AQA GCSE Physics Paper 2 Higher November 2020 question paper 8463/2H

A student investigated the acceleration of a trolley. Figure 1 shows how the student set up the apparatus.

Before attaching the mass holder the student placed the trolley at the top of the runway. The trolley rolled down the runway without being pushed. What change to the apparatus in Figure 1 could be made to prevent the trolley from starting to roll down the runway? Tick (✓) one box.

The student attached the mass holder to the string. The string rubbed along the edge of the bench as the mass holder fell to the floor. Suggest what the student could do to prevent the string from rubbing.

The light gate and data logger were used to determine the acceleration of the trolley. The student increased the resultant force on the trolley and recorded the acceleration of the trolley. Table 1 shows the results.

Figure 2 is an incomplete graph of the results.

Complete Figure 2.

• Choose a suitable scale for the x-axis.

• Plot the results.

• Draw a line of best fit.

Describe the relationship between the resultant force on the trolley and the acceleration of the trolley.

Describe how the investigation could be improved to reduce the effect of random errors.

Write down the equation that links acceleration (a), mass (m) and resultant force (F).

The resultant force on the trolley was 0.375 N. The mass of the trolley was 0.60 kg. Calculate the acceleration of the trolley. Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

Complete the sentences. The Sun is a stable star. This is because the forces pulling inwards caused by

Write down the equation that links distance travelled (s), speed (v) and time (t).

The mean distance between the Sun and the Earth is 1.5 10¹¹ m. Light travels at a speed of 3.0 10⁸ m/s. Calculate the time taken for light from the Sun to reach the Earth.

Some stars are much more massive than the Sun. Describe the life cycle of stars much more massive than the Sun, including the formation of new elements.

Stars emit radiation with a range of wavelengths. Which property of a star does the range of wavelengths depend on? Tick (✓) one box.

A student investigated the refraction of light at the boundary between air and glass. Figure 3 shows the ray box used.

The ray of light from the ray box should be as narrow as possible. Explain why using a wider ray would give less accurate results than using a narrower ray.

Figure 4 shows the results.

Estimate the angle of refraction when the angle of incidence is 80°. Show on Figure 4 how you obtained your answer.

Describe a method the student could have used to obtain the results shown in Figure 4.

The student repeated each measurement three times. When the angle of incidence was 40° the three measured values for the angle of refraction were 28° 25° 22° Estimate the uncertainty in the angle of refraction when the angle of incidence was 40°. Show how you determine your estimate.

What property of the light wave changes when it is refracted?

Tick (✓) one box.

A door is fitted with a security lens and a lock. The security lens allows a person to see a visitor before opening the door. The security lens is concave.

Figure 5 is an incomplete ray diagram representing a visitor standing near the security lens. Complete Figure 5 to show how an image of the visitor is formed by the concave lens. Draw an arrow to represent the image.

The visitor moves further away from the security lens in the door. How does the size of the image change? Tick (✓) one box.

Figure 6 shows a diagram of the lock. The door unlocks when the switch is closed.

Which material should the bolt be made from? Tick (✓) one box.

Explain why the door unlocks when the switch is closed.

When the door unlocks, a force of 2.88 N is applied to the spring. The spring extends by 1.50 cm. Calculate the spring constant of the spring.

Give two ways the resultant force on the bolt could be increased.

Figure 7 shows two ice hockey players moving towards each other. They collide and then move off together.

During the collision, the total momentum of the players is conserved.

What is meant by ‘momentum is conserved’?

Immediately after the collision the two players move together to the right. Calculate the velocity of the two players immediately after the collision.

The ice hockey players wear protective pads filled with foam. Explain how the protective pads help to reduce injury when the players collide.

Figure 8 shows a student playing with a remote-controlled car.

The remote control transmits radio waves to the car aerial. The transmitted radio waves have a frequency of 320 MHz. speed of radio waves = 3.0 10⁸ m/s Calculate the wavelength of the radio waves. Give the unit.

The car aerial is connected to an electrical circuit in the car. Describe what happens in the electrical circuit when the car aerial absorbs radio waves.

The car produces sound waves. Give two ways in which radio waves are different to sound waves.

Figure 9 shows the distance-time graph for the first 30 seconds of the car’s motion.

Describe the motion of the car during the first 30 seconds.

Determine the speed of the car 20 seconds after it started to move.

A different car accelerated from 0.12 m/s to 0.52 m/s. The acceleration of the car was 0.040 m/s². The work done to accelerate the car was 0.48 J. Calculate the resultant force needed to accelerate the car.

Explain why the car has a maximum speed.

Figure 10 shows a portable power supply.

The portable power supply has an alternator connected to a transformer. The transformer can be adjusted to have different numbers of turns on the secondary coil. Suggest why.

A lamp is connected to the power supply. The lamp requires an input potential difference of 5.0 V. The alternator generates a potential difference of 1.5 V. The primary coil of the transformer has 150 turns. Calculate the number of turns needed on the secondary coil.

Figure 11 shows the inside parts of the alternator.

The handle of the alternator is turned, causing the coil to rotate. Explain why an alternating current is induced in the coil.

Suggest the purpose of the slip rings.

The alternator from the portable power supply is disconnected from the transformer and lamp. Explain why the handle of the alternator becomes much easier to turn.