Original GioPhysics extended practice
MYP Physics · Extended Paper 2
A balanced original practice paper with long-form reasoning, calculations, and supplied-data graphs.
- Time
- 195 minutes
- Questions
- 10
- Marks
- 144
- Answers
- Complete teacher key
Instructions
- Answer every task using evidence and scientific reasoning.
- Label each calculation, graph interpretation and evaluation clearly.
- Criteria A–D are represented across the two-paper pack.
Every question is independently written by GioPhysics. This is not an awarding-body paper.
Interpret a phase-change heating record
A sample is heated at approximately constant power. The recorded pairs (time in min, temperature in °C) are (0, -10), (2, 0), (4, 0), (6, 0), (8, 20), (10, 40). (a) Describe the three distinct regions. [3] (b) Calculate the warming rate before and after the plateau. [3] (c) Explain the plateau using a particle-energy model. [3] (d) Evaluate whether the record proves that heating power was perfectly constant and propose one improvement. [3]
Temperature during constant-power heating
Temperature rises to zero degrees Celsius, remains level for four minutes, then rises more steeply.
Read the exact data as a table
| Time / min | Temperature / °C |
|---|---|
| 0 | -10 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 |
| 6 | 0 |
| 8 | 20 |
| 10 | 40 |
These are the supplied readings, not a worked answer. Lines join the supplied readings; they are not a fitted model.
Which launch angle gives the greatest range?
A spring launcher can fire a foam ball from floor level with one fixed compression. (a) Formulate a focused research question about launch angle and horizontal range. [2] (b) Give a reasoned hypothesis using horizontal and vertical velocity components. [3] (c) Design a safe method using angles from 15° to 75°, identifying the independent, dependent and at least three controlled variables. Include repeats and a results table or graph plan. [6] (d) Explain one important limitation and a specific improvement. [3] Do not invent results.
Open the interactive answer workspaceAudit the energy ledger of a regenerative lift
A lift raises a total mass of 600 kg through 12 m in 20 s. Take g = 10 N/kg. The motor draws 90 kW while rising. During descent, 50% of the gravitational energy is returned to the battery. (a) Calculate the gravitational energy gained and useful lifting power. [4] (b) Calculate the electrical energy supplied while rising and the lifting efficiency. [3] (c) Calculate the energy returned during descent and the net battery-energy decrease for the up–down cycle. [3] (d) Explain why energy is conserved although the battery does not recover all its energy. [2]
Open the interactive answer workspaceEvaluate a community flood-barrier design
A temporary vertical barrier holds water 1.20 m deep along each 1.0 m width. Use water density 1000 kg/m³ and g = 9.8 N/kg. The pressure rises linearly from zero gauge pressure at the surface to ρgh at the bottom. Design X uses reusable aluminium panels costing $480 per metre; design Y uses single-use filled polymer bags costing $150 per metre. (a) Calculate bottom gauge pressure and the resultant horizontal water force on each metre of barrier. [5] (b) Explain why the force acts below mid-depth. [2] (c) Evaluate safety, cost, deployment, access and environmental consequences. [7] (d) Give a conditional recommendation. [2]
Open the interactive answer workspaceMap resonance without risking hearing
A small driven oscillator has an expected resonance between 4 Hz and 8 Hz. (a) Formulate a research question about driving frequency and steady amplitude. [2] (b) Give a reasoned hypothesis that includes resonance and damping. [3] (c) Design a method using a signal generator, low-power driver, motion sensor and computer. Include range, controls, repeats, how to avoid transient readings, graph choice and safety. [7] (d) Explain how the method could compare two damping settings. [2] Do not invent results.
Open the interactive answer workspaceChoose a communication link for a remote community
A remote community compares a 5.0 GHz microwave relay, fibre cable and satellite internet. The relay needs line of sight and has moderate installation cost; fibre has the highest installation cost but high capacity and low weather sensitivity; satellite starts quickly but has greater delay and recurring cost. Use c = 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s. (a) Calculate the microwave wavelength. [2] (b) Explain one physical advantage and limitation of each system. [6] (c) Evaluate access, reliability, maintenance, environmental disturbance and long-term cost for residents, school and clinic. [6] (d) Make a conditional recommendation and name missing evidence. [2]
Open the interactive answer workspaceDesign a solenoid field investigation
A class has a 400-turn air-core solenoid, adjustable low-voltage supply, ammeter, Hall probe and temperature sensor. (a) Formulate a question about current and central magnetic flux density. [2] (b) Give and justify a hypothesis. [3] (c) Design a method from 0.10 A to 1.00 A, including variables, repeats, zero correction, graph choice and safety. [7] (d) Explain how to modify the method to test the effect of turns per metre. [2] Do not invent results.
Open the interactive answer workspaceSelect an Earth-observation orbit responsibly
A small Earth-observation satellite is proposed for wildfire monitoring in a circular orbit of radius 7.0 × 10⁶ m from Earth's centre. Use GM = 3.99 × 10¹⁴ m³/s² and T = 2π√(r³/GM). A lower orbit gives finer ground detail but more atmospheric drag and a smaller field of view; a higher orbit gives wider coverage but coarser detail. (a) Calculate the orbital period in minutes. [4] (b) Explain the physical trade-off between altitude, resolution, coverage and revisit planning. [4] (c) Evaluate public benefit, privacy, launch emissions, debris and unequal access to data. [6] (d) Make a conditional recommendation. [2]
Open the interactive answer workspaceDesign a solar-panel angle field study
A school wants evidence for the fixed tilt of a small roof-mounted solar panel. (a) Formulate a research question linking tilt angle to electrical power under stated conditions. [2] (b) Give a reasoned hypothesis based on radiation incident on a surface. [3] (c) Design a method using a panel, adjustable stand, resistive load, voltmeter, ammeter and irradiance meter. Include range, controls, repeats, normalisation, graph and safety. [7] (d) Explain why one clear-day investigation cannot determine annual energy yield. [2] Do not invent results.
Open the interactive answer workspaceBuild a defensible classroom-cooling recommendation
A classroom is used 6 h/day for 180 warm days. Option F is a 50 W fan. Option H is a 900 W heat pump. External reflective shading would reduce heat-pump electrical energy by an estimated 25% but costs $1200 to install. Grid emissions are 0.40 kg CO₂e/kWh. The fan moves air but does not lower room temperature. (a) Calculate annual electrical energy and operational emissions for F and H. [5] (b) Calculate H energy and emissions with shading. [3] (c) Explain why these totals alone cannot identify the best option. [3] (d) Evaluate comfort, health, cost, emissions, noise, access and building constraints, then give a conditional recommendation and further evidence required. [5]
Open the interactive answer workspaceTeacher copyDetailed answer and marking guideShow 10 answers
Teacher copy
Detailed answer and marking guide
Accept equivalent physics expressed clearly. Award method credit where the reasoning is valid.
Interpret a phase-change heating record
Answer: The sample warms at 5 °C/min, remains at 0 °C from 2–6 min, then warms at 10 °C/min. During the plateau, supplied energy changes state rather than temperature. Six readings do not prove perfectly constant input power.
- (a) From 0–2 min temperature rises from −10 °C to 0 °C; from 2–6 min it remains at 0 °C; from 6–10 min it rises from 0 °C to 40 °C.
- (b) Initial warming rate = [0 − (−10)]/(2 − 0) = 5 °C/min. Final warming rate = (40 − 0)/(10 − 6) = 10 °C/min.
- (c) At 0 °C, energy is used to separate particles and change the phase mixture rather than increase mean kinetic energy, so temperature stays approximately constant while heating continues.
- (c) After the phase change, a different specific heat capacity and thermal-loss pattern can give a different rate even if heater power is similar.
- (d) The record supports an approximately steady process but does not directly measure electrical power; heat loss also changes with temperature. Log voltage and current continuously and collect more frequent temperature readings with repeats.
Which launch angle gives the greatest range?
Answer: Vary only launch angle, measure horizontal range to first impact, and keep launch speed, release height, ball and landing level constant. A model without drag predicts a maximum near 45°, but the experiment must test that prediction.
- (a) A focused question is: How does launch angle from 15° to 75° affect the horizontal range of a foam ball launched at constant speed from and to the same height?
- (b) At low angle the horizontal component is large but flight time is short; at high angle flight time is longer but the horizontal component is small. The ideal no-drag model therefore predicts a maximum near 45°.
- (c) Set 15°, 25°, 35°, 45°, 55°, 65° and 75° with a securely clamped launcher and protractor. Fire into a clear, supervised landing lane and mark the first impact, not the bounce.
- (c) The independent variable is angle and the dependent variable is horizontal range. Control spring compression, ball, launcher position, release height, landing height and the rule used to locate impact.
- (c) Take at least five independently reset launches per angle. Record every range with units, calculate a mean and range, and plot mean range against launch angle with the spread shown.
- (d) The launcher may not give identical speed after each reset. Measuring launch speed with video or two light gates would reveal this variation; randomising the angle order also separates drift from an angle effect.
- (d) Wear eye protection, never aim at people, use a light foam projectile and establish a no-entry landing zone before firing.
Audit the energy ledger of a regenerative lift
Answer: The lift gains 72 kJ at 3.6 kW. It receives 1.8 MJ electrically, so lifting efficiency is 4.0%. Descent returns 36 kJ and the net battery decrease is 1.764 MJ.
- (a) Gravitational energy gained is ΔE = mgh = 600 × 10 × 12 = 72,000 J = 72 kJ.
- (a) Useful lifting power is 72,000/20 = 3600 W = 3.6 kW. Power must use the same 20 s interval as the energy transfer.
- (b) Electrical energy supplied is Pt = 90,000 × 20 = 1,800,000 J = 1.8 MJ. Efficiency = 72,000/1,800,000 × 100 = 4.0%.
- (c) Returned energy is 0.50 × 72,000 = 36,000 J. Net battery decrease = 1,800,000 − 36,000 = 1,764,000 J = 1.764 MJ.
- (d) The unrecovered energy has not disappeared: it is transferred to thermal energy in the motor, electronics, cables, brakes, air and mechanism, plus sound. The selected battery–lift store is not an isolated system.
Evaluate a community flood-barrier design
Answer: Bottom gauge pressure is 11,760 Pa. The triangular pressure distribution gives force 7056 N per metre. Procurement should depend on anchoring, failure tests, deployment time, reuse and the community's flood frequency—not purchase price alone.
- (a) Bottom gauge pressure is p = ρgh = 1000 × 9.8 × 1.20 = 11,760 Pa.
- (a) Average gauge pressure over a vertical wall is half the bottom value because the distribution is triangular: 5880 Pa. Area per metre width is 1.20 m².
- (a) Resultant horizontal force is 5880 × 1.20 = 7056 N per metre of barrier, before adding waves, seepage, impacts or a safety factor.
- (b) Pressure is larger at greater depth, so the lower part contributes more force. The centre of pressure for an ideal vertical rectangular wall is one-third of the depth above the bottom, not at mid-depth.
- (c) Aluminium costs more initially but can reduce material use across repeated floods if inspection, storage and transport are feasible. Single-use bags may be faster and cheaper for a rare emergency yet produce waste and need filling material and labour.
- (c) Residents, emergency teams, taxpayers, waste workers and people with limited mobility have different needs. Failure can endanger lives, so certified anchoring, leakage, overtopping and debris-impact evidence must outweigh a simple cost-per-metre comparison.
- (d) For a flood-prone community with trained staff and storage, choose a tested reusable system if whole-life cost and safety performance are better. For a rare event, a bag system may be justified only with a credible deployment, collection and disposal plan.
Map resonance without risking hearing
Answer: Vary frequency through and beyond 4–8 Hz, measure steady amplitude at fixed driving strength, and plot amplitude against frequency. The amplitude should peak near the natural frequency; increased damping should lower and broaden the peak.
- (a) Ask: How does driving frequency from 2 Hz to 10 Hz affect the steady displacement amplitude of this oscillator at fixed driving force and damping?
- (b) Predict a maximum near the natural frequency because energy transfer is most effective when drive and response remain appropriately phased. Damping removes mechanical energy and therefore limits the peak.
- (c) Sweep 2–10 Hz using 1 Hz steps first, then 0.2 Hz steps around the observed maximum. Keep drive amplitude, moving mass, spring, geometry, sensor position and damping setting constant.
- (c) At each frequency, wait a fixed number of cycles for transients to decay, record at least ten later cycles, and calculate mean half peak-to-peak displacement. Repeat after stopping and restarting the system.
- (c) Plot steady amplitude against frequency and show repeat spread. Stay below the apparatus displacement limit, secure masses and springs, use a low-power driver and keep sound output at a safe, non-startling level.
- (d) Repeat the complete randomised frequency sequence with one measured damping change while all other controls remain fixed. Compare peak frequency, maximum amplitude and width at a stated fraction of the maximum.
- (d) Temperature or spring fatigue can drift over time; alternating the two damping settings at selected frequencies helps distinguish damping from time-order effects.
Choose a communication link for a remote community
Answer: The microwave wavelength is 0.060 m. No technology is universally best: a recommendation depends on terrain, required latency and capacity, outage tolerance, affordability, maintenance skills and verified whole-life data.
- (a) Wavelength λ = c/f = 3.0 × 10⁸/(5.0 × 10⁹) = 0.060 m, or 6.0 cm.
- (b) Microwave relays can span difficult ground without continuous trenching, but obstacles, alignment and some weather conditions can weaken the link. Towers also need power and maintenance access.
- (b) Fibre offers high capacity, low latency and immunity to radio interference, but trenching or submarine work can disturb land and cost heavily. A single cable break may take specialist repair.
- (b) Satellite can connect dispersed users quickly without a continuous local route, but signal travel and network architecture increase delay; recurring charges, weather attenuation and provider dependence matter.
- (c) The clinic may prioritise reliable low-latency consultations, the school capacity and affordability, and residents broad household access. Ownership, repair training, backup power, cultural or land permissions and ecosystem disturbance belong in the decision.
- (d) Choose fibre where demand and route feasibility justify its whole-life cost; use a microwave backbone where line of sight is dependable; use satellite as an interim or resilient backup. Obtain measured latency, capacity, outage, energy, maintenance and ten-year cost data before committing.
Design a solenoid field investigation
Answer: Vary current and measure axial field at the fixed centre while controlling coil geometry, probe orientation, temperature and nearby magnetic materials. Predict a proportional field–current relationship within the supply and heating limits.
- (a) Ask: How does current from 0.10 A to 1.00 A affect magnetic flux density at the geometric centre of this fixed air-core solenoid?
- (b) Predict B proportional to I because each turn's field contribution increases with current and superposition adds the contributions. This model assumes unchanged geometry and negligible magnetic material effects.
- (c) Clamp the solenoid, align and mark the Hall probe at its centre, measure ambient field with zero current, then take readings at ten planned current settings in random order after the value stabilises.
- (c) Control turns, coil length, probe position and orientation, distance from magnetic objects and coil temperature. Subtract the signed zero-current reading; repeat complete current sequences rather than only repeated display readings.
- (c) Plot corrected B against measured I with repeat spread. Use a current limit and series protection, switch off between readings, monitor temperature, avoid short circuits and do not touch a hot coil.
- (d) To test turns per metre, prepare equal-length coils with different known turns, use the same current and centre-probe geometry, and keep wire heating comparable. Plot B against N/L.
Select an Earth-observation orbit responsibly
Answer: The ideal circular-orbit period is about 5828 s, or 97.1 min. The mission can be justified only if its resolution and revisit evidence meet the wildfire need and governance addresses privacy, debris, emissions and fair data access.
- (a) Cube the radius: r³ = (7.0 × 10⁶)³ = 3.43 × 10²⁰ m³. Divide by GM to obtain about 8.596 × 10⁵ s².
- (a) The square root is about 927.2 s, and multiplying by 2π gives T ≈ 5828 s = 97.1 min. This is the period, not the time over one community.
- (b) Lower altitude can improve spatial resolution for a fixed instrument and shorten the orbital period, but drag shortens orbital life and the instantaneous field of view is smaller. Revisit time also depends on inclination, swath and Earth's rotation.
- (b) Higher altitude increases area visible per pass and can reduce drag, but a fixed detector resolves larger ground pixels. The best orbit follows the actual warning requirement rather than maximising one metric.
- (c) Earlier fire detection can protect lives and ecosystems, yet high-resolution imagery can expose private activity. Launch and replacement create emissions, and failed spacecraft add collision and debris risks.
- (c) Governments, residents, firefighters, Indigenous communities, researchers and commercial operators may not have equal control or access. A public-benefit claim needs transparent data rules, consent-sensitive use and an end-of-life plan.
- (d) Proceed if validated coverage and latency meet emergency needs, data access is equitable, privacy is governed and disposal reliability is demonstrated. Otherwise improve or share an existing constellation rather than launch by default.
Design a solar-panel angle field study
Answer: Vary tilt, calculate P = VI at a controlled load, and normalise power by measured irradiance and panel area. Predict the largest normalised power when the panel is closest to perpendicular to the incoming sunlight.
- (a) Ask: At a stated date and time range, how does panel tilt from 0° to 80° affect electrical power per unit incident irradiance for the same panel and load?
- (b) Predict a maximum when the panel normal points closest to the Sun because the same beam power is spread over the smallest panel-plane area. Electrical conversion and temperature may prevent a perfect cosine response.
- (c) Test 0°–80° in 10° steps in randomised order. At each angle record irradiance in the panel plane, panel temperature, load voltage and current after a fixed settling time; calculate P = VI and P divided by irradiance and area.
- (c) Control panel, load, cable, orientation around the vertical axis, location, shading and measurement timing. Repeat complete angle sequences and include a reference-panel reading to identify cloud drift.
- (c) Plot normalised power against tilt with repeat spread. Secure the panel and stand against wind, keep electrical connections dry and insulated, avoid roof work by performing the study at ground level, and manage glare.
- (d) Sun elevation and direction vary with time, season, weather and latitude; temperature, dirt and shading also change yield. Combine longer monitoring with a validated solar-path model before choosing an annual optimum.
Build a defensible classroom-cooling recommendation
Answer: F uses 54 kWh and produces 21.6 kg CO₂e; H uses 972 kWh and 388.8 kg CO₂e; shaded H uses 729 kWh and 291.6 kg CO₂e. These options deliver different thermal outcomes, so a fair decision needs measured comfort and building evidence.
- (a) Annual operating time is 6 × 180 = 1080 h. Fan energy = 0.050 kW × 1080 h = 54 kWh; emissions = 54 × 0.40 = 21.6 kg CO₂e.
- (a) Heat-pump energy = 0.900 kW × 1080 h = 972 kWh; emissions = 972 × 0.40 = 388.8 kg CO₂e.
- (b) A 25% reduction leaves 75%: shaded heat-pump energy = 0.75 × 972 = 729 kWh and emissions = 729 × 0.40 = 291.6 kg CO₂e.
- (c) The fan increases convective and evaporative cooling of occupants but does not lower air temperature, while the heat pump removes energy from the room. Energy totals compare inputs, not equal comfort or health outcomes.
- (d) Measure indoor temperature, humidity, radiant heat, occupancy, noise, air quality, heat-pump efficiency under local conditions and student comfort. Include installation, maintenance, electricity affordability, glare, façade permission and the needs of heat-sensitive users.
- (d) Use passive shading first where it is structurally suitable, combine fans with ventilation during moderate conditions, and reserve efficient heat-pump cooling for unsafe heat. The final operating rule should be triggered by measured conditions, not a single calendar schedule.
- (d) Consult students, staff, families, facilities workers and building owners; compare whole-life cost and embodied impacts. Reassess the recommendation as the grid mix, climate and occupancy change.