ICSE Board

Class X Physics
Gold Series
Sample Paper - 1
Time: 1½ hrs Total Marks: 80

General Instructions:
1. Answers to this paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
2. You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes. This time is to be spent in
reading the question paper.
3. The time given at the head of paper is the time allotted for writing the answers.
4. Attempt all questions from Section I and any four questions from Section II.
5. The intended marks of questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].

Section 1 (40 Marks)

Attempt all questions from this section.
Question 1 [10]
(a) Can the couple acting on a rigid body produce translatory motion?
(b) Obtain the relation between SI and CGS units of work.
(c) Can a machine be 100% efficient? If not, explain why.
(d) In a single movable pulley, if the weight of the load is L and the weight of the
movable pulley is W, find the expression for its mechanical advantage.
(e) Two objects of mass 5 g and 35 g have equal momentum. What is the ratio of their
kinetic energies?

Question 2 [10]
(a) Two identical glass beakers contain 100 ml of water at the same temperature. In one
beaker, m kg of steam is allowed to flow at 373 K. In the other beaker, m kg of water
is added at 100°C. In which beaker will the water be observed to have a higher
temperature and why?
(b) Complete the ray diagram in the case given below to show the formation of the
image.
Find the position, nature and focal length of the lens.
 (c) How are the angle of incidence and the angle of emergence related to each other in
minimum deviation?
(d) In glass, which coloured light travels fast and why?
(e) (Red + Blue + Yellow) light is incident on a glass block and on a prism. Show the
diagrams by drawing the refracted and emergent rays.

Question 3 [10]
(a) The lateral displacement of a ray of light passing through a parallel-sided glass slab
depends on which factors?
(b) Reema fires a gun in front of a building 167 m away. If the speed of sound is 334
m/s, calculate the time interval in which she hears an echo.
(c) On a wintry night, we feel warmer when clouds cover the sky than when the sky is
clear. Explain why.
(d) Comment on the statement ‘The specific latent heat of ice is 3,36,000 J kg−1’.
(e) A transmission line having a total resistance of 0.2  delivers 10 kW at 220 V to a
small factory. Calculate the power loss in the line.

Question 4 [10]
(a) How will you locate a current-carrying wire concealed in a wall?
(b) Calculate the effective resistance between A and C in the figure given below.

(c) Why do we use steel or alnico for making permanent magnets? In which devices are
permanent magnets used?
(d) Do α-decay and β-decay cause a change of element?
(e) Why is it advisable to view a TV screen from a distance of about 12 feet?
 Section 2 (40 Marks)
Attempt any four questions from this section.
Question 5 [10]
(a)
i. Which simple machine is used by labourers to load heavy barrels on a truck?
ii. Does a single fixed pulley help us to multiply force? In what way is it useful?

(b) A see-saw 8 m long is balanced in the middle. Two children of mass 30 kg and 40 kg
are sitting on the same side of the fulcrum at a distance of 1.5 m and 3.5 m,
respectively. Where must a lady of mass 60 kg sit from the fulcrum so as to balance
the see-saw?
(c) A water pump can raise 20 kg of water through a height of 10 m in 10 s. What is the
total work done by the pump? What is its power? (Take g = 10 ms−2)

Question 6 [10]
(a) An object is placed in front of a converging lens at a distance greater than twice the
focal length. Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of the image and state the
nature of the image.
(b) For the incident ray LM shown, complete the diagram to show the path of the ray
into and out of the prism. The critical angle of glass is 42°.

(c) For the same angle of incidence, the angles of refraction in three different media I, II
and III are 15°, 25° and 35°, respectively. In which medium will the speed of light be
minimum?
Question 7 [10]
(a) An observer standing between two parallel cliffs emits an intense sound note. Two
successive echoes are then heard after 5 s and 7 s. Calculate the distance between
the cliffs (velocity of sound = 340 m s−1).

(b) Give two dissimilarities and similarities between sound waves and light waves.
(c)
i. What adjustment will you make for tuning a stringed instrument such as a violin
to emit a desired pitch?
ii. The figure below shows the modes of vibrations of a string:

1. Which of these represents vibration of the largest amplitude and

fundamental note?
2. What is the ratio of frequency between (3), (2) and (1)?

Question 8 [10]
(a) Equal quantities of salt are dissolved in two identical vessels filled with water. The
salt is in the form of a large crystal in one vessel and it is in the form of powder in
the other. In which vessel will the temperature of the solution be higher after the
salt has completely dissolved?
(b) 1 kg of ice at −10°C is heated at a constant rate until the whole of it vapourises. How
much of heat is required?
Given: Latent heat of ice = 336 ⨯ 103 J kg−1
Latent heat of steam = 2268 ⨯ 103 J kg−1
Specific heat capacity of ice = 2.1 ⨯ 103 J kg−1 K−1
Specific heat capacity of water = 4.2⨯ 103 J kg−1 K−1
(c) 40 g of water at 60°C is poured into a vessel containing 50 g of water at 20°C. The
final temperature of the mixture is 30°C. Taking the specific heat capacity of water
as 4.2 J g−1 K−1, calculate the thermal capacity of the vessel.
Question 9 [10]
(a) What is an electric fuse? Give two characteristics of a fuse.
(b) Draw a properly labelled diagram of a simple alternating current generator.
(c) An electric bulb is marked 100 W, 230 V. If the supply voltage drops to 115 V, what
is the heat and light energy produced by the bulb in 20 minutes?

Question 10 [10]
(a) Energy released per nuclear fission reaction is 190 MeV. Give this energy in terms of
joules.
(b)
i. In an isotope of uranium, which particles are the same in number?
ii. Why does the nucleus of an atom become radioactive?
(c) Mention α, β and γ in
i. Increasing order of their penetrating power
ii. Decreasing order of their ionising power
iii. Complete the following nuclear reaction:
* 85
235
92 U  01 n 
57 La  * Br  301 n  186 Mev
 ICSE Board
Class X Physics
Gold Series
Sample Paper – 1 Solution

Section 1
Answer 1
(a) No, the couple acting on a rigid body can cause only rotatory motion. It cannot produce
translatory motion.

(b) 1 J = 1 N 1m
= 1 kg m s−2 1 m
= 1 kg m2 s−2
= 1000 g (100 cm) 2 s−2
= 107 g cm2 s−2
1 J = 107 ergs

(c) No, because a part of input is wasted

(i) in moving the parts of the machine
(ii) in overcoming friction between various parts of the machine

(d)

According to the question,

L + W = 2 T and E = T
L=2T–W
L 2T  W
Mechanical advantage= 
E T
W
=2-
T
W
=2-
E
(e)
p2
We know that kinetic energy K=
2m
K1 p12 2m2
or  
K 2 2m1 p22
Here p1  p2 , m1  5 g, m2  35 g
K1 m2 35 7
 =  
K 2 m1 5 1
K 1 : K 2  7 :1

Answer 2
(a) The first beaker will have water at a higher temperature because of hidden heat (latent
heat) which is released by steam at 100°C when it condenses to form water at 100°C.

(b) The image is enlarged and erect; therefore, the lens is convex, and the measurement of
O′F will give the focal length of the lens.

(c) In the minimum deviation position,

Angle of incidence (i) = Angle of emergence (e)
Angle of refraction (r₁) = Angle of refraction (r₂)

c
(d) r < v as  =  vr > vv, i.e. red light in glass travels faster than voilet light.
v
(e)

Answer 3
(a) It depends on the angle of incidence i, the thickness of the slab and the refractive index
of the slab.

(b) Given:
Distance between Reema and the building, (d) = 167 m

Speed of sound (v) = 334 m s−1,

t =?
2d 2  167 m
Time interval t=  1 s
v 334 ms1

(c) Cloud cover traps the heat radiated by the ground at night between the ground and the
cloud making us feel warmer. On a clear night, no such trapping of heat takes place.

(d) The specific latent heat of ice means that 1 kg of ice at 0°C absorbs 3,36,000 J of heat to
convert to water at 0°C, or 1 kg of water at 0°C will liberate 3,36,000 J of heat to
convert to ice at 0°C.

(e) Given
R = 0.2 Ω
P = 10 kW = 10000 W
V = 220 V
Power loss in line = i2r
2
P  P=Vi 
  R  
V  i  P / V 
2
 1000 W 
   0.2 
 220 V 
 413 W=0.413 KW
Answer 4
(a) By using the magnetic effect of current, i.e. when a magnetic needle is placed on the
wall, it will show deflection due to the concealed current-carrying wire.

(b) Effective resistance between A and E of network AFE is given by:

1 1 1
 
R 1 (R AF  R FE ) R AE
1 1 2
=  
(3  3) 6 6
R1  3 
Effective resistance of network AFEDC is given by
R 2  R 2  R DC
=3+3=6 
Now R 2 , R AC and R ABC are parallel so effective resistance between A and C is given by
1 1 1 1
  
R 3 R 2 R AC R ABC
1 1 1
=    R AB and R BC are in series
R 2 R AC (R AB  R BC )
1 1 1 1
  
R 3 6 6 (3  3)
1 1 1 1 3 1
       R3  2 
R3 6 6 6 6 2

(c) Steel or alnico is used for making permanent magnets because of their large value of
coactivity.

(d) Yes, in α-decay, the element shifts two places left in the periodic table. In β-decay, the
element shifts one place right in the periodic table.

(e) In a TV set, electrons are accelerated by about 5000 V and strike the screen due to
which soft X-rays are produced which can damage our body. These X-rays are absorbed
by a length of a few feet of air due to ionisation by collisions. Thus, it is advisable to
watch TV from a distance of about 10–12 feet.
 Section 2
Answer 5
(a)
i. An inclined plane is used by labourers to load heavy barrels on a truck.
ii. No, a single fixed pulley does not produce any multiplication of force. It is useful
because it helps us to apply force in a more convenient direction.

(b) Let the lady of mass 60 kg sit at a distance x from the fulcrum.

According to the principle of moments,

Clockwise moments = Anticlockwise moments
40 kg ⨯ g ⨯3.5 m + 30 kg × g ⨯1.5 m = 60 kg ⨯ g ⨯ x
⇒ (140 + 45) kg m = 60 ⨯ x kg
⇒ x = 185/60
⇒ x = 3.08 m

(c) Weight of water lifted = 20 ⨯ 10 N = 200 N

Work done = 200 N ⨯ 10 m = 2000 J
Work done 2000 joule
Power=   200 Js1  200 watt
Time Taken 10 s
Answer 6
(a) A real, inverted and diminished image is formed between F₂ and 2 F₂.

(b)

The angle of incidence at N inside the prism is less than 42°; therefore, the ray is able to
emerge along NP.

(c) The absolute refractive index of a medium is given by

sin i c
n 
sin r v
where c  speed of light in vaccume, v- speed of light in medium. Thus for some angle
of incidence
c sin r
v
sin i
or v  sin r
i.e. v will be minimum for the medium in which r or angle of refreaction r is minimum.
Thus, the speed of light is minimum in medium (I).
Answer 7

(a) Let x₁ and x₂ be the distances of the two cliffs from the observer.
Then 2x₁= 340 m s−1 ⨯ 5 s
⇒ 2x₁= 1700 m
⇒ x₁ = 850 m
2x₂ = 340 m s−1 ⨯ 7 s = 2380
⇒ x₂ = 1190 m
Distance between the two cliffs = x₁ + x₂
= 850 + 1190
= 2040 m

(b) Dissimilarities:
Sound waves Light waves
(i) These are longitudinal waves (also (i)These are transverse waves (also known
known as mechanical waves) which need a as electromagnetic waves) which do not
medium to travel. need a medium to travel.
(ii) Their speed in air is 332 ms−1. (ii) Their speed is 3  108 ms−1.

Similarities: Both sound waves and light waves obey the laws of reflection and refraction
and exhibit the phenomenon of interference.
(c)
i. We know that the frequency of the string depends on the length of the string
(l), mass per unit length of the string (m) and tension of the string (T).
1 T
i.e. v 
2l m
Hence, tension and length are changed to bring about the desired tuning.
ii.
1. Figure 2 represents the vibrations of the largest amplitude, and Figure 3
represents the vibration of the fundamental note.
 2
2. For figure (1), l=3  1  1  l
2 3
v v 3v
 Frequency,  1   
1 2l/3 2l
2 v 2v
For figure (2), l=2   
2 l 2l
For figure (3),
v v
 Frequency,  3  
3 2l
3v 2v v
v1 : v 2 : v3  : :  3:2:1
2l 2l 2l
Answer 8
(a) When the salt crystal dissolves, its crystal lattice is destroyed. The process requires
certain amount of energy, i.e. latent heat which is taken from water. In the second
vessel, a part of the intermolecular bonds of the crystal has already been destroyed in
crushing the crystal. Hence, less energy is required to dissolve the powder. Therefore,
the water will be at a higher temperature.

(b) Given that m = 1 kg

Initial temperature = −10°C
In this case, heat energy is required in the following four steps:

1. Heat energy required to raise the temperature of ice from −10°C to 0°C
= m ⨯ c (ice) ⨯ rise in temperature
= 1 ⨯ (2.1 ⨯ 103) ⨯ [0 − (−10)]
= 21 ⨯ 103 J
2. Heat energy required to melt ice at 0°C into water at 0°C
= mLice
= 1 ⨯ (336 ⨯ 103)
= 336 ⨯ 103 J
3. Heat energy required to increase the temperature of melted ice water from 0°C
to 100°C
= m ⨯c (water) ⨯ rise in temperature
= 1⨯ (4.2⨯ 103) ⨯ (100 − 0)
= 420 ⨯ 103 J
4. Heat energy required for vaporisation of water
= mLsteam
= 1 ⨯ (2268⨯ 103)
= 2268 ⨯ 103 J
∴ Total heat energy required
= (21 + 336 + 420 + 2268) ⨯ 103
= 3045 ⨯ 103 J
= 3045 kJ
(c) Let the thermal capacity of the vessel be C' J K−1
Heat energy given by hot water = 40 × 4.2 × (60 − 30) = 5040 J
Heat energy taken by cold water = 50 × 4.2 × (30 − 20) = 2100 J
Heat energy taken by vessel = C' × (30 − 20) = 10 C' J
If there is no loss of heat energy,
Heat energy given by hot water = Heat energy taken by cold water and vessel
Or 5040 = 2100 + 10 C'
Or 10 C' = 2940
Or C'= 294 J K−1
Thus, the thermal capacity of the vessel = 294 J K−1.
Answer 9
(a) The electric fuse is a device used to limit the current in an electric circuit.
It has the following characteristics:
i. Fuse has a high resistance and low melting point.
ii. Fuse is made of an alloy of lead and tin.
iii. Fuse is always connected to the live wire of the circuit.

(b)

i. N and S are strong horseshoe permanent magnets.

ii. ABCD is a soft iron core armature having a large number of turns of insulated
copper wire wound on it.
iii. S₁ and S₂ are slip rings.
iv. B₁ and B₂ are carbon brushes.

(c) Given:
P = 100 W
V = 230 volt
T = 20 × 60 s
v2 (230 V)2
Resistance of bulb, R= 
P 100 W
Supply voltage V′ = 115
Therefore, the heat and light energy produced by the bulb in 20 minutes
v'2 (115 V)2  (20  60)s
= t
R 529 
=30,000 J
Answer 10
(a) 1 eV = 1.602 × 10−19 J
190 MeV = 190 × 1.602 × 106 × 10−19 J
= 3.04 × 10−11 J

(b)
i. Number of protons
ii. An element becomes radioactive when
1. Its atomic number exceeds 82.
2. There is an imbalance of protons and neutrons as compared to a normal
stable atom.

(c)
i.     
ii.     
92 U+ 0 n 
iii. 235  148
57 La  35 Br  3 0 n  186 Mev
1 85 1