A-LevelPhysicsPhysical quantities and unitsOct/Nov 2011Paper 1 Q51 Mark

The speedometer in a car consists of a pointer which rotates. The pointer is situated several millimetres from a calibrated scale. What could cause a random error in the driver's measurement of the car's speed?

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Physical quantities and units in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 1 mark.

AThe car's speed is affected by the wind direction.

BThe driver's eye is not always in the same position in relation to the pointer.

CThe speedometer does not read zero when the car is at rest.

DThe speedometer reads 10% higher than the car's actual speed.

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is B: The driver's eye is not always in the same position in relation to the pointer.

📋 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 multiple-choice question tests Physical quantities and units in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 1 mark.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Physics Oct/Nov 2011 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2.

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