Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / Paper 2 / 17 / a / ii / Solution

Differentiate the flux:On $-1<z_0<1$, $\Phi$ is strictly increasing. Its limiting endpoint values are $\Phi (-1)=0$ and $\Phi (1)=4\pi$, and $\Phi (0)=2\pi$. It has horizontal limiting tangents at the endpoints, curves upward for $z_0<0$, curves downward for $z_0>0$, and has an inflection point at zero.

The derivative graph is a downward-opening parabola, approaching zero at both endpoints and attaining its maximum $3\pi$ at $z_0=0$.