Physics

Section A

Answer all the questions in this section. Answer in the spaces provided.

1 An aircraft flies at a constant height.

Air drag and the force from the aircraft’s engines together produce a force on the aircraft of 36 kN
due north, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

The wind produces a force of 12 kN towards the east.

north
36 kN

12 kN

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

(a) Draw a scale drawing to show the resultant force acting on the aircraft.

Use your drawing to determine the size of the resultant force and the angle between the
resultant force and north.

size of resultant force = ...............................................................

angle = ...............................................................
[3]
(b) The acceleration of the aircraft is uniform.

(i) Describe how a uniform acceleration differs from a non-uniform acceleration.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) The mass of the aircraft is 60 000 kg.

Calculate the acceleration of the aircraft.

acceleration = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 7]
2 Fig. 2.1 shows a hollow metal cube filled with boiling water. The temperature of the four vertical
surfaces are equal but each surface has a different colour or texture.

metal thermal radiation sensor

cube

shiny
white
surface
40
meter

Fig. 2.1

A thermal radiation sensor is placed the same distance from each surface and the meter reading
measures the thermal radiation emitted from each surface.

(a) The results are shown in Fig. 2.2.

Draw a line linking each type of surface with the appropriate meter reading. One line has
been drawn for you.

type of surface meter reading

dull black 40

dull white 60

shiny black 80

shiny white 100

Fig. 2.2
[2]

(b) The hot surfaces produce a convection current in the air outside the metal cube.

Describe how the convection current is produced.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 5]
3 A hot steel rod is cooled by plunging it into cold water, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

steel rod

Fig. 3.1

(a) The steel rod has a mass of 2.0 kg and is initially at a temperature of 500 °C.
It cools to 50 °C when placed in the water.

The specific heat capacity of steel is 460 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the thermal energy (heat) lost by the steel rod as it cools to 50 °C.

thermal energy = ......................................................... [3]

(b) A small mass of water boils when the rod is placed in the water. The remaining water then
cools to room temperature and some of it evaporates.

In both boiling and evaporation, water molecules escape into the air.

(i) State one way in which boiling is different from evaporation.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) The rate of evaporation decreases as the water cools.

Explain why this happens, using ideas about molecules.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 6]
4 (a) Fig. 4.1 shows a wave on a rope and Fig. 4.2 shows a wave on a spring. Both waves are
moving in the direction shown by the arrows.

Fig. 4.1

X
X

Fig. 4.2

(i) State the name of each of the two types of wave shown.

Fig. 4.1 ..............................................................................................................................

Fig. 4.2 ..............................................................................................................................

[1]

(ii) On Fig. 4.1, draw a wave which has a smaller frequency than the wave shown. [1]

(iii) Describe the movement of point X on the spring in Fig. 4.2 as the wave passes.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Table 4.1 shows some sentences that a student writes about waves.

His teacher places a ring around each mistake.

Write a suitable correction for each mistake in Table 4.1. One has been done for you.

Table 4.1

sentence correction

Sound travels at 3.0 × 108 m / s in air. 330

Sound with a higher pitch has a larger amplitude.

X-rays are used for pre-natal scanning.

In the electromagnetic spectrum, microwaves have the
highest frequency.
[3]

[Total: 6]
5 Fig. 5.1 shows part of the ray diagram of a lens being used as a magnifying glass.

Three rays are shown coming from the top of an object O.

The points labelled F are one focal length from the lens.

F F

Fig. 5.1

(a) State the name of the type of lens shown in Fig. 5.1.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Describe what happens to the ray of light R:

• as it enters the lens ................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

• as it leaves the lens. ...............................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(c) Using all three rays from O, complete Fig. 5.1 to show the image formed. [2]

(d) Underline all of the words in the list that describe the image formed in (c).

inverted upright real virtual

[1]

[Total: 6]
6 A student moves a metal bar upwards between the poles of a magnet, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

direction of
movement

A
N S
metal
bar

Fig. 6.1

The ammeter connected to the metal bar shows a small positive reading as the bar moves.

(a) Explain why there is a reading on the ammeter.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Complete Table 6.1 by stating what the ammeter shows when the metal bar moves in the
direction shown by the arrow in each diagram.

Table 6.1

reading shown on the ammeter

............................................................................
A
N S
............................................................................

............................................................................
A
N S
............................................................................

A ............................................................................
N S
............................................................................

[3]
(c) The student finds that using a stronger magnet increases the reading on the ammeter.

State one other way in which the student can produce a larger reading on the ammeter, using
the same rod.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) Describe how Lenz’s law applies when the bar is moved upwards.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 7]
7 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows two circuit components.

thermistor LDR

Fig. 7.1

For each of these components state what causes an increase in its resistance.

thermistor ..................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

LDR ..........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Fig. 7.2 shows a battery connected to a diode, an ammeter and a resistor.

Fig. 7.3 shows the current – voltage graph for the diode.

current

0
0 0.6
A voltage / V

Fig. 7.2 Fig. 7.3

The current in the resistor is 2.0 A and the potential difference across the resistor is 5.4 V.

(i) State what is meant by the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the battery.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Explain why the e.m.f. of the battery must be greater than 5.4 V.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Calculate the electrical energy input to the resistor in 5.0 minutes.

energy input = ......................................................... [2]

(iv) The circuit is reconnected with the diode in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 7.4.

Fig. 7.4

Explain what is observed.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 8]
 Section B

Answer two questions from this section. Answer in the spaces provided.

8 Fig. 8.1 shows a stationary horse and its rider, about to jump over two fences.

fences

Fig. 8.1

(a) Fig. 8.2 shows a side view of the horse.

Fig. 8.2

(i) On Fig. 8.2, draw and label the forces acting on the horse.

Include the force that the rider exerts on the horse. Label this force F. [3]

(ii) Explain how Newton’s third law applies to force F.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(b) Fig. 8.3 shows a side view of the two fences. They both have the same height and a uniform
density.

Fig. 8.3

(i) On each fence in Fig. 8.3, mark with a cross the centre of mass. [2]

(ii) Explain why a wider base makes the fence more stable.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) The total mass of the horse and rider is 520 kg.

(i) As they approach a fence, the horse and rider have a total kinetic energy of 4000 J.

Calculate their speed.

speed = ......................................................... [3]

(ii) The centre of mass of the horse and rider is 1.4 m above the ground.

The maximum potential energy gained by the horse and rider as they jump over the
fence is 3000 J.

Calculate the maximum height above the ground of the centre of mass during the jump.

The gravitational field strength g = 10 N / kg.

height = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 15]
9 Fig. 9.1 is the current – voltage graph for a filament lamp.

1.8

1.6
current / A
1.4

1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
voltage / V

Fig. 9.1

(a) Fig. 9.2 shows an incomplete circuit diagram of the circuit that a student uses to obtain the
readings for the graph.

Fig. 9.2

Complete the circuit diagram using suitable circuit symbols for the lamp, a voltmeter and a
variable resistor. [3]
(b) The ammeter used by the student has ranges 0−10 A, 0−1 A, 0−100 mA and 0−10 mA.

Describe how the student uses the different ranges to obtain readings which allow all nine
points to be plotted precisely on the graph while using the ammeter safely.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) State how Fig. 9.1 shows that the lamp does not obey Ohm’s law.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) Using Fig. 9.1, determine the resistance of the lamp when:

(i) the voltmeter reading is 0.40 V

resistance = ...............................................................

(ii) the voltmeter reading is 6.0 V.

resistance = ...............................................................
[3]
(e) (i) Explain why the resistance of the lamp changes as the voltage changes.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) State how the resistance of a wire depends upon its length and how it depends on its
cross-sectional area.

length ................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

cross-sectional area ..........................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iii) The student obtains a long sample of the same type of wire as the filament in the lamp.

The wire he obtains has the same cross-sectional area as the filament.

He cuts a 1.0 m length of the wire and measures its resistance at room temperature.

He obtains the value 16 Ω.

Using the appropriate resistance value from (d), estimate the length of the filament wire
in the lamp.

length = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 15]
10 Table 10.1 contains details of the nature and some properties of alpha, beta and gamma emissions.

Table 10.1

alpha beta gamma

2 protons and
nature
2 neutrons

charge negative

stopped by 5 mm of
penetrating power
aluminium

(a) Complete Table 10.1 by filling in the missing details. [6]

(b) Surgical instruments in sealed plastic bags are placed in thin plastic boxes. A conveyor belt
takes the boxes close to a cobalt-60 source which sterilises the instruments.

This is shown in Fig. 10.1.

thick
concrete
cobalt-60
source

boxes of
surgical
instruments

conveyor belt

Fig. 10.1 (viewed from above)

The cobalt-60 source is a radioactive isotope of cobalt that emits gamma-radiation.

(i) Describe what is meant by the term isotope.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Suggest a property of gamma-radiation that enables it to sterilise the instruments in the
bags in the boxes.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
 (iii) State why a source emitting only alpha-radiation cannot be used in this way.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) The half-life of cobalt-60 is 5.3 years.

Explain why a source with a half-life of 5.3 minutes is unsuitable for use in this application.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Geiger and Marsden performed an experiment in which alpha-particles were fired at a thin
film of gold.

(i) Fig. 10.2 shows an alpha-particle passing close to the nucleus of a gold atom.

path of alpha-particle

nucleus of gold atom

Fig. 10.2

Explain why the alpha-particle is deflected.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) In the experiment, most of the alpha-particles pass straight through the foil without
deflection.

Explain, using ideas about the structure of the atom, why this happens.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 15]
 Section A

Answer all the questions in this section. Answer in the spaces provided.

1 (a) (i) State the difference between a scalar quantity and a vector quantity.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State two examples of each type of quantity.

scalar quantity vector quantity

1 ...................................................... 1 ......................................................

2 ...................................................... 2 ......................................................
[2]

(b) Fig. 1.1 shows the direction and size of two vectors P and Q.

Fig. 1.1

In the space next to Fig. 1.1, draw a labelled vector diagram to show the resultant vector
obtained by adding vector P to vector Q.

Draw vector P, vector Q and the resultant vector to the same scale as in Fig. 1.1.
[2]

[Total: 5]
2 A car approaches a set of traffic lights. The lights change to red at time t = 0.

Fig. 2.1 shows how the speed of the car changes with time.

24

20
speed
m/s
16

12

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
t/s

Fig. 2.1

(a) The car starts to slow down a short time after the lights change to red.

Determine the time between the lights changing to red and the car starting to slow down.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) (i) State what is meant by uniform acceleration.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State how Fig. 2.1 shows that the deceleration of the car between t = 2 s and t = 7 s is
non-uniform.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Determine the distance the car travels from the moment the car starts to slow down until it
stops.

distance = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 6]
3 Fig. 3.1 shows a small brick hanging from a newton meter.

newton meter

brick

Fig. 3.1

The reading on the newton meter is 3.0 N.

(a) Describe how the reading on the newton meter is used to find the mass of the brick.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) The same brick and newton meter are used in the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.2. The meter
rule is pivoted at its centre and is balanced. The reading on the newton meter is not shown.

newton meter 0

uniform metre
pivot rule
10 cm 20 cm

Fig. 3.2
 (i) State the principle of moments for a body in equilibrium.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Determine the reading on the newton meter shown in Fig. 3.2.

reading = ......................................................... [2]

(c) A beaker of water is placed so that the brick is partly submerged in the water, as shown in
Fig. 3.3. The apparatus is adjusted to keep the rule horizontal.

newton meter 0

uniform metre
pivot rule
10 cm 20 cm

water

Fig. 3.3

Suggest why the reading on the newton meter is less than your answer in (b)(ii).

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 6]
4 (a) In a demonstration, a teacher uses a loud ticking clock, two hollow tubes A and B, a barrier
and a smooth surface. The clock is used as a source of sound.

Fig. 4.1 shows tube A and the clock, both fixed in position on the left of the barrier.

smooth surface

hollow tube A

hollow tube B

barrier
ticking clock ear

Fig. 4.1

Sound from the ticking clock passes along tube A and is incident on the smooth surface.

A student listens to the sound passing along tube B, which is on the right of the barrier.

(i) On Fig. 4.1, draw tube B in the position where the sound heard by the student is loudest.
[1]

(ii) Explain your answer to (i).

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s.

State a typical value for the speed of sound in a solid.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 4]
5 Fig. 5.1 shows a method of producing sandpaper using static electricity.

glue
paper

sand

negative
metal plate

positive metal
plate
sand

Fig. 5.1

Glue is sprayed on to moving paper. The sticky paper then passes between two metal plates.

One of the plates is positive and the other plate is negative.

There is an electric field between the plates.

(a) On Fig. 5.2, draw the electric field between the two metal plates. Show the direction of the
electric field.

negative
metal plate

positive metal
plate

Fig. 5.2
[2]
(b) Grains of sand are present just below the sticky paper.

Each grain of sand is a conductor of electricity.

Fig. 5.3 shows two layers of sand grains in the space between the two plates.

negative
metal plate
sand grains
sticky paper

positive metal
plate

Fig. 5.3

(i) Explain, using ideas about the movement of charge, why the top layer of sand becomes
positively charged.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State why the top layer of sand moves towards the sticky paper.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) A student receives an electric shock by walking across a certain type of carpet and then
nearly touching a piece of earthed metal with his hand.

The potential difference between the hand and the metal is 2000 V and the charge transferred
is 4.0 × 10−4 C.

Calculate the energy transferred when the spark jumps across the air gap from the metal
onto his hand.

energy = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 6]
6 The power input to a filament lamp when connected to a 12 V supply is 20 W.

(a) State what is meant by power.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Calculate:

(i) the current in the filament

current = ......................................................... [2]

(ii) the resistance of the filament.

resistance = ......................................................... [1]

(c) The filament in another lamp is made from thinner wire of the same length and made from the
same material. Both lamps are connected to a 12 V supply.

State and explain how using thinner wire in the filament affects the power input to the lamp.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 6]
7 Fig. 7.1 shows part of a simple d.c. electric motor.

coil
axis

A
S
B

Fig. 7.1

The motor is connected to a battery with the positive terminal of the battery connected to terminal A.

(a) Explain why the coil turns in the direction shown.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) The turning effect is increased when the coil is wound around a soft-iron cylinder.

(i) Explain why this happens.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Suggest one other way to increase the turning effect of the motor.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 6]
8 Fig. 8.1 shows a potential divider circuit containing two resistors R1 and R2.

R1
input
voltage
6.0 V
output
R2 voltage

Fig. 8.1

(a) There is an input voltage of 6.0 V.

Complete Table 8.1 to show the output voltage for different values of the resistances of the
two resistors.

Table 8.1

resistance of R1 / Ω resistance of R2 / Ω output voltage / V

8.0 8.0
..............................

800 1200
..............................
[3]
EITHER

(b) In the circuit shown in Fig. 8.1, resistor R1 is replaced by a light dependent resistor (LDR).

(i) In the space below, draw the circuit symbol for an LDR.

[1]

(ii) The LDR is moved from darkness into daylight.

State what happens to the resistance of the LDR and the output voltage.

resistance ..........................................................................................................................

output voltage ....................................................................................................................

[1]

(iii) A potential divider circuit can also be used to produce an output voltage that changes
with temperature.

State the name of the component that is used instead of the LDR.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

OR

(b) A simple bistable circuit contains NOR gates.

(i) In the space below, draw the circuit symbol of a NOR gate.

[1]

(ii) Describe what is meant by a bistable circuit.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 6]
 Section B

Answer two questions from this section. Answer in the spaces provided.

9 (a) Fig. 9.1 represents the conversion of energy in a mobile phone.

energy
output

battery mobile phone

Fig. 9.1

(i) State the form of energy stored in the battery.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the useful form of output energy from the battery.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) State two useful forms of output energy from the mobile phone.

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) When the battery is in use, the average current is 1.3 mA.

Determine the charge that passes through the battery in a time of 2.0 minutes.

charge = ......................................................... [2]

(c) A student estimates the thermal energy produced in the battery when the mobile phone is
used and uses this value to estimate the efficiency of the battery.

He measures a temperature rise of 5.0 °C within the battery in a period of time when the
useful energy output from the battery is 5200 J.

The mass of the battery is 110 g and its specific heat capacity is 830 J / (kg °C).

(i) Calculate the thermal energy (heat) needed to raise the temperature of the battery by
5.0 °C.

thermal energy = ......................................................... [3]

(ii) State what is meant by efficiency.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) Calculate the efficiency of the battery.

efficiency = ......................................................... [2]

(iv) Suggest and explain one reason why the value for the efficiency calculated in (iii) is
larger than the actual efficiency of the battery.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 15]
10 (a) Fig. 10.1 shows a water wave moving from shallow into deep water. The wavefronts shown
represent the crests of the wave.

boundary
shallow deep
water water

wavefront

12 cm

Fig. 10.1 (not to scale)

The water wave is made by dipping a wooden bar up and down in the water. The bar makes
10 complete up and down movements in 5.0 s.

(i) Determine the wavelength of the wave in the shallow water.

wavelength = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) Calculate the frequency of the wave produced.

frequency = ......................................................... [2]

(iii) Determine the speed of the water wave in the shallow water.

speed = ......................................................... [2]

(iv) On Fig. 10.2, draw lines to show what happens to the wavelength, the frequency and the
speed of the water wave as it enters the deep water.

One line has been drawn for you.

wavelength decreases

frequency stays the same

speed increases

Fig. 10.2
[1]

(v) The direction of the boundary is now altered. The water wave now enters the deep water
from the shallow water at an angle, as shown in Fig. 10.3.

boundary
deep
water
deep
water

Fig. 10.3

On Fig. 10.3, draw the wavefronts in the deep water. [3]

(b) White light is made up of different colours.

(i) State the name of four of the colours in the visible spectrum and place them in order
from the smallest wavelength to the largest wavelength.

smallest wavelength ............................................

............................................

............................................

largest wavelength ............................................

[2]

(ii) A narrow beam of white light can be split into different colours.

Fig. 10.4 shows rays of white light emitted from a lamp.

Complete Fig. 10.4 to show how a narrow beam is produced from these rays and how a
spectrum is shown on the screen. Label your diagram.

screen

lamp

Fig. 10.4
[4]

[Total: 15]
11 A highly radioactive source that emits beta-particles is placed a few centimetres away from a
detector, as shown in Fig. 11.1.

radioactive
source detector counter Not to scale

metal
casing 000000

Fig. 11.1

(a) State the name of the particle which has the same mass and charge as a beta-particle.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) State and explain why the metal casing in Fig. 11.1 is used.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) State and explain what happens to the number of particles detected in a minute as the
radioactive source is moved:

(i) a few centimetres further away from the source

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) more than a metre away from the source.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]
(d) A nucleus of strontium-90 (Sr-90) decays by beta emission to a nucleus of yttrium (Y).

Complete the decay equation for this decay.

90 ...... ......
38 Sr → ...... Y + –1 β
[3]

(e) Nuclear fusion and nuclear fission both release large amounts of energy.

(i) Describe how the process of nuclear fusion differs from the process of nuclear fission.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii) Describe the conditions needed for nuclear fusion to take place.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 15]