STIIDENTI\IUMBER.......................t .....

GOSFORDHIGII SCHOOL
YEAR 12

PHYSICS
IIALFYEARLYEXAM

2009
Time allowed:2 hoursplus 5 minutesreadingtime
Part A: 15 marks
1-15
Attemptquestions
Allow about30 minutesfor this section
Part B: 55 marks
Attemptquestions16-27
Allow aboutI hourand30 minutesfor this section

STUDENTNUMBERAJAME:
l.

planet X has twice the mass and half the radius of planet Y. What is the ratio of the
weight of a l0 kg mass on planet X to its weight on planet Y?

(A)

1 I

(B) 2 I

(c) 4
(D) 8

I
I

A rocket takes offfrom the launch pad with constantthrust. Which choice best shows
how its acceleration and velocity changeas it rises?

(c)

(B)

(A)

(D)

Considerthe following planets,X,Y andZ'

Z

mass:4m

ma ss: m
mass= 2m
What is the correctratio of the escapevelocityof theseplanets?

u*: {zGM
V r
Note:
(A)

X:Y:Z:7

I 2

(B) X : Y : Z : 7

2 4

(c)

X:Y:Z:2

I 4

(D) X : Y : Z : 2

I 2

STUDENTNUMBERAIAME:

4.

Two astronautslandedon a very small asteroidorbiting the SunbetweenMars and

ahnostnegligibleweight force. Which statementexplains
Jupiter.They experienced
this?
(A)

Becausethe asteroidis in a stableorbit aroundthe Sunit will havezero mass.

(B)

Becausethe asteroidis in a stableorbit aroundthe Sun,the astronautswill

apparentlybe weightless.

(C) Becausethe asteroidis very smallit will havevery smallgravitationalforce.

(D) The gravitationalforceon the asteroidis balancedby an equalandopposite
gravitationalforceon the astronauts.

5.

6.

Michelson and Morley expectedto seea shift in an interferencepattern in their

experiment. They were destinedto always get a null result. Why?
(A)

A positive result would violate the principle of relativity.

(B)

The Earth's speedthrough spaceis too small comparedto the speedof light for
the experiment to give a significant result.

(C)

Any variation in the speedof light could be explained by experimental errors.

(D)

Einstein had proven that the speedof light was constantin a particular medium.

Which of the followins devices could be used to demonstratethe motor effect?

(A)

Transformer

(B)

Induction cooktop

(C)

Generator

(D)

Loudspeaker

STUDENTNUMBERAIAME:

Threelong parallelwiresX, Y andZ arepositionedin the sameplaneand conduct

difFerentCunentsin the samedirectionas shown.The currentin wire X is 3A, in wire
by a distancedx andwiresY
Y is 2A andin wre zis 1A. wires X andY areseparated
by a distancedz.
andZ are separated
r
Wire X

Wire Y

WtreZ
What is the relationshipbetweenthe distancesif the forceon wire Y is zero?
(A) 3dx: dz
(B) dx = 3dz
(C) Sdx:2 dz
(D)

dx: dz

STI]DENT NUMBER/I.{AME:

8.

A conductorABCD is situatedin a magneticfield drecteclout of the page.The

insertedin sideBC anda conductingrod XY connects
conductorhasa galvanometer
the sidesAB andCD asshown.Therod XY is ableto slideandis moved5cmto the
left, thenlOcmto theright andbackto its initialposition.
t

Which gaph shows the possible voltage changesthat could be observed on the
galvanometer?

(A)

o
b(

(B)

&
I
d

/r\\

\\-,,

C.)

b(

(D)

c)
b{

STUDENTNUMBERA{AME:

9.

vertically.The
A magnetis droppedsothat it movesthrougha coil that is suspended
coil is connectedto a galvanometer.

PositionP

I
PositionQ
insidecoil

I
PositionR

Which alternative could describethe galvanometer needle deflection as the magnet

moves from position P through Q to R?

(A)
(B)

(c)
(D)

PositionP
To the risht
To the rieht
To the right
To the rieht

PositionO
No deflection

To the rieht
No deflection
To the rieht

PositionR
To the rieht
No deflection

To the left
To the right

STUDENTNUMBER/NAME:

10.

ll.

A electrician drills a hole into a wall using an electric drill. As he makes the hole, friction on the end
of the drill causesthe armaturc of the motor within the drill to slow down. How will the back emf and
the cumentthrough the armaturc changeas the drill slows down?

Backenrf

Current

(A)

[ncrease

lncrcase

(B)

Increase

Decrcase

(c)

Decrease

lncrcase

(D)

Decrcase

Decrease

Thediagrambelowrepresents
an electricalmotor.

Whattypeof currentwould beproducedby the motor?

(A) DC of constantmagnihrde
(B) DC of varyingmagnihrde

(c) AC
(D) None

t2.

Whatis theratioof thenumberof coilsin theprimaryto the numberof coilsin the

secondaryfor a stepup transformer?
(A) Lessthanone
(B) Lessthanor equalto one
t!

(C) Equalto one

(D) Greaterthanone

13

l4

to the wheel
discattached
Thetrailerson somelargetnrcksuseeddycurrentbraking.An aluminium
by current
is energised
To brake,the electromagnet
fotatesbetweenthe polesof an electromagnet.
fromthetruck'sbattery.The retardingforceslowsthetruckdown.
to the kineticenergyremovedfrom the
whathappens
belowbestdescribes
Which of the statements
truckas it slowsdown?
theenergyto thebattery'
whichtransfers
(A) Currcntsareinducedin tlreelectromagnet,
opposingthemotionof thedisc'The
(B) Eddycurrentsareinducedin thecoreof theelectromagnet
heatsup, radiatingtheenergyaway'
electromagnet
themotionof thedisc.Theeddycuments
(C) Eddycunentsar-einducedin thealuminiumopposing
causethediscto heatup,radiatingtheenergyaway'
thekineticenergy.
andthefrictionremoves
(D) Theeddycunentsin thediscatnactit to theelectromagnet
to a testcircuitasshownbelow.
A smallDC electricmotoris connected

When the motor is switchedon and running fi'eely,the voltmeter shows 6 V and the ammeter I A. A
would the
stuclentndw graspsthe output shaftof the motor whiie it is running aud slows it down. Whai
most likely reading on the meters now be?

15

(A)

2A
ammeter:

voltmeter:8 V

(B)

3A
ammeter:

voltmeter:6 V

(C)

1A
ammeter:

voltmeter:6 V

(D)

ammeter:I A

voltmeter:4 V

If you were to dismantlea transformerthat is designedto producean output of l2 V with a maximum

safecurent of 10 A from the 240 V power mains,then you would expectto find
(A) 480 turnsof thin wire on the primary and24 turnsof thick wire on the secondary.
(B) 480 nrrnsof thick wire on the primary and24 turnsof thin wire on the secondary.
(C) 24 turns of thin wire on the primary and 480 tums of thin wire on the secondary.
(D) a wire designedto carry l0 ampson the primary and a lot of turns on the secondary.

STUDENT
NUMBERA{AME:

SectionI - continued
Part B
Total marks (f,$
Attempt questions16- 27
Allow about I hour fQ minutesfor this part
Answerthe questionsin the spacesprovided.
Showall relevantworking in questionsinvolving calculations.

Marks
Question 16 (5 marks)
The period (T) of a pendulum is given by the equation:

t:UrE

!g

where / is the length of the pendulum and g is Earth's gravitational acceleration.

A group of scientists conductedan experiment on Earth to check the relationship between the
period of the pendulum and its length. They then took their apparatusto the Moon and
repeatedthe experiment.
(a)

How would their results on the Moon be similar to those they obtained on Earth?

(b)

Explainwhy their resultswould be similar in this way.

(c)

How would theirresultson the Moon be differentto thosethey obtainedon

Earth?

(d)

Explainwhy their resultswould be differentin this way.

Question 16 continueson page 11

Pagel0

STUDENTNUMBERATAME:
Marks
Question I 6 (continued)
(e)

Sketch TWO graphs on the axesbelow to comparethe results the scientistswould

obtain for the relationship between the squareof the period and the length of the
pendulum on Earth and the Moon' Be sureto label EACH graph'

T2

Question 17 (5 marks)
Two studentsare 130 m apart. One holds a paint ball gun 1.2 m above the ground and fires a
paint ball at the other. The ball leavesthe gun at 40 ms-' at an angle of elevation of 20o'
(a)

Calculate the maximum height of the paint ball above its firing position.

(b)

Calculate whether or not the ball hits the second student.

P a g e1 1

STUDENTNUMBERA{AME:
Marks
Question18 (4 marks)
(a)

Give TWO reasonsto explainwhy the conceptof g-forceis useful.

(b)

How would our exploration of the solar systembe different if the slingshot effect
did not exist?

Question 19 (6 marks)
A group of studentsdid two experiments to determinethe accelerationdue to gravity.
Firstly, they dropped a ball from a vertical height of 3.0 m and measuredthe time of fall
using a stopwatch. From this they calculatedthe averagespeedof the ball and hence its final
speedand acceleration.
Next they set up a 3.0 m length ofboard with an angle of elevation of 20o. The board had a
groove cut along its length the same curvature as the ball. They measuredthe time it took the
ball to roll down the board. From this they calculatedthe averagespeedof the ball and hence
its final speedand its acceleration down the slope. They then calculated a value for the
accelerationdue to gravity.
(a)

Comparethe accuracy of the time measurementsin the experiments.

Question19 continueson page 13

Page12

STUDENTNUMBERA{AME:
Marks
Question19 (continued)
(b) Comparethe validity of EACH experiment'

Question20 (2 marks)
(a)

(b)

by cosmicrays' mu mesonshave
After being createdin the upPeratmosphere
their lifetime
speedsthai exceed2.95 x ld ms-r. An observeron Earthmeasures
as 1.221xl0-) s.
Calculatethe lifetimeof sucha mesonin its own frameof reference.

Define an inertial frame of reference.

Question 21 (2 marks)
Describe TWO different ways in which motors are used in industry or the home to convert
2
electrical energy into more useful forms of energy'

Pagel3

STUDENTNUMBERAIAME:
Marks
Question22 (6 marks)
A rcctangularcoil of conductingwire is rotatedin the magneticfield betu'eenthe polesof
magnetsas shown.

1,...-

(a)

Propose ONE changeto the experimental set up that would increasethe

electromotive force generated.

(b)

Sketch a graph of the emf generatedas the coil is rotated through one revolution
beginning from the position shown at time t :0.

Question22 continueson Page15

Page14

STUDENTNUMBERA{AME:
Marks
Question22 (continued)
(c)

andthe flux throughthe coil.

Analysethe relationshipbetweenemf generated

(d)

Justify the difference in the energy required to rotate the coil when the coil is
connectedto a light globe comparedto an open circuit as shown.

Page15

STUDENTNUMBERA{AME:
Marks
Question23 (5 marks)
magnetsandits plane
A rectangularcoil of 20 loopsis positionedbetweenthe polesofbar
The sideAB
makesan angleof 30owith the directionof the magneticfield asshown'
18 cm. Themagneticfield betweenthepolesof
measures15 cm while the sideBC measures
the magnetsis 5.0 mT andthe currentthroughthe coil is 25 mA'

(a)

coil is at
Calculate the magnitude and direction of the force on side AB when the
an angle of 30o with the direction of the magnetic field as shown.

(b)

Define torque.

(c)

with the
Calculate the torque acting on the coil when it is at an angle of 30"
direction of the magnetic field as shown'

(d)

Many motors do not contain permanent magnets' Statehow

produced.

Page16

the magnetic field is

Marks
Question24 (4 marks)
Partof a flat horizontalrnetalsheetis perpendicular
to a rnagneticfield into thepage,as
shown.The sheetis movedout of the magneticfield at constantspeed.

B
into page

Movement
->

(a)

(b)

Draw on the diagram the eddy current that is produced in the sheet as it moves
out of the magnetic field. Include the direction of the current.

Using Lenz's Law, explain the production ofthe eddy current in the sheet.

Question 25(5 marks)

Near the surt'aceof the planet Mars, when a 4.0 kg rock is droppedfrotn rest, it reachesa speedof
7.5 m s-l irr 2.0 s.
(a)

What is the accelerationdue to gravity near the sutfaceof Mars?

I

(b)

The planetMars hasan averageradiusof 3.4 x 106m. What is the massof Mars?

Question26 (5 marks)

Marks

ObserverA sitsin themiddleof a traintravelingat highspeedpasta railwaystationas

shownin thepicturebelow.ObserverB standson thestationplatform.Lightning
strikesthefrontandbackof thetrainat themomentobserver
A passesobserverB.
Analysethestatements
of bothobservers
regardingtheorderof the lightingstrikes.

QuestionZ7 (6 marks)
(a) DescribeONE differences
betweenAC andDC generators.

(b) Analyse the competingtechnologiesof Edisonand Westinghousefor the

supply of domesticelectricity.

Marks
1