How to answer QCE Physics short response questions

Calculations need every step and a unit; written answers follow the cognitive verb: describe gives features, explain adds cause and effect, and evaluate ends with a judgement.

Answers	Single words, sentences or paragraphs, and calculations
Often on	Unseen graphs, tables or diagrams
Provided	The formula and data book

Write to the question

For a calculation, write each step with its formula, carry the units and give the answer to sensible significant figures.
For explain, give the point, tie it to the substance, conditions or data in the question, then say what it causes.
For evaluate, weigh a strength and a limitation, then give a judgement and its reason.

Use the stimulus

Quote the numbers, the substances or the result in the question. An answer that could be written without reading the stimulus is rarely a full-marks answer.

Try 2 questions

Question 1

Orbital radius and period for three moons of a planet; the fourth moon's period is not measured.
Orbital radius (× 10⁸ m)	Period (days)
2.0	1.45
3.5	3.37
5.0	5.75
8.0	not measured

An astronomy club measures the orbits of moons of a distant planet. All the orbits are close to circles. The table shows the results. Use Kepler's third law to predict the period of the moon at 8.0 × 10⁸ m.

Question 2

The graph shows how the magnetic flux through each turn of a 50-turn coil changes with time. What is the largest magnitude of emf induced in the coil during the 0.35 s?

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Questions people ask

How long should a longer answer be?

Long enough to make each point, tie it to the question and develop it. Plan two or three linked points rather than a list.