AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2022: Question 1

8 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Calculate energy changes, spring energy storage, and kinetic energy of a boy bouncing on a trampoline across multiple sub-questions.

Practise this question

Question

Figure 1 shows a boy bouncing on a trampoline with springs around the edge. The question contains 5 parts: 01.1 requires completing sentences about energy changes as the boy falls using a word box; 01.2 calculates elastic potential energy given extension and spring constant; 01.3 calculates total energy for 40 springs; 01.4 calculates maximum kinetic energy after a bounce given a percentage; 01.5 is a multiple choice tick-box question asking why kinetic energy decreases after the bounce.
Question text

01 Figure 1 shows a boy bouncing on a trampoline.

Figure 1

01.1 The boy falls from the position in Figure 1 towards the trampoline.

Complete the sentences.

Choose answers from the box.

[2 marks]

chemical elastic potential gravitational potential

kinetic nuclear

As the boy falls, there is a decrease in his energy.

As the boy falls, there is an increase in his energy.

01.2 As the boy lands on the trampoline, each spring stretches 0.015 m.

spring constant of each spring = 120 000 N/m

Calculate the energy stored by each spring.

Use the equation:

elastic potential energy = 0.5 × spring constant × (extension)2

[2 marks]

*02* Elastic potential energy = J

01.3 There are 40 springs on the trampoline.

Calculate the total energy stored by the 40 springs when each spring is stretched

by 0.015 m.

Use your answer from Question 01.2

[1 mark]

4Total energy stored = J

01.4 The kinetic energy of the boy as he lands on the trampoline is 600 J.

The maximum kinetic energy of the boy after he bounces is 45% of his kinetic energy

as he lands.

Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of the boy after he bounces.

[2 marks]

Maximum kinetic energy = J

01.5 Why is the kinetic energy of the boy after he bounces less than his kinetic energy as

he lands?

[1 mark]

Tick ( ) one box.

Energy is not conserved.

Energy is transferred to the surroundings.

The springs transfer energy to the boy.

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme The mark scheme provides answers for parts 01.1 through 01.5. Part 01.1 requires gravitational potential and kinetic in that order (2 marks). Part 01.2 shows the substitution 0.5 * 120000 * 0.015^2 = 13.5 J (2 marks). Part 01.3 requires 540 J (1 mark). Part 01.4 shows 0.45 * 600 = 270 J (2 marks). Part 01.5 requires ticking 'Energy is transferred to the surroundings' (1 mark).

Question 1

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

01.1 this order only AO1

4.1.1.2

gravitational potential 1

kinetic 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.2 E = 0.5 × 120 000 × 0.0152 1 AO2

e

4.1.1.2

Ee = 13.5 (J) 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.3 E = 540 (J) allow their answer from 1 AO2

question 01.2 x 40 4.1.1.2

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.4 Ek = 0.45 × 600 1 AO2

4.1.2.2

Ek = 270 (J) – HYSICS – 1 –

AO /

Spec. Ref.

01.5 energy is transferred to the 1 AO2

surroundings 4.1.1.1

Total Question 1 8

How to answer it

Energy Changes on a Trampoline

What this question tests

This question assesses your understanding of energy stores (gravitational potential, kinetic, and elastic potential energy), energy conservation, and calculations involving spring stretch and percentages. You will need to recall energy formulas, substitute values correctly, and understand how energy dissipates to the surroundings.

Question 01.1

Energy Stores During Free Fall

✅ Correct Answers

  • Decrease in gravitational potential energy.
  • Increase in kinetic energy.

💡 Key Knowledge

  • As an object falls, its height decreases, meaning its gravitational potential energy store empties.
  • As it speeds up downwards, its speed increases, filling up its kinetic energy store.

❌ Common Errors

Writing the terms in reverse order. The mark scheme explicitly states this must be in the correct order: gravitational potential first, then kinetic.

Question 01.2

Calculating Elastic Potential Energy for One Spring

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. State the equation: E = 0.5 × k × e²
  2. Substitute values: 0.5 × 120 000 × (0.015)²
  3. Evaluate extension squared: 0.015² = 0.000225
  4. Final Answer: 13.5 J (1 mark for correct substitution, 1 mark for final answer).

🧠 Exam Technique

Always write out the equation given in the paper before substituting numbers. This guarantees you a method mark even if you make a calculator slip later.

❌ Common Calculation Traps

Forgetting to square the extension ( 0.015 ) is the most frequent way students lose marks here. Remember the square!

Question 01.3

Total Energy Stored Across Multiple Springs

✅ Correct Answer

540 J

📐 Calculation Method

Multiply your answer from 01.2 by the total number of springs:

13.5 J × 40 = 540 J

🧠 Error Carried Forward (ECF)

Even if you made a mistake in question 01.2, examiners will award this mark as long as you correctly multiplied your previous answer by 40.

Question 01.4

Calculating Kinetic Energy After a Bounce

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Identify initial kinetic energy = 600 J
  2. Find 45% of this value: 0.45 × 600
  3. Final Answer: 270 J

💡 Key Knowledge

To calculate a percentage of a quantity, convert the percentage into a decimal (45% = 0.45) and multiply it by the original amount.

Question 01.5

Energy Dissipation and Conservation

✅ Correct Box to Tick

Energy is transferred to the surroundings.

💡 Why is energy lower?

Energy is always conserved overall, but useful energy stores deplete because thermal energy and sound are dissipated to the air and the trampoline frame (the surroundings).

❌ Common Errors

Ticking "Energy is not conserved." Energy is always conserved in a closed system; it is never created or destroyed, only transferred to less useful stores like thermal energy.

Topics

Physics · P1: Energy

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2022. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.