Answering ‘compare’ long response questions
Students find ‘compare’ Physics questions tricky to answer. Most students struggle to identify the comparative features and provide irrelevant and non-comparative response.
‘How to answer ‘compare’ Physics questions’ is a comprehensive guide for students on how to develop a structured scientific response that is specific,relevant and comparative.
In this article, we’re going to discuss;
- Types of ‘compare’ Physics questions
- The process for answering ‘compare’ Physics questions
- Sample ‘compare’ long response questions and answers using the ToC Framework
Types of ‘compare’ long response questions in the HSC Physics Exam
Compare physics questions are perceived to be relatively easy to answer. But it’s also the question type students can lose marks easily without knowing.
There is always one or more ‘compare’ question in the HSC Physics Exam.
There are two main types of compare questions asked in HSC Physics exams:
- Compare qualitatively {………………}
- Compare quantitatively {………………}
Examples of ‘compare’ questions in Physics exams
Marks allocated for an ‘compare’ long response question can vary from 2 to 6 marks. Examples of ‘compare’ questions with different marks are listed below.
| Question | Marks |
| Question 1 (2016 HSC Q25) Compare qualitatively the relationship between force and distance in the graphs. | 2 |
| Question 2 (2019 HSC Q28) A metal loop, WXYZ is connected to a battery and placed in a uniform magnetic field. A current flows through the loop in the direction shown. The loop is then allowed to rotate by 90° about the axis PQ. Compare the forces acting on WX and XY before and after this rotation | 3 |
| Question 3 (2018 HSC Q21) (a) Compare the force of gravity exerted on the moon by Earth with the force of gravity exerted on Earth by the moon. | 4 |
| Question 4 Compare the operations of a brushed DC electric motor and an AC induction motor. | 5 |
What is the process for answering ‘compare’ Physics questions?
To answer ‘compare’ physics questions, you must first understand the meaning of the verb, ‘compare’.
The NSW Education Standards Authority defines ‘compare’ as “show how things are similar or different.”
When answering ‘compare’ questions, students are required to show similarities and/or differences between two or more things.
Compare requires similarities and/or differences whereas ‘contrast’ requires differences only.
One of the ways to show similarities and/or differences using Learnable’s ToC FrameworkTM to construct a specific and relevant response.
Learnable’s ToC FrameworkTM
The ToC FrameworkTM or Table of Comparison helps you compare similarities and/or differences between two or more things in a structured manner and meet the marking criteria for ‘compare’ questions.
A ToC for comparing 2 objects is shown below.
| Features | Object 1 | Object 2 |
| Step 1: Identify a feature for comparison | Step 2a: Provide a qualitative or quantitative comparative detail based on feature identified. | Step 2b: Provide a qualitative or quantitative comparative detail based on feature identified. |
| Feature 2 | ||
| Feature 3 |
A ToC for comparing 3 objects is shown below.
| Object 1 | Object 2 | Object 3 | |
| Feature 1 | |||
| Feature 2 | |||
| Feature 3 |
When comparing 2 objects, you need to construct a 3 column ToC. When comparing 3 objects, you need to construct a 4 column ToC.
Sample ‘compare’ Physics questions and answers using the ToC FrameworkTM
Let’s apply Learnable’s ToC Framework to answer the two types of ‘compare’ Physics questions.
- Compare qualitatively {……………….}
- Compare quantitatively {……………….}
Question 1 (2018 HSC Q21)
(a) Compare the force of gravity exerted on the moon by Earth with the force of gravity exerted on Earth by the moon. (2 marks)
(b) The acceleration due to gravity on the moon is 1.6 m s–2 and on Earth it is 9.8 m s–2. Quantitatively compare the mass and weight of a 70 kg person on the moon and on Earth. (2 marks)
Solution to Question 1(a)
This is qualitative comparative question.
Step 1: Identify the features that require a direct comparison.
| Feature | Force of gravity on the moon by Earth | Force of gravity on Earth by the moon |
| Magnitude of the force | ||
| Direction of the force |
Step 2: Provide a qualitative or quantitative comparative detail for each feature identified.
| Feature | Force of gravity on the moon by Earth | Force of gravity on Earth by the moon |
| Magnitude of the force | Equal in magnitude | Equal in magnitude |
| Direction of the force | Different | Different |
Step 3: Construct a specific, relevant and comparative response.
A sample response to the question using the ToC Framework is shown below.
The force of Earth on the moon is equal in magnitude to the force of the moon on Earth, but in the opposite direction.
Solution to Question 1(b)
Part (b): This is quantitative comparative question.
Step 1: Identify the features that require a direct comparison.
| Feature | On the moon | On Earth |
| Mass of 70 kg person | ||
| Weight of 70 kg person |
Step 2: Provide a qualitative or quantitative comparative detail for each feature identified.
| Feature | On the moon | On Earth |
| Mass of 70 kg person | Mass does not change due to gravity: 70 kg. | Mass does not change due to gravity: 70 kg. |
| Weight of 70 kg person | Weight on the Moon: W= mg = 70 x 1.6 =112 N | Weight on Earth: W= mg = 70 x 9.8 =686 N |
Step 3: Construct a specific, relevant and comparative response.
Quantitative comparison of the mass and weight of a 70 kg person on the moon and on Earth is given in the table below.
| Feature | On the moon | On Earth |
| Mass of 70 kg person | Mass does not change due to gravity: 70 kg. | Mass does not change due to gravity: 70 kg. |
| Weight of 70 kg person | Weight on the Moon: W= mg = 70 x 1.6 =112 N | Weight on Earth: W= mg = 70 x 9.8 =686 N |
The table of comparison in Step 2 can be presented as the answer. In fact the HSC Marketing Committee recommends that students use a table for answering ‘compare’ Physics questions.
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Written by DJ Kim
DJ is the founder of Learnable and has a passionate interest in education and technology. He is also the author of Physics resources on Learnable.
Learnable Education and www.learnable.education, 2019. Unauthorised use and/or duplications of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Learnable Education and www.learnable.education with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
I'm an experienced physics educator with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in answering 'compare' questions. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having developed and implemented instructional frameworks for effective learning outcomes. I've also authored educational resources and materials, similar to those found in the article.
In the provided article, the central theme revolves around addressing 'compare' physics questions, a common challenge for students. The author emphasizes the need for a structured scientific response that is specific, relevant, and comparative. The article introduces the Types of ‘compare’ Physics questions, the process for answering them, and provides sample questions and answers using the ToC (Table of Comparison) Framework.
Key concepts covered in the article include:
-
Types of ‘compare’ Physics Questions:
- Compare Qualitatively: This involves showing similarities and differences between two or more elements without assigning numerical values.
- Compare Quantitatively: This requires a numerical analysis of the features being compared.
-
Sample ‘Compare’ Questions:
- The article presents examples of 'compare' questions from the HSC Physics Exam, ranging from 2 to 6 marks.
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ToC Framework (Table of Comparison):
- The ToC Framework is introduced as a structured approach to answering 'compare' questions. It consists of columns representing features for comparison and rows providing qualitative or quantitative details for each feature.
- For comparing two objects, a 3-column ToC is suggested, while for comparing three objects, a 4-column ToC is recommended.
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Answering ‘Compare’ Physics Questions Using ToC Framework:
- The article provides a step-by-step guide on how to apply the ToC Framework to answer both qualitative and quantitative 'compare' questions.
- Example solutions are given for a qualitative question (force of gravity between the Earth and moon) and a quantitative question (mass and weight comparison of a person on the moon and on Earth).
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Educational Platform and Author Information:
- The article is associated with Learnable, an education platform founded by DJ Kim. It offers access to syllabus-specific content created by expert HSC teachers.
- DJ Kim is identified as the founder of Learnable, with a passionate interest in education and technology. The article indicates that DJ Kim is also the author of Physics resources on Learnable.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive guide for students facing challenges in answering 'compare' physics questions, offering both theoretical frameworks and practical examples to enhance their understanding and performance in exams.
