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MYP Physics · 05 · extended response

Choosing efficient classroom lighting

Work, energy and power · Original GioPhysics question with a detailed, mark-by-mark answer guide.

Demand
discriminating
Marks
8
Topics
2
Answer
Complete
extended response8 marks

A school will replace 100 classroom lamps. Both options provide the required brightness. Lamp A uses 12 W, transfers 9.0 W as useful light, and lasts 15 000 h. Lamp B uses 8.0 W, transfers 6.8 W as useful light, and lasts 10 000 h. Lamps operate for 5.0 h per school day on 180 days each year.

  1. a

    Calculate Calculate the efficiency of each lamp.

    2 marks
  2. b

    Determine Determine the annual electrical-energy saving if the school chooses B instead of A.

    3 marks
  3. c

    Evaluate Recommend a lamp and explain what additional information could change the decision.

    3 marks
Ready to self-mark?Reveal the detailed answer guide
Answer overviewKey answer: Calculates A: 9.0 ÷ 12 × 100% = 75%. Calculates B: 6.8 ÷ 8.0 × 100% = 85%. Finds total annual operating time per lamp = 5.0 × 180 = 900 h.
01

a

2 marks

Calculate Calculate the efficiency of each lamp.

How to approach it

Build a chain of claim, evidence and physics reasoning. Address more than one relevant factor, identify a limitation or assumption, and finish with a conclusion that is conditional on the evidence rather than absolute.

  1. 1

    Calculates A: 9.0 ÷ 12 × 100% = 75%.

  2. 2

    Calculates B: 6.8 ÷ 8.0 × 100% = 85%.

02

b

3 marks

Determine Determine the annual electrical-energy saving if the school chooses B instead of A.

How to approach it

Build a chain of claim, evidence and physics reasoning. Address more than one relevant factor, identify a limitation or assumption, and finish with a conclusion that is conditional on the evidence rather than absolute.

  1. 1

    Finds total annual operating time per lamp = 5.0 × 180 = 900 h.

  2. 2

    Finds power difference for 100 lamps = 100 × 4 W = 400 W = 0.400 kW.

  3. 3

    Calculates saving = 0.400 × 900 = 360 kWh per year.

03

c

3 marks

Evaluate Recommend a lamp and explain what additional information could change the decision.

How to approach it

Build a chain of claim, evidence and physics reasoning. Address more than one relevant factor, identify a limitation or assumption, and finish with a conclusion that is conditional on the evidence rather than absolute.

  1. 1

    Makes a recommendation supported by efficiency, annual energy, and/or service-life evidence.

  2. 2

    Recognises the trade-off that B uses less energy but has a shorter stated life.

  3. 3

    Identifies decision-relevant missing evidence such as purchase cost, light quality, repair access, embodied energy, or local electricity emissions.

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