Answer in your own words. Each answer is checked against the mark scheme, point by point, so you can see which marks you got and which you missed.
Edexcel GCSE Physics · The trolley and the ramp
Explain why light gates give a better measurement of the time than a stopwatch would.
A stopwatch includes your reaction time, about 0.2 s, which is large compared with the short times measured. Light gates have none.
Examples
Mark scheme0/2
1 markNot given yet
reaction timeA stopwatch includes your reaction time
1 markNot given yet
large compared with the time measuredabout 0.2 s, which is large compared with the short times measured
2 of 2 marks.
Edexcel GCSE Physics · The trolley and the ramp
The trolley has a mass of 0.80 kg. The resultant force on it is 1.2 N. Calculate the acceleration of the trolley.
Examples
Mark scheme0/2
1 markNot given yet
1 markNot given yet
Edexcel GCSE Physics · A method for mass
Describe a procedure the student could use to investigate how the acceleration of the trolley depends on its mass.
Raise one end of the runway until the trolley rolls at a constant speed, to compensate for friction. Keep the mass on the hanger the same. Release the trolley from rest at the same point each time. Use two light gates to find the speed at each gate and the time between them, and work out the acceleration from the change in speed ÷ time. Add masses to the trolley and repeat for several different masses.
Examples
Mark scheme6/6
Level 11–2 marks
Level 23–4 marks
Level 35–6 marks
Details of the procedure 6 found
keep the pulling force the same
compensate for friction
card length ÷ time
change in speed ÷ time
repeat and take a mean
release from rest
Statements 4 found
light gates and a data logger
add masses to the trolley
a = (v − u) ÷ t
a sloping runway
2 more in the scheme
Level 3 6 of 6 marks.
How an island works
Each island covers one GCSE topic and its core practical. You run the experiment yourself before you answer exam questions on it.
resultant force: 2.0 Nthe pull, with no friction here
resultant force: 4.0 Nthe pull, with no friction here
your last run
Investigate the pull
The film comes down from the whole island, floating in the sky, to the cart on its track. Over it, the Pull sign reads 2.0 N and the Mass sign 2.0 kg.
Revision tools on every island
Help when you’re stuck, practice on what you got wrong, and a map of what’s left to learn.
Hints, one step at a time
Ask Aurelius for help and he starts with a question. Ask again for a pointer to your results, then a worked example with different numbers. The answer comes last, and earns no marks.
Proving Ground. One question lives here: what makes a thing speed up faster? Let the cart go, and we'll see what we're dealing with.Proving Ground. One question lives here: what makes a thing speed up faster? Let the cart go, and we'll see what we're dealing with. Proving Ground. One question lives here: what makes a thing speed up faster? Let the cart go, and we'll see what we're dealing with.Guess first. The button will still be there. It's very patient.That's your evidence. Read it, then tell me what it says. Not what you hoped it would say.Not that one. I could tell you the answer. I'm not going to, and we both know why.Bring the cart back first. It won't come by itself. I've asked.Leave one hanging. Nothing pulling means nothing happening, and we've all had days like that.I can help. I’ll start with a question.What did the acceleration do between your two runs?Look at your results. Divide each speed by its time.Try a sledge. 3 N gives it 0.6 m/s², and 6 N gives it 1.2 m/s². What happened?Twice the pull gives twice the acceleration. You were shown this, so it earns no marks. It comes back next time with new numbers.On Proving GroundOn Proving GroundAsk him for helpAsked for helpRung 1 of 4: a questionRung 2 of 4: a pointer to your resultsRung 3 of 4: a worked example, different numbersRung 4 of 4: the answer, with its working
A question
A pointer to your results
A worked example, different numbers
The answer, with its working
Echoes
Each question you get wrong comes back today. Get it right and the gap grows to 1, 3, 7, then 16 days.
SparkToday
A resultant force of 10 N acts on a 4.0 kg trolley. What is its acceleration?
SparkThe answer
a = F ÷ m = 10 ÷ 4.0 = 2.5 m/s². The force goes on top: a bigger pull, a bigger acceleration.
Sparktoday
Ember1 d
Flame3 d
Lantern7 d
Star16 d
Exam words
The phrases mark schemes reward, saved to your booklet as you use them.
directly proportionalLantern
compensate for frictionFlame
reaction timeStar
zero resultant forceEmber
constant speedFlame
repeat and take a meanSpark
release from restEmber
How well each is known is a sample.
The map
Each island is one topic and its core practical. The map shows where you’ve been and what’s left.
Proving Ground“What makes a thing speed up faster?”Topic 2 · Core practical: force, mass and acceleration
Daily question
One exam question a day, the same for every student.
MMonday
TTuesday
WWednesday
TThursday
FFriday
SSaturday
SSunday
Before the string is attached, the trolley rests on the ramp without moving. State the resultant force on the trolley.
One mark. Earlier days this week are a sample.
Light
Points you earn by doing the work: running the cart, getting marks, answering the daily question.
40of 60
A run of the cart+10
A mark on the trial+15
The daily question+10
Streak4 days
Today’s light and the streak are a sample.
Your exam board
AQA
Edexcel
OCR
Physics, coming
Combined Science, coming
Pricing
Every island is free, in every subject, including its experiment and trial. A subscription adds harder exam-style questions.
Basic
Every island in every subject, with its experiment, trial and revision tools.
Yes. Every island is free, including its experiment and its trial. A subscription adds harder exam-style questions.
Which exam boards does it cover?
AQA, Edexcel and OCR at GCSE. Physics and Combined Science are coming.
Does it give you the answers?
Not straight away. Aurelius gives hints first: a question, then a pointer to your results, then a worked example with different numbers. If you still need it, he shows the answer, and it earns no marks.
Is it a game?
It is a study tool you explore like a game. Each island covers one topic from your specification, with its core practical and exam-style questions.
