AS PHYSICS 1

MID TERM EXAMINATION

PHYSICS
AS LEVEL

NAME……………………………………………………………….

DATE……………………
TIME : 2HOURS

TOTAL SCORE

MID - TERM EXAMS

AS PHYSICS 2

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

scalar: ..............................................................................................................................

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

vector: ..............................................................................................................................

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

(b) Two forces of magnitude 6.0 N and 8.0 N act at a point P. Both forces act away from
point P and the angle between them is 40°.
Fig. 1.1 shows two lines at an angle of 40° to one another

P 40

Fig. 1.1

On Fig. 1.1, draw a vector diagram to determine the magnitude of the resultant of the
two forces.

magnitude of resultant = ...................................... N [4]

2 Make estimates of the following quantities.

(a) the speed of sound in air [1]

(b) the density of air at room temperature and pressure[1]

(c) the mass of a protractor[1]

(d) the volume, in cm3, of the head of an adult person[1]

MID - TERM EXAMS

AS PHYSICS 3
For
Examiner’s
Use
3a A spherical ball of radius r experiences a resistive force F due to the air as it moves
through the air at speed v. The resistive force F is given by the expression

F = crv,

where c is a constant.

Derive the SI base unit of the constant c. [2]

3 Make reasonable estimates of the following quantities.

(a) the frequency of an audible sound wave

frequency = ........................................... Hz [1]

(b) the wavelength, in nm, of ultraviolet radiation

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

(c) the mass of a plastic 30 cm ruler

mass = .............................................. g [1]

(d) the density of air at atmospheric pressure

density = ..................................... kg m–3 [1]

4.The mass of a cube of aluminium is found to be 580 g with an uncertainty in themeasurement of 10

g. Each side of the cube has a length of (6.0  0.1) cm.

Calculate the density of aluminium with its uncertainty. Express your answer to an
appropriate number of significant figures.[4marks]

MID - TERM EXAMS

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5. (a) (i) Define pressure.

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

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

(ii) State the units of pressure in base units.

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

(b) The pressure p at a depth h in an incompressible fluid of density  is given by

p =gh,where g is the acceleration of free fall.
Use base units to check the homogeneity of this equation.

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

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

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

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

6(a) Distinguish between systematic errors and random errors.

systematic errors .............................................................................................................

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

random errors ..................................................................................................................

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

(b) A cylinder of length L has a circular cross-section of radius R, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

The volume V of the cylinder is given by the expression

V = R2L .

The volume and length of the cylinder are measured as

V = 15.0  0.5 cm3

L = 20.0  0.1 cm.

Calculate the radius of the cylinder, with its uncertainty.

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.

............. cm [5]

7 A bullet of mass 2.0 g is fired horizontally into a block of wood of mass 600 g. The block is
suspended from strings so that it is free to move in a vertical plane.
The bullet buries itself in the block. The block and bullet rise together through a vertical
distance of 8.6 cm, as shown in Fig. 3.

w
o
o
d

b
l
o
c

bullet

Fig. 3.1

(a) (i) Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the block and bullet.

change = ............................................. J [2]

(ii) Show that the initial speed of the block and the bullet, Show that the
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n to move offtogether, was 1.3 m s–1.

[1]

iii. Using the information in (a)(ii) and the principle of conservation of momentum,determine the
speed of the bullet before the impact with the block.

speed = ....................................... m s–1 [2]

(b) (i) Calculate the kinetic energy of the bullet just before impact.

kinetic energy = .............................................. J [2]

(ii) State and explain what can be deduced from your answers to (c)(i) and (a)(i) about
the type of collision between the bullet and the block.

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

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

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

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8 A trolley of mass 930 g is held on a horizontal surface by means of two springs, as shown inFig.
4.1.

trolley spring

Fig. 4.1

The variation with time t of the speed v of the trolley for the first 0.60 s of its motion is shown
in Fig. 4.2.

8.0

v / cm s–1

6.0

4.0

2.0

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
t/s

Fig. 4.2

(a) Use Fig. 4.2 to determine

(i) the initial acceleration of the trolley,

acceleration =.......................................m s–2 [2]

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(ii) the distance moved during the first 0.60 s of its motion.

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

(b) (i) Use your answer to (a)(i) to determine the resultant force acting on the trolley at
time t = 0.

force =................................................N [2]

(ii) Describe qualitatively the variation with time of the resultant force acting on the
trolley during the first 0.60 s of its motion.

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

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

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

.............................................................................................................................. [3]
9. (a) (i) Define force.

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

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

(ii) State Newton’s third law of motion.

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

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

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

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

(b) Two spheres approach one another along a line joining their centres, as illustrated in
Fig. 3.1.

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sphere sphere
A B

Fig. 3.1

When they collide, the average force acting on sphere A is FA and the average force
acting on sphere B is FB.

The forces act for time tA on sphere A and time tB on sphere B.

(i) State the relationship between

1. FA and FB,

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

2. tA and tB.

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

(ii) Use your answers in (i) to show that the change in momentum of sphere A is equal
in magnitude and opposite in direction to the change in momentum of sphere B.

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

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

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For
10. a. Define moment of a force. Examiner’s
Use
..........................................................................................................................................

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

(b) A student is being weighed. The student, of weight W, stands 0.30 m from end A of a
uniform plank AB, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

P
A B
0.30 m 0.20 m

W 80 N 70 N
0.50 m
2.0 m

Fig. 3.1 (not to scale)

The plank has weight 80 N and length 2.0 m. A pivot P supports the plank and is 0.50 m
from end A.
A weight of 70 N is moved to balance the weight of the student. The plank is in equilibrium
when the weight is 0.20 m from end B.

(i) State the two conditions necessary for the plank to be in equilibrium.

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

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

2. ...............................................................................................................................

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

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1
(ii) Determine the weight W of the student.

W =..................................................... N [3]

(iii) If only the 70 N weight is moved, there is a maximum weight of student that can be
determined using the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.1. State and explain one change that
can be made to increase this maximum weight.

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

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

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

11. Power is transferred through a machine as shown.

power input PI power output PO

machine

power loss PL

What is the efficiency of the machine?

PI PL PL PO
A PO + P L B PI C PO D PI

12 Air in a bicycle pump is forced through a valve at a constant pressure p. In one stroke of the pump
the volume of air in the pump chamber is reduced from V1 to V2.

V1 V2

p p
to valve to valve
initially finally

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1
What is the work done on this air in one stroke of the pump?
p(V1 + V2)
A
2
p(V1 + V2)
B
p(V1 - V2)
C
pV1
D

13 Car X is travelling at half the speed of car Y. Car X has twice the mass of car Y.

Which statement is correct?

A Car X has half the kinetic energy of car Y.

B Car X has one quarter of the kinetic energy of car Y.
C Car X has twice the kinetic energy of car Y.
D The two cars have the same kinetic energy.

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14 A trolley runs from P to Q along a track. At Q its potential energy is 50 kJ less than at P.

trolley

At P, the kinetic energy of the trolley is 5 kJ. Between P and Q the work the trolley does against
friction is 10 kJ.

What is the kinetic energy of the trolley at Q?

A 35 kJ
B 45 kJ
C 55 kJ
D 65 kJ

15 To travel at a constant speed, a car engine provides 24 kW of useful power. The driving force on
the car is 600 N.

At what speed does it travel?

A 2.5 m s–1
B 4.0 m s–1
C 25 m s–1
D 40 m s–1

16 Which of the following expressions defines power?

A force x distance moved in the direction of the force

B force x velocity
C work done ÷ time taken
D work done x time taken

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17 What is the expression used to define power?

energy output
A energy input

energy x time taken

B
force x velocity
C
work done
time taken
D

18 A ball is thrown vertically upwards.

Neglecting air resistance, which statement is correct?

A The kinetic energy of the ball is greatest at the greatest height attained.

B By the principle of conservation of energy, the total energy of the ball is constant
throughoutits motion.
C By the principle of conservation of momentum, the momentum of the ball is
constantthroughout its motion.
D The potential energy of the ball increases uniformly with time during the ascent.

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