INTERNATIONAL

AS
Physics
(9630)

Unit 2: Electricity, waves and particles

Mark Scheme

June 2017

Version: 1.0 Final

 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the
relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments
made at the standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was
used by them in this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers
the students’ responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same
correct way. As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’
scripts. Alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated
for. If, after the standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been
raised they are required to refer these to the Lead Assessment Writer.

It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular
examination paper.

Copyright © 2017 Oxford International AQA Examinations and its licensors. All rights reserved.
 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

01.1 I = Q/t = 9.4 × 1018 × 1.6 × 10–19 / 18 × 10–6  2

= 84 000 A (83 556 A) 

01.2 Up/upwards/from ground to cloud  1

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

02.1 Finding a mean for T (1.405 or 1.44) or for 10T (14.05 or 14.4)  2
Correct mean =1.44 (must ignore anomaly)  Correct answer only

L
02.2 Use of 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 1.44 = 2π√9.81  2

L = 0.49–0.52 (m) 

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

03.1 Electron diffraction or words to that effect  1 (NOT just diffraction but, for example, “they
can diffract” is allowed

03.2 2
1.02 ×10-24 2𝐸
v =√ or correct rearrangement to give 𝑣 = √ 𝑘
𝑚

0.5 × 9.11 × 10–31
Must see this not just 1500
v =1496 (m s–1) 

h
03.3 Use of λ= 2
their m × their v 

λ = 4.86 × 10–7 (m) 

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

04 Correct general shape in 1st quadrant  4

st rd
Symmetry in 1 and 3 quadrant 
Goes through (12, 0.8) ± 1mm but doesn’t get to 0.8A
before 10V
gradient at (0, 0) should be 0.2 (can check with, for
Must not be linear beyond V = ± 2V
example, (1,0.2) or (2, 0.4)) 

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

05.1 θc marked (as incident angle at BC)  1

05.2 2

sin θc = 

θc = 40.2(°) 

05.3 3 × 108 1
Use of 1.55 = v

v= 1.94 × 108 (m s–1) 1

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

06.1 Use of P=V2/R with substitution 144/any value of R  2

R = 41.1 (W) 

06.2 Use of 1/R formula with substitution of some data even if not all 5 3
resistors
1/R = 0.93
R = awrt 1.1 (Ω)

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

07.1 As temperature increases, the resistance of the thermistor decreases 3


As more charge carriers become available for conduction/ are raised
to the conduction band 
A larger share/proportion of the battery pd across the buzzer (or
reference to a potential divider) 

07.2 1.2 𝑅 1.8 2 Must see 82 not just 80. Answers based on checking can only
Use of 1.8 = 123
or 𝐼 = 123 or 𝐼 = 0.0146 (𝐴)
score both marks if unrounded values are seen.
R = 82 (Ω) 

07.3 Attempt to find gradient as ∆y/∆x with correct values read from graph 2 Must have negative sign for second mark.
–1
Gradient = –5 (Ω K )

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

07.4 T = 3.0 (°C) 1 If clearly use 80 Ω from 7.2 can gain full marks. In this case
T=3.4 °C)

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Question Marking Guidance Mark Comments

08.1 Comment on how interference occurs 3 max

= mention of diffraction at slits, superposition or coherence 
Constructive interference causes bright fringes and / or destructive
interference causes dark fringe
Correct reference to phase difference at bright OR dark fringe 
Correct reference to path difference at bright OR dark fringe 

08.2 From diagram w = 0.24/8 = 0.03 m 3

λ = ws/D = their w × 7.3 × 10–5 / 3.5
λ = 6.3 × 10–7 (m) Correct answer only

08.3 A valid basic method  4

Details of all measurements to be made 
Details of measuring instruments (2 out of metre rule, Vernier calipers,
travelling microscope)
Describes a technique that improves accuracy (e.g. use of multiple
fringes or a laser which allows D to be large )

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Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

09.1 Ωm  1

09.2 Use of R = ρl/A seen  4 Allow reverse argument i.e. calculating power needed to melt
fuses starting from 11 A
Correct value for at least 1 resistance (zinc 0.037 Ω, silver 0.020 Ω) 
Use of P = I2R with a correct substitution of their R 
Correct value for both currents (8.1 A for zinc 11.6 A for silver) or
powers and statement justifying the use of silver 

09.3 Any sensible factor eg corrosion, cost, availability  1

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

10.1 Well drawn line passing through all points and the origin 1 Allow ± 1 mm
(Straight up to strain = 0.6 × 10−2) 

10.2 Triangle or working lines seen – at least half size of straight section  3
Data read correctly from graph (ignore powers of 10) 
7.0 × 1010 – 7.4 x 1010 (Pa) to 2 or 3 sf 

10.3 Micrometer (screw gauge)  2

Plus : repeat and average (at various points along length or at
different diameters to check for circularity) 

10.4 Metre rule OR tape measure  2

Choose long value of length OR repeat and average (the
measurement) 

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Question Marking guidance Mark Comments

11.1 Oscillations perpendicular to (the direction of propagation of) wave or 1

direction of energy transfer 

11.2 All buildings vibrate at the forcing frequency f = 12 / 24 = 0.5 (Hz)  1

11.3 Resonance occurs in building C  2

Since f = f0 or WTTE 
𝑀
11.4 Correct substitution into 𝑇 = 2𝜋 √ or a correct rearrangement to give 2
𝑘
4𝜋2 𝑀
𝑘= 
𝑇2

= 1.67 × 109 OR 1.7 × 109 (N m1)

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

11.5 1
amplitude  graph A

11.6 1 Note: Graph B = same shape, but all inside of graph A.

Peak of graph B must not appear sharper than peak of
amplitude graph A, nor should it appear to the right of graph A
peak.

 graph B

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH02 – JUNE 2017

Section C

In this section, each correct answer is awarded 1 mark.

Question Key

12 B

13 A

14 D

15 C

16 D

17 C

18 D

19 A

20 C

21 B

22 D

23 B

24 C

25 A

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