Section A [40 marks]

Answer all questions from this section.

1

(a) Define a vector quantity.

A vector quantity is a quantity having both a magnitude and a direction
(b) The diagram below shows a 5.0 kg street light suspended by two cables.
60

40

5.0 kg

Calculate the tension in each of the cables.

T1

T2
60

40

mg ( 5 9.81 49 N)
Fx T1 cos 60 T2 cos 40 0

mg

F y T2 sin 40 T1 sin 60 49 0

T1 cos 60 T2 cos 40

T1 1.53 T2

or

T2 sin 40 (1.53 sin 60 ) T2 49

T2 (1.97) 49
30o

5g

T2 24.9 N or 25 N

T1

T1 (1.53)(24.9)

100o

38.1 N or 38 N

50o

T2

T1
5g

o
sin 50
sin 100 o
T1 38 N
T2
5g

o
sin 30
sin 100 o

25 N
2 T2(a) St

State the conditions for equilibrium of a rigid body.

Nett force acting on an object must be zero (or resultant forces zero)/ forces form a closed
any point
polygon
Nett torque about any axis must be zero (or the total moments about any axis is zero)

(b) The diagram below shows a 20.0 kg mass hanging at the end of a horizontal beam. The
beam of length and negligible mass is hinged on the wall at point A. A cable at an angle of 30
to the horizontal is used to support the load.

T
R
A

30

20.0 kg

(i) Calculate the tension in the cable.

Or
T sin 30o = 20g
T = 390 N

Torque about perpendicular axis through A:

mg T sin 30

mg
sin 30

20.0 9.81
sin 30

392.4 N or 390 N

(ii) Determine the reaction on the beam by the wall.

To determine the reaction: let X and Y be the horizontal and vertical forces acting at A.

Or
R = T cos 30o
R =340 N

X T cos 30

339.8 N

or

or

Y mg T sin 30

20 9.81 196.2

Or

0N

mg

R =

tan 30

X Y

= 339.8 N or 340 N

3 A lens of refractive index 1.52 is coated with a layer of transparent material with refractive
index 1.38. The thickness of the coating material is such that the reflection of light at wavelength
400 nm can be eliminated.
(a) Determine the condition for interference to occur.

+
1

+
na 1

Air

nc 1.38 Coating

nl 1.52 Lens

Phase difference of ray 1 & 2 0 / coherent

Optical path difference 2nct
Constructive interference ( 2nct ) = m
1

Or Destructive interference ( 2nct ) m 2

Or =

(b) Calculate the minimum thickness of the coating material.

t

[1]

4nc
400 10 9
4 1.38

72.5 nm
[1]

4 (a) State the differences between gaseous, liquid and solid phases in terms of their atomic
arrangements and movements.

Gas no order
Liquid no order
Solid orderly for
crystalline solid

Atomic arrangement:
Gas

distance between molecules very large/ not packed.

Liquid

distance between molecules very much closer than molecule in gas/packed.

Solid

distance between atoms are close to each other/very packed

or

rg > r > rs

or appropriate diagrams

Movement
gas

freely ( and randomly)

3

[1]

liquid

translational/ random

solid

oscillate/vibrate about their respective equilibrium position

(b) The variation of repulsive force Frep with distance r between two atoms can be
represented by the equation
Frep

a
,
rn

where a and n are positive constants.

(i) Sketch the graph of Frep against r.
Frep

(ii) Based on the graph in (b)(i), explain why a gas can be compressed but it is almost
impossible for a solid.
For gas r is very large, Frep / gradient is small therefore easy to compress
For solid r is small, Frep / gradient is very large therefore difficult to compress
5 The diagram below shows two point charges 1.2 C and +1.0 C separated at a distance
of 0.6 m. Point O is the midpoint of the two charges. Calculate the electric potential at point P
which is 1.2 m vertically above O.
P

1.2 m

q1

0.3 m

1.2C

0.3
4 m
O

q2

+1.0C

r
1.2 m

q1

0.3 m
1.2 C

r = Pq1 Pq2

0.3 m
O

q2 1.0

1.2 2 0.3 2

1.237 m or 1.24 m

Potential at P due to q1 1.2 C

V1

1
4 0

q1
r

9.0 10 9 1.2 10 6
1.24

(8.71/8.731) 103 V
Potential at P due to q2 +1.0 C
V2

1
4 0

q2
r

9.0 10 9 1.0 10 6
1.24

(7.26/7.276) 103 V
The total potential at P 1.455 103 V/ -1 x 103 V

(a) What is meant by eddy current?

Eddy current is an induced current on a metal plate/conductor
due to its motion in magnetic field or due to changing of magnetic flux.
The direction of the eddy current is such that the magnetic field they create
oppose the flux change producing them.
(b) How is power loss in a transformer measured?
The difference between input power and output power.
(c) How is power loss due to eddy current reduced?
To reduce this current, the iron core is made laminated/comb-like plate(that is build
in thin layers separated by non conducting materials such as metal oxide.)
This increases resistances to the path of eddy current/ confined the
eddy current to individual layers.

7 The work function for Cesium is 2.14 eV. Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of
photoelectrons emitted from Cesium surface when illuminated by light of wavelength 565 nm.
Incident photon energy hf

hc

6.63 10 34 3 10 8
565 10 9 1.6 10 19

2.20 eV / 3.52 x 10-19 J

so maximum kinetic energy Incident photon energy work function
2.20 2.14
0.06 eV or 0.0544 eV or 9.6 x 10-21 or 8.7 x 10-21 or 1.0 x 10-20 J

8 A radioisotope tracer was injected into a human body. After 24 hours, the activity of
radioisotope has reduced to 6% of its initial activity. Calculate the half-life of the radioisotope.
A A0 e t or

N N o e t

0.06 A0 A0 e T24

0.1172 hrs1
T1
2

0.693

5.91 hrs or 6 hrs

Or
24

A
1
( )n
Ao
2

t
n
T

6
1
( )T
100
2

24 lg 0.06

T
lg 0.5

T = 6 hrs

Section B [60 marks]

Answer any four questions from this section.
9

(a) Describe briefly a projectile motion.

[2 marks]

An object moving in both x and y/horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously

/ at the same time/together or describing or draw diagram the parabolic path of motion
under the influence of gravity/ constant acceleration.
(b) A marble of mass 30 g rolls off the edge of a table at height 2.0 m and strikes the floor at
a horizontal distance 2.8 m from the edge of the table.
(i) Calculate the time taken by the marble to reach the floor.

[2 marks]

h2m
x 2.8 m

h
x

From s ut

1 2
at
2

For vertical component:

or h

1 2
gt
2

or t =

2h
g

2 2
9.81

= 0.64 s
(ii) Determine the speed of the marble just before it falls.
Let u x equal the speed of the marble.
x uxt
or

ux =
=

x
t
2.8
0.64
9

[2 marks]

= 4.38 m s1 or 4.4 m s-1

(iii) Calculate the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the marble just before it
reaches the floor.
[5 marks]
From v u at
Take vertical component
v y 0 gt

u0
vy 9.81 0.64
= ( )6.28 m s1 or 6.3 m s-1
2

Magnitude: v

vx v y

( 4.38) 2 (6.28) 2

7.66 m s1 or 7.7 m s-1

Direction: tan

vy
vx

6.28
4.38

55/ 55 (below) horizontal/ shown in diagram

(iv) Determine the average power of the marble.

Energy: U mgh or mvy 2
0.03 9.81 2
0.59 J or 0.6 J

Power: W

U
t

10

[4 marks]

0.6
0.59
or
0.64
0.64

0.92 to 0.94 W

10 (a) State the characteristics of electromagnetic waves.

[2 marks]

E and B are perpendicular to the directions of propagation of the wave.

E and B are perpendicular to each other.
Electromagnetic wave requires no medium.
The wave travels in vacuum with definite and unchanging speed/with speed of light.
Transverse wave
Can be polarised
There is a definite ratio between the magnitude of E and B , i.e. E cB

(b) The displacement y at distance x and time t of a sound wave propagating in air can be
represented by
y 7.5 104 sin (315t 1.05x),
where x and y are in metres and t is in seconds.
(i) Sketch, on the same axes, a graph of y against x at times t 0 and t
T is the period of the wave.

[2 marks]

y 7.5 104 sin (315t 1.05x)

y

t0

(7.5)
0
(7.5)

T ,
where
4

x
t

T
4

11

(ii) Determine the velocity and the frequency of the wave.

= 2 f 315
f

Velocity v

315
2

315
1.05

50.1 Hz
k

[4 marks]

= 300 m s1

1.05

5.98 m

2 f

v f

= 300 m s-1

2
315
2

50.1 Hz

(iii) Calculate the phase difference of a point 2.0 m from the origin.

[3 marks]

v
f

kx
1.05 2
2.1 rad

300
/ 5.98 m or 5.99 m
50.13

2
(2 0)

2.1 rad

(c) Describe the principle of Doppler radar used by the police to determine the speed of an
automobile.
[4 marks]
12

 Police sent out a (micro)wave (of frequency f towards a speeding/moving automobile)

The automobile reflected the wave (of frequency f1)
The police detected/measure the reflected wave
From Dopplers shift (f and f2)/change in frequencies, the speed of the moving
automobile can be determined or the formula for Dopplers effect, i.e.

f '

v uo
f or
v u s

f '

vu
v u

[ As long as Dopplers equation is given]

11 (a)

(i) What is meant by work done in an isolated gas system?

[1 mark]

Work done in a system of isolated gas undergoing a change is defined as

the product of the pressure and the change in volume during the process.
or W p V or W

pdV

; p = pressure and V= volume

(ii) Differentiate between internal energy and thermal energy of a gas system.
[2 marks]
Internal energy=/kinetic energy + Potential energy
Thermal energy The portion of internal energy that changes with temperature.

or sum of kinetic energies of particles/atoms/molecules

(iii) State the first law of thermodynamics and the meaning of each symbol used.
[2 marks]
Q

U+W

Heat gain (+) or loss ()

U Increase or decrease in internal energy

Work done by the system (+) or on the system (-)

(b) An isolated system of 3.0 moles of ideal gas is initially at pressure p1 and volume V1.
It is then allowed to expand at a constant temperature of T 350 K to a new pressure p 2 and a
new volume V2 which is twice its initial volume V1.
(i) Sketch the p-V diagram to show the expansion process and shade the region
representing the work done during the process.
[2 marks]
p
p1

A
13

p2

B (T = 350K)

V1

V2

(ii) Calculate the work done during the process.

Work

pdV

for ideal gas pV nRT

V2

V1

nRT
dV
V

constant T

nRT ln
V
1

2V1

V1

3 8.31 (350 ) ln
6.048 103 J
= 6048 J / 6.0 x 103 J

14

[3 marks]

(c) The diagram below shows a window glass insulation of a house which consists of two
glass panels separated by a layer of air.
3.0 mm

5.0 mm
Outside the
house

Air

Inside
the house

3.0 cm

The area of the window is 2.0 m 1.5 m. The outer glass thickness is 5.0 mm, the inner
glass thickness is 3.0 mm and the air layer thickness is 3.0 cm. If the temperature outside the
house is 45 C and the temperature inside the house is kept at 20 C, calculate the energy per
hour that is prevented from entering the window.
[5 marks]
[Thermal conductivity of glass 0.84 W m1 K1,
thermal conductivity of air 0.023 W m1 K1.]

The rate of heat flow by conduction

Q
T T3
kA 0
t

and the rate of heat flow at each interface is constant.

Q

With insulation, the rate of flow through the window is

(T0 T3 )
Q
A
t
d1 d 2 d 3

k
k
k
1 2 3

15

5 10

0.84

( 2.0 1.5)(45 20)

3.0 10 2 3.0 10 3


0.023
0.84

57.1 J s 1

In l hr Qi (57.1 3600)
2.1 105 J or J h-1

Conducted through the window

Without insulation

Q
( 45 20) (0.84)(25)(2.0 1.5)
k1 A

t
8 10 3
8 10 3
7.875 103 J s1
in l hr Qn 2.835 107 J

Conducted through the window

Energy prevented to go through

(2.84 107 2.1 105) 2.82 107 J

16

12 (a) State two functions of the dielectric in a capacitor.

[2 marks]

To reduce the potential difference across the plates

To solve the problem of maintaining two large metal sheets at very small separation.
To increase the storage of charges./ capacitance
Can tolerate stronger electric field without breakdown.

(b) Two pure capacitors with capacitance C1 = 5.0 F and C2 = 10.0 F are connected in
series to a 10.0 V battery.
(i) Derive an expression for the effective capacitance CT of the circuit and calculate
the value of CT.
[4 marks]
C2

C1
5F

10F

10 V
VT V1 + V2
CV Q

1
1
1 C 2 C1

CT C1 C 2
C1C 2
or
17

CT

CT

C1C 2
C1 C 2
(5F)(10 F)
(5 10) F

50
F 3.3F
15

(ii) Calculate the total energy stored in the circuit.

1
2
Energy stored U CT VT
2

1 Q2
or2 C

[2 marks]
or

1
QV
2

1
(3.33F)10 2 V
2

166.5 106 J
1.7 104 J or 1.65 104 J

(c) The battery in (b) is replaced by an alternating current supply of maximum voltage 10 V
and frequency 120 Hz.
(i) Calculate the reactance of the combined capacitor.

C1

[2 marks]

CT = 3.33 F

C2

V0 10 V

f 120 Hz

Reactance is inversely proportional to the frequency of the

alternating current supply.
XC

1
2fC

1
2 (120 Hz ) (3.33 F)

398 or 402 or 400

(ii) Calculate the maximum current in the circuit. Comment on the phase of the current
with reference to the voltage supplied.
[3 marks]

18

The current is I 0

V0
XC
10 V

398.3
0.025 A
The current leads the voltage/ voltage lags current by 90 or

(iii) Describe briefly the behaviour of the energy stored in the combined capacitor
during a cycle of the alternating current supply.
[2 marks]

For 1st quarter, capacitor is charged, energy is stored.

(1)

For 2nd quarter, capacitor discharges, energy is returned to the source. (1)
or
For 3rd quarter, capacitor is charged with the opposite polarity, energy is stored. (1)
For 4th quarter, capacitor discharges, energy is returned to the source.

(1)

13 (a) State de Broglie hypothesis and give the relationship between momentum p and
wavelength of a particle.
[2 marks]
de Broglie hypothesis state ( that since light displays particle-like behaviour,
perhaps) particle displays wave-like behaviour.
The relationship according to de Broglie

= p , h = Plancks constant
(b) In an electron diffraction experiment, an electron beam which is accelerated on a
potential difference is incident normally on a very thin gold film. Several circular diffraction
rings are seen on a photographic film.
(i) If the voltage at the anode is increased, what happens to the circular rings?
[1 mark]

d sin = n
/electron as a wave
d(

Circular rings becomes narrower/ smaller.

R
h
(ii) If a particular ring of radius R is chosen and different values of accelerating
)n ,
L
p
1
.
nh voltage V are recorded, sketch a graph of R against V Deduce that the experiment is in

agreement with the de Broglie hypothesis.

2meV

2meV

1
V L

R versus

/eV=R mv

[6 marks]

1
is a straight
V

19

line

sin

R
L

.
.

(c) (i) A 60 kg marathon runner runs at a speed of 5.1 m s 1. Calculate the de Broglie
wavelength of the marathon runner.
[2 marks]
p mv
60 5.1 = 3.06 102 kg m s1

h
3.06 10 2
6.63 10 34
3.06 10 2

2.2 10 36 m
(ii) Explain briefly the production of continuous and characteristic X-rays.
Continuous X-rays
Bombardment of energetic electron to the target
Deceleration of electron causes the emission of X-rays
Characteristic X-rays
Energetic electron knocking out electron of inner shell
Electron from outer shell fill in the vacancy (in inner shell causes
the emission of X-rays)

20

[4 marks]

14 (a)

(i) Define nucleon number and proton number.

[1 mark]

Nucleon number is the total number of proton and neutron in a nucleus.

Proton number is number of proton in a nucleus.
(ii) What are isotopes?

[1 mark]

Isotopes are atoms of an element which have nuclei with the

same number of protons but different number of neutrons.
or same chemical properties but different physical properties
(b) The diagram below shows a schematic model of a mass spectrometer. An ion enters the
velocity selector with electric field E and magnetic field B1. The velocity of the ion of charge q at
slit S is v. The ion then enters the region of magnetic field B2 where it is deflected in a circular
path of radius r.
B1
S

Magnetic field to
deflect ions

Ions

21

Ions

B2
r
Velocity
selector

(i) Express v in terms of E and B1.

[1 mark]

qE qvB1
v

E
B1

(ii) Derive an expression for the mass m of an ion in terms of E, B1, B2, r and q.
[2 marks]
Centripetal force Force due to magnetic field
or
2

mv
B2 qv
r

B2 qr
v

E
B1

B1 B 2 qr
E

(iii) If B1 B2 0.01 T and r 20.0 cm, calculate two different electric fields to enable
the mass spectrometer to differentiate singly charged copper isotopes
marks]
[Atomic mass of isotope
atomic mass of isotope

65
Cu
29

q = 1.6 x 10

63
Cu
29

-19

62.929601 u,

64.927794 u.]

C/e

B1 B2 qr
m

E1

0.01 0.01 1.6 10 19 0.2

62.929601 1.66 10 27

30.6 V m1 / 31 V m1
22

63
Cu
29

and

65
Cu.
29

[3

E2

0.01 0.01 1.6 10

19

0.2

64.927794 1.66 10

27

= 29.7 V m1/ 30 V m1
(c)

(i) Why does a fusion reaction take place at high temperatures?

[1 mark]

need to overcome strong electrostatic repulsion(between nuclei at very small

distance is very high.)
(ii) Calculate the energy released in the following fusion reaction.
13
Cu
6

13

[Atomic mass of isotope

atomic mass of isotope

atomic mass of isotope

14
7

1
1

14
7

Cu 13.003355 u,

H 1.007825 u,
N 14.003074 u,

1u 931 MeV.]
[3 marks]
E mc2 or m= mcu + mH - mN
Mass defect m 0.008106 u
The energy released 0.008106 931 MeV
7.547 MeV/ 1.21 x 10-12 J /7.57 MeV
(d) Explain briefly the controlled fission reaction in a nuclear reactor.
nucleus as a source of fuel
Control rod to absorb excess neutron
Moderator / coolant to decelerate neutron speed
Critical mass / chain reaction
Multiplying factor

23

[3 marks]