A free practice paper built around a real machine: a gravity-powered trebuchet that launches a projectile faster than the speed of sound. Free to download, free to share.
This paper is set around a real machine: a gravity-powered trebuchet built to launch a projectile faster than the speed of sound. A mass slides down the mast, a drive rope spins the arm, and the sling unwraps to release the projectile. Every value you need is given in the question or its figure — you do not need to watch the video to sit the paper.
The machine really exists — the build is worth watching, though you do not need to have seen it to sit the paper.
The gravity speed limit, energy and efficiency, and the flight of the projectile.
Everything in the SL paper, plus the drive drum, spinning up the arm, the launch angle, torque on the arm, and a Doppler-shifted buzzer in flight.
No email needed for the papers. Go and sit one first — it is worth far more to you that way. The SL paper is the HL paper with the AHL material removed, so don't sit both.
Sent by email — free, and it's how I keep in touch with students who find these useful.
These are real IB-style mark schemes, not just answer lists: every marking point written out, the alternatives that are accepted, and examiner notes on the near misses that do not earn the mark. That last part is usually where the grades are.
Every practice paper I've published is on the free resources page, and one signup gets you the mark schemes for all of them.
If you'd like to work through any of it with me, the first conversation is free.