INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

NOVEMBER 2023

FURTHER STUDIES PHYSICS

MARKING GUIDELINES

Time: 3 hours 200 marks

These marking guidelines are prepared for use by examiners and sub-examiners, all
of whom are required to attend a standardisation meeting to ensure that the
guidelines are consistently interpreted and applied in the marking of candidates'
scripts.

The IEB will not enter into any discussions or correspondence about any marking
guidelines. It is acknowledged that there may be different views about some matters
of emphasis or detail in the guidelines. It is also recognised that, without the benefit
of attendance at a standardisation meeting, there may be different interpretations of
the application of the marking guidelines.

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QUESTION 1 MULTIPLE-CHOICE

1.1 D
1.2 C
1.3 A
1.4 D
1.5 C
1.6 B
1.7 C
1.8 B
1.9 A
1.10 D

QUESTION 2 THERMAL PHYSICS

2.1 9K

2.2 An increase in the temperature increases the kinetic energy in the molecules
or particles move faster leading to an increase in the (average) distance
between the molecules or particles take up more space.

2.3 V = V0T
= (207 × 10–6)(670)(9)
= 1,248 cm3
 1,25 cm3 (2 or 3 sf)

2.4 2.4.1 Less than.

2.4.2 The aluminium ball will decrease in volume when it cools down.
Water will expand on heating and ball < water .
Therefore, the measured water level will be less than calculated in
Question 2.3.

2.5 The heat energy required to change or increase the temperature of 1 kg of a

substance by 1C or K (without a phase change).

2.6 Q lost by the ball = Q gained by the water

m cAl T = m cwater T
(330)(cAl)(84) = (670)(4200)(9)
cAl = 913 Jkg–1K–1 (2 or 3 sf)

2.7 Evaporate

2.8 Evaporation occurs at any temperature. Surface particles evaporate. Boiling

occurs at one fixed temperature for a specific substance all particles boil.

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QUESTION 3 MATTER AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS

3.1 3.1.1 The average energy required to remove an individual nucleon from a
nucleus.

3.1.2 Mass defect =

92(1,673 × 10–27) + 143(1,675 × 10–27) – 235,04395(1,660 × 10–27)
= 3,268 × 10–27 kg

E = mc2 = (3,268 × 10–27)(3,00 × 108)2

= 2,94 × 10–10 J

Binding energy per nucleon = 2,94 × 10–10 / 235

= 1,25 × 10–12 J (3 or 4 sf)

3.1.3 Number of neutrons: 3

Atomic number of Zr: 40

3.1.4 Fission
The binding energy per nucleon of the Uranium nucleus is larger than
the sum of the binding energy of the new nuclei.
The splitting of the nucleus results in the difference in binding energy
being released as energy.
OR
The total mass of the new nuclei is lower than that of the initial large
nucleus.
The difference in mass is responsible for the release of energy.

3.1.5 (a) strong nuclear force

(b) electrostatic repulsion force

3.2 3.2.1 Neutrino and positron.

3.2.2 Baryon number is not conserved.

(Lepton number is conserved)

3.3 3.3.1 Nuclear decay is spontaneous and random.

3.3.2 The decay constant (of a nuclide) is the probability per unit time that a
nucleus will decay OR the ratio of the rate of decay and the original
number of nuclei.

In2 In 2
3.3.3  = =
t1 8
2
= 0,0866 days
 0,09 days-1 (1 or 2 sf)

3.3.4 x = x0 e–t
4 = (40) e–(0,0866)(t) coe
t = 26,6 days (2 or 3 sf)

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QUESTION 4 ASTROPHYSICS AND COSMOLOGY/ANALYTICAL SKILLS

4.1 (Nuclear) Fusion

1
4.2 = 11,76  105
850  10 −9

1 1
 =   = 50
1  11,76 850

 1 = 0,69

1 = (12  1) × 105 m (2 significant figures or no mark)


4.3 The raw values given are given to two significant figures. Calculated values
using these should also be given to two significant figures.

4.4 Graph: Heading, correct label with units on the y-axis correct label and units
on the x-axis accurate plotting and no odd scale.

Graph showing T vs 1/ 

Steepest
worst
accepta
ble line Line of
of fit best fit

1/ 
(× 105 m–1)

4.5 Error bars drawn correctly.

4.6 Line of best fit drawn correctly and labelled.

Worst acceptable line of fit drawn correctly and labelled.

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4.7 Gradient calculation of line of best fit done using any method.

y 2 − y1
gradient = = using values from the line of best fit or calculating
x2 − x1
= (3, × 10–3) (within range) (2 significant figures)

Gradient of worst acceptable line of fit as per candidate's graph.

Uncertainty in the gradient using the difference between the gradients.
Complete answer given with unit: gradient = (3,13  0,1) × 10–3 mK

4.8 Gradient = T / 1/ = T = k = (3,1 × 10–3) coe from 4.7

calculate value − real value

4.9 % uncertainty =  100
real value
answer 4.7 − 2,9  10−3
=  100
2,9  10−3
= _________%

3,8 3,8
LB  mB   2,19  1031 
4.10 =  = 30 
= 9,08 × 103
Lsun  msun   1,99  10 
3,8 3,8
LR  mR   3,58  1031 
=  = 30 
= 5,88 × 104
Lsun  msun   1,99  10 
𝐿𝑅 5,88×104
= = 6,47 times (3 significant figures)
𝐿𝐵 9,08×103

OR

3,8 3,8
LR  mR   3,58  1031 
=  = 31  = 6,47 times
LB  mB   2,19  10 

mR 3,58  1031
4.11 =
msun 1,99  1030

Mass of Rigel is 18 times that of the sun.

This is higher than (2–)3 times the mass of the sun.
OR
Higher than both the Chandrasekhar and the Oppenheimer-Volkoff limits.

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QUESTION 5 PROJECTILE MOTION AND LEVERS

5.1 5.1.1 For the vertical motion: uvertical = (19,5 × sin 42) = 13,05 ms–1

v2 = u2 + 2 as
0 = (13,05)2 + 2 (–9,81)(s)
s = 8,68 m (2 or 3 significant figures)

5.1.2 For the horizontal motion: vhorizontal = (19,5 × cos 42)

= 14,5 ms–1

5.1.3 Although the vertical velocity becomes zero – this is independent of

the horizontal speed that remains constant.
OR at the maximum height the ball only has a horizontal component
which is the minimum speed.
At all other points there is a resultant of the horizontal and vertical
components.

5.1.4 s = ut + ½ at2
3,4 = (13,05)(t) + ½ (–9,81)t2 signs must be correct
t = 2,3678 or 0,293

 it takes 2,4 s to reach the crossbar (2 sf)

5.1.5 s = ut + ½ at2 and a = 0 for horizontal motion

= (14,5)(2,4)
= 35 m

5.2 5.2.1 For the box to be in translational equilibrium  F = 0.

For rotational equilibrium   = 0
OR
Forces upwards must balance forces down and clockwise moments
must balance anticlockwise moments.
The centre of gravity is not at the centre of the box but more to the
right onto the table no anticlockwise moment and the box does not
topple off the table.

5.2.2 clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

(5,2) (0,56) = (mg) (1,4)
(5,2) (0,56) = (m) (9,81) (1,4)
m = 0,21 kg

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QUESTION 6 CIRCULAR MOTION

6.1 6.1.1 s =  r
 1,55 
=   () (6380)
 180 
= 172,6 km

6.1.2
FN Fg

6.1.3 T = 2 / 
(24)(60)(60) = 2 / 
 = 7,272 × 10–5

a = 2r = (7,272 × 10–5)2 (6 380 × 103)

= 3,37 × 10–2 ms–2

6.1.4 Fg = Fc
g = ac = v 2 / r
v = gr = (9,81)(6 380 000)
= 7,91 × 103 ms–1

6.1.5 v = 2r / T
7,91 × 103 = (2 x 6 380 000) / T
T = 5 069,6 s
= 1,4 hours

GMm
6.2 6.2.1 2
= m 2 r
r
GM = 2 r3 and according to Kepler: T2 = kr3
4 2r 3
GM =
T2
4 2r 3
T =
2

GM
4𝜋 2 (6380×103 +36800×103 )3
𝑇2 = (6,67×10−11 )(5,97×1024 )
T = 89 341,60 s  89 300 s

6.2.2 Fg = Fc
GMm mv 2
=
r2 r
(6,67×10−11 )(5,97×1024 )
= 𝑣2
[(6380+36800)×103
v = 3 0366 ms–1

OR v = 2r / T = v = 2r / 89 117,97

= 3 036 ms–1

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6.2.3 T = 89 341,607 s  89 300 s

= 89 300 / (60 x 60)
T = 24,81 hours > 24 h therefore not a geostationary orbit

6.2.4 To remain in a stable orbit the speed will have to decrease.

6.2.5 Earth based antennas do not have to move to locate the satellites.
No interference due to Doppler effect.
Only 3 satellites needed to cover the whole Earth.

Any one reason.

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QUESTION 7 CHARGED PARTICLES IN ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS

7.1 7.1.1 E = V/d

= 32 / 0,05
= 640 Vm–1 (or NC–1)

7.1.2 Into the page

7.1.3 F = qvBsin
= (1,602 × 10–19)(7,5 × 107)(1,5 × 10–4)(sin 90)
= 1,80 × 10–15 N

7.2 7.2.1 X-ray or gamma radiation used in medicine or diffraction grating

(any correct use)

7.2.2 FB = FC
qvB = m 2r
(v 2 )
=m
(r 2 )
mv
B=
rq
(1,673  10−27 )(7,8  106 )
=
 2 250  −19
 2  (1,602  10 )
 
= 7,24 × 10-5 T (2 or 3 sf)
 7,2 × 10-5 T

7.2.3 E and B are at right angles

The force due to E and the force due to B are opposite
qe = qvB
v=E/B
Therefore, the speed can be selected by adjusting the strength of the
two fields.

7.2.4 Reverse the direction of B

Decrease the magnitude of B

7.2.5 Due to the mass-energy equivalence or due to E = mc2, high-energy

collisions lead to high mass particles.

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QUESTION 8 CHARGED PARTICLES IN ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS

8.1 Straight line through the origin.

Negative gradient.

8.2  2 = gradient
 −0,4 
 = − 
 0,07 
= 2,4 rads–1

8.3 T = 2

= 2
2,4
= 2,6 s (2 sf)

8.4 Emechanical at the top of the swing = Emechanical at the bottom of the swing
mgh + ½ mv2 = mgh + ½ mv2
mgh + 0 = 0 + ½ mv2
v = 2gh

and h = L – L cos 

v= 2g(L − L cos )

= √2𝑔𝐿(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃)

8.5 Period: Increase

Velocity: Increase

8.6 Using the equation in Question 8.4 – as L increases the velocity increases
since other quantities are constants.

8.7 Labels Shape Amplitude decreasing

Displacement
time

Total: 200 marks

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