Cambridge IGCSE™

PHYSICS 0625/42
Paper 4 Extended Theory February/March 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 80

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report f or
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes f or the February/March 2024 series f or most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 12 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alon gside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assess ed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the fu ll mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thre sholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

Science-Specific Marking Principles

1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be presen t, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.

2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the questi on should be ignored.

3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation fro m other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).

4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used i n a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be include d in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.

5 ‘List rule’ guidance

For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):

• The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
• Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
• Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
• Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response.
• Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.

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6 Calculation specific guidance

Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.

For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded
by the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.

For answers given in standard form (e.g. a  10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient ( a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.

Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.

7 Guidance for chemical equations

Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

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Acronyms and shorthand in the mark scheme.

acronym / shorthand explanation

A mark Final answer mark which is awarded for fully correct final answers including the unit.

C mark Compensatory mark which may be scored when the final answer (A) mark for a question has not been awarded.

B mark Independent mark which does not depend on any other mark.

M mark Method mark which must be scored before any subsequent final answer (A) mark can be scored.

Brackets ( ) Words not explicitly needed in an answer, however if a contradictory word/phrase/unit to that in the brackets is seen the
mark is not awarded.

Underlining The underlined word (or a synonym) must be present for the mark to be scored. If the word is a technical scientific term,
the word must be there.

/ or OR Alternative answers any one of which gains the credit for that mark.

owtte Or words to that effect.

ignore Indicates either an incorrect or irrelevant point which may be disregarded, i.e., not treated as contradictory.

insufficient an answer not worthy of credit on its own.

CON An incorrect point which contradicts any correct point and means the mark cannot be scored.

ecf [question part] Indicates that a candidate using an erroneous value from the stated question part must be given credit here if the
erroneous value is used correctly here.

cao correct answer only

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) constant speed B1

constant / uniform deceleration B1

stationary B1

1(b)(i) 7.1  105 J OR 710 000 J OR 710 kJ A2

EK= ½mv2 OR (EK= ) ½mv2 OR ½  18 000  (8.9)2 (C1)

1(b)(ii) 31 000 N OR 31 kN A3

W = Fd OR (F =) W / d OR 710 000 / 23 (C1)

F = 710 000 / 23 (C1)

Question Answer Marks

2(a) (Impulse =) force  time (for which force acts) B1

2(b)(i) F∆t = ∆{mv} OR (F =) ∆{mv} / ∆t OR (F =) ∆p / t M1

{2800  1400} (/ 1) = 3 920 000 N OR {2800  1400} (/ 1) = 3920 kN A1

2(b)(ii) 4.0  105 kg OR 400 000 kg A3

(at maximum mass) force = weight of rocket OR F = mg (C1)

(m=) F / g OR 3.9  106 / 9.8 OR 4(.0)  10N (kg) (C1)

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Question Answer Marks

3(a)(i) 2.0  105 Pa OR 200 000 Pa OR 200 kPa A2

(P =) F / A OR 13 000 / (0.016  4) (C1)

3(a)(ii) Any four from: B4

• friction between road and tyre
• temperature of air / tyre increases
• particles (of air in tyre) move faster
• particles (of air) collide harder with the walls (of the tyre) OR particles (of air) collide more frequently with the walls (of
the tyre)
• force (on the tyre wall) increases, AND area (of tyre) is constant (so tyre pressure increases)

3(b) (maximum number = ) 34 A3

pV = constant OR {2.0  106  0.026} = 1.0  105  V2 (C1)

V2 = 0.52 (m3) OR (V2 =) {2.0  106  0.026} / 1.0  105 (C1)

OR (number of balloons =) {2.0  106  0.026} / {1.0  105  0.015}

Question Answer Marks

4(a) energy transferred per unit mass per unit temperature change A2

(thermal) energy (transferred) per unit temperature change (C1)

4(b)(i) (m =) 2.2 kg A2

m = V in any form OR 910  0.0024 (C1)

4(b)(ii) 7.0  105 J OR 700 000 J A2

c = ∆E / { m∆ } OR (∆E =) mc∆  OR 2.2  2000  160 OR 2.184  2000  160 (C1)

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Question Answer Marks

4(b)(iii) 1700 W A2

(P =) E / t OR 700 000 / 7  60 OR 704 000 / 7  60 OR 698 880 / 7  60 (C1)

Question Answer Marks

5(a)(i) B3
application region of electromagnetic spectrum

cancer treatment gamma rays

bluetooth radio waves

optical fibres infrared

security marking ultraviolet

sterilising food gamma rays

wireless internet Microwaves

5(a)(ii) 3.0  108 (m / s) OR 300 000 000 (m / s) B1

5(b)(i) three crests parallel to the barrier B1

same wavelength as wave after the gap B1

5(b)(ii) central part of crest (parallel to the (gap in the) barrier) is straight B1

crests have curved ends B1

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Question Answer Marks

6(a) ray from top of object to tip of image M1

line labelled L drawn perpendicular to principal axis at its intersection with previous ray A1

6(b) ray from top of O parallel to principal axis to lens AND ray from lens to tip of I B1
OR ray from tip of I parallel to principal axis to lens AND ray from lens to top of O

2.1 cm B1

6(c) virtual B1

upright B1

Question Answer Marks

7(a) B1

7(b)(i) 1.5 V A2

Vout / VR = Rout / R OR VR = 3 Vout (C1)

7(b)(ii) 0.51 C A2

I = Q / t OR (Q =) It OR 1.7  10–3  300 (C1)

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Question Answer Marks

8(a)(i) three concentric circles centred on X B1

second and third circles further apart than first and second circles B1

direction of arrows clockwise B1

8(a)(ii) strength of magnetic field increases B1

its direction reverses B1

8(b) any three from: B3

• P = I 2R OR power (loss) = I 2R
• (high voltage allows) low current (so at same power output, less power / energy lost)
• thin wires have high resistance (so more power / energy lost)
• (low) current has a greater effect (on efficiency) than (high) resistance (of the thin wires)

Question Answer Marks

9(a)(i) most of the atom is empty space B1

9(a)(ii) any two from: B2

1 the nucleus is very small
2 mass of gold nucleus is much greater than mass of alpha particle
3 the nucleus is positively charged

corresponding explanation to conclusion: B2

1 not many alpha particles pass close to the nucleus / owtte
2 large force between alpha and nucleus (has bigger effect on small mass of alpha)
3 alpha particles are positively charged, AND force is repulsive

9(b)(i) (in the nucleus a) neutron is changed into a proton (and an electron which is the emitted -particle) B1

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Question Answer Marks

9(b)(ii) 22 g A3

(87 years is) three half -lives OR 25 / 8 OR 87 / 29 = 3 (half lives) (C1)

1 / 8th (of the strontium remains) OR 25 / 8 (decays) OR 3.125 seen (C1)

Question Answer Marks

10(a)(i) position A and / or E B1

position G B1

10(a)(ii) 1 month B1

10(b)(i) 110 000 (km / h) A3

(v = )2r / T (C1)

T = 365  24h OR 2  1.5  108 / 365  24 (C1)

10(b)(ii) 500 s A2

v = s / t OR (t =) s / v OR 1.5  1011 / 3.0  108 (C1)

Question Answer Marks

11(a) inward force / force of gravitational attraction, is balanced by an outward force / force due to fusion reactions B1

11(b)(i) ratio of the speed at which the galaxy is moving away from the Earth/observer to its distance (from the Earth/observer) A2

ratio of speed (of a galaxy) to distance (away from observer) (C1)

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Question Answer Marks

11(b)(ii) (age of universe =) d / v = 1 / H0 OR age (of universe) = 1 / H0 B1

11(b)(iii) 4.5  1017 (s) B1

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