CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 5
Exam-style questions 7 Rate at which work is done or work
a 
done/energy change per second[1]
1 B[1]
W[1]
2 B[1]
b kinetic energy = 1 × mass × velocity2[1]
3 Loss of gravitational potential energy →
a  2

gain in kinetic energy[1] gain in k.e.

c power = [1]
b Kinetic energy → heat (in the brakes)[1] time taken
1
× 1100 × 182
c  oss of gravitational potential energy →
L = 2 = 7130 ≈ 7.1 kW[1]
gain in kinetic energy[1] 25
4 a  horizontal distance moved = 0.5 × 16
i  8 i   vertical distance = 40 sin 5° = 3.49 m[1]
a 
= 8.0 m[1] p.e. lost = mgh = 90 × 9.81 × 3.49[1]
horizontal component of force = 3078 ≈ 3100 J[1]
= 200 cos 30° = 173 N[1] 1 1
k.e. increase = mv2 = × 90 × 122[1]
ii 
work done = 173 × 8.0 = 2 2
= 6480 J[1]
1.39 × 103 J ≈ 1.4 kJ[1]
b energy produced by cyclist =
i 
ii Weight acts at 90° to
6480 − 3078 = 3402 J [1]
displacement[1] energy
useful power output = =
so, work done = 0 J[1] time
3402
iii Contact force acts at 90° to [1]
displacement[1] 67
power = 50.8 ≈ 51 W[1]
so, work done = 0 J[1] ii Energy is wasted[1]
b 86.6 ≈ 87 W[1] as work done against friction in the
axle/chain or against air resistance.[1]
5 Truck: k.e. = 12 mv2 = 9.0 MJ[1]
Dust particle: k.e. = 12 mv2 = 14 MJ[1] 9 a 
Work is the product of force and
distance moved.[1]
The dust particle has greater kinetic energy
than the truck.[1] The distance moved is in the direction
of the force.[1]
6 a  gain in g.p.e. = mgh[1]
= 950 × 9.8 × 50 = 4.66 × 105 J ≈ 4.7 × 105 J b i 
As he falls, his potential energy
[1] decreases, his kinetic energy increases
work done and internal energy (thermal energy/
b time = [1] heat) is produced as work is done
power
against friction.[1]
4.66 × 105
t = = 116.5 ≈ 120 s[1] decrease in p.e. = increase in k.e.
4000
+ internal energy produced[1]
c wasted power = 2.9 kW[1]
wasted energy = power × time[1]
= 2900 × 116.5 = 3.4 × 105 J[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

ii 
Graph with axes labelled and Ep
decreasing linearly from 1000 J to 0[1]
Ek increasing from 0 when h = 0[1]
Ek increases as a straight line to a
value below 1000 J at h = 15 m[1]
1000
Ek
Energy/ J
ii Gravitational p.e. is energy due to
position in a gravitational field.[1]
Elastic p.e. is energy contained in a
stretched or squashed object. or When
an object is raised above the Earth’s
surface its gravitational p.e. increases.[1]
When a positively charged object
is brought near another positively
charged object its electric p.e.

Ep
increases.[1]
(Maximum [2])
b mass = density × volume
i 
= 1030 × 1.4 × 106 × 10.0 = 1.442 × 1010
15 h / m
≈ 1.4 × 1010 J[1]
k.e. = work done on body to increase
10 a 
speed from 0 to v = F × s[1] ii Water falls an average distance of
5.0 m when released through turbines.
since F = ma and v2 = u2 + 2as and u = 0,
p.e. lost = mgh =
s= v2
1.442 × 1010 × 9.81 × 5.0
2a
v2 1 (accept also use of h = 10 m)[1]
k.e. = ma × = mv2[1]
2a 2 p.e. lost = 7.07 × 1011 ≈ 7.1 × 1011 J
1 (or 1.4 × 1012 J if h = 10 used)[1]
b k.e. = mv2 = × 800 × 202 = 160 000 J
i 
[1] 2 iii energy output = 0.5 × (value in ii)
energy 160 000 = 3.5 × 1011 J (or 7.1 × 1011 J
power = = = 2.67 × 10 4
time 6 if h = 10 used)[1]
≈ 2.7 × 104 W[1] energy 3.5 × 1011 J
power = = (or
time 6 × 60 × 60
ii Air resistance increases (with speed).[1] 7.1× 1011 J
if h = 10 used)[1]
Net driving force less or more energy 6 × 60 × 60
(per second) wasted, so less available power = 1.64 × 107 ≈ 1.6 × 107 W (or
to increase k.e.[1] 3.3 × 107 W if h = 10 used)[1]
i   The potential energy of a body is the
11 a 
energy stored in the body by reason of
its position or shape.[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020