AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 2 (Higher), June 2023: Question 2
10 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Analyze an aeroplane's journey involving displacement, forces, motion graphs, pressure variation with height, and atmospheric density.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
02 Figure 3 shows the route an aeroplane takes as it travels from an airport terminal to
the runway.
Figure 3 has been drawn to scale.
Figure 3
02.1 Determine the magnitude of the aeroplane’s displacement from the start point to the
finish point on Figure 3.
[2 marks]
Displacement = m
Figure 4 shows the direction of the horizontal forces acting on the aeroplane as it
moves in a straight line towards the runway.
Figure 4
02.2 Determine the magnitude of the resultant horizontal force on the aeroplane.
[1 mark]
Resultant horizontal force = N
02.3 Describe the motion of the aeroplane as it moves towards the runway.
[1 mark]
02.4 Air resistance and friction are contact forces.
Give one other example of a contact force.
[1 mark]
02.5 The aeroplane stops for a short time and then accelerates along the runway.
Figure 5 shows a distance–time sketch-graph for this stage of the journey.
Figure 5
Draw the velocity–time sketch-graph for this stage of the journey on Figure 6.
[2 marks]
Figure 6
02.6 The aeroplane takes off from the runway, so its height above the ground increases.
Figure 7 shows how atmospheric pressure varies with the height of the aeroplane
above the ground.
Figure 7
Estimate the atmospheric pressure when the height of the aeroplane above the
ground is 10 km.
[2 marks]
Atmospheric pressure =12 kPa
02.7 What happens to the air surrounding the aeroplane as the height of the aeroplane
above the ground increases?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
The average density of the air above the aeroplane decreases.
The mass of air above the aeroplane increases.
The temperature of the air increases.
*11* The volume of air below the aeroplane decreases.
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 2
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
02.1 7.1 (cm) allow 7.0 to 7.3 (cm) 1 AO2
4.5.6.1.1
497 (m) allow 70 × their incorrect 1
measurement of displacement
AO /
Spec. Ref.
02.2 0 (N) 1 AO2
4.5.1.4
AO /
Spec. Ref.
02.3 constant velocity allow constant speed (in a 1 AO1
straight line) 4.5.6.2.1
do not accept stationary
allow constant acceleration if a
mathematical error in 02.2
gives a non-zero value for
resultant force
AO /
Spec. Ref.
02.4 any one from: allow lift, thrust and water 1 AO1
• tension resistance 4.5.1.2
• normal contact (force) allow normal reaction (force)
• upthrust
ignore drag– HYSICS – 8463/2H –
AO /
Question Answers Mark
Spec. Ref.
02.5 horizontal line drawn to 10s 1 AO3
along the x-axis 4.5.6.1.4
10 line with a positive gradient allow an upward curving line 1
starting from 10 s with increasing gradient starting
from 10 s
AO /
Spec. Ref.
02.6 line of best fit drawn and do not accept a straight line 1 AO2
extrapolated to 10 km 4.5.5.2
28 (kPa) allow 26 to 32 (kPa) 1
allow a value correctly
extrapolated from their line
allow 2 marks for a correct
mathematically extrapolated
value
AO /
Spec. Ref.
02.7 the average density of the air 1 AO3
above the aeroplane decreases 4.5.5.2
Total Question 2 10
How to answer it
Forces, Motion, and Atmospheric Pressure Study Guide
What this question tests
This multi-part question assesses core mechanics and pressure topics from AQA GCSE Physics. Key skills tested include calculating displacement from scale drawings, determining resultant horizontal forces, identifying contact forces, converting distance-time graphs into velocity-time graphs, interpreting atmospheric pressure scatter graphs with extrapolation, and understanding pressure variations with height in the atmosphere.
Displacement from a Scale Drawing
✅ Correct Answer
- Length measured on map: 7.1 cm (allowed range: 7.0 cm to 7.3 cm)
- Converted displacement: 497 m (allowed range: 490 m to 511 m)
📐 Calculation Steps
- Measure: Use a ruler to find the straight-line distance from start to finish on Figure 3.
- Scale: Multiply your measured centimetre value by the scale factor ( 70 m per 1 cm).
- Example: 7.1 cm × 70 = 497 m.
❌ Common Errors
- Measuring along the curved path instead of the straight-line distance (displacement must be a straight vector).
- Forgetting to multiply by 70, or misapplying the scale ratio. Ecf (error carried forward) is allowed if you multiply *your* measured length correctly by 70.
Resultant Horizontal Force
✅ Correct Answer
- 0 N (or zero)
💡 Key Knowledge
- Resultant force = Thrust − (Air resistance + Friction)
- 14,000 N − (4500 N + 9500 N) = 14,000 N − 14,000 N = 0 N.
🧠 Exam Technique
- Always sum forces acting in the opposing direction before subtracting them from the forward thrust.
Describing Motion
✅ Correct Answer
- Constant velocity (or constant speed in a straight line)
❌ Common Errors
- Writing "stationary" (zero resultant force means motion does not change, not that it stops).
- Failing to state "in a straight line" if only writing speed.
Contact Forces
✅ Correct Answer (any one)
- Tension
- Normal contact force (or normal reaction)
- Upthrust
❌ Common Errors
- Naming non-contact forces such as gravity, magnetic force, or electrostatic force.
- Writing "drag" (mark scheme ignores drag in this specific context as air resistance/friction are already named).
Sketching a Velocity-Time Graph
✅ Correct Answer
- A horizontal line drawn along the x-axis (velocity = 0) from 0 s to 10 s (representing stopping/stationary).
- A straight line with a positive gradient starting from 10 s (representing constant acceleration).
🧠 Exam Technique
- Translate the curved distance-time graph features carefully: an increasing gradient on a distance-time graph means increasing velocity (acceleration).
Extrapolating a Pressure Graph
✅ Correct Answer
- Line of best fit drawn and extrapolated to 10 km.
- 28 kPa (accepted range: 26 kPa to 32 kPa, or based on student's drawn line).
📐 Calculation & Graph Steps
- Use a clear ruler to draw a smooth line of best fit through the plotted points on Figure 7.
- Extend (extrapolate) the line carefully all the way across to a height of 10 km on the x-axis.
- Read off the corresponding value on the vertical pressure axis.
Atmospheric Density with Height
✅ Correct Answer
- The average density of the air above the aeroplane decreases. (Tick this box)
💡 Key Knowledge
- As altitude increases, air particles become more spread out, meaning air density drops. This is why atmospheric pressure also drops with height.
Topics
Physics · P5: Forces
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 2 (Higher), June 2023. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.