AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2024: Question 7

18 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Calculate various quantities related to a swimming pool and diving board including weight, pressure, acceleration, percentage change, spring constant, and final velocity.

Practise this question

Question

A multi-part physics question about a swimming pool and a diving board. It includes calculations for weight, pressure, a multiple-choice question on water pressure direction (Figure 11), acceleration of a swimming child, percentage change of a spring's length, stating Hooke's law equation, calculating spring constant, and calculating the final velocity of a child falling from a diving board (Figure 12).
Question text

07 A swimming pool is being filled with water.

07.1 Calculate the weight of the water in the swimming pool when the mass of the

water is 25 000 kg.

gravitational field strength = 9.8 N/kg

Use the equation:

weight = mass × gravitational field strength

[2 marks]

25 Weight = N

07.2 When the swimming pool is full, the weight of the water is 1 960 000 N.

The bottom of the swimming pool has an area of 49 m2.

Calculate the pressure at the bottom of the swimming pool when it is full.

Use the equation:

weight

pressure =

area

Choose the unit from the box.

[3 marks]

m2 m3 N Pa

Pressure =26

Unit

07.3 There is a force acting on the side of the swimming pool because of the

*24* water pressure.

Figure 11 shows the side of the swimming pool.

Figure 11

Which arrow shows the direction of the force acting on the side of the swimming pool?

[1 mark]

*25* Tick ( ) one box.

A B C

07.4 A child is swimming in the pool. The velocity of the child is 0.70 m/s.

The child then accelerates for 5.0 s, reaching a final velocity of 1.3 m/s.

Calculate the acceleration of the child.

Use the equation:

change in velocity

acceleration =

time taken

[2 marks]

27 2

Acceleration = m/s

Figure 12 shows a diving board at the side of the swimming pool.

Figure 12

07.5 The original length of the spring is 0.84 m.

When the child stands on the diving board, the length of the spring decreases

by 0.21 m.

Calculate the percentage change in the length of the spring.

[2 marks]

Percentage change in length = %

Use the Physics Equations Sheet to answer questions 07.6 and 07.7.

07.6 Write down the equation which links extension (e), force applied to a spring (F) and

spring constant (k).

[1 mark]

07.7 The force applied to the spring by the weight of the child is 336 N.

The change in length of the spring is 0.21 m.

Calculate the spring constant of the spring.

*27* [3 marks]

Spring constant =29

N/m

07.8 The child steps off the diving board and falls into the swimming pool.

The initial velocity of the child is 0 m/s.

acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2

Calculate the final velocity when the child has fallen a distance of 0.95 m through

the air.

Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

Use the Physics Equations Sheet.

[4 marks]

Final velocity of child (2 significant figures) = m/s

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme The mark scheme providing answers, method marks, and specification references for all eight parts of Question 7, totalling 18 marks.

Question 7

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

07.1 W = 25 000 × 9.8 1 AO2

4.5.1.3

= 245 000 (N) 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

07.2 1 960 000 1 AO2

p =

AO2

= 40 000 1

AO1

Pa 1

4.5.5.1.1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

07.3 B 1 AO1

4.5.5.1.1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

07.4 1.3 – 0.7 1 AO2

a = 4.5.6.1.5

5.0

= 0.12 (m/s2) 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

07.5 0.21 1 AO2

× 100 4.5.3

0.84

25%

AO /

Spec. Ref.

07.6 force (applied to the spring) = 1 AO1

spring constant × extension 4.5.3

or

F = k × e

AO /

Spec. Ref.

07.7 336 = k × 0.21 1 AO2

4.5.3

336 1

= k

0.21

k = 1600 (N/m) 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

07.8 v2 – 0 = 2 × 9.8 × 0.95 1 AO2

4.5.6.1.5

v2 = 18.62 allow v = √(18.62) 1

v = 4.3150… 1

= 4.3 (m/s) 1

allow an answer correctly

rounded to 2 significant figures

from an incorrect calculation

which uses the values in the

question

Total Question 7 18

How to answer it

Forces, Pressure and Motion Study Guide

What this question tests

This comprehensive multi-part question assesses core mechanics topics from GCSE Physics: calculating weight from mass, pressure calculations and units, fluid pressure direction, acceleration and kinematics equations, percentage change, Hooke's Law equations and spring constants, and motion under gravity using square-root velocity equations.

Question 07.1

Calculating Weight

✅ Correct Answer

245 000 N (or 245 kN)

Mark breakdown: 1 mark for substitution into 25 000 × 9.8 , 1 mark for correct final value.

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. State equation: weight = mass × gravitational field strength
  2. Substitute values: 25 000 × 9.8
  3. Calculate result: 245 000 N
Question 07.2

Calculating Pressure

✅ Correct Answer

Pressure = 40 000 | Unit = Pa

Mark breakdown: 1 mark for correct equation/substitution, 1 mark for calculation, 1 mark for selecting 'Pa'.

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. State equation: pressure = weight / area
  2. Substitute values: 1 960 000 / 49
  3. Calculate result: 40 000
  4. Select correct unit: Pa (Pascals).

❌ Common Errors

Students sometimes select N or m² instead of Pa for pressure units, forgetting that 1 Pascal equals 1 N/m².

Question 07.3

Direction of Fluid Pressure

✅ Correct Answer

Box B ticked.

Mark breakdown: 1 mark for selecting B.

💡 Key Knowledge

Pressure in a liquid acts equally in all directions at a given depth, and forces exerted by a fluid on a container wall always act normally (at right angles) to the surface. Arrow B points straight horizontally outward into the wall.

Question 07.4

Calculating Acceleration

✅ Correct Answer

0.12 m/s²

Mark breakdown: 1 mark for correct substitution ( (1.3 - 0.7) / 5.0 ), 1 mark for final value.

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Find change in velocity: 1.3 - 0.7 = 0.6 m/s
  2. Divide by time taken: 0.6 / 5.0
  3. Calculate acceleration: 0.12 m/s²
Question 07.5

Percentage Change in Length

✅ Correct Answer

25%

Mark breakdown: 1 mark for (0.21 / 0.84) × 100 , 1 mark for final percentage.

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Identify change and original: Change = 0.21 m , Original = 0.84 m
  2. Set up fraction: 0.21 / 0.84
  3. Multiply by 100 to convert to percentage: 25%

❌ Common Errors

A common mistake is dividing by the *new* length instead of the *original* length 0.84 m .

Question 07.6

Hooke's Law Equation Recall

✅ Correct Answer

force = spring constant × extension (or F = k × e )

Mark breakdown: 1 mark for equation in words or standard symbols.

🧠 Exam Technique

Memorise all equations given on the Physics Equations Sheet. Word equations or standard accepted symbols are both fully accepted.

Question 07.7

Calculating Spring Constant

✅ Correct Answer

1600 N/m

Mark breakdown: 1 mark for substitution ( 336 = k × 0.21 ), 1 mark for rearrangement ( 336 / 0.21 ), 1 mark for final answer.

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Rearrange F = k × e to find k = F / e
  2. Substitute values: k = 336 / 0.21
  3. Calculate: 1600 N/m
Question 07.8

Final Velocity Under Gravity (Higher Demand)

✅ Correct Answer

4.3 m/s

Mark breakdown: 4 marks total. 1 mark for correct equation/substitution ( v² - 0² = 2 × 9.8 × 0.95 ), 1 mark for calculating v² = 18.62 , 1 mark for unrounded square root 4.315... , 1 mark for final rounding to 2 significant figures.

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Use the kinematic equation linking velocity, acceleration, and distance: v² - u² = 2as
  2. Substitute knowns: v² - 0 = 2 × 9.8 × 0.95
  3. Calculate v² = 18.62
  4. Take square root: v = √(18.62) = 4.315... m/s
  5. Round to 2 significant figures: 4.3 m/s

❌ Common Errors

Failing to round the final answer to the requested 2 significant figures will cost the final available mark, even if all working is correct!

Topics

Physics · P5: Forces

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2024. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.