Cambridge O Level

PHYSICS 5054/22
Paper 2 Theory May/June 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 75

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 12 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.

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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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Science-Specific Marking Principles

1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.

2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the question should be ignored.

3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).

4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.

5 ‘List rule’ guidance

For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons ):

 The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
 Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
 Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
 Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be awarded
for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this should be treated
as a single incorrect response.
 Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.

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6 Calculation specific guidance

Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show your
working’.

For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded by
the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.

For answers given in standard form (e.g. a  10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient (a) to a value between 1 and
10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.

Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.

7 Guidance for chemical equations

Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) speed is constant for 10 s / at first B1

deceleration B1
 has (average) value 0.39 m / s2
 lasts for 40 s
 is non-uniform

1(b)(i) friction (with road) and air resistance or (air) drag B1

1(b)(ii) resistive force(s) change / decrease (as speed decreases) B1

or (graph shows) deceleration is not constant / decreases
or non-uniform decrease in speed

1(c)(i) (momentum =) mv in any form algebraic or numerical C1

8400 and kg m / s or Ns A1

1(c)(ii) (F =) mv / t or F = ma in any form algebraic or numerical C1

840 (N) A1

Question Answer Marks

 2(a)(i) chemical (potential energy) B1

2(a)(ii) electrical work / (electrical) current or electrons (made to) move B1

mechanical) work is done by the motor / by or on the (back) wheel B1

2(b) (KE =) ½ mv2 in any form C1

560 (J) A1

2(c)(i) (energy provided if power is) 1 kW for 1 hour / 1000 W for 1 hour B1

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Question Answer Marks

2(c)(ii) (t =) E / P or 0.35 / 0.07 or 350 / 70 C1

5(.0 hours) A1

Question Answer Marks

3(a)(i) mercury exerts a changing or reduced pressure / force (when vertical but not when horizontal) / mercury stops exerting a B1
pressure

3(a)(ii) particles hit walls / mercury B1

fewer hits per second or hit less often / less frequently or fewer hits per unit area B1

less force (per unit area on wall) B1

3(b) (P=) dgh in any form C1

41 000 seen C1

140 000 (Pa) A1

3(c) curved shape with decreasing gradient B1

points plotted at or curve through (½V0, 2P0), (P0, V0) and (2V0, ½P0) B1

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Question Answer Marks

4(a)(i) 273 (°C) and 0 (K) B1

4(a)(ii) particles) move fast(er) B1

vibrate / oscillate with larger amplitude B1

4(a)(iii) internal energy increases B1

temperature stays the same B1

4(b)(i) (E =) mcT in any form numerical or algebraic C1

8000 (J) A1

4(b)(ii) 100–44 or 56 C1

0.48 or 0.47 (J / (g °C)) A1

Question Answer Marks

5(a) seismic S-waves and X-rays B1

5(b)(i) (wavelength = ) v / f in any form or (distance =) vt or f = 1 / T or 1 / 0.15 C1

frequency 6.7 (Hz) A1

wavelength 4.0 (cm) A1

5(b)(ii) straight wavefronts above block to the right with same wavelength B1

correct diffraction – wavefronts quarter circles with centre at top corner B1

5(b)(iii) increase frequency of movement of (wooden) bar B1

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Question Answer Marks

5(b)(iv) less diffraction or less bending B1

Question Answer Marks

6(a)(i) ammeter A2 and A3 both 0.25 (A) B1

voltmeter V2 9(.0 V) B1

6(a)(ii) (R =) V / I in any form C1

36 () A1

6(a)(iii) current is (directly) proportional to voltage / potential difference B1

provided the temperature is constant B1

6(b) 0.35 (A) seen B1

or total resistance 36 + 6 / 0.35; 36 + 17(.1); 53(.1) 

voltage (across R) 0.35  36 or 12.6 (V) seen B1

19 V B1

Question Answer Marks

7(a)(i) X-rays and gamma (radiation / rays) B1

7(a)(ii) security marking / detecting counterfeit bank notes / sterilising water / fluorescent effects (e.g. fingerprints, blood, biological B1
fluids) / (sun) tanning / sun beds / cancer treatment / curing inks and resins (e.g. in dental fillings) / production of vitamin (D)
/ generating electricity / solar panels / disinfection / sterilisation

7(a)(iii) (skin) cancer / cataracts / burns or destroys the retina or cornea B1

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Question Answer Marks

7(b)(i) critical angle B1

7(b)(ii) (n =) sini / sinr or 1 / sinc C1

1.6 A1

Question Answer Marks

8(a) (soft) iron B1

8(b) input voltage or input current is alternating B1

changing (magnetic) field (in primary causes changing magnetic field in secondary) B1
(alternating emf is) induced (in secondary coil)

or (magnetic) field lines cut secondary B1

8(c) (Ns=) 4600  5 / 230 or Vp / Vs = Np / Ns in any form C1

100 A1

8(d) reverse the coils OR connect the input to the secondary / right-side coil B1
OR secondary has more turns than primary / more than 4600 (with same number on primary)

Question Answer Marks

9(a)(i) alpha B1

9(a)(ii) beta B1

9(b)(i) beta particles because count rate goes down (by 600) when metal placed in position B1

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Question Answer Marks

9(b)(i) beta absorbed by metal / cannot pass through metal B1

gamma (because) radiation passes through metal / still gives reading with thick metal B1

9(b)(ii) alpha stopped by a few cm in air / alpha do not reach G.M. tube B1

or alpha not detected by G.M. tube (end cap stops them)

9(c) use tongs / handle at distance / place absorber between source and observer / limit exposure time / place in lead box or B1
thick metal box

Question Answer Marks

10(a)(i) distance travelled (in a vacuum) by light in one year B1

10(a)(ii) 100 000 B1

10(b)(i) supernova B1

nebula and neutron star B1

10(b)(ii) in a supernova B1

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Question Answer Marks

10(c) either B1
red shift / increase in (observed) wavelength / reduction in frequency mentioned
or
galaxies / stars moving away (from the Earth) / separating

further away (the galaxy / star) the greater its speed / greater red shift / greater increase in wavelength B1

going backwards in time / at start) stars or galaxies were close together or high density / dense B1

cosmic microwave background mentioned or universe expands B1

remnant heat / radiation / left over radiation / radiation from early universe observed now B1

radiation has red shifted / longer wavelengths / smaller frequency / become cooler B1

or
CMBR is uniform / observed in all directions

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