UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

GCE Ordinary Level

MARK SCHEME for the May/June 2010 question paper

for the guidance of teachers

5054 PHYSICS
5054/21 Paper 2 (Theory), maximum raw mark 75

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 must be read in conjunction with the question papers and the report on the
examination.

• CIE will not enter into discussions or correspondence in connection with these mark schemes.

CIE is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2010 question papers for most IGCSE, GCE
Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabuses and some Ordinary Level syllabuses.

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 Page 2 Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – May/June 2010 5054 21

Section A

1 (a) forces balance/cancel or no net force or upward force = downward force

or weight = air resistance/drag/air friction B1 [1]

(b) (i) 9.8–10 m/s2 B1 [1]

(ii) a = v(–u)/t algebraic or numerical C1

2(.0) m/s ecf (i) A1 [2]

(iii) straight line from (0,0) to (0.2,2) ecf (ii) B1

after 0.2 s, decreasing but not negative gradient B1 [2]

2 (a) where extension/stretching stops being proportional to force/load/weight/mass

or extension/load = constant
or point where length or extension against load graph curves C1 [1]

(b) 4 = k 6 or 4/6 or 6/4 or 6 × 2/4 or 3 (cm) seen C1

11 cm A1 [2]

(c) different weights/masses/load and measure new length B1

how extension is found e.g. reading on scale for loaded spring subtracted from
reading with no load/mass/original B1 [2]

3 (a) chemical energy to or K.E to B1

heat/thermal energy/internal energy – at end B1 [2]

(b) friction/resistive force increases B1 [1]

(c) (i) work = force × distance in words, number or symbols C1

1.2 × 0.08 or 0.096 or 20 or 0.208 seen C1
20.8 or 21 A1 [3]

(ii) power = work/time or energy/time, numerical or algebraic – may use values

in (i)
accept 2/0.2 or 10 W C1
0.48 W (ecf (i) including power of ten error in (i)) A1 [2]

4 (a) at least 3 reflected wavefronts with same wavelength as before B1

all and [ 2 reflected wavefronts at correct angle B1 [2]

(b) (i) no change in direction and clearly smaller, approximately constant

wavelength B1 [1]

(ii) 1 reduces B1
2 constant B1 [2]

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 Page 3 Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – May/June 2010 5054 21

5 (a) (i) correct direction of refraction at both faces (not along normal) B1
blue below red and blue and red diverge B1 [2]

(ii) any two from orange, yellow, green B1 [1]

(b) (i) total internal reflection or angle of incidence greater than critical angle B1 [1]

(ii) all colours reflected at same angle or all have i = r B1 [1]

6 (a) variable resistor or rheostat B1 [1]

(b) curved line starting at origin allow straight at first not two straight lines C1
correct curvature from origin with decreasing gradient A1 [2]

(c) (i) (resistance) increases (as p.d. increases) B1 [1]

(ii) explanation, e.g. lower current than expected for given p.d. or given current
needs larger p.d. or correct explanation involving R = V/I accept gradient
decreases B1 [1]

7 (a) (i) I = V/R or 2400 seen C1

0.0025 A (2.5 mA) A1 [2]

(ii) 4 V or 1600 × (i) ecf B1 [1]

(b) EITHER
capacitor stores charge/charges up/stores energy B1
takes time/delay e.g. voltmeter reading rises slowly/capacitor charges up slowly
or to a maximum B1
OR
(small) current into transistor/base or large base/emitter voltage (>0.6 V) B1
switches (transistor) on or large current collector/emitter or resistance of
transistor reduced B1 [2]

8 (a) meter deflects (one way) B1

changing magnetic field/flux in ring/coil or cutting of flux/field B1
induces voltage/current B1 [3]

(b) ammeter returns to/remains at zero B1 [1]

(c) ammeter deflects in opposite direction (then returns to zero) B1

field decreases/change in opposite direction or field/flux cuts in opposite direction B1 [2]

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 Page 4 Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – May/June 2010 5054 21

Section B

9 (a) (i) 120°C or –10°C to 110°C B1 [1]

(ii) longer thermometer or wider bore or less mercury or smaller bulb not
change liquid B1 [1]

(b) (i) measures small(er) change in temperature or small(er) range for same
distance or large(r) expansion for (same) temperature rise B1 [1]

(ii) larger bulb or more liquid or narrower bore/tube or use liquid that expands
more B1 [1]

(c) constriction/narrowing (accept 1st and 3rd marks on diagram)

mercury/thread breaks at constriction (on cooling) or thermometer is a
“maximum” thermometer
range different
more sensitive/divisions further apart
triangular cross-section/acts as lens
thin(ner) bulb (quick response to temperature change) ANY 3 lines B3 [3]

(d) (i) two different metals joined M1

connected to meter/ammeter/galvanometer/voltmeter A1 [2]

(ii) low/high temperatures or greater range

responds quickly/measures rapidly changing temperatures
measures temperature at a point
electronic output
more robust
measures temperatures at a distance (not more sensitive) ANY 2 lines B2 [2]

(e) (i) (Q =) Pt or 80 × 5 × 60 or 80 × 5 or 400 or 300 (s) seen C1

24000 J cao A1 [2]

(ii) (Q =) mc∆T or 1.8 × 390 × T = 24000 in any form ecf (i) C1

34°C (accept 34.188, 34.18, 34.19, 34.2) A1 [2]

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 Page 5 Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – May/June 2010 5054 21

10 (a) (master cylinder creates) pressure in brake fluid or pressure from master piston
transmitted to slave piston B1
fluid/pressure produces force/push (not press) (on slave piston) or force from
master piston transmitted (to slave piston) B1 [2]

(b) (i) P = F/A or 140/2.0 C1

70 (N/cm2) A1 [2]

(ii) 70 × 2.8 C1
200 N accept 196 N ecf (i) A1 [2]

(iii) distance foot to pivot larger than piston to pivot B1

force × distance constant B1 [2]

(c) (i) molecules hit against walls/piston (ignore hit each other) B1 [1]

(ii) hit more often/more frequently (accept hit each other more often) B1
smaller volume or molecules closer/less space B1 [2]

(iii) P1V1 = P2V2 or PV = constant B1

1 × 105 × 6 (×2) = P × 4 × (2) C1
1.5 × 105 Pa A1 [3]

(d) air/bubbles compress/reduce in volume or brakes pushed further/spongy B1 [1]

ignore: efficiency; less pressure; less force transmitted

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 Page 6 Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – May/June 2010 5054 21

11 (a) electron B1
negative B1
electromagnetic (high frequency wave/particle/photon) B1
neutral/none B1 [4]

(b) (i) time taken to halve M1

activity or number of atoms/nuclei or count (rate)
(ignore radioactivity/mass/volume/amount/number of particles/molecules/
a nucleus to halve) A1 [2]

(ii) alpha stopped by body/flesh/skin or cannot penetrate body/skin or causes

damage to body (1 max for damage) B1
gamma penetrates body/not absorbed or can be detected outside body or
causes less/no damage to body (1 max for damage) B1 [2]

(iii) takes time for isotope to spread/investigation/experiment (so 6 min too short) B1 [1]

(iv) radioactive for longer/more dangerous/more damage/causes damage B1 [1]

(c) (i) (radioactive emission is) random B1 [1]

(ii) 3200 seen (as average) C1

attempt to halve e.g. 3202 → 1601 or 4 half-lives C1
52 hours A1 [3]

(iii) rocks/cosmic rays/radon gas/nuclear fall out B1 [1]

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