AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2025: Question 2

11 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Investigate thermal conductivity using metal rods and wax, plot a bar chart, identify the best conductor, and calculate specific heat capacity and time for energy transfer.

Practise this question

Question

Question 02 begins with Figure 2 showing four metal rods clamped horizontally at a central junction heated underneath by a Bunsen burner, with drawing pins attached to the outer ends using wax. Table 1 lists the type of metal (Copper, Iron, Nickel, Steel) and the time taken for drawing pin to fall off in seconds (10, 22, 18, 24). Part 02.1 asks to complete Figure 3 by labelling the x-axis and drawing a bar chart of the data. Part 02.2 asks which metal had the greatest thermal conductivity with checkboxes and a reason. Part 02.3 asks to calculate the specific heat capacity of nickel given 132 J energy transferred, 20 °C temperature change, mass 0.015 kg, using the provided rearranged equation. Part 02.4 asks for the equation linking energy transferred, power, and time. Part 02.5 provides energy transferred of 132 J and mean power transfer of 0.33 W to calculate time taken.

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for Question 2: 02.1 awards 1 mark for x-axis labelled '(type of) metal' and 2 marks for 4 bars correctly drawn within ± half a small square tolerance. 02.2 awards 1 mark for copper and 1 mark for the reason: least time for drawing pin to fall or wax to melt. 02.3 awards 1 mark for substitution c = 132 / (0.015 × 20) and 1 mark for c = 440 J/kg °C. 02.4 awards 1 mark for power = energy transferred / time or P = E / t. 02.5 awards 1 mark for 0.33 = 132 / t, 1 mark for rearrangement t = 132 / 0.33, and 1 mark for 400 s.

How to answer it

Thermal Conductivity & Energy Transfers

What this question tests

  • Data Presentation: Correctly labelling axes and plotting discrete/categoric bar charts with appropriate scale reading.
  • Thermal Conductivity Concepts: Understanding that higher thermal conductivity causes faster energy transfer (leading to shorter melting times).
  • Specific Heat Capacity Calculations: Substituting into a given equation accurately without calculation errors.
  • Power & Energy Equations: Recalling the equation linking power, energy transferred, and time ( P = E / t ), and rearranging it to solve for time.
Question 02.1 • 3 Marks

Plotting a Bar Chart of Conduction Times

Completing the bar chart from experimental data

✅ Mark Scheme Requirements

  • Mark 1: Label the x-axis as Type of metal or Metal .
  • Marks 2 & 3: All 4 bars drawn to the correct heights (tolerance ± ½ small square):
    • Copper: 10 s (exactly on the 10 line)
    • Iron: 22 s (2 small squares above 20)
    • Nickel: 18 s (2 small squares below 20)
    • Steel: 24 s (4 small squares above 20)
    (2 or 3 bars correct scores 1 mark; all 4 scores 2 marks)

🧠 Exam Technique & Diagram Details

  • Scale Check: Look closely at the vertical axis: 10 small squares = 10 seconds. This means 1 small square = 1 second.
  • Bars: Keep the width of all bars equal and leave an equal gap between them since "type of metal" is a categoric variable.
  • Always use a sharp pencil and a ruler when drawing chart bars.
Diagram Description for Plotting: A horizontal x-axis labelled "Type of metal" underneath the four named categories. Four straight, clean vertical bars: Copper drawn to 10 on the vertical scale; Iron drawn to 22; Nickel drawn to 18; Steel drawn to 24.

❌ Common Errors

  • Forgetting the axis label: Students focus solely on drawing bars and forget the first bullet point: "label the x-axis".
  • Drawing a line graph: Connecting the points with a line is incorrect because the type of metal is categoric, not continuous.
  • Misreading the scale: Drawing Nickel at 16 or Iron at 24 by counting small squares incorrectly.
Question 02.2 • 2 Marks

Identifying Highest Thermal Conductivity

Linking rate of heat transfer to time taken

✅ Correct Answer

Box to tick: Copper

Reason: It took the least time for the drawing pin to fall off (or: least time for the wax to melt / pin fell off fastest).

Mark 1: Tick for Copper.
Mark 2: Valid explanation comparing time (mark 2 is dependent on picking Copper).

💡 Key Knowledge

Thermal conductivity is a measure of how quickly energy is transferred through a material by conduction.

  • High thermal conductivity: Fast energy transfer → wax reaches melting temperature faster → shortest time.
  • Low thermal conductivity: Slow energy transfer → longest time.

❌ Common Misconceptions

  • Selecting Steel: Many students see that Steel has the largest number (24) and instinctively assume "biggest number = greatest conductivity". Remember: time is inversely related to rate!
  • Vague reasoning: Writing "because it conducts heat well" repeats the question instead of referencing the evidence from Table 1 (time taken).
Question 02.3 • 2 Marks

Calculating Specific Heat Capacity

Applying the given formula with values

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Identify the values from the question:
    Thermal energy ( E ) = 132 J
    Mass ( m ) = 0.015 kg
    Temperature change ( Δθ ) = 20 °C
  2. Substitute into the given equation [1 Mark]:
    c = 132 / (0.015 × 20)
  3. Calculate the denominator first:
    0.015 × 20 = 0.3
  4. Divide to find the final value [1 Mark]:
    c = 132 / 0.3 = 440

Answer: 440 J/kg °C

❌ Calculator Bracket Trap

If you enter 132 ÷ 0.015 × 20 straight into a calculator without brackets, it computes (132 ÷ 0.015) × 20 = 176 000 !

Safe Rule: Always calculate the bottom of the fraction (the denominator) first, write it down, then do the division.

Question 02.4 • 1 Mark

Recalling the Power Equation

Linking Energy, Power, and Time

✅ Correct Equations (Any one)

  • power = energy transferred / time
  • P = E / t
  • energy transferred = power × time ( E = P × t )
  • time = energy transferred / power ( t = E / P )

🧠 Exam Technique

The prompt reminds you: "Use the Physics Equations Sheet to answer questions 02.4 and 02.5".

Don't guess! Turn to your equation sheet, locate power, and copy the equation exactly as written.

Question 02.5 • 3 Marks

Calculating Time Taken for Energy Transfer

Rearranging the power formula

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. List given quantities:
    Energy transferred ( E ) = 132 J
    Power ( P ) = 0.33 W
  2. Substitute into formula [1 Mark]:
    0.33 = 132 / t
  3. Rearrange to make time (t) the subject [1 Mark]:
    t = 132 / 0.33
  4. Calculate the answer [1 Mark]:
    t = 400

Answer: 400 s

❌ Rearrangement Pitfall

  • Incorrect multiplication: Multiplying 132 × 0.33 = 43.56 . Remember: if the unknown is on the bottom of a fraction ( P = E / t ), swap it with the subject: t = E / P .
  • Inverted division: Doing 0.33 / 132 = 0.0025 . Always check if your answer makes physical sense — transferring 132 J at 0.33 W (which is 0.33 joules per second) will take hundreds of seconds!

Topics

Physics · P1: Energy · P2: Electricity · P3: Particle Model of Matter

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 1 (Foundation), June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.