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Stage 1 Physics Yearly Exam 2015

Instructions to Candidates
1. You will have 10 minutes to read the paper. You must not write in your question booklets
during this reading time but you may make notes on the scribbling paper provided.

2. This paper is in two sections.

Section A (Questions 1 to 8)
Answer all parts of these short-answer and extended question in the spaces
provided in this booklet or on your own paper.
Section B (Questions 9 to10)
This section consists of one experimental skills question and one extended response
question.

3. The allocation of marks and the suggested allotment of time are:

Section A 62 marks 70 minutes

Section B 30 marks 50 minutes

TOTAL 92 marks 120 minutes

4. The equation sheets attached to the paper may be used.

5. Vector quantities in this paper are represented by symbols in bold type.

6. Marks may be deducted if you do not clearly show all steps in the solution of problems or if
you do not define additional symbols. You should use diagrams where appropriate in your
answers.

7. If you need extra space to write out an answer, use a spare piece of paper and clearly label
the answer with the question number.
Formula Sheet

Magnitude of Physical Constants

Acceleration due to gravity at the earth’s surface g = 9.8 m/s

Planck’s constant h = 6.626 x 10-34 Js
Magnetic permeability of vacuum µ0 = 1.257 x10-6 NA-2
Velocity of speed of light in a vacuum c = 3.00 x 108 m/s
Charge on an electron e = 1.6 x 10-19 C

Formulae

E = hf (energy of a photon of frequency f)

v = fλ (velocity of a wave of frequency f and wavelength λ)

E = mc2 (energy mass equivalence, c is the speed of light)

∆E = E2 – E1 (electron energy difference between levels in an atom)

Magnetic Field at a distance from a straight current carrying conductor

Magnetic Field on axis of solenoid of radius r and N loops

 SECTION A
(50 marks)
Answer ALL parts of this question in the spaces provided. Where space is insufficient or not provided,
use your own paper, using graph paper where required.

1. A long wire is stretched horizontally across the page as shown in the

diagram below.

Current (A)

a. A current flows in the wire in the direction shown. Draw the magnetic
field lines that result from this current. (3)

b. The magnitude of the magnetic field (B) is measured at increasing

distances from the wire. Sketch a graph of the magnitude of the field
against the distance from the wire (hint: look at the formulas) (2)
m

T
e

a
g
n
e

d
c

)
f

t
i

Distance from wire

(m)
c. Describe, using proportionality, the relation you have drawn in the
graph above

(2)
d. If the wire carried a current of 2.0 A, what is the magnitude of the
magnetic field at a distance of 2.0cm from the wire ?

(2)
e. The wire is then wound into a
solenoid as shown. Sketch the
magnetic field lines that exist around
and inside the solenoid when current
flows in the direction shown (3)

e. Identify on your diagram, the position of the N and S poles (1)

2. Magnetic fields and electric fields have some similarities and some
important differences.

a. Sketch the electric field around the two oppositely charged balls in the
diagram below (2)

b. Sketch the magnetic field around the bar magnet shown below (2)

c. What is the major difference between the field lines that distinguishes
magnetic lines from electrical field lines ? (2)

d. What causes permanent magnetism in metals ? (2)

3. C614 is a - emitting isotope with a half-life of 5730 years. It decays to
a stable product.
a. How many years would it take for the amount of C614 in a sample to
reduce to 1/8 of the original amount ? (1)

b. Write the decay reaction for the transmutation of C614 by - emission

(3)

4. 241
Am95 Is a large atom that decays by emitting an alpha particle (  24 ).
a. Write the decay reaction for the decay of Americium.

(3)

The diagram below shows Americium-241 being used in smoke

detector for fire safety. The alpha particles ionize the air molecules
between the positive and negative plates which cause a current to flow.
If smoke particles enter the chamber, they block the alpha particles
which can no longer cause ionization and the current is reduced or
stopped.

b. List and explain two reasons why Americium-241 is

suitable for this purpose. (2)
5.

a. Identify the radiations in the diagram as α, β or γ (3)

b. What would be a suitable shield to protect from the

photons in the diagram above ? (1)

c. What is the dangerous effect nuclear radiation has on

living organisms ? Explain your answer (4)

6. The emission spectra for Hydrogen (H), Mercury (Hg) and Neon (Ne) is
shown below

a. Estimate the wavelength of the first (red) line in the

hydrogen spectrum (1)

The energy diagram for a hydrogen atom is shown below. The energy
levels are in electron volts (eV), 1 eV is equal to 1.6 x 10 -19 J
The first (red) emission line in the spectrum of hydrogen corresponds to the
transition between the n = 3 and the n = 2 energy levels.

b. Draw an arrow to show the transition of this electron on

the diagram. (1)

c. What energy would be released from this transition ?

Express your answer in Joules (2)

d. Using Planck’s equation E = hf and the wave equation

v = fλ, show that the wavelength of this transition
corresponds to the answer you gave in part (a). (3)

The observation of the lines of the hydrogen spectrum

led to Bohr proposing that electrons are restricted to
specific energy levels within the atom and do not exist
outside these specific levels.

e. What difficulty with the planetary model proposed by

Rutherford was overcome by Bohr’s new model ? (3)
7. An example of a nuclear fission reaction is shown in the diagram below
and is described by the reaction underneath:

The masses of the particles involved in this reaction are:

a. Find the missing mass (the mass defect) that results

from this fission reaction. (4)

b. The mass has been converted into energy according to

E = mc2 where m is the mass defect and c is the speed
of light (3.0 x 108 m/s). Determine the energy released
by this fission reaction. (2)

c. Why is there a mass defect ? (2)

8. An experiment is carried out to determine the half-life of the radioisotope
234
protactinium-234 Pa91 . A Geiger–Müller tube detects radiation emitted by
the protactinium-234 as it decays into uranium-234 U 92234 as shown in the
diagram below:

a. Write the equation for the decay of protactinium-234

into uranium-234
(2)

The graph below shows the activity of protactinium-234

b. On the graph above, draw a line or curve of best fit for

the data. (2)

c. Determine the half life of protactinium-234 from the

graph, showing clearly the points on the graph you have
used. (2)
 SECTION B
(30 marks)
In answering the extended response questions, you should communicate your
knowledge and understanding of physics concisely, precisely, and logically.
Include only information that is related to the question. Use clearly labeled
diagrams that are related to your answer. Write your answers on the paper
provided.

Magnetic Fields are produced by electric currents flowing in a wire. Magnetic

Fields can be
represented by magnetic Field lines.

• Describe how the direction of magnetic field lines is determined from the
direction of the current flow in a wire loop.
• Explain how the magnitude of the magnetic field is represented by magnetic
field lines, using the example of a tightly wound solenoid in which a current
flows.
(14 marks)
 EXPERIMENTAL SKILLS (Yearly)

An excited form of barium (barium-137) releases gamma radiation as its

nucleus undergoes a transition to its ground state. The activity of a sample of
excited barium-137 was investigated by using a gamma counter to measure
the number of gamma rays detected at various distances from the sample.
The sample of barium-137 was placed in a thick lead container with a small
opening. The gamma counter was aligned with the small opening, as shown
in the diagram:

The distance d from the sample to the gamma counter was varied and the
number N of gamma rays detected at each distance during equal time
intervals was recorded, as shown in the table below:

a. Complete the following table by giving values for the inverse square of
distance

(2)
.

b. What is the independent variable in this experiment ? (1)

c. On the graph paper provided, plot the number N of gamma rays

detected against the inverse square of the distance and draw a line of
best fit. (5)

d. State and explain the relationship between the variables you have
plotted.
(3)
e. How could the effects of random errors on this experiment have been
minimized ?

(3)

f. Why are the random errors in a nuclear radiation counting experiment

from a radioactive source impossible to eliminate ?

(2)