Unit 1 Module 1

Answers to examination-style questions

Answers Marks Examiner’s tips

1 (a) A 1 Light going from air to water must bend

away from the normal to the surface.

(b) D 1

2 (a) Longitudinal 1 Think about the direction in which the

hammer adds energy and the direction in
which the pulse moves

(b) Reflection 1 The wave ‘bounces’ at the end of the rod.

(c) Use of speed ÷ time 1 Remember that the wave has to travel to
0.9 ÷ (1.6 × 10–4) 1 the end and back again.
= 5.6 km s–1 1

3 (a) (i) λ = 3 × 108/1.5 × 109 1

λ = 0.20 m 1
(ii) θ/2 = sin–1 3500/36000 1
θ = 11.2° 1
(iii) b = 0.2/0.098 1 If more significant figures are used, the
= 2.04 m 1 value of b is 2.06.
(iv) Satellite small so need to concentrate 1
energy on it so θ small
Too/less diffraction with a bigger dish

(b) A maximum of seven from: 7

Binary code/01 required
Many samples transmitted down same
channel or same frequency/in short period
of time
Sampling process required
Signals transmitted in sequence
Method is secure
Need more satellites if no time division
multiplexing
Bandwidth issues discussed

4 (a) Constant or zero phase difference or in 1

phase
Same frequency or same wavelength 1

AQA Physics B AS Level © Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008 1

 Unit 1 Module 1
Answers to examination-style questions
Answers Marks Examiner’s tips

(b) (i) Mention of interference 1

Describes constructive or destructive 1
interference or discusses path
difference
(ii) λ
 D/d = 0.77 × 65 ÷ 8.5 1
= 5.9 m 1

5 (a) Any 3 of 3
Superposition of progressive waves
Incident wave and reflected wave require
or wave relected through 180° or waves
travelling in opposite directions
with the same frequency or wavelength
in the same medium

(b) f = c/λ 1
λ = 1.24 1
f = 258 Hz 1

6 (a) (i) Diffraction 1

(ii) Obstacle or aperture needs to be of 1
same order of magnitude as
wavelength
Long radio wave is of the order of 1
1 km (or short radio wave is about a
metre)

(b) Any three of 3

Reflection from layers in the atmosphere
Electrical or optical fibre cables
Satellite
Relay stations
Refraction through atmosphere
Transmission through Earth

7 (a) (i) Digital has two possible values/no 1

intermediate values shown
(ii) Signal quality unaffected by noise 1
zeros and ones still discernible 1
multiplexing possible/efficient use of 1
transmitting medium
Many signals can be sent is short time 1
with fast sampling rates

AQA Physics B AS Level © Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008 2

 Unit 1 Module 1
Answers to examination-style questions
Answers Marks Examiner’s tips

(b) (i) Noise 1

Superposes with original signal 1
Attenuation 1
Energy dissipated in transmitting 1
medium
(ii) Optical fibre 1
(iii) < 0.1 V 1
> 0.15 V 1

8 (a) Longitudinal wave 1

(b) Arrows showing B displaced to the left 1

and C displaced to the right

(c) Particles in the transmitting medium are 1

made to vibrate/given energy
Cause nearby particles to vibrate/have 1
energy

Nelson Thornes is responsible for the solution(s) given and they may not constitute the only possible solution(s).

AQA Physics B AS Level © Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008 3

 Unit 1 Module 2
Answers to examination-style questions
Answers Marks Examiner’s tips

1 (a) Pair production 1

(b) The γ photon must provide enough energy 1 Although you will not be asked to use the
to provide for the mass equation E = mc2, you will be expected
Any extra energy will provide the particles 1 to understand the implications of the
with kinetic energy equation.

(c) any pairing of a particle with its 1

corresponding antiparticle
(e.g. a proton and an anti-proton)

2 (a) (i) Continuous range of frequencies 1

(ii) White hot or incandescent body or a 1
correct example

(b) Absorption spectrum 1

Absence of light at the dark line 1
because the light has been absorbed, 1
Typically by gas between source and
observer
Re-radiated but in all directions so original 1
direction weaker or radiated at lower
energies as electron relaxes in a number of
stages

3 (a) (i) Segin; hottest class
(ii) Shedir; class closest to red end
(iii) Shedir; smallest apparent magnitude
(iv) Achid; apparent mag < absolute mag
and they are equal when the star is 10
pc away
1 which is the hottest spectral class?
1 which class is closer to the red end of the
spectrum?
1 which is the smallest apparent magnitude
1 Think about the 10 pc distance and the
relative sizes of absolute and apparent
magnitudes. Remember lower magnitude
corresponds to brighter stars.

(b) Use of Wien’s law 3 use Wien’s law to solve this problem
λmax = 0.0024 ÷ 12000
= 2.4 × 10–7 m

4 (a) (i) meson 1

(ii) electronic charge or –1.6 × 10–19 C 1
(iii) 0 1

AQA Physics B AS Level © Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008 4

 Unit 1 Module 2
Answers to examination-style questions
Answers Marks Examiner’s tips

(b) Baryon number: 0 → 0 + 0 1

Lepton number: – 1 → – 1 + 1 1
Charge: + 1 → + 1 + 0 1
so lepton number not satisfied

5 (a) H = v/d 1
best-fit line drawn 1
gradient of line 65 ± 4 1

(b) use of d = v/H 1

260 Mpc 1

(c) distance from part (b) × 106 × 3.3 1 careful with powers of ten and
this distance × 9.5 × 1015 1 conversions
1.5 × 1010 years 1

(d) mention of Doppler effect 1 This is an essay which has two separate
mention of red shift 1 points, read the question carefully and
measurement of wavelength or frequency 1 make sure that you answer both of them
needed
longer wavelengths/lower frequencies 1
observed on Earth
description of the use of the formula 1
∆f/f = v/c
mention of the condition that v << c 1

Nelson Thornes is responsible for the solution(s) given and they may not constitute the only possible solution(s).

AQA Physics B AS Level © Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008 5