Topical Question Papers

Level: IGCSE
Subject: Physics
Topic: Half life, Momentum and Pressure
Difficulty: Medium

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This document consists of 16 printed pages
© VANQUIL Physics Topical Questions
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1 The diagram shows a beam of α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays directed between two metal plates
P and Q.

The metal plates are parallel and there is a large potential difference (p.d.) between them.
Plate P is positive and plate Q is negative.

On the diagram, draw the paths of each of the radiations between the plates and after leaving the
plates.

Label the paths α, β and γ. [5]

[Total: 5]

2 A radiation detector in a laboratory records a reading of 10 counts / min. There are no radioactive
samples in the laboratory.

Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5700 years. There are atoms of carbon-14 in all living organisms.

An archaeologist digs up some ancient wood. In the laboratory, a sample of this ancient wood gives
a reading of 20 counts / min. An equivalent sample of living wood gives a reading of 80 counts / min.
It is suggested that the age of the ancient sample is 11 400 years.

Do a calculation to check whether this suggestion is correct.

[4]

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[Total: 4]

3 The chemical symbol of the element lithium is Li. The proton number of lithium is 3.

The diagram shows a representation of a nucleus of a radioactive isotope of lithium that decays
by β-particle emission to form another nucleus.

Complete the diagram to represent this decay by:

• drawing the nucleus formed by the decay in the space after the arrow
• writing the name of the particle that is identical to a β-particle on the answer line provided.

+ .............................................

[3]

[Total: 3]

4 With no radioactive sample present, a scientist records a background radiation count of

40 counts / minute.

The scientist brings a radioactive sample close to the detector. The count rate increases to 200
counts / minute.

After 24 days the count rate is 50 counts / minute.

Calculate the half-life of the radioactive sample.

half-life = .............................................. [4]

[Total: 4]

5 Thorium-234 ( ) is radioactive. It decays by β-emission to form an isotope of protactinium

(Pa).

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(a) A pure sample of thorium-234 emits β-particles at a count rate of 2480 counts/second. The
half-life of thorium-234 is 24 days.

Calculate the count rate for the emission of β-particles from the thorium in the sample after
72 days have passed.

count rate .............................................. [3]

(b) The isotope of protactinium produced by the decay of Thorium-234 is also radioactive. It decays
by β-emission and has a half-life of 70 seconds.

State and explain how this would affect the observed count rate for the sample in (a) after
72 days.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 6]

6 The diagram shows an ice-hockey player moving on ice. He is preparing to hit the solid disc called
a puck.

The disc of mass 0.16 kg is moving horizontally across the surface of the ice at a speed of 15 m / s.

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(a) Calculate the magnitude of the momentum of the disc.

magnitude of momentum = .............................................. [2]

(b) The hockey player strikes the disc with his hockey stick and the momentum of the disc changes.
The disc gains momentum of 3.0 kg m / s at 45° to the original direction of travel of the disc, as
shown in the diagram.

(view from above)

(i) State the magnitude of the impulse exerted on the disc and the direction, in degrees,
of the impulse relative to the original direction of travel.

magnitude of impulse = ...... ..............................................

direction of impulse: ........................... ° to original direction [1]

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(ii) Determine the magnitude of the new momentum of the disc and its new direction relative
to the original direction of travel by drawing a scale diagram.

magnitude of new momentum = ............ ...........................

direction of new momentum: ........................... ° to original direction [4]

[Total: 7]

7 The diagram shows a cliff edge with water below it.

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A ball falls over the edge of the cliff. The mass of the ball is 160 g. The height of the cliff is 115 m.

(a) Calculate the vertical speed of the ball as it hits the water. Air resistance can be ignored.

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

(b) Calculate the vertical momentum of the ball as it hits the water.

momentum = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 5]

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8 The diagram shows gas trapped in the sealed end of a tube by a dense liquid.

Explain, in terms of the momentum of its molecules, why the trapped gas exerts a pressure on the
walls of the tube.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 3]
5
9 An aeroplane of mass 2.5 × 10 kg lands with a speed of 62 m / s, on a horizontal runway
at time t = 0. The aeroplane decelerates uniformly as it travels along the runway in a straight line
until it reaches a speed of 6.0 m / s at t = 35 s.

(a) Calculate the deceleration of the aeroplane in the 35 s after it lands.

deceleration = .............................................. [2]

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(b) Calculate the resultant force acting on the aeroplane as it decelerates.

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

(c) Calculate the momentum of the aeroplane when its speed is 6.0 m / s.

momentum = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 6]

10 The diagram shows a submarine. The submarine is fully submerged in the sea.

3
The density of sea water is 1020 kg / m .

The atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa and the total pressure on the top surface of the submarine
is 500 kPa.

Calculate the depth of the top surface of the submarine below the surface of the sea.

depth = .............................................. [3]

[Total: 3]

11 Diagram A shows gas trapped in the sealed end of a tube by a dense liquid.

The scale marked on the sealed end of the tube is calibrated to read the volume of gas trapped
3
above the liquid surface. Diagram A shows that initially the volume V1 of the gas is 60 cm .
5
The pressure of both the atmosphere and the trapped gas is 1.0 × 10 Pa.

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Diagram A Diagram B

More of the dense liquid is poured into the open end of the tube. The level of the liquid surface in
both the sealed and the open ends of the tube rises as shown in Diagram B. The temperature of
the trapped gas and atmospheric pressure both remain constant.
3
(a) In the sealed end of the tube, the volume V2 of the trapped gas is 50 cm . In the open end of
the tube, the liquid surface is 15 cm above the new level in the sealed tube.

Calculate the pressure p2 of the trapped gas.

pressure p2 = .............................................. [2]

(b) Calculate the density of the liquid in the tube.

density = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 4]

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12 The diagram shows a gas contained in a cylinder enclosed by a piston.

Describe, in terms of momentum of the molecules, how a pressure is exerted on the walls of the
cylinder.

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

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

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

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

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

[Total: 3]

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13 The diagram shows a small submarine submerged below the surface of the sea.

3
The density of sea water is 1030 kg / m .
3
Calculate the pressure due to the sea water on the top of the submarine when it is 3.0 × 10 m
below the surface.

pressure = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

14 The diagram shows a mercury barometer. The tube containing the mercury is vertical.

The height h indicates a value of the atmospheric pressure.

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5
(a) On a particular day the atmospheric pressure is 1.02 × 10 Pa. The density of mercury is
3
13 600 kg / m .

Calculate the value of h indicated by the barometer.

h = .............................................. [2]

(b) The tube containing mercury is now tilted so that it makes an angle of 10° with the vertical.
After tilting, there continues to be a space above the mercury in the tube.

State and explain whether the vertical height of mercury in the tube is smaller, the same, or
greater than the value calculated in (a).

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

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

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

[Total: 4]

15 A cube of side 0.040 m is floating in a container of liquid. The diagram shows that the surface of
the liquid is 0.028 m above the level of the bottom face of the cube.

The pressure of the air above the cube exerts a force on the top face of the cube. The valve is
closed.
3
(a) The density of the liquid in the container is 1500 kg / m .

Calculate:

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(i) the pressure due to the liquid at a depth of 0.028 m

pressure = .............................................. [2]

(ii) the force on the bottom face of the cube caused by the pressure due to the liquid.

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

(b) The valve is opened and liquid is pumped into the container. The surface of the liquid rises a
distance of 0.034 m.

The cube remains floating in the liquid with its bottom face 0.028 m below the surface of the liquid.

(i) Calculate the work done on the cube by the force in (a)(ii).

work done = .............................................. [2]

(ii) Suggest one reason why this is not an efficient method of lifting up the cube.

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

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

[Total: 7]

16 The diagram shows a device that measures the pressure of a gas.

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(a) State the name of the device.

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

(b) The pressure of the gas is 400 Pa greater than atmospheric pressure.

Calculate the density of the liquid.

density = .............................................. [2]

[Total: 3]

17 The diagram shows a device that measures the pressure of a gas supply.

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3
(a) The difference h between the two liquid levels is 2.0 cm. The density of the liquid is 800 kg / m .

Calculate the difference between the pressure of the gas and atmospheric pressure.

pressure difference = .............................................. [2]

(b) A similar device with a tube of smaller cross-sectional area is connected to a gas supply at
the same pressure.

State and explain any effect on the value of h.

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

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

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

[Total: 4]

© VANQUIL Physics Topical Questions