Aga Khan University Examination Board

Notes from E-Marking Centre on HSSC I Physics Examination May 2016

Introduction

This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of HSSC Part I (Class XI) Physics.
It contains comments on candidates’ responses to the 2016 Higher Secondary School Certificate
(HSSC-I) Examination, indicating the quality of the responses and highlighting their relative
strengths and weaknesses.

E-Marking Notes

This includes overall comments on candidates’ performance on every question and some specific
examples of candidates’ responses which support the mentioned comments. Please note that the
descriptive comments represent an overall perception of the better and weaker responses as gathered
from the e-marking session. However, the candidates’ responses shared in this document represent
some specific example(s) of the mentioned comments.

Teachers and candidates should be aware that examiners may ask questions that address the Student
Learning Outcomes (SLOs) in a manner that requires candidates to respond by integrating
knowledge, understanding and application skills they have developed during the course of study.
Candidates are advised to read and comprehend each question carefully before writing the response
to fulfil the demand of the question.

Candidates need to be aware that the marks allocated to the questions are related to the answer space
provided on the examination paper as a guide to the length of the required response. A longer
response will not in itself lead to higher marks. Candidates need to be familiar with the command
words in the Student Learning Outcomes which contain terms commonly used in examination
questions. However, candidates should also be aware that not all questions will start with or contain
one of the command words. Words such as ‘how’, ‘why’ or ‘what’ may also be used.

Page 1 of 36
Question 1

Write any TWO differences between accuracy and precision.

Better responses wrote the correct differences between accuracy and precision. Some of the
important differences wrote by the candidates in their answers are given below:

Accuracy Precision
Observed values are closed to accurate. Observed values are much closed to each other.
Depends upon the number of observed values. Depends upon the least count.
The ability of a measurement to match the actual The level of a measurement to be consistently
value of the quantity being measured. reproduced.
Accuracy depends on the fractional or The number of significant digits to which a value
percentage uncertainty in that measurement. has been reliably measured.

Example:

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Weaker responses failed to write any two differences. Some of candidates wrote only one difference
and some interchanged the differences between accuracy and precision. Most of the candidates
mixed up the differences of accuracy and precision with errors and uncertainty. Candidates
incorrectly wrote that ‘negligence of a person(s)/ faulty apparatus/ method(s) of conducting
experiments etc.

Example:

Question 2

Find the dimension of the given physical quantities.

Physical Quantity Dimension

Potential energy
Kinetic energy
Force

Better responses correctly found the dimension of the given physical quantities. Candidates correctly
wrote P.E = MT-2L2 for potential energy, K.E = [ML2T-2] for kinetic energy and F = [ML T-2] for
force.

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Example:

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Weaker responses were unable to find the dimension of the given physical quantities. Candidates
were confused in dimensions and SI units. Some of the candidates wrote SI unit and formula in front
of each physical quantity. For example, ‘kg.m2/s2 and mgh’ for potential energy ‘kgm2s2 and ½ mv2’
for kinetic energy and ‘N and kgm/s2’ for force.

Example:

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 Question 3

Three vectors each of magnitude 5 cm are shown below.

A = 5 cm B = 5 cm

C = 5 cm

i. Add vector A and vector B by head to tail rule and find the resultant vector.

ii. Add vector A and vector C by head to tail rule and find the resultant vector.

Better responses showed their answers by adding vector A and vector B and vector A and vector C
by head to tail rule and hence found the resultant vectors. Most of the candidates added the vectors
by the following method and got full marks.

i.

A = 5cm B = 5cm

R = 10 cm

ii.

R = 0 cm

Example:

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Weaker responses failed to add the vectors by head to tail rule. Most of the candidates showed
mathematical expressions/ formulae/ calculations/ steps but were unable to represent it graphically.
Some of the candidates wrote Fy= F sin θ and Fx = F cos θ and the formula for finding out the
magnitude of a vector F = (Fx )2 + (Fy )2 and the direction θ = tan ( Fy / Fx ).
−1

Example:

Question 4

A vector F is shown below making an angle θ with y-axis.

y-axis
A

F
θ
x-axis
O

i. Show the rectangular components of vector F in the given figure.

ii. Write the formula for finding the magnitude and the direction of vector F.

Better responses showed the rectangular components of vector F in the given figure and wrote the
formula for finding the magnitude and the direction of vector F. Some of the better answers written
by the candidates are given below:

F2 = F2x + F2y (OR) F = F2 x + F2 y Fx Fy Cosθ

F = x2 + y 2 (OR) F = Fy2 + Fx2

Fx F sin θ
tanθ = Fx/ Fy (OR) θ = tan −1 (OR) θ = tan −1
Fy F cos θ

Page 7 of 36
Example:

Weaker responses wrote the wrong concepts of rectangular components of a vector. Some of the
candidates wrote the formula of torque/ condition of equilibrium/ scalar vector/ vector product. Most
of the candidates also incorrectly showed the rectangular components of vector F in the given figure,
like the one below.

C A

Fx

O
Fy B

Example:

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 Question 5

a. Which law of physics is observed in the propulsion of a rocket?

b. Name the basic force which is responsible for rocket propulsion.

c. A rocket reduces its number fuel tanks during its flight. Describe how this helps a rocket to
continue its journey?

Better responses wrote the correct law in the propulsion of a rocket, i.e. Newton’s 3rd law of motion/
law of conservation of momentum. Some of the candidates also wrote equation of continuity/
m1V1 = m2V2 in their answers in part (a). Candidates correctly named the basic force which is
responsible for rocket propulsion, i.e. the upthrust force/ reactive force/ lifting force/ drag force. In
part (b) and in part (c), candidates described that a rocket reduces its number of fuel tanks during its
flight that helps it to continue its journey and to achieve escape velocity against Earth’s gravity/ as
mass reduces more momentum/ velocity/ acceleration increases.

Example:

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Weaker responses failed to write the correct law of physics observed in the propulsion of a rocket.
Candidates wrote projectile motion/ linear motion/ gravitational law/ frictional force. In part (b),
candidates incorrectly named the basic force responsible for rocket propulsion as pull and push,
burning of fuel, etc. In part (c), some of the candidates wrote that weight of the rocket reduces and
gravitational acceleration due to the decrease in gravity.

Example:

Page 10 of 36
 Question 6

Identify the following cases as positive, negative or zero work in the given table.

Positive Work/ Negative Work/

S. No. Cases
Zero Work

A parachutist opens his parachute and his

1 velocity slows down due to air resistance.
The work done by the air resistance is

A person carries a luggage in the forward

direction while the weight of the luggage is
2
in the downward direction. The work done
by the force of gravity is
A car moving in the forward direction
suddenly skids on the wet floor in the same
3
direction. The work done by the forward
force of the car is

Better responses correctly identified the cases as ‘A parachutist opens his parachute and his velocity
slows down due to air resistance. The work done by the air resistance is NEGATIVE WORK’; ‘A
person carries a luggage in the forward direction while the weight of the luggage is in the downward
direction. The work done by the force of gravity is ZERO WORK’ and ‘A car moving in the forward
direction suddenly skids on the wet floor in the same direction. The work done by the forward force
of the car is POSITIVE WORK’.

Example:

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Weaker responses failed to correctly identify the cases as negative, zero and positive work in the
table. The most frequent incorrect answer for case 1 was zero/ positive work, for case 2 was
positive/ negative work and for case 3 was negative/ zero work.

Example:

Question 7

A body of mass m is moving in a circular path of radius r with a constant linear velocity v as
shown in the given diagram.

r m
v

Find the relation between

i. linear and angular velocity.

ii. linear and angular acceleration.

Page 12 of 36
Better responses correctly found the relation between linear and angular velocity. Most of the
candidates wrote the mathematical relations step by step in the part (i) as ∆s = r ∆ θ, ∆s /∆t = r ∆ θ
/∆t and V = r ω and in the part (ii), they found the correct relation between linear and angular
acceleration as ∆ V = r ∆ ω, ∆ V /∆t = r ∆ ω /∆t and a = r α.

Example:

Weaker responses were unable to find the relation between linear and angular velocity and linear
and angular acceleration. Candidates wrote the formula of average velocity and average
acceleration for finding these relations. Some candidates wrote the definition of linear and angular
velocity and linear and angular acceleration to make these relations.

Example:

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 Question 8

Consider water droplets are falling vertically from a cloud.

i. What will be the direction of air drag on the water droplets as they fall?

ii. As the water droplets fall, their speed increases, will the air drag force on the water
droplets increase or decrease?

iii. Write the equation describing a net force on the water droplets as the water droplets
continue to fall.

iv. How will the water droplets achieve terminal velocity?

Better responses correctly identified the direction of air drag on the water droplets as they fall in part
(i), i.e. the direction of air drag on the water droplet will be in ‘upward’. In part (ii), candidates wrote
correctly that when the water droplets fall, their speed increases and the air drag force on the water
droplets will also ‘increase’. Candidates wrote the equation ‘Net force = weight – drag force’ that
describes a net force on the water droplets as the water droplets continues to fall in part (iii). In part
(iv), candidates correctly wrote that ‘when the magnitude of the drag force becomes equal to the
weight, the net force acting on the droplet becomes zero, then the droplet will fall with constant
speed called terminal velocity.

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Example:

Weaker responses wrongly identified the direction of air drag on the water droplets as they fall in
part (i), i.e. the direction of air drag on the water droplet will be in downward/ towards ground/ in
horizontal direction. In part (ii), candidates wrote that when the water droplets fall, their speed
increases and the air drag force on the water droplets will be inversely proportional to the velocity/
speed/ acceleration/ and will decrease. Candidates wrote the equation of Newton’s Second Law of
Motion/ value of gravity in part (iii). In part (iv), candidates were unable to write the reason that how
can the water droplets achieve terminal velocity, they simply wrote force of gravity/ upthrust force/
reactive force/ lifting force/ drag force for the water droplets achieving terminal velocity.

Example:

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 Question 9

The given below graph shows the relation between amplitude and time.

Name and define the type of oscillations shown above.

Better responses correctly named the type of oscillation as ‘damped oscillation’ and defined it as
that ‘the type of oscillation in which the amplitude of vibration decreases due to the external forces/
due to the frictional forces.’

Example:

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Weaker responses failed to correctly name the type of oscillation. Candidates wrote simple/
periodic/ simple harmonic/ uniform oscillation. Some candidates wrote the definition of
longitudinal/ transverse/ simple pendulum/ simple harmonic motion.

Example:

Question 10

a. How does periodic external force produce resonance?

b. Write any TWO examples of resonance.

Better responses wrote correctly that if the natural frequency of the vibrating body matches with
the frequency of the external periodic force, then the body will move with large amplitude that is
called resonance in part (a). Whereas in part (b), candidates wrote two examples of resonance
includes, heating and cooking of food very efficiently with the help of microwave oven, turning off
a radio, suspension bridges, turning musical instruments.

Page 17 of 36
Example:

Weaker responses failed to write the correct reason that periodic external force produces resonance.
Candidates wrote about free and forced oscillation, natural frequency and amplitude. They were
also unable to write the two examples of resonance and wrote examples of free and forced
oscillations, simple pendulum, mean and extreme positions of a simple pendulum.

Example:

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Question 11
A singer with a shrill voice sings at 1100 Hz. Calculate the wavelength of the shrill sound wave if
the speed of sound is 345 m/s.

Better responses correctly calculated the wavelength of the shrill sound wave. Candidates first
extracted the data, then applied the correct formula (λ = v/f) and finally, calculated the correct
wavelength with SI unit (λ = 0.314 m).

Example:

Weaker responses either extracted the data or applied the correct formula but were unable to
calculate the wavelength of the shrill sound wave. Some of the candidates incorrectly substituted
the values of velocity and frequency instead of dividing both these values; they multiplied them
and reached to the wrong answer.

Example:

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 Question 12
An X-ray of 0.6 × 10–9 m wavelength strikes at an angle of 30o on a crystal plane with the spacing
of 0.3 × 10–9 m. Determine order of reflection of the X-ray.

Better responses correctly determined the order of reflection of the X-ray. Candidates first
extracted the data, applied the correct formula (n λ = 2 d sin θ), substituted the values of
wavelength λ, angle θ and spacing d and finally, calculated the order of reflection n of the X-ray.

Example:

Weaker responses failed to extract the correct data and substitute the values. Therefore, they were
unable to get the correct answer. They only wrote the correct formula of finding the order of
reflection of the X-ray. Some candidates calculated the value of sin30o instead of finding the order
of reflection. Few of the candidates wrote the formula of Young’s double slit experiment for the
distance between two adjacent bright fringes.

Example:

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Question 13
The given diagram shows a process in which a gas is compressed such that there is no heat
exchange.

i. Identify the thermodynamic process illustrated in the above diagram.

ii. Derive the relation of the first law of thermodynamics for the above process.

iii. What will be the effect on temperature and the internal energy on the above process?

Better responses correctly identified adiabatic process as the thermodynamic process illustrated in
the diagram in part (i). In part (ii), candidates correctly derived the relation of the first law of
thermodynamics as ∆Q = 0/ ∆Q = ∆U + ∆W/ 0 = ∆U + ∆W/ ∆U = – ∆W. In the part (iii), they
correctly wrote the effect on temperature and the internal energy on the process mentioned in the
question by writing as during adiabatic process both temperature and internal energy of the system
raised/ increases as the piston is compressed shown in the figure B.

Example:

Page 21 of 36
Weaker responses failed to identify the thermodynamic process. Candidates wrote compression/
rarefaction. They were unable to derive the relation of the first law of thermodynamics. Instead of
deriving the relation mathematically, they incorrectly wrote the description about pressure/ volume/
temperature/ heat energy/ workdone/ internal energy. Some candidates wrote the effect on
temperature and the internal energy is that they remain constant or that they decrease.

Example:

Page 22 of 36
 Extended Response Questions (ERQs)

These questions offered a choice between part a and b

Question 14a
A car of mass 1200 kg moves with a uniform velocity of 30 m/s for 8 seconds. If the engine applies
a force of 3500 N, then find the power of the engine of the car.

Better responses correctly calculated the power of the engine by extracting the correct data,
applying the formula for finding the displacement (d = v × t), calculating the correct displacement

d
(d = 240 m), applying the second formula for finding the power ( P = F. ) and finally,
t
calculating the power (P = 105000 W/ 105 kW).

Example:

Page 23 of 36
Weaker responses were able to extract data from the question but were unable to understand the
demand of the question and hence, failed to write the correct formulae for finding the displacement
1 2
and power. Most of the candidates wrote second ( S = v i t + at ) and third
2

( 2aS = v f 2 − v i 2 ) equation of motion for finding the displacement.

Example:

Page 24 of 36
 Question 14b
Calculate the escape velocities of the Earth and the Moon, if their masses are 6.0 × 1024 kg,
7.35 × 1022 kg having radius of 6.0 × 104 m and 1.7 × 106 m respectively.

(Note: Show your answer in kilometre per second.)

Better responses correctly calculated the escape velocities of the Earth and the Moon by extracting
the correct data, writing the correct formula of escape velocity (Vesp = 2GM/ R (or)

Vesp = 2gR ), finding the correct values of the escape velocities of the Earth and the Moon and
converting the unit of the final escape velocities from metre into kilometre.

Example:

Page 25 of 36
Weaker responses were able to extract data from the question but were unable to apply the correct
formulae of the escape velocities of the Earth and the Moon. Therefore, they failed to calculate the
correct values of escape velocities. Candidates incorrectly wrote the formula of escape velocity as

2GM
Vesp = . Hence, most candidates got one or two marks in this part of the question.
r

Example:

Page 26 of 36
Question 15a

Discuss Laplace’s correction to explain the changes occur in temperature under adiabatic
conditions.

Better responses correctly discussed the Laplace’s correction by stating that Laplace showed that
the application of Boyle's law does not apply to sound waves in air and assumed that pressure and
Cp
volume of a gas (air) occurs under adiabatic conditions/ (r = ) . The change of pressure due
Cv
rP
to temperature change is very rapid and non-uniform among the different regions/ v = /
ρ

PVr = (P + ∆P) (V – ∆V)r (OR) P = P – rP ∆V/V + ∆P (OR) rP = ∆P/∆V/V = E (OR) the

experimental values is calculated as 332 ms-1/ v = 333 ms-1.

Example:

Page 27 of 36
Weaker responses showed incorrect understanding regarding Laplace’s correction to explain the
changes occur in temperature under adiabatic conditions. Some of the candidates instead of
explaining the Laplace’s correction, explained adiabatic process. Few of the candidates derived the
expression of speed of sound in air (V = Vo + 0.61t).

Example:

Page 28 of 36
Weaker responses showed lack of knowledge regarding the derivation of the formula for the speed
of sound through gases. Some of the candidates provided reference of Laplace’s correction in
descriptive form that was not the requirement of the question. Few of the candidates wrote the
definition of compression/ rarefaction and related them with the speed of sound through gases.

Example:

Page 30 of 36
Question 16a

The given picture shows some of the environmental issues associated with the increase in entropy.

Contaminated Clouds

Acid Rain

Fossil Fuel Pollution

Polluted Land

Polluted River
Factory

Vehicle Exhaust

Discuss the environmental hazards associated with the increase in temperature.

Better responses correctly discussed the environmental hazards associated with the increase in
temperature. Candidates wrote the following points in their answers. The second law of
thermodynamics provides us the basic key for understanding our environmental crisis/ the
environmental crisis results from our attempts to the nature for our comforts. According to the
second law, any increase in the disorder of a system will always produce an even greater increase
in entropy or disorder in the environment/ The energy process which we use are not very efficient.
As a result, much energy is lost as heat to the environment/ Thermal pollution is an inevitable
consequence of the 2nd law of thermodynamic. The increase in thermal pollution of environment
means increase in the entropy and that causes greater concern, even in small temperature's change
in the plant and in animals/ Most of the energy transformation process such as heat engines used
for transportation and power generation cause air pollution.

Page 31 of 36
Example:

Page 32 of 36
Weaker responses were unable to discuss the environmental hazards associated with the increase in
temperature. Candidates only mentioned two or three environmental hazards. Some of the
candidates highlighted about air/ noise pollution which are harmful for human and as well for
animals. Few of the candidates were unable to even write clearly about greenhouse effect, acid
rain, flood, etc.

Example:

Page 33 of 36
Question 16b
Two containers A and B are placed at a high temperature reservoir (HTR). Container A is at
constant volume (Cv) and container B is at constant pressure (Cp).

Cp
Cv

A B
Show that the heat capacity at constant pressure (Cp) is greater than that of heat capacity at constant
volume (Cv).

Better responses showed all the necessary mathematical steps for the heat capacity at constant
pressure (Cp) which is greater than that of heat capacity at constant volume (Cv). Candidates wrote
all the important step by mentioning ∆Q = ∆U + ∆ W (OR) ∆ U = Cv∆T (OR) Cp∆T = Cv ∆T +
P∆V (OR) Cp = R + Cv heat capacity at constant pressure is greater than that of heat capacity at
constant Volume because Cv when add with R becomes equal to the Cp. (OR) ( C p − Cv = R ) (OR)
C p > Cv .

Page 34 of 36
Example:

Page 35 of 36
Weaker responses failed to show all the necessary mathematical steps for heat capacity at constant
pressure (Cp) which is greater than heat capacity at constant volume (Cv). Most of the candidates
wrote descriptive statements rather than mathematical steps. One example of this type of response
is given below.

Example:

Page 36 of 36