Cambridge International AS & A Level

* 2 6 5 8 7 6 8 1 8 4 *

PHYSICS 9702/51
Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation May/June 2020

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS

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● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 30.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 8 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (ST/CT) 183021/2
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1 A student investigates springs made of metal wire, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

cross-sectional area A

metal wire

Fig. 1.1

The student constructs several springs from wire of thickness t. Each spring has a different
cross-sectional area A.

The student investigates how the spring constant k varies with A.

It is suggested that the relationship between k and A is

βρt 4
k= 3
A2N
where ρ is the density of the metal, N is the number of turns of wire on the spring and β is a
constant.

Design a laboratory experiment to test the relationship between k and A.

Explain how your results could be used to determine a value for β.

You should draw a diagram, on page 3, showing the arrangement of your equipment.
In your account you should pay particular attention to:

● the procedure to be followed

● the measurements to be taken

● the control of variables

● the analysis of the data

● any safety precautions to be taken.

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Diagram

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2 A student investigates the discharge of a capacitor through a resistor using the circuit shown in
Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 2.1

The student initially closes the switch and charges the capacitor. The switch is then opened and
a stop-watch is started. The capacitor discharges through the resistor. At time t the potential
difference V across the capacitor is measured.

It is suggested that V and t are related by the equation

Q 0 -c t m
V =e o e RC
C
where Q0 is the charge of the fully charged capacitor, C is the capacitance of the capacitor and R
is the resistance of the resistor.

(a) A graph is plotted of ln V on the y-axis against t on the x-axis.

Determine expressions for the gradient and y-intercept.

gradient = ...............................................................

y-intercept = ...............................................................
[1]

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(b) Values of t and V are given in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

t/s V/V ln (V / V)

0 6.2 ± 0.2

6 4.6 ± 0.2

12 3.4 ± 0.2

18 2.6 ± 0.2

24 2.0 ± 0.2

30 1.4 ± 0.2

Calculate and record values of ln (V / V) in Table 2.1.

Include the absolute uncertainties in ln (V / V). [2]

(c) (i) Plot a graph of ln (V / V) against t / s.

Include error bars for ln (V / V). [2]

(ii) Draw the straight line of best fit and a worst acceptable straight line on your graph. Both
lines should be clearly labelled. [2]

(iii) Determine the gradient of the line of best fit. Include the absolute uncertainty in your
answer.

gradient = ......................................................... [2]

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2.0

1.8

In (V / V)

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
t/s

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(iv) Determine the y-intercept of the line of best fit. Do not include the absolute uncertainty in
your answer.

y-intercept = ......................................................... [1]

(d) (i) Using your answers to (a), (c)(iii) and (c)(iv), determine values of C and Q0. Include
appropriate units.

Data: R = 39 kΩ

C = ...............................................................

Q0 = ...............................................................
[3]

(ii) The percentage uncertainty in the value of R is 5%.

Determine the absolute uncertainty in C.

absolute uncertainty in C = ......................................................... [1]

(e) Using your results, determine the value of V when the time t is 1.0 minute.

V = ...................................................... V [1]

[Total: 15]
To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

© UCLES 2020 9702/51/M/J/20