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Cambridge International AS & A Level

MATHEMATICS 9709/41
Paper 4 Mechanics May/June 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 50

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2023 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 13 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the specific content of the
mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:
 the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
 the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
 the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:
 marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the
syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
 marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
 marks are not deducted for errors
 marks are not deducted for omissions
 answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the question as
indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may be limited
according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in
mind.

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Mathematics Specific Marking Principles

1 Unless a particular method has been specified in the question, full marks may be awarded for any correct method. However, if a calculation is required
then no marks will be awarded for a scale drawing.

2 Unless specified in the question, answers may be given as fractions, decimals or in standard form. Ignore superfluous zeros, provided that the degree of
accuracy is not affected.

3 Allow alternative conventions for notation if used consistently throughout the paper, e.g. commas being used as decimal points.

4 Unless otherwise indicated, marks once gained cannot subsequently be lost, e.g. wrong working following a correct form of answer is ignored (isw).

5 Where a candidate has misread a number in the question and used that value consistently throughout, provided that number does not alter the difficulty or
the method required, award all marks earned and deduct just 1 mark for the misread.

6 Recovery within working is allowed, e.g. a notation error in the working where the following line of working makes the candidate’s intent clear.

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Mark Scheme Notes

The following notes are intended to aid interpretation of mark schemes in general, but individual mark schemes may include marks awarded for specific reasons
outside the scope of these notes.

Types of mark

M Method mark, awarded for a valid method applied to the problem. Method marks are not lost for numerical errors, algebraic slips or errors in units.
However, it is not usually sufficient for a candidate just to indicate an intention of using some method or just to quote a formula; the formula or idea
must be applied to the specific problem in hand, e.g. by substituting the relevant quantities into the formula. Correct application of a formula
without the formula being quoted obviously earns the M mark and in some cases an M mark can be implied from a correct answer.

A Accuracy mark, awarded for a correct answer or intermediate step correctly obtained. Accuracy marks cannot be given unless the associated method
mark is earned (or implied).

B Mark for a correct result or statement independent of method marks.

DM or DB When a part of a question has two or more ‘method’ steps, the M marks are generally independent unless the scheme specifically says otherwise;
and similarly, when there are several B marks allocated. The notation DM or DB is used to indicate that a particular M or B mark is dependent on
an earlier M or B (asterisked) mark in the scheme. When two or more steps are run together by the candidate, the earlier marks are implied and full
credit is given.

FT Implies that the A or B mark indicated is allowed for work correctly following on from previously incorrect results. Otherwise, A or B marks are
given for correct work only.

 A or B marks are given for correct work only (not for results obtained from incorrect working) unless follow through is allowed (see abbreviation FT above).
 For a numerical answer, allow the A or B mark if the answer is correct to 3 significant figures or would be correct to 3 significant figures if rounded (1
decimal place for angles in degrees).
 The total number of marks available for each question is shown at the bottom of the Marks column.
 Wrong or missing units in an answer should not result in loss of marks unless the guidance indicates otherwise.
 Square brackets [ ] around text or numbers show extra information not needed for the mark to be awarded.

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Abbreviations

AEF/OE Any Equivalent Form (of answer is equally acceptable) / Or Equivalent

AG Answer Given on the question paper (so extra checking is needed to ensure that the detailed working leading to the result is valid)

CAO Correct Answer Only (emphasising that no ‘follow through’ from a previous error is allowed)

CWO Correct Working Only

ISW Ignore Subsequent Working

SOI Seen Or Implied

SC Special Case (detailing the mark to be given for a specific wrong solution, or a case where some standard marking practice is to be varied in the
light of a particular circumstance)

WWW Without Wrong Working

AWRT Answer Which Rounds To

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(a) m  5  0  m  2  0.3v M1 Attempt at conservation of momentum; 3 non-zero

terms (with m appearing in two terms); allow sign
errors.

Speed  10m (m s–1) A1 M1A0 if using g in momentum terms.

v  10m is A0.

1(b) 0.3  10m  0  0  0.6  1.5 [3m  0.9] M1 Attempt at conservation of momentum between Q and
R (so must be using correct masses of 0.3 and 0.6) to
form a linear equation in m using their answer from
(a); 2 non-zero terms; allow sign errors.

m = 0.3 A1FT 3
FT
their +ve coefficient of m from (a)

Condone including kg in answer.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(a) 0  102  2(  g ) s  s  ... M1 For use of v 2  u 2  2as with v = 0, u  10 and

a   g or 10 and solve for s (or any other complete
SUVAT method). Or using an energy method:
1
0.4 gh  (0.4)(10)2 and solve for h (with two terms
2
using correct given values – condone lack of masses in
conservation of energy equation).

Max. height = 5 (m) A1

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(b) 1 B1FT Or loss of PE =  0.4  g  5 using their maximum

KE before impact   0.4  102 [ 20]
2 height from (a).

1 *M1 1
 0.4  v 2  20  7.2 [v  8] M1 for  0.4v 2  KE/PE before impact  7.2 (must
2 2
or 0.4 gh  20  7.2 [ h  3.2] be correct method of subtracting 7.2 (OE)). Or, for
finding the maximum height after first impact. Need
not solve for v (or h) for this mark.

8  8  ( g )t  t  ... DM1 For use of a complete method to find t. Condone sign

1 errors but a   g . If calculating the time to the
or 0  8t    g  t 2  t  ... maximum height between the first and second impacts,
2
then candidates must double this answer (OE). E.g.,
0  8  ( g )T , t  2T  ... or
3.2  0  0.5   g  T 2  t  2T  ... .

Time = 1.6 (s) A1

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

3 For an attempt at differentiation. *M1 Decrease power by 1 and a change in coefficient in at

s
least one term. v  is M0.
t

5
3
45
1 A1 Allow unsimplified, including indices (including a +c
(v ) t 2  t 2 is A0).
2 8

1
1 DM1 Attempting to find t by equating v to 0 and attempt to
v  0  t 2 (20t  25)  0  t  ... solve a linear equation for t (if correct t = 2.25).
8
Must be of the form t = … .

15 A1 Condone 0.938 .
s [  0.9375]
16

Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(a) 1 M1 Completely correct method for finding the total area

Distance  (6  10)  0.9 underneath the velocity-time graph from t = 0 to 10
2
only. Can be done as two triangles and a rectangle e.g.,
1 1
 3  0.9  (9  3)  0.9   1  0.9 (allow a slip in
2 2
one value); need not see all three components added
together.

Distance = 7.2(m) A1

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(b) 1 M1 1
(12  10)vmin  7.2 Setting (12  10)vmin equal to  their (a).
2 2

Minimum velocity = 7.2 (m s–1) A1 Must be negative – allow those who solve
1
(12  10)vmin  7.2 and obtain vmin  7.2 and then
2
change to 7.2 without justification.
SC B1 for assuming the triangle is isosceles.

4(c) 1 1 *M1 Correct method for finding T or t. Condone sign errors

 (T  10)  3  7.2 or  t  3  7.2 but must equate to their answer to (a).
2 2

T = 14.8 A1 OE (e.g. from t + 10 = 4.8 + 10 = 14.8).

14.4 DM1 2(their (a)) 2(their (a))

M1 for or .
14.8 their T 10  their T

36 A1 OE 0.973 [For reference: 0.97297…].

Average speed = (m s–1 )
37
SC *B1 (for T = 14.8). DM1A1 for assuming the
triangle is isosceles.

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

5(a) Resolving either direction. M1 3 terms; allow sign errors and allow sin/cos mix. Must
be an equation with either = 0 or with an attempt to
balance forces.

Vertical: F sin   40sin 60  50  0 A1  F sin   50  20 3  15.358...

 

Horizontal: F cos   10  40cos 60  0 A1  F cos  10

  tan 1 (5  2 3) M1 Attempt to solve for  ; one missing term in total
  tan 1 1.535898... .

F  15.358...2  10 2 M1 Attempt to solve for F: one missing term in total.

θ = 56.9, F = 18.3 A1 Both correct (18.327530…, 56.932462…).

5(b) (Y )  (10 2 sin 45  40sin 60  50) [ (20 3  40)] B1 Allow non-exact values for 2 etc. in correct
expression.

( X )  (10 2 cos 45  10  40cos 60) [ 0] B1 Allow non-exact values for 2 etc. in correct
expression. Could be implied by correct answer.

Resultant force is 40  20 3 (N) in the same direction as the 50 (N) force. B1 Allow vertically downwards, south, 180, negative y-
direction.
Resultant force must be exact and positive (so
20 3  40 is B0).

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

6(a) R  0.1g cos 60[ 0.5] B1 Correctly resolving perpendicular to the plane for Q.

F  0.7  0.1g cos 60 [ 0.35] M1 Use of F   R for Q where R is a component of

weight but not mass; allow sin/cos mix.

For whole system: LHS of Newton’s second law: M1 Complete method to determine the resultant force for
0.2 g sin 60  0.1g sin 60  F [ 0.866...  F ] the whole system. Allow sign errors and sin/cos mix,
but must include all required terms and be
dimensionally correct. If considering either the while
Or separately for P and Q: system or P and Q separately then ignore the RHS of
0.2 g sin 60  T ( 0.2a ) and T  0.1g sin 60  F ( 0.1a ), and eliminate T to their Newton’s second law equations.
get 0.2 g sin 60  0.1g sin 60  F ( 0.3a )

3 A1 Correct indication (with no incorrect working) that the

As  0.35  0 the particles do move. resultant force is positive (e.g. 0.8660...  0.35  0 or
2
0.516… (to at least 1 sf) which is positive) together
with a correct conclusion. Candidates may calculate
10 3  7
the acceleration which is  1.72008... and
6
then say that the particles are moving.

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

6(b) Attempt to use Newton’s second law for P: M1 Allow sign errors, sin/cos mix. but must be
0.2 g sin 60  ( 3  1)  0.2a dimensionally consistent.

a  5 (m s-2) A1

Newton’s second law for system: 0.2 g sin 60  0.1g sin   0.3(5) M1 Attempt Newton’s second law for Q, or for the whole
system. Allow sign errors, sin/cos mix, but must be
or Newton’s second law for Q: ( 3  1)  0.1g sin   0.1(5)
dimensionally consistent.

  13.4 A1 13.41784…

Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(a) 16000 B1 OE e.g. 16000  20  F

Driving force F  [ 800]
20

F  500  1200a M1 Use of Newton’s second law; allow sign errors but
must be 3 terms. Allow F or any non-zero value for the
driving force (allow 0.8 from using 16 rather than
16000) but not 16000, 16, 20 or 500 for F.

a = 0.25 (m s–2) A1

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(b) 16000 M1 Allow sign errors but must be 2 terms. Condone

 500  0
v 16
 500  0 for M1.
v

v  32 (m s–1) A1

7(c) Work done by engine = 16000  15   240000 B1 WD

Or 16000  .
15

1 1  B1 (600v 2  240000)
KE change =    1200  v 2   1200  202 
2 2 

 1  B1 Allow 1200  g  316  sin 0.955 or

PE change =  1200  g  316     63200
 60  79
1200  g  316  sin 0.95 or 1200  g  or
15
1200  g  5.266... .

Attempt at work-energy equation. M1 Use of work-energy principle with 5 terms;

dimensionally correct. Allow sign errors and sin/cos
mix on PE term

1 1 1 A1 Allow a value in the interval [62870,63600] for the PE

16000  15  128400   1200  v 2   1200  202  1200 g  316  term from using non-exact values for the given angle
2 2 60
(but not if from incorrect working).
(240000  128400  600v 2  240000  63200)

v = 21.9 (m s–1) A1 21.924111…

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