Mark Scheme (Results)

October 2021

Pearson Edexcel International Advanced

Level in Physics (WPH16) Paper 01
Practical Skills in Physics II
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Autumn 2021
Question Paper Log Number: P67150A
Publications Code WPH16_01_2110_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2021
General Marking Guidance

• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first
candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they
have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception
of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used
appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should
always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark scheme.
Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response is
not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which
marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a
candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
 Mark scheme notes

Underlying principle
The mark scheme will clearly indicate the concept that is being rewarded, backed up by examples. It is
not a set of model answers.
For example:
(iii) Horizontal force of hinge on table top

66.3 (N) or 66 (N) and correct indication of direction [no ue] (1) 1
[Some examples of direction: acting from right (to left) / to the left / West /
opposite direction to horizontal. May show direction by arrow. Do not accept a
minus sign in front of number as direction.]
This has a clear statement of the principle for awarding the mark, supported by some examples
illustrating acceptable boundaries.

1. Mark scheme format

1.1 You will not see ‘wtte’ (words to that effect). Alternative correct wording should be credited in
every answer unless the ms has specified specific words that must be present. Such words
will be indicated by underlining e.g. ‘resonance’
1.2 Bold lower case will be used for emphasis.
1.3 Round brackets ( ) indicate words that are not essential e.g. “(hence) distance is increased”.
1.4 Square brackets [ ] indicate advice to examiners or examples e.g. [Do not accept gravity] [ecf].

2. Unit error penalties

2.1 A separate mark is not usually given for a unit but a missing or incorrect unit will normally
mean that the final calculation mark will not be awarded.
2.2 Incorrect use of case e.g. ‘Watt’ or ‘w’ will not be penalised.
2.3 There will be no unit penalty applied in ‘show that’ questions or in any other question where
the units to be used have been given, for example in a spreadsheet.
2.4 The same missing or incorrect unit will not be penalised more than once within one question
(one clip in ePen).
2.5 Occasionally, it may be decided not to penalise a missing or incorrect unit e.g. the candidate
may be calculating the gradient of a graph, resulting in a unit that is not one that should be
known and is complex.
2.6 The mark scheme will indicate if no unit error penalty is to be applied by means of [no ue].

3. Significant figures
3.1 Use of an inappropriate number of significant figures in the theory papers will normally only
be penalised in ‘show that’ questions where use of too few significant figures has resulted in
the candidate not demonstrating the validity of the given answer.
3.2 The use of g = 10 m s−2 or 10 N kg−1 instead of 9.81 m s−2 or 9.81 N kg−1 will be penalised by
one mark (but not more than once per clip). Accept 9.8 m s−2 or 9.8 N kg−1
4. Calculations
4.1 Bald (i.e. no working shown) correct answers score full marks unless in a ‘show that’ question.
4.2 If a ‘show that’ question is worth 2 marks then both marks will be available for a reverse
working; if it is worth 3 marks then only 2 will be available.
4.3 use of the formula means that the candidate demonstrates substitution of physically correct
values, although there may be conversion errors e.g. power of 10 error.
4.4 recall of the correct formula will be awarded when the formula is seen or implied by
substitution.
4.5 The mark scheme will show a correctly worked answer for illustration only.

Example of mark scheme for a calculation:

‘Show that’ calculation of weight

Use of L × W × H (1)
Substitution into density equation with a volume and density (1)
Correct answer [49.4 (N)] to at least 3 sig fig. [No ue] (1) 3

[If 5040 g rounded to 5000 g or 5 kg, do not give 3rd mark; if conversion to kg is omitted
and then answer fudged, do not give 3rd mark]
[Bald answer scores 0, reverse calculation 2/3]

Example of calculation
80 cm × 50 cm × 1.8 cm = 7200 cm3
7200 cm3 × 0.70 g cm-3 = 5040 g
5040 × 10-3 kg × 9.81 N/kg= 49.4 N

5. Graphs
5.1 A mark given for axes requires both axes to be labelled with quantities and units, and drawn
the correct way round.
5.2 Sometimes a separate mark will be given for units or for each axis if the units are complex.
This will be indicated on the mark scheme.
5.3 A mark given for choosing a scale requires that the chosen scale allows all points to be
plotted, spreads plotted points over more than half of each axis and is not an awkward scale
e.g. multiples of 3, 4, 7 etc.
5.4 Points should be plotted to within 1 mm.
• Check the two points furthest from the best line. If both are OK award the mark.
• If either is 2 mm out do not award mark.
• If both are 1 mm out do not award mark.
• If either is 1 mm out then check another two and award mark if both of these are OK,
otherwise no mark.
5.5 For a line mark there must be a thin continuous line which is the best-fit line for the
candidate’s results.
Question Answer Mark
Number
1 (a)(i) Mass
Or volume (of water) (1)
Time
Or distance between resistor and thermometer (1) 2
Ignore room temperature, temperature of the surroundings, size of the beaker
or insulation, potential difference

1 (a)(ii) Significant figures are inconsistent (1)

Not enough sets of readings taken
Or no repeats shown (1)
No units given for ∆θ
Or initial and final values of θ not recorded (1) 3

1 (b) Any PAIR from:

Insulate the beaker

Or cover the beaker (1)
To reduce the amount of energy transfer to the environment (1)

Stir the water

Or ensure thermometer is close to the resistor (1)
To ensure the water is at the same temperature as the resistor (1) 2

MP2 dependent on MP1

Total for question 7

Question Answer Mark
Number
2 (a) Use of T = 2π√(l/g) shown (1)
Addition of (half) the time period for long and short pendulum shown (1)
T = 1.9 s Accept 2 or 3 sig figs (1) 3

Bald answer can score MP3 only

Example of calculation
Long pendulum Tl = 2π√(1.00 m/ 9.81 m s−2) = 2.01 s
Short pendulum Ts = 2π√((1.00 m − 0.25 m)/ 9.81 m s−2) = 1.74 s
T = 0.5(Tl + Ts) = 0.5(2.01 + 1.74 s) = 1.88 s = 1.9 s

2 (b) Measure the distance h using a metre rule (1)

Any THREE from:

Place a (timing) marker at the centre of the oscillation (1)
Use a small initial angle (1)
Time a number of oscillations and divide by the number (1)
Repeat (measurement of time period) and calculate the mean (1)
Start timing after several oscillations (1)

Repeat the method for at least 5 values of h (1)

Plot a graph of T 2 against h to check it is a straight line (1) 6

Accept valid alternative graph

2 (c) Using a light gate would eliminate reaction time (1)

Either
Light gates remove parallax error (1)
As the light gate is in fixed position (1)

Or
There would be uncertainty in the time period from the light gate (1)
As the light gate would time from edge of the bob rather than centre of mass (1) 3

Total for question 12

Question Answer Mark
Number
3 (a) (Adjust the signal generator to find) trace with the maximum amplitude (1)
Count the number of divisions between two (adjacent) peaks (1)
Multiply by the time per division (1)
Calculate frequency as 1/T (1) 4

3 (b)(i) All log V values correct to 2 d.p. Accept 3 d.p. (1)

All log f values correct to 2 d.p. Accept 3 d.p. (1)
Axes labelled: y as log(f / Hz) and x as log(V / cm3) (1)
Correct scales for both axes (1)
Plots accurate to ± 1mm (1)
Best fit line with even spread of plots (1) 6

Accept equivalent ln-ln graph

3 (b)(ii) log f = log k − ½log V (1)

is in the form y = c + mx with a gradient of −½ (1)

Correct calculation of gradient using large triangle shown (1)

Value of gradient in range −0.51 to −0.54 to 2 or 3 s.f., no unit (1)

Valid conclusion including comparison of calculated gradient with the stated (1) 5
expected gradient of −½

Example of calculation
gradient = (2.69 − 2.4)/(2.1 − 2.65) = − 0.29/0.55 = −0.53

Total for question 15

V / cm3 f / Hz log (V / cm3) log (f / Hz)

576 221 2.76 2.34

476 244 2.68 2.39

376 275 2.58 2.44

276 323 2.44 2.51

176 408 2.25 2.61

126 485 2.10 2.69

V / cm3 f / Hz ln (V / cm3) ln (f / Hz)

576 221 6.36 5.40

476 244 6.17 5.50

376 275 5.93 5.62

276 323 5.62 5.78

176 408 5.17 6.01

126 485 4.84 6.18

Question Answer Mark
Number
4 (a)(i) Any TWO from:
Ensure the metre rule is vertical using a set square Accept alternative
valid methods (1)
Ensure the end of the rod is close to the metre rule
Or use a set square to read off the values (1)
Take readings perpendicular to the scale (to avoid parallax) (1) 2

4 (a)(ii) The uncertainty of a single reading is half the resolution of the metre rule,
(which is 0.5 mm) (1)
As the two readings are subtracted, the uncertainties are added (1) 2

4 (b)(i) Micrometer screw gauge (with a resolution of 0.01mm) (Accept digital

caliper) (1)
As this would produce an uncertainty of 0.25% which is small (1) 2

4 (b)(ii) One PAIR from:

Repeat at different orientations and calculate a mean (1)

To reduce the effect of random errors (1)

Check (and correct) for zero error (1)

To eliminate systematic error (1) 2

4 (b)(iii) Mean value of d = 2.35 (mm) (1)

Calculation from half range shown to give uncertainty of 0.02 (mm) (1) 2

Example of calculation
Mean d = (2.35 + 2.37 + 2.34 + 2.34 + 2.33) mm / 5 = 11.74 mm / 5
= 2.348 mm = 2.35 mm
Uncertainty = (2.37 − 2.33) mm /2 = 0.04 mm/2 = 0.02 mm

4 (c) Use of G = (32mglx2) / (π yd 4) shown (1)

Correct value of G given to 2 or 3 s.f. e.c.f. (b)(iii) (1) 2

Bald answer scores 0

Accept value of 1.5 × 1011 (N m−2) if d = 2 mm used

Example of calculation
G = 32 × 0.1kg × 9.81 N kg−1 × 0.589 m × (0.103 m)2
3.14159 × 0.026 m × (2.35 × 10−3 m)4
= 0.196 N m3 / 2.49 × 10−12 m5
= 7.87 × 1010 (N m−2)
= 7.9 × 1010 (N m−2)
4 (d) Use of 2× %U in x Or 4× %U in d shown (1)
Calculation of correct value of %U in G e.c.f. (b)(iii) (1)
Correct value of relevant limits from %U e.c.f. (c) (1)
Valid conclusion based on comparison of relevant limits with data (1)

Example of calculation
%U = (0.1 / 58.9) × 100 + 2 × (0.1 / 10.3) × 100 + (1 / 26) × 100
+ 4 × (0.02 / 2.35) × 100
= 0.17% + 2 × 0.97% + 3.85% + 4 × 0.85%
= 0.17% + 1.94% + 3.85% + 3.40%
= 9.36% = 9.4%
Upper limit = 78.7 × 109 N m2 × (1+0.094) = 86.1 × 109 N m2
Lower limit = 78.7 × 109 N m2 × (1 − 0.094) = 71.3 × 109 N m2
As both values fall within this range, the student cannot determine which type of
steel the rod is made from.

Or

(1)
Use of uncertainties to calculate maximum or minimum shown
(1)
Calculation of correct value of upper limit
(1)
Calculation of correct value of lower limit
(1)
Valid conclusion based on comparison of relevant limit with data
Example of calculation
Upper limit G = 32 × 0.1kg × 9.81Nkg−1 × (0.589+0.001)m × ((0.103+0.001)m)2
3.14159 × (0.026−0.01) m × ((2.35−0.02) × 10−3 m)4
= 0.200 N m3 / 2.31 × 10−12 m5
= 8.68 × 1010 (N m−2)
Lower limit G = 32 × 0.1kg × 9.81Nkg−1 × (0.589−0.001)m × ((0.103−0.001)m)2
3.14159 × (0.026+0.01) m × ((2.35+0.02) × 10−3 m)4
= 0.192 N m3 / 2.68 × 10−12 m5
= 7.16 × 1010 (N m−2)
As both values fall within this range, the student cannot determine which type of
steel the rod is made from.

Or (1)
Use of 2× %U in x Or 4× %U in d shown (1)
Calculation of correct value of %U in G e.c.f. (b)(iii) (1)
Correct calculation of relevant %D shown e.c.f. (c) (1) 4
Valid conclusion based on comparison of relevant %D with %U

Example of calculation
%U = (0.1 / 58.9) × 100 + 2 × (0.1 / 10.3) × 100 + (1 / 26) × 100
+ 4 × (0.02 / 2.35) × 100
 = 0.17% + 2 × 0.97% + 3.85% + 4 × 0.85%
= 0.17% + 1.94% + 3.85% + 3.40%
= 9.36% = 9.4%
%D for structural steel = (78.7 − 79.3)/79.3 × 100 = 0.76 %
%D for carbon steel = (78.7 − 77)/77 × 100 = 2.3%
As % D for both structural and carbon steel are less than the %U, the student
cannot determine which type of steel the rod is made from.

Total for question 16

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