Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number INTERNATIONAL AS
Surname PHYSICS
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
PH01
I declare this is my own work.
Unit 1 Mechanics, materials and atoms
INTERNATIONAL AS Mark scheme
PHYSICS January 2026
Version: 1.0 Final
Unit 1 Mechanics, materials and atoms
Monday 12 January 2026 07:00 UK Time Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials
For Examiner’s Use
For this paper you must have:
• a Data and Formulae Booklet as a loose insert Question Mark
• a ruler with millimetre measurements
1
• a scientific calculator, which you are expected to use where appropriate
• a protractor. 2
3
Instructions 4
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
5
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
• Answer all questions. 6
• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 7
outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
8
• All working must be shown.
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of 9
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s). 10
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want 11
to be marked.
12–25
Information TOTAL
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
*jAn26PH0101*
IB/G/Jan26/G4005/V7 PH01
, 2
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2026
Do not write
outside the
Section A box
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
Answer all questions in this section.
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
0 1 Determine the fundamental (base) unit of power.
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
[2 marks]
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
fundamental (base) unit of power = 2 paper.
0 2 . 1 State what is meant by a vector quantity. Further copies of this mark scheme are available from
[1 mark]
0 2 . 2 State one example of a vector quantity and one example of a scalar quantity.
[1 mark]
vector quantity:
scalar quantity: 2
0 3 Complete the equation for the decay of a free neutron.
[2 marks]
….. ….. …..
1 + +
0n → …..
…..
…..
…..
…..
….. 2
information
OxfordAQA retains the on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for OxfordAQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for
their own internal use, llowing important exception: OxfordAQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre.
OxfordAQA International Examinations and its licensors. All rights reserved.
*02*
2
IB/G/Jan26/PH01
, 3
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2026
Do not write
outside the
0 4 Figure 1 shows two protons travelling towards each other just before they collide. box
The speeds of the protons are 1.0 × 106 m s−1 and 2.0 × 106 m s−1.
Level of response marking instructions
Figure 1
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
Deduce whether the kinetic energy of this collision can produce an descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
electron–positron pair. the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
rest energy of an electron = 0.511 MeV practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
[3 marks] lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
3 answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Turn over for the next question
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
Turn over ►
*03*
3
IB/G/Jan26/PH01
, 4
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2026
Do not write
outside the
0 5 Outline the Rutherford scattering experiment. box
In your answer you should:
• draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO
• describe the observations made
• explain what Rutherford deduced about the structure of the atom from 01 Any valid equation for power with valid SI units for at least 2 AO1
Any energy equation
these observations.
one of the terms P=
[6 marks] time
kg m2 s−3
OR
P = any force × equation v
Do not penalise incorrect case of letters for
mp1
All letters should be clearly lower case for
mp2
Total 2
4
*04*
IB/G/Jan26/PH01
Centre number Candidate number INTERNATIONAL AS
Surname PHYSICS
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
PH01
I declare this is my own work.
Unit 1 Mechanics, materials and atoms
INTERNATIONAL AS Mark scheme
PHYSICS January 2026
Version: 1.0 Final
Unit 1 Mechanics, materials and atoms
Monday 12 January 2026 07:00 UK Time Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials
For Examiner’s Use
For this paper you must have:
• a Data and Formulae Booklet as a loose insert Question Mark
• a ruler with millimetre measurements
1
• a scientific calculator, which you are expected to use where appropriate
• a protractor. 2
3
Instructions 4
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
5
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
• Answer all questions. 6
• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 7
outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
8
• All working must be shown.
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of 9
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s). 10
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want 11
to be marked.
12–25
Information TOTAL
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
*jAn26PH0101*
IB/G/Jan26/G4005/V7 PH01
, 2
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2026
Do not write
outside the
Section A box
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
Answer all questions in this section.
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
0 1 Determine the fundamental (base) unit of power.
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
[2 marks]
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
fundamental (base) unit of power = 2 paper.
0 2 . 1 State what is meant by a vector quantity. Further copies of this mark scheme are available from
[1 mark]
0 2 . 2 State one example of a vector quantity and one example of a scalar quantity.
[1 mark]
vector quantity:
scalar quantity: 2
0 3 Complete the equation for the decay of a free neutron.
[2 marks]
….. ….. …..
1 + +
0n → …..
…..
…..
…..
…..
….. 2
information
OxfordAQA retains the on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for OxfordAQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for
their own internal use, llowing important exception: OxfordAQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre.
OxfordAQA International Examinations and its licensors. All rights reserved.
*02*
2
IB/G/Jan26/PH01
, 3
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2026
Do not write
outside the
0 4 Figure 1 shows two protons travelling towards each other just before they collide. box
The speeds of the protons are 1.0 × 106 m s−1 and 2.0 × 106 m s−1.
Level of response marking instructions
Figure 1
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
Deduce whether the kinetic energy of this collision can produce an descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
electron–positron pair. the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
rest energy of an electron = 0.511 MeV practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
[3 marks] lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
3 answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Turn over for the next question
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
Turn over ►
*03*
3
IB/G/Jan26/PH01
, 4
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PHYSICS – PH01 – JANUARY 2026
Do not write
outside the
0 5 Outline the Rutherford scattering experiment. box
In your answer you should:
• draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used Question Answers Additional comments/Guidelines Mark AO
• describe the observations made
• explain what Rutherford deduced about the structure of the atom from 01 Any valid equation for power with valid SI units for at least 2 AO1
Any energy equation
these observations.
one of the terms P=
[6 marks] time
kg m2 s−3
OR
P = any force × equation v
Do not penalise incorrect case of letters for
mp1
All letters should be clearly lower case for
mp2
Total 2
4
*04*
IB/G/Jan26/PH01
