Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level

PHYSICS 9702/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice September 2020
1 hour 15 minutes
Additional Materials: Multiple Choice Answer Sheet
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There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions. For each question there are four possible
answers A, B, C and D.
Choose the one you consider correct and record 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 working should be done in this booklet.
Electronic calculators may be used.

This document consists of 20 printed pages.

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Data

speed of light in free space c = 3.00 × 108 m s–1

permeability of free space µ0 = 4π × 10–7 H m–1

permittivity of free space ε0 = 8.85 × 10–12 F m–1

1
( = 8.99 × 109 m F–1)
4πε 0

elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10–19 C

the Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10–34 J s

unified atomic mass unit 1 u = 1.66 × 10–27 kg

rest mass of electron me = 9.11 × 10–31 kg

rest mass of proton mp = 1.67 × 10–27 kg

molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K–1 mol–1

the Avogadro constant NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol–1

the Boltzmann constant k = 1.38 × 10–23 J K–1

gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

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Formulae
1
uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 2
at 2
v 2 = u 2 + 2as

work done on/by a gas W = p∆V

gravitational potential φ = – Gm
r
hydrostatic pressure p = ρ gh

pressure of an ideal gas p= 1 Nm <c 2>

3 V

simple harmonic motion a = – ω 2x

velocity of particle in s.h.m. v = v0 cos ωt

v = ±ω ( x 02 − x 2 )

fsv
Doppler effect fo =
v ± vs

electric potential V= Q
4 πε 0r

capacitors in series 1 / C = 1 / C1 + 1 / C2 + . . .

capacitors in parallel C = C1 + C2 + . . .

1
energy of charged capacitor W= 2
QV

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + . . .

resistors in parallel 1 / R = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2 + . . .
BI
Hall voltage VH =
ntq
alternating current/voltage x = x0 sin ωt

radioactive decay x = x0 exp(–λt)

decay constant λ = 0.693

t1
2

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1 What is a unit for stress?

A kg m–1 s–2 B kg m–2 s–2 C N m–1 D Nm

2 Physical quantities can be classed as vectors or as scalars.

Which pair of quantities consists of two vectors?

A kinetic energy and force

B momentum and time
C velocity and electric field strength
D weight and temperature

3 Two dogs pull a sledge along an icy track, as shown.

dog X pulls with

a force of 200 N

65° track
forward
sledge
force
45°

dog Y pulls with

a force of 120 N

Dog X pulls with a force of 200 N at an angle of 65° to the front edge of the sledge. Dog Y pulls
with a force of 120 N at an angle of 45° to the front edge of the sledge.

What is the resultant forward force on the sledge exerted by the two dogs?

A 80 N B 170 N C 270 N D 320 N

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4 In the circuit shown, an analogue ammeter is to be recalibrated as a thermometer. The ammeter

is connected in series with a thermistor. The thermistor is a component with a resistance that
varies with temperature. The graph shows how the resistance R of the thermistor changes with
temperature T.

R / kΩ

A
0 100
thermistor
T / °C

Which diagram could represent the temperature scale on the ammeter?

A B C D

20 40 6 80 80 60 40 40 20
0 80 4 0 60 100 20 100
80 60
0 100 0 20 100 0 0

°C °C °C °C

5 The sides of a cube are measured with calipers.

The measured length of each side is (30.0 ± 0.1) mm.

The measurements are used to calculate the volume of the cube.

What is the percentage uncertainty in the calculated value of the volume?

A 0.01% B 0.3% C 1% D 3%

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6 A tennis ball falls freely, in air, from the top of a tall building.

Which graph best represents the variation with time t of the distance s fallen?

A B

s s

0 0
0 t 0 t

C D

s s

0 0
0 t 0 t

7 The graph shows the variation with mass of the weight of objects on a particular planet.

4
weight / N
3

0
0 1 2
mass / kg

What is the value of the acceleration of free fall on the planet?

A 0.63 m s–2 B 1.6 m s–2 C 3.2 m s–2 D 9.8 m s–2

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8 The momentum of a car of mass m increases from p1 to p2.

What is the increase in the kinetic energy of the car?

( p 22 − p12) ( p 2 − p1)2 p 2 − p1 p1 − p 2
A B C D
2m 2m 2m 2m

9 Two similar spheres, each of mass m and travelling with speed v, are moving towards each other.

v v

m m

The spheres have a head-on elastic collision.

Which statement is correct?

A The spheres stick together on impact.

B The total kinetic energy after impact is mv 2.
C The total kinetic energy before impact is zero.
D The total momentum before impact is 2mv.

10 A horizontal metal bar PQ of length 50.0 cm is hinged at end P. The diagram shows the metal bar
viewed from above.

16.0 N

30° Q

5.0 N
P
50.0 cm

Two forces of 16.0 N and 5.0 N are in the horizontal plane and act on end Q as shown in the
diagram.

What is the total moment about P due to the two forces?

A 1.5 N m B 4.4 N m C 6.5 N m D 9.4 N m

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11 Blocks P, Q, R and S are made from material of the same density. Block T is made from a
material of twice the density of the material of the other blocks.

The cross-sectional area and height of each of the blocks are shown.

2h R 2h S

h P h Q h T

ground
A 2A A 2A A

Which two blocks exert the same pressure on the ground?

A P and T B Q and R C Q and S D S and T

12 Two parallel forces, each of magnitude F, act on a rod of length 5d.

Which diagram shows the positions of the two forces that will produce the largest torque on the
rod?

A B
F
d

F F F

C D
F
2d

2d
F F F
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13 Liquids X and Y are stored in large open tanks. Liquid X has a density of 800 kg m–3 and liquid Y
has a density of 1200 kg m–3.

At which depths are the pressures equal?

depth in depth in
liquid X / m liquid Y / m

A 8 20
B 10 15
C 15 10
D 20 8

14 A train of mass 3.3 × 106 kg is moving at a constant speed up a slope inclined at an angle of 0.64°
to the horizontal. The engine of the train is producing a useful output power of 14 MW.

Assume that there are no frictional forces opposing the motion of the train.

What is the speed of the train?

A 0.43 m s–1 B 4.2 m s–1 C 39 m s–1 D 380 m s–1

15 A cannon-ball of mass 3.50 kg is fired at a speed of 22.0 m s–1 from a gun on a ship at a height of
6.00 m above sea level.

The total energy of the cannon-ball is the sum of the gravitational potential energy relative to the
surface of the sea and the kinetic energy.

What is the total energy of the cannon-ball as it leaves the gun?

A 206 J B 641 J C 847 J D 1050 J

16 An aircraft travels at a constant velocity of 90 m s–1 in horizontal flight. The diagram shows some
of the forces acting on the aircraft.

drag
thrust
2400 N

weight

The mass of the aircraft is 2000 kg.

What is the power produced by the thrust force?

A 1.8 × 105 W B 2.2 × 105 W C 1.8 × 106 W D 2.0 × 106 W

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17 An electrical generator is started at time zero. The total electrical energy generated during the
first 5 seconds is shown in the graph.

50
energy / J
40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
time / s

What is the maximum electrical power generated at any instant during these first 5 seconds?

A 10 W B 13 W C 30 W D 50 W

18 The diagram shows a wire of diameter D and length L that is firmly clamped at one end between
two blocks of wood. A load is applied to the wire which extends its length by x.

blocks of wood

wire

load

A second wire is made of the same material, but of diameter 2D and length 3L. Both wires obey
Hooke’s law.

What is the extension of the second wire when the same load is applied?

A 2x B 3x C 4x D 3x
3 4 3 2
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19 Two wires, one made of brass and the other of steel, are stretched in an experiment. Both wires
obey Hooke’s law during this experiment.

The Young modulus for brass is less than the Young modulus for steel.

Which graph shows how the stress varies with strain for both wires in this experiment?

A B

stress steel stress steel

brass brass

0 0
0 strain 0 strain

C D

stress brass stress brass

steel steel

0 0
0 strain 0 strain

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20 A spring has a spring constant of 6.0 N cm –1. It is joined to another spring whose spring constant
is 4.0 N cm–1. A load of 80 N is suspended from this composite spring.

6.0 N cm–1

4.0 N cm–1

load

80 N

What is the extension of this composite spring?

A 8.0 cm B 16 cm C 17 cm D 33 cm

21 The graph shows the extension of a sample of a type of rubber as different loads F are applied
and then gradually removed.

100
F/N
80

60

40

20

0
0 4 8 12 16
extension / mm

What is the best estimate of the strain energy in the rubber when a load of 80 N is applied?

A 0.40 J B 0.64 J C 0.88 J D 1.3 J

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22 A sound wave passes through air.

The diagram shows the positions of the molecules of the air at one instant.

P Q R S

Which distance is equal to the wavelength of the wave?

A PQ B PS C QR D QS

23 The top row of bars represents a set of particles inside the Earth and at rest.

The lower row represents the same particles at one instant as a longitudinal wave passes from
left to right through the Earth.

What should be measured to determine the amplitude of the oscillations of the particles in the
lower row as the wave passes?

A half the maximum displacement of the particles from their position at rest
B half the maximum distance apart of the particles
C the maximum displacement of the particles from their position at rest
D the maximum distance apart of the particles

24 A straight tube is closed at one end and has a loudspeaker positioned at the open end. The
frequency of the loudspeaker is initially very low and is increased slowly. A series of loudness
maxima are heard. The stationary wave which gives the first maximum has a node at the closed
end and an antinode at the open end. The frequency of the loudspeaker is f1 when the first
maximum is heard.

What is the frequency of the loudspeaker when the fourth maximum is heard?

A 7f 1 B 2f1 C 4f1 D 7f1

4

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25 A buzzer emitting sound of frequency 846 Hz is attached to a string and rotated in a horizontal
circle. The linear speed of the buzzer is 25.0 m s–1.

buzzer

observer

The speed of sound is 340 m s–1.

What is the maximum frequency heard by the observer?

A 783 Hz B 788 Hz C 908 Hz D 913 Hz

26 The diagram shows the principal regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some details
labelled. The diagram is not to scale.

10–10 m
wavelength increasing

What is a typical order of magnitude of the wavelength of the radiation in region Q?

A 10–7 m B 10–5 m C 10–2 m D 100 m

27 P and Q are fixed points at the end of a string. A transverse stationary wave of constant
maximum amplitude is formed on the string.

x x

P S R T Q

P, R and Q are the only points on the string where nodes are formed. S and T are two points on
the string at a distance x from R.

What is the relationship between points S and T?

A the same amplitude and in phase

B different amplitudes and in phase

C the same amplitude and a phase difference of 180°

D different amplitudes and a phase difference of 180°

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28 Two identical loudspeakers are connected in series to an a.c. supply, as shown.

P
speaker

a.c. supply

speaker
Q

A microphone is moved along the line PQ.

Which graph best shows the variation with distance from P of the intensity of the sound detected
by the microphone?

A B

intensity intensity

0 0
P Q P Q
distance distance

C D

intensity intensity

0 0
P Q P Q
distance distance

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29 A diffraction grating experiment is set up using orange light of wavelength 600 nm. The grating
has a slit separation of 2.00 µm.

2nd order orange

1st order orange

θ2
θ1

light of
wavelength grating
600 nm

What is the angular separation (θ2 – θ1) between the first and second order maxima of the orange
light?

A 17.5° B 19.4° C 36.9° D 54.3°

30 Two horizontal parallel plate conductors are separated by a distance of 5.0 mm in air. The lower
plate is earthed and the potential of the upper plate is +50 V.

What is the electric field strength E at a point midway between the plates?

A 1.0 × 104 V m–1 downwards

B 1.0 × 104 V m–1 upwards

C 2.0 × 104 V m–1 downwards

D 2.0 × 104 V m–1 upwards

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31 The diagram shows the electric field near a point charge and two electrons X and Y.

Which row describes the forces acting on X and on Y?

direction of force magnitude of force on X

A radially inwards less than force on Y

B radially inwards greater than force on Y
C radially outwards less than force on Y
D radially outwards greater than force on Y

32 The electric current in a wire may be calculated using the equation I = Anvq.

Which statement is not correct?

A n is the number of charge carriers per unit volume of the wire.

B nA is the number of charge carriers per unit length of the wire.
C q is the charge of each charge carrier.
D v is the velocity of each charge carrier.

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33 Three resistors are connected in parallel across a power supply, as shown.

+ –

2Ω

3Ω

4Ω

The power dissipated in each of the resistors of resistance 2 Ω, 3 Ω and 4 Ω is P2, P3 and P4
respectively.

What is the ratio P2 : P3 : P4?

A 2:3:4 B 4:3:2 C 6:4:3 D 36 : 16 : 9

34 Which graph shows the variation with current I of the potential difference V of a filament lamp?

A B C D
V V V V

0 0 0 0
0 I 0 I 0 I 0 I

35 A wire of cross-sectional area 5.0 × 10–6 m2 is made of a metal of resistivity 50 × 10–8 Ω m.

The potential difference across the wire is 6.0 V and the current is 3.0 A.

What is the length of the wire?

A 0.050 m B 0.20 m C 5.0 m D 20 m

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36 A cell of internal resistance r and electromotive force (e.m.f.) E is connected in series with a
resistor of resistance R.
E
r

R
The resistance R and the e.m.f. E remain fixed. The internal resistance r of the cell changes over
time. Which graph best shows the variation of the current I in the circuit with the internal resistance r ?

A B
I I

0 0
0 r 0 r

C D
I I

0 0
0 r 0 r

37 Identical resistors are connected in four combinations P, Q, R and S between terminals X and Y.

P Q
X Y X Y

R S

X Y X Y

What is the order of decreasing combined resistance between X and Y (largest first)?

A P→S→Q→R

B P→S→R→Q
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C Q→R→S→P

D S→P→Q→R
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38 The circuit shown consists of two resistors of resistances 10 kΩ and 50 kΩ and a component Y.

A 6.0 V supply is provided. The electric potential of the bottom wire is 0 V.

6.0 V

10 kΩ

50 kΩ component Y

0V

The current in component Y is negligible.

What is the electric potential at junction X?

A 1.0 V B 1.2 V C 4.8 V D 5.0 V

39 A neutron 10 n is fired at a 235

92 U nucleus. The neutron is absorbed by the nucleus which then splits
141 92
to form nuclei of 56 Ba and 36 Kr .

235
What is the number of neutrons emitted when the 92 U nucleus splits?

A 0 B 1 C 2 D 3

40 Which word equation represents β+ decay?

A proton → neutron + electron + electron antineutrino

B proton → neutron + electron + electron neutrino

C proton → neutron + positron + electron antineutrino

D proton → neutron + positron + electron neutrino