2010H2Physics ACJC

Anglo-Chinese Junior College
Physics Preliminary Examination

Higher 2
PHYSICS
Paper 1 Multiple Choice

Additional Materials: Multiple Choice Answer Sheet

9646/01
31 Aug 2010
1 hour 15 minutes

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write in soft pencil.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
Write your Name and Index number in the answer sheet provided.

There are forty questions in this section. Answer all questions. For each question there are
four possible answers A, B, C and D.
Choose the one you consider correct and circle your choice in soft pencil on the separate
Answer Sheet.

Read the instructions on the Answer sheet very carefully.

Each correct answer will score one mark. A mark will not be deducted for a wrong answer.
Any rough working should be done in this Question Paper.

This paper consists of 20 printed pages

www.erwintuition.com
2
DATA AND FORMULAE
Data
speed of light in free space, c = 3.00 10
8
m s
1

permeability of free space,
o
= 4 10
7
H m
1

permittivity of free space,
o
= 8.85 10
12
F m
1

(1/(36)) 10
-9
F m
-1

elementary charge, e = 1.60 10
19
C
the Planck constant, h = 6.63 10
34
J s
unified atomic mass constant, u = 1.66 10
27
kg
rest mass of electron, m
e = 9.11 10
31
kg
rest mass of proton, m
p = 1.67 10
27
kg
molar gas constant, R = 8.31 J K
1
mol
1

the Avogadro constant, N
A = 6.02 10
23
mol
1

the Boltzmann constant, k = 1.38 10
23
J K
1

gravitational constant, G = 6.67 10
11
N m
2
kg
2

acceleration of free fall, g = 9.81 m s
2

Formulae
uniformly accelerated motion, s =
ut +
2
1
at
2

v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
work done on/by a gas, W = p V
hydrostatic pressure, p = g h
gravitational potential, =
r
Gm

displacement of particle in s.h.m., x = x
o
sin t
velocity of particle in s.h.m., v = v
o
cos t
=
2 2
x x
o

mean kinetic energy of a molecule of an ideal gas E =
3
2
kT
resistors in series, R = R
1
+ R
2
+
resistors in parallel, 1/R = 1/R
1
+ 1/R
2
+
electric potential, V =
r
Q
o
4

alternating current/voltage, x = x
o
sin t
transmission coefficient, T exp(2kd)
where k =
2
2
) ( 8
h
E U m

radioactive decay, x = x
o
exp(t)
decay constant, =
2
1
693 0
t
.

ACJ C 2010 H2 9646 Prelim Exam P1
3
1 Which of the following SI units can be expressed in exactly two base SI units?

A coulomb
B tesla
C newton
D hertz

2 The viscosity of a fluid, , can be determined by measuring the terminal velocity, v
T
, of
a sphere when it descends in the fluid. The fluid has a density
f
while the sphere has
a density
s
and a diameter of d. The viscosity can then be calculated by the formula

2
9
) ( 5
= d
v

T
f s

The values measured are
v
T
=(1.60 0.04) m s
1

s
=(2700 20) kg m
3

f
=(900 10) kg m
3

d =(20.0 0.4) mm

What is the percentage uncertainty in the value of ?

A 6.2 % B 7.1 % C 8.2 % D 8.4 %

3 A car is travelling at a velocity of 24 m s
-1
due west initially. At a later time, it is seen
travelling at a velocity of 10 m s
-1
due south.

Given that the direction North N, points vertically upwards, which of the following vector
R represents the change in velocity of the car?

A B C D

N
R
N N
R
N
R
R

ACJ C 2010 H2 9646 Prelim Exam P1 [Turn over
4
4 Which displacement-time graph best represents the motion of a falling sphere, the
initial acceleration of which eventually reduces until it begins to travel at constant
terminal velocity?

A B

C D

5 A motorist travelling at 10 m s
1
can bring his car to rest in a braking distance of 10 m.
In what distance could he bring the car to rest from a speed of 30 m s
1
using the same
braking force?

A 17 m B 30 m C 52 m D 90 m

6 Two equal masses travel towards each other on a frictionless air track at speeds of 60
cm s
1
and 30 cm s
1
. They stick together on impact.

What is the speed of the masses after impact?

A 15 cm s
1

B 20 cm s
1

C 30 cm s
1

D 45 cm s
1

5
7 In 2001, the leaning tower of Pisa was stabilised by a bundle of steel cable anchored to
the ground as shown by the simplified sketch below.

The weight of the tower is W, the tension in the cable is T and the reaction from the
ground is R.

Which vector triangle best represents the forces acting on the tower?

A B

C D

8 The area of the horizontal cross-section of a barge is 97 m
2
and the sides of the barge
are vertical. The flat bottom of the barge is 70 cm under water when it is loaded with
2.0 x 10
4
kg of cargo.

How deep would the bottom of the barge below the water surface when the cargo is
unloaded off the barge? Density of sea water is 1030 kg m
-3
.

A 20 cm B 50 cm
C 70 cm D 90 cm

T
R W
T
W R
T
W R
T
R W
Tower
Steel Cable
ground
6
9 The moon remains in its orbit around the Earth rather than falls to the Earth because

A it is also attracted by the gravitational forces from the sun and other planets
B the net force on the Moon is zero
C the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on the moon provides a net force
that provides the Moons centripetal acceleration.
D the magnitude of the gravitational force from the Earth is too small to cause any
appreciable acceleration of the Moon

10 A person of weight 500 N does a bungee jump using an elastic rope of unstretched
length 40 m and having a spring constant k equal to 50 N m
-1
. During the initial fall
there is a transfer of energy from gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy and
elastic potential energy. The person falls through a distance of 80 m before beginning
to move upwards.

Which set of graphs correctly represent the variation of the three energies?

A B
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Di stance of fal l / m
E
n
e
r
g
y

/

k
J
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
E
n
e
r
g
y

/

k
J
C D
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
E
n
e
r
g
y

/

k
J

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
E
n
e
r
g
y

/

k
J
7
11 A satellite orbits the Earth 200 km above its surface. The satellite's acceleration
towards the centre of the Earth is 9.2 m s
2
and the radius of the Earth is 6400 km. The
speed of the satellite is

A 246 km s
1
B 7.79 km s
1
C 7.67 km s
1
D 1.36 km s
1

12 The gravitational field strength at a point P on the Earth's surface is numerically equal
to

A the acceleration of free fall at P.
B the change in potential energy per unit distance from P.
C the force acting on any body placed at P
D the work done in bringing unit mass from infinity to P

13 Planet Z has a mass of kg and a radius of m. Neglecting air
resistance, the energy required to lift a mass of 10 kg from its surface into outer space
is
24
10 0 . 8
7
10 2 . 6

A
6
10 1 . 46 J
B
6
10 1 . 64 J
C
6
10 1 . 86 J
D
6
10 1 . 96 J

14 The escape speed of a nitrogen molecule at the Earth's surface is m s
-1
.
What is the escape speed at a height 0.30 R
E
above the Earth's surface, where R
E
is
the radius of the Earth?
4
10 90 . 0

A
4
10 49 . 0 m s
-1

B
4
10 59 . 0 m s
-1

C
4
10 69 . 0 m s
-1

D
4
10 79 . 0 m s
-1

8
15 The graphs in Fig. 15 show how the displacement x, velocity v and the acceleration a
of a body vary with time t when it is oscillating with simple harmonic motion.
What is the value of T?

Fig. 15
A
9
s B
9
2
s C
3
s D
3
2
s

16 Because of air resistance, the amplitude of oscillation of a simple pendulum decays
exponentially with time. How does the total energy of the pendulum vary with time?

A It varies sinusoidally with time at the same frequency as that of the pendulum
B It varies sinusoidally with time at a frequency twice that of the pendulum
C It decreases at a steady rate
D It decreases exponentially with time

17 A constant power supply is used to melt 1 kg. of ice, to heat the water produced, and
finally to turn all the water to steam.

Specific heat capacity of water = 4 x 10
3
J kg
-1
K
-1
Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3 x 10
5
J kg
-1

Specific latent heat of vaporization of water = 2 x 10
6
J kg
-1

Which graph in Fig.17, best shows how the thermodynamic temperature T varies with
time t for this sequence?

A B C D

Fig. 17

9
18 Which statement about internal energy is correct?

A The internal energy of a system can be increased without transfer of
energy by heating
B The internal energy of a system depends only on its temperature
C When the internal energy of a system is increased, its temperature
always rises.
D When two systems have the same internal energy, they must be at the
same temperature.

19 The diagram below shows the relation between the pressure and the volume of
the gas in an engine for one cycle of operation of the engine.

Work is done by the gas in the engine during

A QR only.
B QR and RS.
C ST only.
D ST and QR.

10
20 The diagram shows the snapshot of a transverse wave at a particular instant. The
wave is traveling to the right. The frequency of the wave is 12.5 Hz.

At the instant shown the displacement is zero at the point P.
What is the shortest time to elapse before the displacement is zero at point Q?

A 0.01 s B 0.02 s C 0.03 s D 0.07 s

21 A sound wave of frequency 400 Hz is traveling in a gas at a speed of 320 ms
-1
.

What is the phase difference between two points 0.1 m apart in the direction of travel?

A rad
4
B rad
2
C rad
5
2
D rad
5
4

22 Two coherent monochromatic waves of equal amplitude are brought together to form
an interference pattern on a screen. Which of the following graphs could represent the
variation of intensity with position (x) across the pattern of fringes.

P Q
A
B
C D
11
23 Fig 23 shows the formation of the first order spectrum when parallel rays of
monochromatic light fall perpendicularly on a non-uniform spacing diffraction grating
PQR. For the part of the grating between P and Q, the angle of deviation is constant,
whilst for that between Q and R, decreases.

P
R
x
Incident rays
Diffracted
rays
parallel

Angle of deviation,
decreases
diffraction grating
Q

Fig 23

Which diagram best shows how the grating interval d varies with distance x, the
distance from P?

A B

C D

P Q R
x
d
P Q R
d
x
P Q R
x
d
P Q R
d
x
12
24 In the figure shown, a point charge +Q is placed at X and another point charge -2Q is
placed at Y.

Z
X Y
r
+Q - 2Q

Which of the following correctly gives the magnitude of the electric field strength and
electric potential at point Z, a distance of r
4
1
from X assuming they are isolated
charges.

Electric field strength Electric potential
A
2
0
9
44
r
Q

r
Q
0
3
5

B
2
0
9
44
r
Q

r
Q
0
3

C
2
0
9
28
r
Q

r
Q
0
3

D
2
0
9
28
r
Q

r
Q
0
3
5

25 The figure shows a uniform electric field.

-40V
-60V
-20V 0V 20V
Y X direction of motion of the
charge

A charge of -5 C placed at point X is projected horizontally towards Y. Which one of
the following statements is correct?

A The electric field is directed from X to Y and there is a loss of kinetic energy as
the charge moves from X to Y
B The electric field is directed from Y to X and there is a loss of kinetic energy as
C The electric field is directed from X to Y and there is a gain of kinetic energy as
D The electric field is directed from Y to X and there is a gain of kinetic energy as

13
26 The graph below shows the variation with current I of the potential difference V across
a filament lamp.

I/mA

0.0
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 1.2
2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

V/V

The resistance of the lamp when I =1.5 mA is

A 950
B 400
C 0.40
D 0.0025

14
27 In the circuit below, the battery has negligible internal resistance. Three identical lamps
L, M and N having the same resistance are connected as shown.

The filament of lamp N breaks. Which one of the following shows the subsequent
changes to the brightness of lamp L and lamp M?

Lamp L Lamp M
A stays the same Decreases
B increases stays the same
C increases Decreases
D decreases Increases

28 The diagram shows a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a thermistor (with a negative
temperature coefficient of resistance) forming a potential divider.

Under which set of conditions will the potential difference across the thermistor have
the greatest value?

Light intensity Temperature
A Low Low
B High Low
C Low High
D High High

15
29 In the potentiometer circuit below, the moveable contact is placed at N on the bare wire
XY, such that the galvanometer shows zero deflection.

The resistance of the variable resistor is now decreased.

What is the effect of this decrease on the potential difference across the wire XY and
on the position of the moveable contact for zero deflection?

Potential Difference across XY Position of moveable contact
A Increases Nearer to X
B Increases Nearer to Y
C Decreases Nearer to X
D Decreases Nearer to Y

30
A proton beam of velocity 2.00 10
7
m s
-1
enters a velocity selector with a plate
separation of 2.00 cm, and has a magnetic flux density of 1.5 T directed out-of-
plane of the paper.
If the protons pass through the velocity selector undeflected, what would be the
direction and magnitude of the electric field? You may ignore any relativistic effects
and assume no electrical breakdown occurs.

direction magnitude
A downwards 6.00 x 10
5
N C
-1

B upwards 6.00 x 10
5
N C
-1

C downwards 3.00 x 10
7
N C
-1

D upwards 3.00 x 10
7
N C
-1

proton beam

16

31
A compass is placed above a wire. The compass needle is seen to point toward
the north. When a current is made to flow through the wire, the needle deflects to
point along the northwest direction.

The orientation of the wire and direction of the current are

orientation of wire direction of current
A north-south south to north
B north-south north to south
C east-west west to east
D east-west east to west

32

A current balance is used to measure the magnetic flux density B of a electromagnet. The
side PQ of a current balance is inserted inside a large electromagnet. The direction of
magnetic field is as shown in Fig 32. Length of PQ is L. PQ and RS are d
1
and d
2

respectively from the pivot. A load of mass m is placed along side RS. Take acceleration
due to gravity to be g.
The direction and magnitude of the current along PQ are

Fig 32
direction magnitude
A from P to Q
P
S
B
R
Q
1
2
d L B
d m

B from P to Q
1
2
d L B
d g m

C from Q to P
1
2
d L B
d m

D from Q to P
1
2
d L B
d g m

17
33 The diagram below shows two concentric loops in the same plane.

outer loop
inner loop

The variation of the magnitude of the current in the inner loop varies with time as
shown below and it is flowing clockwise.
time
current

The effect on the induced current in the outer loop is such that it is

A increasing in the anticlockwise direction
B constant in the anticlockwise direction
C constant in the clockwise direction
D decreasing in the clockwise direction

34 A lamp of resistance R is connected in series to a source of alternating voltage. The
r.m.s. value of the voltage is 20 V. The variation with time t of the power P dissipated in
the light bulb is shown below

The best estimate for the value of the peak current of the filament of the lamp is

A 2.5 A B
2.5 2 A
C 5 A D
5 2 A

18
35 An ideal transformer has a primary coil with N
p
turns and a secondary coil with N
s

turns. An alternating voltage supply of frequency f and average power of P
o
is
connected to the primary coil.

Which of the following correctly gives the frequency and average power in the
secondary coil?

Frequency Average Power
A
s
p
N
N
f
s
p
N
N
P
o

B f
s
p
N
N
P
o

C
s
p
N
N
f
P
o

D f P
o

36 Which one of the following shows the correct sequence of events in a helium-neon laser?

A Neon atoms excite helium atoms to a metastable state. Excited helium atoms
undergo stimulated emission of red light to a lower energy state followed by
spontaneous emission to ground state.
B Neon atoms excite helium atoms to a higher energy state. Excited helium atoms
undergo spontaneous emission to a metastable state followed by stimulated
emission of red light to ground state.
C Helium atoms excite neon atoms to a metastable state. Excited neon atoms
undergo stimulated emission of red light to a lower energy state followed by
spontaneous emission to ground state.
D Helium atoms excite neon atoms to a higher energy state. Excited neon atoms
undergo spontaneous emission to a metastable state followed by stimulated
emission of red light to ground state.

37 Which of the following statements below is NOT true regarding an intrinsic semiconductor?

A The total current flow is the sum of both hole and electron currents.
B In a pn junction, free electrons near the junction in the ntype material diffuse
across the junction into the ptype material. Diffusion occurs because of different
thermal agitation of atoms in the ntype and ptype material.
C Metals and semiconductors have different electrical properties because
semiconductors have a small energy gap.
D
In an intrinsic semiconductor, the valence band is completely filled and the
conduction band is empty at room temperature.

19
38 The following graph shows the spectrum of X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube.

If the potential difference between the target and cathode is increased, which one of the
following combinations represents a possible change in minimum wavelength, and the
wavelengths of the peaks?

minimum wavelength wavelengths of the peaks
A
decrease increase
B
decrease remain the same
C
increase increase
D
increase remain the same

intensity
wavelength

39 The graph represents the decay of a newly prepared sample of radioactive nuclide X to
a stable nuclide Y. The half-life of X is . The growth curve for Y intersects the decay
curve for X after time T.

What is the time T ?
A

2

B

ln
2

C D 2

20

40 The graph shows how the binding energy per nucleon of a nucleon of a nucleus varies
with nucleon number, A.

Which of the following statements is not true?

A Energy is released in nuclear fission reactions from nuclei in region P.
B Nuclei in region Q are more stable than nuclei in region R.
C Nuclear fusion reactions bring nuclei closer to region Q.
D The binding energy per nucleon increases most significantly at lower nucleon
numbers.

1

Higher 2
CANDIDATE
NAME
CLASS

CENTRE
NUMBER
S
INDEX
NUMBER

PHYSICS
Paper 2 Structured Questions

Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required

9646/02

20 Aug 2010
1 hour 45 minutes


Write your Name and Index number in the spaces on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.

Section A
Answer all questions.
It is recommended that you spend about 1 hour 15 minutes on this section

Section B
For Examiners use
only
1 / 6
2 / 9
3 / 7
4 / 7
5 / 7
6 / 6
7 / 18
8 / 12
Total / 72
Answer Question 8.
It is recommended that you spend about 30 minutes on this section

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each
question or part question.


2
DATA AND FORMULAE
Data
8
m s
1

o
= 4 10
7
H m
1

o
= 8.85 10
12
F m
1

(1/(36)) 10
9
F m
1

19
C
34
J s
27
kg
e = 9.11 10
31
kg
p = 1.67 10
27
kg
1
mol
1

A = 6.02 10
23
mol
1

23
J K
1

11
N m
2
kg
2

acceleration of free fall, g
= 9.81 m s
2

Formulae
ut +
2
1
at
2

v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
r
Gm

o
sin t
o
cos t
=
2 2
x x
o

mean kinetic energy of a molecule of an
ideal gas
E =
3
2
kT
1
+ R
2
+
1
+ 1/R
2
+
r
Q
o
4

o
sin t
where k =
2
2
) ( 8
h
E U m

o
exp(t)
decay constant, =
2
1
693 0
t
.

2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2

3
For
Examiners
Use Section A

Answer all questions
It is recommended that you spend about 1 hour 15 minutes on this section.

1 (a) Give reasonable estimates of the following quantities. In each case, give your
answer in an SI unit.

(i) The volume of the 2010 official World Cup soccer ball.

volume =

m
3
[1]

(ii) The kinetic energy of an olympic sprinter near the ending point of a 100-
metre dash.
Kinetic energy =

J [1]

(iii) The density of the head of a human being.
density =

kg m
-3
[1]

(b) An experiment is conducted to determine the density of cooking oil, which floats
on water. Three sets of results are obtained from the experiment. The unit for
density is kg m
3
.

A B C
810 1500 740
800 1490 870
805 1495 790

(i) Which set of results is precise but inaccurate? Explain your reasoning.

[2]

(ii) Assuming the measurement of volume has been done correctly, suggest
one possible source of experimental error that causes the aforementioned
set of results inaccurate.

[1]

2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2 [Turn over
For
Examiners
Use
4
2 (a) A mass oscillates on the end of a spring in simple harmonic motion. The graph of
the acceleration a of the mass against its displacement x from its equilibrium
position is shown in Fig 2.1
Fig. 2.1

(i) Explain how the graph shows that the object is oscillating in simple
harmonic motion.

[2]

(ii) Show that the period of oscillation of the particle is about 0.40 s.

[2]

(iii) The mass is released when it is at a displacement x =+0.050 m. Draw a
fully labeled graph on the axes of Fig. 2.2 of the displacement of the mass
until t =1.0 s.

Fig 2.2

[2]
2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
5
For
Examiners
Use
(b) In order to check the speed of a camera shutter, the camera was used to
photograph the bob of a simple pendulum moving in front of a horizontal scale.
The extreme positions of the bob were at 600 mm and 700 mm marks. The
photograph showed that while the shutter was open the bob moved from the 650
mm mark to the 675 mm mark. If the period of the pendulum is 2 s, find the time
interval during which the shutter remained open.

[3]

3 A large horseshoe magnet produces a uniform magnetic field of flux density B between
its poles. Outside the region of the poles, the flux density is zero. The magnet is placed
on a top-pan balance and a stiff wire XY is situated between its poles, as shown in
Fig 3.1 below.

Fig 3.1

The wire XY is horizontal and normal to the magnetic field. The length of wire between
the poles is 4.4 cm. A direct current of magnitude 2.6 A is passed through the wire in
the direction from X to Y. The reading on the top-pan balance increases by 2.3 g.

(a) Deduce the direction of the force acting on wire XY.

Direction is
[2]

(b) Deduce the polarity of the pole P of the magnet.

Polarity of P is
[1]
For
Examiners
Use
6
(c) Draw the resultant magnetic field lines acting on the wire XY within the poles of
the magnet on Fig 3.2 which shows the current flowing into the page.

Fig 3.2
[2]

(d) Calculate the magnetic flux density between the poles.

Magnetic flux density =. T [2]

2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
7
For
Examiners
Use 4 You are tasked to investigates how the current through a 6.0 V filament lamp varies as
the potential difference across it is changed up to 6.0 V. You are supplied with the
following apparatus: a rheostat, a 9 V cell, an ammeter, voltmeter and connecting wires

(a) Draw a suitable circuit diagram for this investigation using only the above given
apparatus.

[2]

(b) (i) Use the axes below to sketch the graph showing how the current through
the lamp varies with the potential difference across it.

Current
Potential
difference
[2]

(ii) J ustify the shape of the graph.

[2]
(iii) Explain how your graph shows that the resistivity of the filament is unique
at a specific temperature.

[1]
For
Examiners
Use
8

5 (a) Fig 5 shows the variation of the photocurrent I with the potential of the anode with
respect to the cathode V, in the photoelectric experiment.

0
I/nA

Fig 5

- V
s
V
1

V/V

Suggest possible reasons for the following observations as seen from Fig 5.

(i) no photocurrent is detected for values of V lower than V
s

(ii) increasing photocurrent for values of V between V
s
and 0 V.

(iii) saturation current was not achieved immediately when V became greater
than 0 V.

[3]

(b) An orbiting satellite can become charged by the photoelectric effect when
sunlight ejects electrons from its outer surface. Satellites must be designed to
minimise such charging. Suppose a satellite is coated with platinum, a metal with
a very large work function of 5.32 eV.

(i) Determine the longest wavelength of incident sunlight that can eject an
electron from platinum which has a work function energy of 5.32 eV.

= m [2]

(ii) The incident photon has a particle like nature. Determine the momentum of the
photon.

p = Ns [2]
2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
9
For
Examiners
Use
6 (a) The uncertainty in the measurement of the momentum, p of a bullet and an
electron are 2 x 10
3
kg m s
1
and 2.7 x 10
32
kg m s
1
when they have the
same speed of 300 m s
-1
respectively.

(i)
The Heisenberg position-momentum uncertainty principle can be stated
as follows:
xp
2

where x and p represents the uncertainty in the position and
momentum respectively.

Hence determine the uncertainty of locating the position of the bullet and
electron using the Heiserberg Uncertainty Principle.

Uncertainty in position for bullet
Uncertainty in position for electron [1]

(ii) Discuss the implication of your answers found in (i).

[1]

(b) The shaded region in Fig 6 shows the coulomb potential barrier as seen by the
alpha particle during its decay in polonium-212 and also the wave functions of
the alpha particle in regions I, II and III respectively.

Fig 6
Note that 1 fermi metre =10
15
m
Region I: Potential energy of
alpha particle due
to presence of
Nuclear and
Coulomb force

Region II:Potential energy of
alpha particles
when it is still within
the atom but
experiences mainly
the Coulomb
repulsive force.

Region III: Potential energy
of alpha when out
of atom.
III
II
I
For
Examiners
Use
10

(i) Explain the phenomenon that tells us that alpha particle have the
probability of appearing in Region III.

[1]

(ii) Assuming a rectangular potential barrier of height 26.4 MeV taken at the
peak of the coulomb barrier and width 17.9 fm as shown by the dotted
lines, the half-life is determined to be 1.5 x 10
7
s. However, the actual
half-life is only about 0.30 s.

Comment on the large difference on the order of magnitude of 13 using
the concept of the transmission probability and decay constant of the
alpha particles.

[2]

(iii) State a possible improvement to the method of determining the
transmission probability to get a better estimate of the half-life.

[1]

2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
11
For
Examiners
Use 7 (a) The vertical electric field E in the air is normally in the region about 100 V m
1

outdoors with negative charges on the earths surface. Ordinarily, the
equipotentials are parallel to the surface as shown in Fig. 7.1.

Fig. 7.1
+300V
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ground
E =100 V m
-1
+200V
+100V

This means that outdoors the potential at the height of your nose is about 200
volts higher than the potential at your feet.

(i) By drawing equipotential lines on Fig 7.2 explain why a man standing in the
electric field similar to that in Fig. 7.1 do not get a shock when you go out
into the street if indeed the above discussion is correct.

Fig. 7.2

For
Examiners
Use
12

[2]

(ii) During fair weather, the total potential difference from the surface of the
earth to the top of the atmosphere is about 400 000 volts. A current
caused by the electric field may pass from the sky down to the earth.

If the total electric current reaching the earths surface at any time is very
nearly constant at 1800 amperes, show that the current-density (current
per unit normal surface area) in the air is of the order of 10
12
amperes per
metre square. (Radius of the earth is taken to be 6380 km)

[1]

(iii) Estimate the electrical power reaching the earths surface.

[1]

(b) With such a large current coming down, the negative charge on the earth should
take only about half an hour to discharge. It is the thunderstorm and its lightning
that provides the batteries that keeps charging the earth up negatively. There
are about 40 000 thunderstorms per day all over the earth. Lightning storms
carry negative charges to the earth.

Thunderstorms occur when moist, warm air near the ground becomes buoyant
and rises to form clouds. Inside the clouds are millions of small water droplets
and ice suspended in air.

We will assume that we have a cumulus cloud that is 2 km deep with a similar
diameter and that it contains the order of 50-500 million water droplets per cubic
metre as shown in Fig 7.3.
2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
13
For
Examiners
Use

Fig. 7.3

(i) If each of these droplet is about 10 m in radius show that the mass of the
cloud at the lowest reasonable density of the droplets is about 1.3 x 10
6
kg.
(density of water is 1000 kg m
-3
)

[3]

(ii) Hence determine the depth of rainfall recorded at the lowest reasonable
density of droplets should the cloud release all its water in one instant.
(Assume the area covered by the rain is the same as the cloud base)

[1]

For
Examiners
Use
14
(c) Collisions among the water droplets and ice particles cause them to become
charged. The higher portion of the cloud acquires a net positive charge while the
lower portion of the cloud a net negative charge. Through induction, the earth
becomes positively charged.

The electrical potential difference between the earth surface and the base of a
cloud may be about several hundred millions volts in magnitude (10
8
V). Dry air
breaks down and becomes ionised at 3 millions volts per metre. When there is
an impending thunderstorm, the air is not dry. At a few hundreds of thousands
volts per metre, the conditions are ripe for resistance in the air to begin breaking
down and lightning, the electrical discharge between the regions of the cloud or
between the cloud and the ground, is formed. Electrons begin to flow from the
cloud to earth through a path of least resistance. They formed a funnel called the
step leader. It creates a channel of ionised air, which is an extremely good
conductor. When the step leader reaches the ground or any tall object near the
ground, the electrons quickly discharge to earth, followed quickly by electrons
higher up in the channel and followed again by the electrons in the next higher
successive levels in the channel. This results in a spectacular return stroke from
ground to the cloud which causes the intense lightning flashes that we observed
during an electrical storm.

Fig. 7.4 Formation of Step Leader Fig.7.5 Return Stroke

In a typical lightning flash, exchange of charges between the clouds and the
earth may be about 20 coulombs. The time which the lightning flash is estimated
to be about 1 millisecond.

(i) Show that the energy involved in the lightning discharge is in the order of
10
9
joules.

[1]

2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
15
For
Examiners
Use (ii) Hence, estimate the order of magnitude of the electrical power reaching
the earths surface during a thunderstorm.

[1]

(iii) Fig. 7.3 shows the magnitudes of the equipotential surfaces over the tower
at the time of a gathering storm.

Fig. 7.3
Estimate the magnitude of the electric field near the top of the tower and
hence explain if a return stroke is likely to occur at the top of the tower.

[2]

(d) The electrical discharge, results in an explosion of the air around the lightning
channel. Thunder is the sound wave produced as a result of the compression
wave propagating through the surrounding air.

(i) Explain why the explosion of the air occur.

[2]

For
Examiners
Use
16
(ii) As light travels faster than sound (3.00 x 10
8
m s
-1
vs. 330 m s-
1
) you see
lightning before you hear the thunder. The rule of thumb is if you count the
seconds between seeing the flash and hearing the thunder, take the
seconds and divide it by 3, it will give the distance of the lightning from
where you are standing in km. Explain using the appropriate data.

[1]

(e) Absolute measurements of sound intensity can be expressed in W m
2
. However,
the human ear has a non-linear response to the energy content of sound. Hence
a logarithmic scale is used to describe the response of the ear in terms of sound
level L which is measured in decibels, dB where
=
0
log 10
I
I
L dB
where I
o
=10
12
W m
2
is the values for the threshold of hearing and I = the
intensity of the sound being measured.

If the thunder produces 120 dB in the decibel meter when the lightning is
2.00 km away, determine the distance of the source of the lightning if you record
a reading of 124.8 dB assuming that sound energy is distributed uniformly from
the source of the thunder.

Distance = km [3]
2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
17
For
Examiners
Use Section B

It is recommended that you spend about 30 minutes on this section.

8 Many homes have smoke detectors fitted to the ceilings of certain rooms to provide an
early warning of a fire. These detectors contain a weak radioactive source that ionises
the air between two metal plates. See Fig. 8.

Fig 8

A low voltage battery in the detector causes the ions to move. This produces a very small
ionisation current in a circuit containing the battery and the plates. Any reduction in this
ionisation current due to smoke is detected and an alarm sounds.

An airline company wishes to install some of these smoke detectors in its aircraft and
needs to know if changes in air pressure will affect the ionisation current.

Design a laboratory experiment to investigate how the ionisation current depends on air
pressure.

The equipment available includes the following:

Alpha Radioactive source
Beta Radioactive source
Milliammeter /microammeter
Galvanometer
Ammeter
Power Supply
Bourdon Gauge
Manometer
Pressure gauge
Vacuum pump
Source handling tool
Lead container

You should draw diagrams to show the arrangement of your apparatus. In your account you
should pay attention to

(a) the equipment you would use for the investigation,
(b) the procedure to be followed,
(c) the control of variables,
(d) any safety precautions,
(e) any precautions that you would take to improve the accuracy of the experiment.
For
Examiners
Use
18
Diagram

2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
19
For
Examiners
Use

20
2010 ACJ C H2 9646/2
For
Examiners
Use


Higher 2
CANDIDATE
NAME
CLASS

CENTRE
NUMBER
S
INDEX
NUMBER

PHYSICS
Paper 3 Longer Structured Questions

Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required

9646/03
27 Aug 2010
2 hours


Write your Name and Index number in the spaces on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.

Section A
Answer all questions.

Section B
Answer any two questions.

For Examiners use
only
Section A
1 / 10
2 / 10
3 / 10
4 / 10
Section B
5 / 20
6 / 20
7 / 20
Total / 80
You are advised to spend about one hour on each section

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each
question or part question.


2
For
Examiners
Use
DATA AND FORMULAE
Data
8
m s
1

o
= 4 10
7
H m
1

o
= 8.85 10
12
F m
1

(1/(36)) 10
9
F m
1

19
C
34
J s
27
kg
e = 9.11 10
31
kg
p = 1.67 10
27
kg
1
mol
1

A = 6.02 10
23
mol
1

23
J K
1

11
N m
2
kg
2

acceleration of free fall, g
= 9.81 m s
2

Formulae
ut +
2
1
at
2

v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
r
Gm

o
sin t
o
cos t
=
2 2
x x
o

mean kinetic energy of a molecule of an
ideal gas
E =
3
2
kT
1
+ R
2
+
1
+ 1/R
2
+
r
Q
o
4

o
sin t
where k =
2
2
) ( 8
h
E U m

o
exp(t)
decay constant, =
2
1
693 0
t
.


3
For
Examiners
Use Section A

Answer all the questions in the spaces provided.
It is recommended that you spend about one hour on this section.

1 David had used a shepherd's sling to defeat Goliath. A shepherd's sling is a weapon
typically used to throw an object such as a stone to a location some distance away.

Suppose a modern day sling is used to set a stone of mass 52 g in horizontal
circular motion and when the stone reaches a speed v, it is released from the sling.
The stone travels in a parabolic path and hits the ground at point G which is at a
vertical distance H below the point of release of the stone from the sling and G is at
a horizontal distance X away from the point of release of the stone as shown in
Fig 1.
Fig 1

(a) State three conditions necessary for the stone to move in a horizontal circular
path with constant speed.

[3]

(b) State and explain the change if any on the radius of the path and the tension
in the string when the stone is suddenly swirled at a lower speed.

[3]

(c) Suppose the stone is released from the sling at position Y with a speed of
22.8 m s
1
at a height H, of 42.5 m above the point of impact G, find the
horizontal distance X travelled by the stone when it hits the ground at G.

X =

m [4]
X
G
v
stone
position Y
H
4
For
Examiners
Use 2 (a) Explain what is meant by an elastic collision.

[2]

(b) An ideal gas is contained in a thermally insulated cylinder by means of a
piston as shown in Fig 2.1. An atom of the gas collides with the piston, as
illustrated.

Fig 2.1

The piston in (b) is lowered so that the volume of the gas is reduced.

(i) Explain the difference in the speed of an atom of ideal gas after an
elastic collision with a moving piston and with a stationary piston
(assume mass of piston much greater than mass of an atom of the gas).
and hence use the kinetic theory to explain the changes to the
temperature of the gas as the piston is lowered.

[4]


5
For
Examiners
Use (ii) Use the 1
st
law of thermodynamics to support your answer obtained in (i).

[3]

(c) Sketch on Fig 2.2, with the help of the two isotherms given, the variation in the
pressure of the gas in the cylinder as its volume is decreased.

ure

[1]

Volume
Press
Fig 2.2
6
For
Examiners
Use 3 A microwave oven, shown in Fig 3.1 consists of a reflective casing on the opposite
wall of the microwave source and a turntable at the bottom that rotates. It produces
microwave of frequency 2.45 GHz within the oven.

Control
panel
Reflective
casing

Turntable
Microwave source
(behind control panel)
Fig 3.1

Water molecules are electric dipoles (that is, they have one positive end and one
negative end). In the oscillating field of the microwave oven, the water molecules in
trying to align with the changing field, oscillate rapidly. Thus the water molecules in
the food get heated up and hence the food gets heated up.

(a) Explain how are standing waves formed inside the microwave oven.

[3]

(b) The turntable of the oven is removed from the oven so that ovens content
will not rotate during heating. A wet piece of cardboard is placed flat in a
microwave oven. The cardboard is then micro-waved for a short while. Stripes
of dry regions regularly spaced apart are seen on the cardboard.

(i) Explain the formation of these dry stripes and hence deduce their
distances apart.

[3]

(ii) If the interior of the microwave oven is 30.5 cm wide, draw a amplitude-
position graph of the standing wave pattern in the oven. Mark the
positions on the graph with D that would produce dry patches on the
wet cardboard as mentioned.

[2]

7
For
Examiners
Use
(c) The turntable of the oven is now placed back in the oven. After five minutes of
cooking a dish in a microwave wave, and upon removing it, it is noticed that
several ants are inside the oven apparently unharmed by the intense
microwave radiation. Deduce why some of the ants did not die.

[1]

(d) Explain the purpose of the turntable of the microwave oven?

[1]

4 A metal spring of natural length 20.0 cm fixed to the ceiling such that the bottom end
is at a height of 30.0 cm from the ground as shown in Fig 4.

30.0 cm
20.0 cm
Fig 4

8
For
Examiners
Use (a) When the box of mass 5.00 kg hangs in equilibrium, the bottom end of the
spring is at a distance of 25.0 cm from the ground. Determine the spring
constant of the spring.

Spring constant =.. N m
1
[3]

(b) The box was then brought to a higher point, such that the bottom of the spring
was 40.0 cm above the ground. The box was subsequently released from rest.

(i) Calculate the speed of the box when the bottom of the spring is 30.0 cm
above the ground.

Speed = m s
1
[3]

(ii) Determine the nearest distance of the bottom of the spring from the
ground.

Distance = m [3]

(c) Explain why in practice, we expect the answer obtain in (b)(ii) to be larger.

[1]


9
For
Examiners
Use Section B
Answer any two questions

5 A magnet, labeled Magnet A, is suspended vertically from a fixed point by means of
a spring, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Fig. 5.1

One end of the magnet hangs inside a circular coil of wire. The coil is connected in
series with a resistor R.

(a) The magnet is displaced vertically downwards a small distance D and then
released. Fig. 5.2 shows the variation with time t of the vertical displacement d
of Magnet A from its equilibrium position.

Fig. 5.2
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Time / s
Displacement / cm
-D
D

10
For
Examiners
Use (i) Over the period t = 0.12s to t = 0.16s, the student estimates that the
magnetic flux density within the coil decreases from 120 mT to 30 mT.
Given the circular coil has a total of 80 turns and has a radius of 5.0 cm,
calculate the magnitude of the average emf induced in the coil during this
time.

Average emf =

V [2]

(ii) Explain why the amplitude of the oscillation of Magnet A decreases with
time as shown in Fig 5.2.

[3]

(b) The student replaces Magnet A with another magnet labeled Magnet B of
exactly the same dimensions and mass. The student then repeats the
experiment as described in (a). Fig. 5.3 shows the variation with time t of the
vertical displacement d of Magnet A and Magnet B from its equilibrium position.


0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Time / s
Displacement / cm
-D
D
Magnet A

Magnet B

Magnet A Magnet B
Fig 5.3

11
For
Examiners
Use (i) Deduce from Fig 5.3 that the magnet field strength of Magnet B is
stronger compared to that of Magnet A.

[2]

(ii) State 2 adjustments that the student can apply to the apparatus in Fig
5.1 such that the amplitude of the oscillation using Magnet B (as shown
in Fig 5.3) could be increased.

[2]

(c) Magnet B is now replaced with the original Magnet A. The circular coil in Fig
5.1 is now removed and a flat horizontal coil is setup as shown in Fig 5.4.
When an alternating current is passed through the coil, the magnet vibrates
under forced oscillations. The graph, Fig. 5.5, shows how the amplitude of the
oscillations varies with f, the frequency of the alternating current where f
o
is the
natural frequency of the spring-magnet system.

Fig 5.4 Fig 5.5
Flat
horizontal
coil

12
For
Examiners
Use 5 (c) (i) Explain why the magnet in the setup given in Fig 5.4 will undergo forced
oscillation.

[3]

(ii) State 2 parameters that will affect the amplitude of the forced oscillation.

[2]

(iii) Explain why the maximum amplitude of the forced oscillation occurs
when the driving frequency is at f
o
.

[1]

(iv) Suggest how the apparatus in Fig. 5.4 could be modified to make the
peak on Fig. 5.5 flatter, without significantly changing the frequency f
o
at
which the peak occurs.

[2]


13
For
Examiners
Use (d) The frequency of the alternating current is now fixed at a certain frequency.
The displacement time graph of the magnet is as shown in Fig 5.6.

Fig. 5.6
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Time / s
Displacement / cm

The same setup in Fig 5.1 is now placed back to its original position as shown
in Fig 5.7.

Fig. 5.7

Sketch, on Fig 5.8, the new displacement time graph of the magnets
oscillation.

Fig. 5.8
[3]
14
For
Examiners
Use 6 Fig 6.1 shows a spectroscope used to observe the emission line spectrum for a
hydrogen discharged tube subjected to a high voltage of 5000 V. The light emitted
from the discharged tube is passed through the collimator of the spectroscope and is
incident normally on a diffraction grating of 600 lines per mm.

Straight throu
positio
Diffracted
ray,
1

Diffraction
grating
Telescope
collimator
gh
n,
o

Hydrogen
discharge
lamp
Rotating
table

Fig 6.1
(a) Four first order diffraction lines from the visible regions of the emission
spectrum of atomic hydrogen were observed on one side of the straight
through position. The reading of the straight through position and three of the
lines was recorded with the help of the telescope and the vernier scale on the
spectroscope. The data are as given in Fig 6.2.

Straight through position,
o
=289.3
o

Line
number
Readings,
1
/
o
/
Wavelength
/ nm
Photon energy /J
1 303.6 14.3 410.3 4.85 x 10
-19

2
3 306.3 17.0 486.3 4.09 x 10
-19
J
4 312.5

Fig 6.2

(i) Explain how the observation of the emission line spectrum provide
evidence of the existence of energy levels in atoms.

[3]

(ii) Explain clearly why we can use the term "atomic" given above even
though hydrogen gases exist as molecules.

[1]

(iii) Determine and hence the wavelength of line 4 for the spectrum given
to 4 sf and fill in your answer in Fig 6.2.

=
o
[2]

15
For
Examiners
Use (b) The telescope was replaced by a camera and a photograph taken of the same
spectrum. The emission line spectrum was superimposed on a scale shown in
Fig 6.3.

Fig 6.3

(i) Fill in the line number which each line corresponds to in the boxes in
Fig 6.3. [1]

(ii) Hence complete the table given in Fig 6.4 with the corresponding line
number and the wavelength for Line number 1, 3 and 4.
0 cm on the scale coincides with the straight through position.

Fig 6.4 [1]

(iii) Plot a graph of wavelength against scale reading on Fig 6.5 and complete
Fig 6.4 for Line number 2.

[3]

Line number Scale reading / cm Wavelength / nm
6.35
6.75
7.63
10.73
Fig 6.5
Scale readings / cm
Line number
6 5 7 8 9 10

11
16
For
Examiners
Use (c) (i) Determine the photon energies for Line 2 and 4.

Photon energies of Line 2 =....J

Line 4 =....... J [3]

(ii) Hence draw to scale a partial energy level map diagram for hydrogen
from your answer in (i) given that the the transitions are to level 2 of the
energy levels of atomic hydrogen, which belongs to the Balmer Series.
Show, and label clearly, the electron transitions responsible for the
emission lines observed.
Note that the energy value for Level 2 is 5.44 x 10
19
J .

[4]

(d) (i) Explain why the size of each slit in the grating must be narrow.

[1]

(ii) State one advantage of having a large number of rulings (lines) on the
grating.

[1]


17
For
Examiners
Use
7 (a) Explain what is meant by nuclear decay being spontaneous and random in nature.

.

.

.

.

[2]

(b) The
226
Ra nucleus undergoes alpha decay according to

88
226
Ra
86
222
Rn+
2
4
He

Particle Rest mass / u

226.0254

88
226
Ra

222.0176

86
222
Rn

2
4
He
4.0026

(i) Show that the energy released in this decay, Q, is 4.86 MeV.

[2]
(ii) This energy Q must be shared by the alpha particle and the daughter
nucleus. Use conservation of energy and momentum to show that

Q= K
1+
M
M

where K
is the kinetic energy of the alpha particle,

M
is the mass of the alpha particle, and

M is the mass of the daughter nucleus.

[3]

(iii) Hence find the kinetic energy of the alpha particle emitted in this decay
process. Comment on your answer with reference to (b)(i)

K
= MeV [3]
18

For
Examiners
Use
(c) Many radioisotopes have important industrial, medical and research applications.
One of these is
60
Co, which has a half-life of 5.2 years and each
60
Co nucleus
decays by emission of a beta particle (energy 0.31 MeV) and two gamma photons
(energies 1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV respectively).

A scientist wishes to prepare a
60
Co sealed source that will have an activity of at
least 37 x 10
10
Bq after 30 months of use.

(i) Show that the initial minimum activity of
60
Co when the scientist is preparing
the radioisotopes is 5.2 x 10
11
Bq

[2]

(ii) Hence calculate the minimum initial mass in milligrams of
60
Co required?

Minimum initial mass =. mg [4]
(iii) At what rate will the source emit energy after 30 months if its activity is
37 x 10
10
Bq after 30 months of use.

Rate of energy emitted .. W [3]
(iv) With reference to the type and energies of the radiations emitted, suggest
which of the radiations emitted by
60
Co decay could be used to detect the
uniformity of thickness of metal sheets.

[1]


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Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Physics Preliminary Examination

is the kinetic energy of the alpha particle,

is the mass of the alpha particle, and

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