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O-LevelPhysicsThermal PhysicsOct/Nov 2024Paper 3 Q46 Marks

Water is heated from room temperature to its boiling temperature in a glass beaker. Plan an experiment to investigate if the time taken for the water to reach its boiling temperature depends on the diameter of the water surface exposed to the air. You are provided with: • a supply of cold water • a set of glass beakers of different sizes • a Bunsen burner, tripod and gauze • a measuring cylinder. You may use any other common laboratory apparatus. You are not required to do this investigation. In your plan include: • any other apparatus needed • a brief description of the method, including what you will measure and how you will make sure your measurements are accurate • the variables you will control • a results table to record your measurements (you are not required to enter any readings in the table) • how you will process your results to draw a conclusion. You may include a labelled diagram if you wish.

📋 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 O-Level Physics Question

Topic

This structured question tests Thermal Physics in O-Level Physics (syllabus code 5054). It is worth 6 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge O-Level Physics Oct/Nov 2024 examination, Paper 3 Variant 2.

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