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A-LevelPhysicsElectricityMay/June 2017Paper 5 Q215 Marks

A student is investigating how the time for an electrical pulse to travel in a coaxial cable varies with the length of the cable. The pulse is reflected at one end of the cable. An oscilloscope is used to display the initial pulse and the reflected pulse. The trace on the oscilloscope is shown in Fig. 2.1. [Figure 2.1] The time t for the pulse to travel to the end of the cable and back is determined by measuring the distance d between the pulses on the screen, and then using the time-base and the relationship t = d × time-base. The initial length of the cable is L. A total length Z is removed from the cable and the experiment is repeated. It is suggested that t and Z are related by the equation v = 2(L-Z) / t where v is the speed of the pulse.

📋 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 Electricity in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 15 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Physics May/June 2017 examination, Paper 5 Variant 1.

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