Alternative to Practical: use the original printed figures and show graph/measurement working. The printed 2(b)(i) table entry carries no separate mark; it is retained as context for the graph.
(a)(i)A pendulum of 14 identical paperclips is timed for 10 complete swings as in Fig. 2.1. The three measured times are 10.62 s, 10.84 s and 10.75 s. Calculate their average t_av to one decimal place.
Answer guidance
Calculate Show your working. The method can earn marks even when the final value is wrong, and a bare answer often cannot.
[2 marks]
(a)(ii)Using your average time for ten complete swings from 2(a)(i), calculate the period T for one swing in seconds.
Answer guidance
Using You must use the thing it names. An answer that reaches the right value another way may not score.
[1 mark]
(a)(iii)The student has reaction time about 0.2 s. Explain why timing ten swings instead of one gives a more accurate period.
Answer guidance
Explain Give reasons, not just what happens. Each distinct reason is usually worth a mark.
[2 marks]
(b)(ii)The student changes the paperclip number N. Fig. 2.2 gives (N,T/s): (2,0.38), (4,0.58), (6,0.73), (8,0.82), (10,0.91), (12,0.98), (14,blank). First complete the zero-mark N=14 table entry from your 2(a)(ii) answer. On Fig. 2.3 plot T/s on the y-axis against N on the x-axis, starting at (0,0), and draw a smooth best-fit curve.
[4 marks]
(b)(iii)Using the results in Fig. 2.2 and your plotted graph, describe the relationship between period T and paperclip number N.
Answer guidance
Using You must use the thing it names. An answer that reaches the right value another way may not score.
[1 mark]
(b)(iv)Use your Fig. 2.3 graph to estimate T for five paperclips. Show on the graph how you obtained the estimate, and give the answer in seconds.
Answer guidance
Show The result is given, so every step of the reasoning is what earns the marks.
[1 mark]
(c)Suggest one effect on the experiment if the paperclips are not identical.
Answer guidance
Suggest More than one answer may be acceptable, so long as it is consistent with the physics.
[1 mark]
5054/41/M/J/16Cambridge O Level Physics 5054 · May/June 2016 · Paper 4 variant 1 · Question 2