Version 1.0
AQA Level 1/2 Certificate
June 2013
Physics
8403/1
(Specification 8403)
Paper 1
Final
Mark Scheme
Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the
relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any
amendments made at the standardisation events which all examiners participate in and is the
scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation process ensures
that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every examiner
understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for standardisation each
examiner analyses a number of students’ scripts: alternative answers not already covered by
the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the standardisation process,
examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are required to refer
these to the Principal Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further
developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper.
Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be
avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change,
depending on the content of a particular examination paper.
Further copies of this Mark Scheme are available from: aqa.org.uk
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Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
MARK SCHEME
Information to Examiners
1. General
The mark scheme for each question shows:
•
•
•
•
the marks available for each part of the question
the total marks available for the question
the typical answer or answers which are expected
extra information to help the Examiner make his or her judgement and help to
delineate what is acceptable or not worthy of credit or, in discursive answers, to
give an overview of the area in which a mark or marks may be awarded.
The extra information is aligned to the appropriate answer in the left-hand part of the
mark scheme and should only be applied to that item in the mark scheme.
At the beginning of a part of a question a reminder may be given, for example:
where consequential marking needs to be considered in a calculation;
or the answer may be on the diagram or at a different place on the script.
In general the right hand side of the mark scheme is there to provide those extra
details which confuse the main part of the mark scheme yet may be helpful in
ensuring that marking is straightforward and consistent.
2. Emboldening
3.
2.1
In a list of acceptable answers where more than one mark is available ‘any
two from’ is used, with the number of marks emboldened. Each of the
following lines is a potential mark.
2.2
A bold and is used to indicate that both parts of the answer are required to
award the mark.
2.3
Alternative answers acceptable for a mark are indicated by the use of or.
(Different terms in the mark scheme are shown by a / ; eg allow smooth / free
movement.)
Marking points
3.1
Marking of lists
This applies to questions requiring a set number of responses, but for which
students have provided extra responses. The general principle to be followed
in such a situation is that ‘right + wrong = wrong’.
Each error/contradiction negates each correct response. So, if the number of
error/contradictions equals or exceeds the number of marks available for the
question, no marks can be awarded.
However, responses considered to be neutral (indicated as * in example 1)
are not penalised.
3
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
Example 1: What is the pH of an acidic solution? (1 mark)
Student
Response
1
2
3
4
4,8
green, 5
red*, 5
red*, 8
Marks
awarded
0
0
1
0
Example 2: Name two planets in the solar system. (2 marks)
Student
1
2
3.2
Response
Neptune, Mars, Moon
Neptune, Sun, Mars,
Moon
Marks awarded
1
0
Use of chemical symbols / formulae
If a student writes a chemical symbol / formula instead of a required chemical
name, full credit can be given if the symbol / formula is correct and if, in the
context of the question, such action is appropriate.
3.3
Marking procedure for calculations
Full marks can be given for a correct numerical answer, as shown in the
column ‘answers’, without any working shown.
However if the answer is incorrect, mark(s) can be gained by correct
substitution / working and this is shown in the ‘extra information’ column;
3.4
Interpretation of ‘it’
Answers using the word ‘it’ should be given credit only if it is clear that the ‘it’
refers to the correct subject.
3.5
Errors carried forward
Any error in the answers to a structured question should be penalised once
only.
Papers should be constructed in such a way that the number of times errors
can be carried forward are kept to a minimum. Allowances for errors carried
forward are most likely to be restricted to calculation questions and should be
shown by the abbreviation e.c.f. in the marking scheme.
3.6
Phonetic spelling
The phonetic spelling of correct scientific terminology should be credited
unless there is a possible confusion with another technical term.
3.7
Brackets
(…..) are used to indicate information which is not essential for the mark to be
awarded but is included to help the examiner identify the sense of the answer
required.
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Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
Quality of Communication and levels marking
In Question 6(a)(ii) students are required to produce extended written material in English,
and will be assessed on the quality of their written communication as well as the standard of
the scientific response.
Students will be required to:
• use good English
• organise information clearly
• use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
The following general criteria should be used to assign marks to a level:
Level 1: Basic
• Knowledge of basic information
• Simple understanding
• The answer is poorly organised, with almost no specialist terms and their use
demonstrating a general lack of understanding of their meaning, little or no detail
• The spelling, punctuation and grammar are very weak.
Level 2: Clear
• Knowledge of accurate information
• Clear understanding
• The answer has some structure and organisation, use of specialist terms has been
attempted but not always accurately, some detail is given
• There is reasonable accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar, although there
may still be some errors.
Level 3: Detailed
• Knowledge of accurate information appropriately contextualised
• Detailed understanding, supported by relevant evidence and examples
• Answer is coherent and in an organised, logical sequence, containing a wide range of
appropriate or relevant specialist terms used accurately.
• The answer shows almost faultless spelling, punctuation and grammar.
5
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 1
question
1(a)
answers
extra information
3000
correct substitution of 24/0.008
gains 1 mark provided no
subsequent steps are shown
N/m2 or Pa
mark
2
1
1(b)(i)
K
accept ringed K in
table
1
1(b)(ii)
water exiting bottle one-third of
vertical height of K
allow less than half vertical height
of spout shown, judged by eye
1
water landing twice the distance
of the spout shown in the diagram
accept at least one and a half
times further out than spout
shown, judged by eye
1
do not accept water hitting the
side of the sink
ignore trajectory
1(c)
water will land on the (vertical)
side of the sink
or
water will dribble down very close
to the bottle
or
that part of the bottle is curved
accept sink not long / wide / big
enough
1
do not accept goes out of the sink
Total
7
6
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 2
question
answers
extra information
mark
2(a)(i)
turning
accept turning ringed
in the box
1
2(a)(ii)
point at which mass (or weight)
may be thought to be
concentrated
accept the point from which the
weight appears to act
1
allow focussed for concentrated
do not accept most / some of the
mass
do not accept region / area for
point
2(b)
2(c)(i)
600 (Nm)
400 × 1.5 gains 1 mark provided
no subsequent steps shown
plank rotates clockwise
accept girl moves downwards
2
1
do not accept rotates to the right
(total) CM > (total) ACM
accept moment is larger on the
girl’s side
1
weight of see-saw provides CM
answer must be in terms of
moment
1
maximum of 2 marks if there is no
reference to the weight of the
see-saw
Question 2 continues on the next page . . .
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Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 2 continued
question
2(c)(ii)
answers
extra information
W = 445 (N)
mark
3
W × 1.5 = (270 × 0.25) + (300 × 2.0)
gains 2 marks
allow for 1 mark:
total CM = total ACM either stated
or implied
or
(270 × 0.25) + (300 × 2.0)
if no other marks given
Total
10
8
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 3
question
answers
extra information
mark
3(a)
C
1
3(b)
increase
1
decrease
1
3(c)(i)
modern satellites are heavier
3(c)(ii)
G
3(c)(iii)
accept converse
1
1
greatest mass
accept heaviest, dependent mark
1
radius is fixed
accept diameter / circumference /
distance from centre
accept length and time of orbit is
fixed
1
(so) speed is fixed
accept acceleration is constant
1
do not allow velocity is fixed
Total
8
9
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 4
question
4(a)(i)
answers
extra information
20
mark
1
20 000
1
either order
accept ringed answers in box
4(a)(ii)
(frequency) above human range
or
(frequency) above 20 000 (Hz)
accept pitch for frequency
1
do not accept outside human
range
allow ecf from incorrect value in
(a)(i)
4(a)(iii)
any one from:
• pre-natal scanning
1
accept any other appropriate
scanning use
do not accept pregnancy testing
•
removal / destruction of
kidney / gall stones
•
repair of damaged tissue /
muscle
accept examples of repair, eg
alleviating bruising, repair scar
damage, ligament / tendon
damage, joint inflammation
accept physiotherapy
accept curing prostate cancer or
killing prostate cancer cells
•
4(b)
removing plaque from teeth
cleaning teeth is insufficient
7.5 × 10−4 (m)
1.5 × 103 = 2.0 × 106 × λ gains
1 mark
2
Question 4 continues on the next page . . .
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Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 4 continued
question
4(c)
answers
extra information
mark
for reflected waves
any two from:
• frequency decreased
• wavelength increased
must be clear whether referring to
emitted or detected / reflected
waves
if not specified assume it refers to
reflected wave
2
• intensity has decreased
allow amplitude / energy has
decreased
allow the beam is weaker
Total
8
11
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 5
question
answers
extra information
mark
5(a)
the oscillation / vibration (causing
the wave)
a movement causes the wave is
insufficient
1
for a transverse wave is
perpendicular to the direction of
energy transfer
accept direction of wave travel
1
and for a longitudinal wave is
parallel to the direction of energy
transfer
accept direction of wave travel
1
if no marks awarded allow 1 mark
for correctly linking perpendicular
with transverse and parallel with
longitudinal
the marks may be scored by the
drawing of two correctly labelled
diagrams
5(b)
for radio waves:
accept converse for each mark
are transverse
1
travel at speed of light / higher
speed
1
have greater frequencies
1
can travel through vacuum
1
accept sound waves are not
electromagnetic for 1 mark
Total
7
12
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 6
question
answers
extra information
award 1 mark for each correct
label
6(a)(i)
6(a)(ii)
mark
4
6
Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the quality of communication (QoC) as
well as the standard of the scientific response. Examiners should also refer to the
information on page 5 and apply a best-fit approach to the marking.
0 marks
No relevant
content.
Level 1 (1–2 marks)
Level 2 (3–4 marks)
Level 3 (5–6 marks)
There is a basic
description of at least
one of either ciliary
muscle or iris in terms
of function.
There is a clear
description of the
function of ciliary
muscle and iris
or
a full, detailed
description of either
ciliary muscle or iris.
There are clear and
detailed descriptions
of the functions of
both ciliary muscle
and iris.
examples of the physics points made in
the response:
Ciliary muscle:
• changes the shape of the lens
• relaxes to flatten lens
• allowing light to be focused from distance
• contracts to round lens
• allowing light to be focused from close
objects
Iris:
• controls the amount of light entering the
eye
• expands / relaxes making pupil smaller
• in bright light
• contracts making pupil larger
• in low light
• helps protects the retina (in bright light)
Question 6 continues on the next page . . .
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Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 6 continued
question
6(b)
6(c)(i)
6(c)(ii)
answers
extra information
mark
eyeball being too short
1
magnified
1
upright
1
v = −6(cm)
3
max 2 marks if no minus sign
6(cm) gains 2 marks
1/v = 1/12 – 1/4 = −1/6
gains 2 marks
1/12 = 1/4 + 1/v
gains 1 mark
−5.99(cm)
using decimals gains 3 marks
6(d)
it is virtual
1
Total
17
14
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 7
question
7(a)(i)
7(a)(ii)
answers
extra information
mark
nuclear reactor
1
star
1
nuclei are joined (not split)
accept converse in reference to
nuclear fission
1
do not accept atoms are joined
7(b)(i)
any four from:
• neutron
• (neutron) absorbed by U
(nucleus)
•
•
•
•
7(b)(ii)
4
ignore atom
do not accept reacts
do not accept added to
forms a larger nucleus
(this larger nucleus is)
unstable
(larger nucleus) splits into
two (smaller) nuclei / into
Ba and Kr
releasing three neutrons and
energy
accept fast-moving for energy
56 (Ba)
1
57 (La)
if proton number of Ba is incorrect
allow 1 mark if that of La is 1
greater
1
accept e for β
1
scores 3 marks
Total
10
15
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 8
question
8(a)
8(b)
8(c)(i)
answers
extra information
north (pole)
accept N
north (pole)
both needed for mark
reverses
accept changes direction
mark
1
1
first finger:
(direction of) (magnetic) field
1
second finger:
(direction of) (conventional)
current
1
8(c)(ii)
into (plane of the) paper
1
8(c)(iii)
less current in wire
accept less current / voltage /
more resistance / thinner wire
1
weaker field
allow weaker magnets / magnets
further apart
1
do not accept smaller magnets
rotation of magnets (so) field is no
longer perpendicular to wire
1
8(d)(i)
reverse one of the magnets
do not accept there are no
numbers on the scale
1
8(d)(ii)
systematic or zero error
accept all current values will be
too big
1
accept it does not return to zero
accept it does not start at zero
Total
10
16
Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 9
question
9(a)
answers
extra information
water heated by radiation (from
the Sun)
accept IR / energy for radiation
water used to heat buildings /
provide hot water
mark
1
1
allow for 1 mark heat from the
Sun heats water if no other marks
given
references to photovoltaic cells /
electricity scores 0 marks
9(b)
2 (minutes)
3
1.4 × 103 = 168 × 103
t
gains 1 mark
calculation of time of 120
(seconds) scores 2 marks
9(c)(i)
150 (kWh)
9(c)(ii)
£60(.00) or 6000 (p)
1
2
an answer of £6000 gains 1 mark
allow 1 mark for 150 × 0.4(0)
150 × 40
allow ecf from (c)(i)
Question 9 continues on the next page . . .
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Mark Scheme – AQA Certificates Physics – 8403/1 – June 2013
8403/1
Question 9 continued
question
9(c)(iii)
answers
extra information
25 (years)
mark
3
an answer of 6000/240
or
6000 / their (c)(ii) × 4
gains 2 marks
an answer of 6000 / 60
or
6000 / their (c)(ii) gains 1 mark,
ignore any other multiplier of
(c)(ii)
9(c)(iv)
any one from:
• will get £240 per year
1
accept value consistent with
calculated value in (c)(iii)
• amount of light is constant
throughout the year
• price per unit stays the same
• condition of cells does not
deteriorate
9(d)
any one from:
• angle of tilt of cells
• cloud cover
• season / shade by trees
• amount of dirt
1
Total
13
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