INTERNATIONAL AS

PHYSICS
PH01
Unit 1 Mechanics, materials and atoms

Mark scheme
January 2022
Version: 1.0 Final

*221XPH01/MS*
 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

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 Examiner.

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.

Further copies of this mark scheme are available from oxfordaqaexams.org.uk

Copyright information

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Copyright © 2022 Oxford International AQA Examinations and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Level of response marking instructions

Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.

Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.

Step 1 Determine a level

Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.

When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.

Step 2 Determine a mark

Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.

You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.

Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.

An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

01 Kinetic energy increases (from zero), then decreases If no other mark given, allow 1 mark for a 4 AO1
✓ correct description of part of the movement
(e.g. from X to O, or O to Y). AO1
AO1
Award MP2 if MP1, MP3 and MP4 given. AO1
Idea that potential energy decreases, then increases
✓
For MP3 allow elastic PE increases if spring
is described as compressing between O and
Elastic potential energy decreases ✓ Y

Penalise contradictions within answer.

Gravitational potential energy increases (always) ✓

Total 4

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

02.1 The system is isolated OR no external forces act ✓ Condone “closed” for isolated 1 AO1

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

Attempt to use conservation of total momentum OR a

02.2 3 AO2
common impulse ✓
AO2
AO2
Correct substitution of values and velocities ✓ Correct signs required for MP2.
E.g. (0.050 × 0.90) − (0.80 m) = (0.050 ×
−0.30) + (0.15 m) OR
0.050 × [0.30 – (–0.90)] = m[0.15 – (–0.80)]

0.063 (kg) ✓
Expect to see 0.06 = 0.95m before answer

Total 4

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

03 diagonal line to 2 s and smooth (symmetric) curve ending 4 AO3

at 6 s ✓
AO3
turning point (of curve) at 4.0 s within ½ grid square ✓ AO3
AO3
displacements of 18 m at 4.0 s and 12 m at 6.0 s ✓

displacement of 16.5 m at 3.0 s and 5.0 s ✓

Condone displacements within 1 grid square

for MP4.

Total 4

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

Reference to any decay other than of a free

04.1 3 correct = 2 marks ✓ ✓ 2 AO1
neutron is talk out and gets zero marks.
AO1
2 correct = 1 mark ✓

proton / p / p+

electron / beta-minus particle / e– / –

(electron) antineutrino / 𝜐̅

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

04.2 Method B is more precise than method A with some Comparison of absolute uncertainties or 1 AO1
quantitative comparison ✓ calculation of percentage uncertainties:
A = 0.25%; B = 0.09%

Allow that the absolute uncertainty of B is

smaller than that of A, if there’s a comment
that the values for tn are similar.

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

04.3 When the experiment is repeated by another person, or by 1 AO1

another method, the same result is obtained (OWTTE) ✓

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

04.4 Max 2 from: ✓ ✓ 2 AO3

Methods A and B do not produce a reproducible value (for

tn) because ranges don’t overlap

Calculations to show ranges don’t overlap

Discussion that A or B could be reproducible given further Accept statement that the ranges do not
measurements overlap so data do not show that A and B are
reproducible

Total 6

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

05.1 47 ✓ 1 AO3

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

05.2 charge Allow other values for m and Q for MP2 if e 3 AO1
Use of mass
✓
and mn used.
AO3
77 × 1.60 × 10–19
✓ Treat electron masses as neutral.
197 × 1.67 × 10–27 AO2
3.7 × 10 (C kg ) ✓
7 –1 Allow MP2 for either correct top line or correct
bottom line of fraction

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

05.3 Allow 1 mark for antiprotons and 2 AO1

antineutrons.
2 antiprotons ✓ AO1
Allow symbols.
2 antineutrons ✓
Penalise reference to positrons. Use list
principle.

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

05.4 Both produce gamma radiation/photons or two identical Allow  for “gamma”. 3 AO2
photons ✓ AO2
Give full credit for discussion in terms of pairs
Antihelium annihilation produces higher energy/frequency of photons. AO2
or shorter wavelength radiation ✓

(Because) antihelium/helium has greater rest energy/mass

(than antihydrogen/hydrogen/proton) ✓
Condone mass for rest mass

Total 9

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

06.1 0.029 (N) ✓ 1 AO3

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

06.2 Couple consists of (a pair of equal) forces acting in Allow credit for discussion of not being a 2 AO1
opposite directions (and along different lines) ✓ couple in terms of moments.
AO3
So no, as forces act in same direction, or do no act in
opposite directions ✓

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

06.3 (sum of) clockwise moments equals (sum of) anticlockwise 2 AO1
moments ✓
AO1
(resultant moment or sum of moments is zero) for a system
in equilibrium ✓

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

06.4 Calculates one moment eg 0.002 g × 5 ✓ Allow mass instead of weight eg 2 × 5; 3 AO3

States horizontal component of distance = 0.10 cos Allow mass in g and d in cm. AO2

OR perpendicular component of weight = 0.004gcos ✓ Allow other methods. AO2

76° ✓

Total 8

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

07.1 Max 2 from : ✓ ✓ Needs to be a convincing conversion of cm to 3 AO3

m for full marks. AO1
Reads the width – 12.17 cm
AO2
Divides their width by 3 to get diameter (expect 4.06 cm) or
6 to get radius (expect 2.03 cm)

d2 Need to see a subject for the area of circle

Substitutes their r or d into A = r2 or A = 𝜋 and multiplies
4
by 7

9.05 × 10–3 m2 ✓ 9.06 × 10–3 m2 if 2.03 cm used for radius

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

07.2 Calculates mass of one rope: 9.0 × 10–3 × 520 × 4.7 × 103 For full marks, a subject (e.g. m, , V) must 2 AO1
✓ be shown for at least one part of the solution. AO2
Multiplies by 4 to get 8.8 × 10 kg ✓
4

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022
Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

07.3 4 AO2
Calculates total tension (5.6 × 10 N) ✓
6
Allow 2.2 × 104 g, 8.8 × 104 g, 4.5 × 105 g or AO2
Subtracts weight from tension OR F = T – W seen ✓ 5.4 × 105 g for weight. Expect W = 5.3 × 106
N. AO2
Uses F = ma ✓
AO2
–2
0.56 (m s ) ✓ Allow answers that round to 0.6 m s–2 to
account for different rope masses.

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

07.4 F 2 AO3
Uses 𝜎 = A to get  (160 MPa) OR to get breaking force for
one rope (8.0 × 106 N) ✓ AO3

Comparisons are: 1.6 × 106 N with 1.4 × 106

Compares 8.0 × 106 N to 5 × 1.4 × 106 N, with correct
N or 8.0 × 106 N with 7.0 × 106 N, or 160
conclusion OR compares 5 × 160 MPa to 890 MPa, with
correct conclusion ✓ MPa with 178 MPa, or 780 MPa with 890
MPa, so conclusion is that they are safe.

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

07.5 Uses mgh for mass (4.5 × 105 × 9.81 × 520 = 2.3 × 109 J W = 4.4 × 106 N 4 AO2
or 0.64 MW h) ✓

Uses mgh with 260 m for ropes (9 × 104 × 9.81 × 260 = W = 8.8 × 105 N
2.3 × 108 J or 0.064 MW h) ✓

Shows 4 MW h = 4 × 106 × 3600 = 1.4 × 1010 J OR 1 MW h = 3.6 × 109 J

converts their energy to MW h ✓

Allow MP4 if mass of ropes not included (2.3

Claim is incorrect because 2.6 × 109 J < 1.4 × 1010
× 109 < 1.4 × 1010) OR if mass of ropes
OR 0.72 MW h < 4 MW h ✓ included with h = 520 m (2.7 × 109 < 1.4 ×
1010).
Allow ≠ for < or >

Total 15

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

08.1 To determine the mean background count (during the 1 AO4

investigation)
OR
To make sure it hasn’t changed or to account for random
variations ✓

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

08.2 99 ✓ 1 AO3

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

08.3 Correct values (0.204, 0.233, 0.260) ✓ 1 AO4

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

08.4 Allow ± half a grid square 1 AO4

Correct plotting of their values ✓
Allow ecf from 08.3

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

08.5 Line of best fit with equal number of crosses either side of Expect line to be above 1st, 2nd and 6th points, 1 AO4
line ✓ and below 3rd to 5th.

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

08.6 MP1 is for a comment about linearity ✓ E.g. Supports the law because the line is 2 AO4
straight (and it should be)

MP2 is for a comment about intercept ✓ E.g. Doesn’t support the law because line
doesn’t pass through origin (and it should)
OR line doesn’t have to pass through origin
with reason given as zero error or end
correction

Total 7

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

09.1 450.cos32o + TY.cos14o = 0 2 AO1

OR AO2

450.cos32o = TY.cos14o seen ✓

Recognisable TY as subject AND answer of 393 (N) seen

✓

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

09.2 (Scaled) free-body diagram or vector triangle ✓ Angles must be annotated. 3 AO3
AO3

Correct directions of arrows for free-body diagram or vector AO3

triangle ✓

Allow use of trig only to check answer from a

Answers in the range 320 to 350 (N) ✓ diagram.

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022
Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

09.3 Use of graph to find gradient / YM = 120 (GPa) ✓ Must use at least one half of an axis within 3 AO1
linear section.
AO2
Allow calculation of stress for MP1 (67 MPa) AO2

Use of Young modulus equation: Ignore powers of 10 omissions.

ΔL = (450 × 75)/(6.7 × 10–6 × 120 × 109) ✓
Allow ecf for their gradient / YM for MP2

0.041 (m) ✓
Allow 0.042 m.

Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO

09.4 tension in X decreases and tension in Y increases ✓ 1 AO2

Total 9

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

Question Key Answer AO

10 B 14 kJ AO2

11 B acceleration speed time AO1

12 B mgvt AO2

13 A 12 W AO2

14 A −usinθ AO2

15 D 33 m s−1 AO2

16 D R hits the floor with the greatest speed. AO3

17 C AO3

18 D 2 7 10 AO1

19 D AO1

20 C Y X AO2

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 MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2022

21 C equal to the magnitude of F. AO2

22 B 6.6 × 10−6 W AO2

23 C has the same proton number as the original nuclide. AO2

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