 4.6 there is the recognition that sliding does not allow
rotational kinetic energy (this is an acceptable alternative answer to
that in the mark scheme) and therefore the quantity of energy in this
mode remains zero throughout the motion.

Each response earned full marks. 14 marks awarded in total.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

Question 4.1 scores full marks albeit for a somewhat jumbled and poorly
explained answer. The student pays heavily for a systematic lack of
coherence in the answer from then on.

Question 4.2 seems to use an incorrect approach and the correct answer
appears but is then discarded in favour of the value 4.2 rad s-1. In 4.3 the
1
θ ωit + α t 2 should have led to a correct solution, but
proposed equation=
2
the student appears to be mis-applying the equation with a non-zero value
for ωI only partial credit is given for the recognition of the method.

In Question 4.4 there is no use of the required ramp angle and zero credit
again.

Question 4.5 scores all the points as the student has used the correct value
for ω (37.5 rad s-1, presumably picked up from one of the results in 4.2) to
arrive at an answer of 9.84 J (benefit of the doubt was given here as the
correct value is 9.9 J).

The physics discussed in Question 4.6 is incorrect and no credit is given.

5 marks awarded.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

QUESTION

05

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

MARK SCHEME

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT A

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

EXAMINER COMMENTARY

In Question 5.1, Student A uses the printed grid to provide the region for
fusion for the first marking point (going further and showing the fission region
too). There is a description of the change in binding energy per nucleon
which is also credited. However, the student has omitted any description of
the movement of the position towards the graph peak of fusion products.
Also omitted is any consideration of the mass of the nuclei before and after
the process. 2 marks awarded.

The calculation in Question 5.2 uses an out-of-range value for the binding
energy per nucleon of the product and therefore the second mark on the
scheme is lost. Otherwise all steps are present and correct leading to the
award of 4 marks. This is a clear solution with all steps notated reasonably
well. 4 marks awarded.

Question 5.3 scores only 1 of the 2 marks available because the only
relevant comment is the relatively low-level point regarding the slowing down
of neutrons to what the student presumably meant to be thermal (rather than
kinetic) energies. 1 mark awarded.

The absorption properties of the control rods and the way in which control
can be achieved are seen in the answer to Question 5.4. However, steel is
not regarded as a suitable absorber (except as an alloy with an appropriate
named absorber). The technique of automatic insertion of control material in
an emergency was not mentioned by the student. 2 marks are therefore
awarded.

9 marks awarded in total.

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 INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL PHYSICS (PH04)
UNIT 4, ENERGY AND ENERGY RESOURCES EXAMPLE RESPONSES

STUDENT B

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EXAMINER COMMENTARY

In Question 5.1 the only suggestion is that fusion occurs when nuclei collide
at high speed. While there is truth in this statement, there is no reference at
all to the graph (contrary to the question itself) and no credit is awarded.

Question 5.2 gives an identification of the binding energy per nucleon for U-
235 that is just in range together with a conversion of this to joule. No further
identifications or manipulations are shown so 2 marks are awarded.

The release of neutrons to induce further fission is shown in the answer to

Question 5.3. However the student says that these emitted neutrons need to
‘…meet a suitable ke…’ and this is not enough to imply loss of kinetic energy
or a much reduced speed. There is further detail (relating to the energy
change produced through collisions with the moderator) which is given
credit. 2 marks are given overall for this question.

In Question 5.4 no suitable control material is named, and the process of

absorption is not mentioned. Neither is there a consideration of the
emergency function. The phrase ‘…if they are inserted deeper then they
allow less neutrons to flow’ is not enough to satisfy the detail required in the
third marking point.

4 marks awarded in total.

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