Physics notes- Answers

REFRACTION
1. 2. Total internal reflection does not occur when light travels from an optically less dense medium (air) to a denser medium (glass). [Describe briefly a simple laboratory method to measure directly the focal length of the lens] Attach a plane mirror behind the lens and place them in front of an object. The lens is moved until a sharp image is formed alongside the object. The distance between the object and the lens is the focal length. [Explain why a diamond (R.I.=2.4) sparkles more than a piece of glass (R.I.=1.6) of similar shape] As the refractive index of diamond is larger than that of glass, the critical angle of diamond is smaller than that of glass. When light enters the diamond, total internal reflection occurs inside the diamond (OR more light would be total internally reflected inside the diamond than in glass). So more light would emerge from its upper surface which makes the diamond more sparkling than the glass. 4. [One speaker cone emits low-frequency sounds and the other emits high-frequency sounds. The sound wave generated by the speaker cones will bend around the rim of the cones in a way similar to water waves bending around corners of obstacles. Which cone is more suitable for emitting high-frequency sounds? Explain your answer.] The smaller speaker cone is more suitable for emitting high-frequency sounds. If the smaller cone is used, the sound waves of shorter wavelengths will bend around the rim and diffract to the surroundings more significantly (OR spread over a larger area)

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Physics notes- Answers

MECHANICS
1. [Why conserved?] An external forced acts on the plasticine by the ground (OR earth) during the collision. [Describe briefly a method to check whether the speed of the block remains constant.] 3. Attach a paper tape which is connected to a ticker-tape timer to the block. The dots on the tape should be evenly spaced. [For safety reasons, the front and rear parts of cars should NOT be made of very strong material. Explain briefly.] If the car is made of very strong material, it will be brought to a rest in a short time during a collision (OR the time of contact is small). A large force acts on the passengers which may cause serious injuries. [Using Newtons laws of motion, explain why it is dangerous for John to carry an excessive amount of goods on the bicycle when he is riding in the street.] The mass/inertia of the bicycle (together with the goods) increases. By Newtons second law of motion(F=ma), the deceleration of the bicycle would become smaller when John apples the brake. As a result, the stopping distance (OR stopping time of the bicycle) increases, and the

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chance of having an accident is larger. [Why player X can gain an initial speed to leave the ground vertically? JUMP] Player X exerts a force onto the ground when he is about to jump. This results an equal normal reaction force from the ground according to Newtons 3rd law of motion. The normal reaction force is greater than the weight, so the player will be forced to accelerate up according to Newtons 2nd law of motion.

Physics notes- Answers

6. [A student thinks that as the ball and the target are both at rest after the impact, momentum has been lost. He asks why the law of conservation of momentum does not apply in this process. If you were a teacher, how could you answer this question?] The law of conservation of momentum is still valid since the earth also moves as a result of the impact. However, as the mass of the earth is much larger than that of the target and the ball, the change in speed of the earth is so small that it is neglible. Thus the momentum is conserved if the momentum of the earth is taken into account.

Physics notes- Answers

E&M
1. Function of Live Wire (Brown): 2. The potential of the live wire is alternating between positive and negative at high frequency. Live wire is at a dangerous high potential. Function of Neutral Wire (Blue): The neutral provides return path for complete circuit. It is at nearly zero potential. Function of Earth Wire (Green and Yellow): When the live wire touches the metal case (fault), the earth wire provides a short-circuit path between the case and the earth so that all the leakage current flows to the earth instead of the body. Leakage: When L touches the case, a short-circuit occurs between the case and the earth. No current flows through the heating element and so it does not work. When N touches the case, the current must flow through the heating element before it can pass to earth, so it works. Switches are usually installed in the live wire: The appliance will not stand at a high potential (voltage) when the appliance is switched off. The earth pin is longer than the other two pins so that: The metal case of the appliance is earthed before the appliance is connected to the live wire (or is switched on). A fuse is installed in circuits to prevent damage resulted from: 8. Excessive large current due to overloading or short-circuit by blowing/melting the fuse and breaks the circuit. A fuse is usually installed in the live wire either inside the plug or in the appliance: The appliance will not stand at a high potential (voltage) when the fuse has brown. (or when the circuit is broken by blowing the fuse). The sockets and all the electrical appliances are connected in parallel so that: All appliances work under the same working voltage of 220V and hence their respective rated power can be dissipated.

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The appliances can work independently. 10. Function of commutator: The commutator is used to reverse the current direction in the coil whenever it passes the vertical position. Hence the motor coil is maintained to continue rotation always in the same direction.

Physics notes- Answers

11. Find magnetic field pattern: Sprinkle iron filings on the board and tap the board gently. The magnetic field pattern is shown by the pattern of the iron filings. 12. Energy loss in transformer: Hear loss due to the currents in the copper windings. Heat loss due to the eddy currents in the iron core. Hysteresis loss in bringing about magnetic reversal in the iron core. 13. Ways to improving the efficiency of a transformer: Copper windings are thick (small resistance) to reduce the joule heating loss. Iron core is laminated to reduce eddy current loss. Soft iron core is used for reducing hysteresis loss.