AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 1 (Higher), June 2024: Question 6

9 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Calculate the maximum height reached by a theme park pod attached to stretched bungee cords and explain why the actual height is lower due to energy dissipation.

Practise this question

Question

Figure 10 shows a theme park ride with a person in a pod attached to two stretched bungee cords between two support towers before release, and then after release near the top. Question 06.1 asks which energy store increases as the bungee cords are stretched (1 mark). Question 06.2 provides extension = 8.0 m, spring constant = 735 N/m, mass = 240 kg, and gravitational field strength = 9.8 N/kg, asking to calculate the maximum height reached by the pod (6 marks). Question 06.3 asks to explain why the actual maximum height reached will be lower than the calculated answer (2 marks).
Question text

06 In a ride at a theme park, a person is strapped into a pod that is attached to two

stretched bungee cords.

The bungee cords behave like springs.

Figure 10 shows a person using the ride.

Figure 10

06.1 Which energy store increases as the bungee cords are stretched?

[1 mark]

06.2 When the pod is released, the pod accelerates upwards.

Before the pod is released the extension of each of the two bungee cords is 8.0 m.

The spring constant of each bungee cord is 735 N/m.

The mass of the pod is 240 kg.

gravitational field strength = 9.8 N/kg

Calculate the maximum height reached by the pod.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet.

[6 marks]

Maximum height = m

06.3 The actual maximum height reached by the pod will be lower than the correct answer

to Question 06.2

Explain why.

[2 marks]

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme The mark scheme for Question 6. For 06.1, allows elastic potential energy or Ee (1 mark). For 06.2, details multi-step calculation for elastic potential energy, total energy for two cords, and equating to gravitational potential energy to find height = 20 m (6 marks). For 06.3, awards marks for mentioning air resistance opposing motion or energy dissipation to surroundings (2 marks).

Question 6

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

06.1 elastic potential (energy) allow Ee / EPE 1 AO1

4.1.1.2

AO /

Spec. Ref.

06.2 E = 0.5 × 735 × 8.02 allow a correct substitution using 1 AO2

e

k = 1470 (N/m) and e = 8 (m) 4.1.1.2

or

k = 1470 (N/m) and e = 16 (m)

or

k = 735 (N/m) and e = 16 (m)

Ee = 23 520 (J) this answer only 1

total Ee = 47 040 (J) this answer only 1

47 040 = 240 × 9.8 × h allow a correct substitution of 1

their calculated value of Ee

(using E = 0.5ke2)

e

47 040 allow a correct rearrangement 1

h = using their calculated value of E

(240 × 9.8) e

(using E = 0.5ke2)

e

h = 20 (m) allow an answer consistent with 1

their value of Ee

(using E = 0.5ke2)

e

AO /

Spec. Ref.

06.3 air resistance (opposes the 1 AO3

motion of the pod upwards)

(so) not all of the elastic allow the energy transfer is not 1 AO1

potential energy will be 100% efficient

transferred to gravitational allow some energy is transferred 4.1.2.1

potential energy to the surroundings 4.1.2.2

allow some energy is dissipated

ignore energy is wasted

ignore reference to mass of

person in pod

Total Question 6 9

How to answer it

Theme Park Bungee Ride Energy Calculations

What this question tests

This question assesses your understanding of energy stores, the conservation of energy, and how to apply equations for elastic potential energy and gravitational potential energy. You will need to handle multi-step calculations involving multiple identical components (two bungee cords) and account for real-world energy dissipation like air resistance.

Question 06.1 [1 mark]

Which energy store increases as the bungee cords are stretched?

✅ Correct Answer

elastic potential (energy) (Accept E_e or EPE )

💡 Key Knowledge

  • When an elastic object (like a spring or bungee cord) is stretched, compressed, or bent, energy is transferred to its elastic potential energy store.
Question 06.2 [6 marks]

Calculate the maximum height reached by the pod.

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Calculate elastic potential energy in ONE bungee cord:
    Equation: E_e = 0.5 × k × e²
    Substitution: E_e = 0.5 × 735 × 8.0²
    Answer: 23 520 J
  2. Calculate total elastic potential energy for BOTH cords:
    Calculation: 23 520 × 2 = 47 040 J
  3. Equate to gravitational potential energy ( E_p = m × g × h ):
    Substitution: 47 040 = 240 × 9.8 × h
  4. Rearrange and solve for height (h):
    Rearrangement: h = 47 040 / (240 × 9.8)
    Final Answer: h = 20 m

❌ Common Errors & Traps

  • Forgetting the second cord: Students often calculate the energy for only one bungee cord and forget to multiply by 2.
  • Squaring errors: Forgetting to square the extension ( e² ) in the elastic potential energy equation.
  • Using wrong spring constants: Some students incorrectly try to combine the spring constants instead of calculating the energy of one cord and doubling it.
Mark Breakdown (6 marks): 1 mark for correct substitution into E_e equation | 1 mark for E_e of one cord (23520 J) | 1 mark for total E_e (47040 J) | 1 mark for equating total E_e to mgh | 1 mark for correct rearrangement | 1 mark for final correct answer (20 m).
Question 06.3 [2 marks]

Explain why the actual maximum height reached by the pod will be lower than the calculated answer.

✅ Correct Answers (Any 2)

  • Air resistance/drag opposes the motion of the pod upwards.
  • Energy is dissipated to the surroundings as thermal energy (heat/sound).
  • The energy transfer is not 100% efficient.

🧠 Exam Technique & Examiner Comments

This is a standard 2-mark "explain why" question. To secure full marks, you must give the cause (air resistance / friction) and link it directly to the effect (energy transferred wastefully to the thermal store of the surroundings, meaning less energy goes into gravitational potential energy).

Note: Examiners explicitly ignore references to the mass of the person in the pod.

Topics

Physics · P1: Energy · P5: Forces

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 1 (Higher), June 2024. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.