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A-LevelPhysicsOscillationsMay/June 2020Paper 4 Q39 Marks

The piston in the cylinder of a car engine moves in the cylinder with simple harmonic motion. The piston moves between a position of maximum height in the cylinder to a position of minimum height, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1. [Figure 3.1] The distance moved by the piston between the positions shown in Fig. 3.1 is 9.8 cm. The mass of the piston is 640 g. At one particular speed of the engine, the piston completes 2700 oscillations in 1.0 minute. (a) For the oscillations of the piston in the cylinder, determine:

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

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About This A-Level Physics Question

Topic

This structured question tests Oscillations in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 9 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Physics May/June 2020 examination, Paper 4 Variant 1.

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