Grade 10-Level L

22/23 Term 3 Final

Grade 10 Physics Revision Sheet AK

Material:
Chapter 1, 3, 5, 7, 8.1 – 8.7, 9

Physics Revision Sheet

Level L | 1
Chapter 1: Optics

1. 1. mirror

1. Olga is 180 cm tall; her eyes are 170 cm above ground level. She looks at her
image given by a vertical plane mirror which is at a height h above the ground.
Draw a ray diagram onto the illustration below which shows the possibility of
Olga viewing her whole image in the mirror.

(0.75) mirror
5 cm
(0.5)
(0.5) d

170 cm

85 cm h
(0.75)

2. What should be the minimum height, d, of the mirror and the maximum
distance, h, of its lower edge from the ground so that Olga sees her whole
image?

From the figure, h = 170/2 = 85 cm

hence, d = 5 + 85 = 90 cm

2.

Level L | 2
 a) Why does the beam not change direction as it passes through face AB?

The incident beam is normal to face AB. ie. the angle of incidence = 0

 angle of refraction = 0 and there is no refraction.

b) Give one change that does occur to the light when it passes through face AB.

The speed of light decreases as it passes through AB.

c) What name is given to the dotted line labeled N on the diagram?

Normal to AC at the point of incidence.

d) What angle of incidence does the ray make when striking face AC?

60

e) Add a ray to the diagram to show what happens to the ray after it meets faces
AC & BC, knowing that the critical for glass is 42o.

30

60
60

3. A rectangular block of ice is floating on the surface of water. A beam of light traveling
in air strikes the ice's surface with a 30 angle of incidence. [Given: nair = 1.0003; nice
= 1.31; nwater = 1.33]. Find:

Level L | 3
 1. The angle that the beam makes with the normal in the water.
na sin a = nI sin  I
nI sin  I = nw sin  w
 na sin a = nw sin  w
1.0003 * sin 30 = 1.33 * sin θw

sin θw = 0.376

θw = 22.1

2. The speed of light in ice and in water.

ni = c → vi = c = 3 x 108 = 2.29 x 108 m/s
vi ni 1.31

nw = c → vw = c = 3 x 108 = 2.26 x 108 m/s

vw nw 1.33

4. A five-sided prism or pentaprism is used in modern cameras. The pentaprism is used

to turn the light rays round inside the camera so that the photographer can see the
actual picture.

Level L | 4
 a) What is the purpose of the front silvered plane glass mirror?
To reflect the ray internally.

b) Why are the silvered surfaces needed?

As the angles of incidence are less than the critical angle, reflections inside the
prism are not caused by total internal reflection. Therefore, the faces are coated
to provide mirror surfaces for reflection to occur.

c) Give the properties of the images formed.

Virtual, same size and erect.

d) Draw a ray diagram showing the path taken by a ray of light entering through the
camera:

Chapter 3: Forces
5.

Level L | 5
 a) Two forces of 5 N and 6 N act in opposite directions at the same point on the
same object. Find the resultant force giving its magnitude and direction.

5N 6N 1N

The resultant force is of magnitude 1N in the direction of the 6 N

force.

b) Two forces of 5 N and 6 N act in the same direction at the same point on the
same object. Find the resultant force giving its magnitude and direction.

5N 11 N

6N
The resultant force is of magnitude 11 N in the direction of either
force.

c) Two forces of 5 N and 6 N act at right angles to each other at the same point on
the same object. Find the resultant force giving its magnitude and direction.
R (7.8 N)

F2(5N)

F1(6N)

The resultant force R is of magnitude R = 52 + 62 = 7.8 N ,

5
making an angle  = tan −1 = 39.8o with F1.
6

6. A body of mass 6.0 kg placed on a horizontal surface is subjected to a horizontal

force of 10 N.
a) Find the friction exerted on the body, if its acceleration is 1.0 m/s2 .

net F = ma

Level L | 6
 F − f = ma
f = F − ma
f = 10 − (6.0)(1.0)
f = 4.0 N

7.
a) State Hooke’s Law. When does it apply?

F = kl
Hooke's law applies only for forces less than a certain value called the limit
of proportionality, corresponding to the range where the stretched material
remains linearly elastic.

b) A spring has an original length of 20 cm. When a load of 300 g is applied to the
spring it produces an extension of 50 mm without exceeding the elastic limit of
the spring. What will be its length when a load of 240 g is applied?

F = k .l
0.30 g = k .50 
 
0.24 g = k .x 

x = 0.24
50 0.30

 x = 40mm

8. Sam has two identical springs of un-stretched length 15 cm each. When he hangs a
weight of 5 N from one spring its length becomes 25 cm.
a) What is the value of the spring constant in N.cm–1?

x = l − l0 = 25 − 15 = 10 cm

Level L | 7
 F 5
k= = = 0.5 N.cm −1
x 10

b) Sam then connects the 2 springs together side-by-side, and hangs a mass
of 0.5 kg from them. What is the value of the spring constant of the
combined system of springs in N.cm–1?

F = mg = 0.5 10 = 5 N
Each spring supports half this weight i.e. 2.5 N and thus extends by 5 cm.

Therefore a force of 5 N extends this combination spring by 5 cm.

F 5
 spring constant = = = 1 N.cm −1
x 5

9. The diagram below shows a person A pulling a block along the floor using a rope
attached at D and exerting a force of 750 N. Two other people B and C manage to
exert the same overall force on the block using two ropes each attached at D. B pulls
on the rope with a force of 450 N. The other person C pulls on another rope attached
at D such that this force is at right angles to the force exerted by B.

a)

Level L | 8
 Rope
Block D 750 N

Calculate the magnitude of the force exerted by C.

750 N

450 N

By Pythagoras’
4502 + R2 = 7502

R = 7502 − 4502
= 562500 − 202500 = 360000

R = 600 N

b) Calculate the angle between the force exerted by B and the force exerted
by A.
R
tan  =
450
600
= = 1.33
450
 = tan −1 (1.33) = 53.13°

10.

Level L | 9
 θ

(2)

(3) O

(1)

The figure above shows a box of mass m hanging in equilibrium and three light,
inextensible strings labeled (1), (2), and (3) tied to a small, light ring O. String (2)
makes an angle θ with the horizontal.

a) In the space below draw a free-body diagram of the ring O and resolve
any inclined force.

y
F2 (1/4 m)
F2 sin θ
(1/4 m)
=
F3
θ
(1/4 m) O F2 cos θ x
(1/4 m)

F1 (1/4 m)

Given m = 4.0 kg, g = 10 m s–2, θ = 53º, sin 53º = 0.80, and cos53º= 0.60.
b) Find the magnitude F1 of the tension in string (1).

F1 = mg = 4 10 = 40 N

c) By considering the translational equilibrium of the ring O along the y-

axis, find the magnitude F2 of the tension in string (2).

Fy = 0  F2 sin  − F1 = 0
F1 40
 F2 = = = 50 N
sin  0.8

Level L | 10
 d) By considering the translational equilibrium of the ring O along the x-
axis, find the magnitude F3 of the tension in string (3).

Fx = 0  F2 cos  − F3 = 0

 F3 = F2 cos  = 50  0.6 = 30 N

11. The adjacent diagram shows a man of mass 68 kg riding a bicycle of mass 12 kg on a
horizontal, dry road. The arrow w represents the gravitational force due to the
combined weights of the man and the bicycle. (Use g = 10 m/s2)

A. Calculate the magnitude of the force w.

Total mass = 68 + 12 = 80 kg
w = mg =

80  10 = 8.0  102 N

B. P and Q represent the vertical forces exerted by the road on the front and rear
tires. What is the magnitude of the sum of the vertical forces P and Q?

Net Fy = 0

P+Q=w

= 8.0  102 N

Level L | 11
 C. Under what condition will the force P be equal to the force Q?

When w is halfway between P and Q.

D. The cyclist applies the brakes and produces a backward, horizontal force of
400 N. Calculate the deceleration of the bicycle due to this force.

Net Fx = ma
F 400
 − F = ma  a = − =− = − 5.0 m/s 2
m 80

 deceleration = 5.0 m/s2

E. On another day when it is raining the cyclist applies the brakes in the same way
but this time the deceleration is only 2.0 m/s2. Suggest a reason for this change
of deceleration.

Smaller braking force

because of slippery road (or less friction)

12. A 200 N wagon is to be pulled up a 30° incline at constant speed. How large a force
parallel to the incline is needed if friction effects are negligible?
Support Pulling
by incline force

30° Level L | 12

30°
 y

FN x
P

30° 0.87 w
30° w

0.50 w
The situation is shown in the above Figure. Because the wagon moves at a constant
speed along a straight line, its velocity vector is constant. Therefore the wagon is in
translational equilibrium, and the first condition for equilibrium applies to it.
 Fx = 0 or P – 0.50w = 0

 Fy = 0 or FN – 0.87w = 0

Solving the first equation and recalling that w = 200 N, we find that P = 0.50 w =
100 N. The required pulling force is 100 N

13. A bullet of mass 0.010 kg traveling at a speed of 200 ms–1 strikes a block of wood of
mass 0.390 kg hanging at rest from a long string. The bullet enters the block and
lodges in the block.

Level L | 13
 A. Calculate the linear momentum of the bullet before it strikes the block.
P = mV = 10  10 -3  200 = 2.0 kg ms–

B. Calculate the speed with which the block first moves from rest after the
bullet strikes it.
Total mass after collision = 0.40 kg
0.40 V = 2.0  V = 5.0 ms–1

C. During the collision of the bullet and block, kinetic energy is converted into
internal energy which results in a temperature rise.
i. Show that the kinetic energy of the bullet before it strikes the block
is 200 J.
10 10−3  ( 200 )
2

Kinetic energy = ½ mV = 2 = 200 J

2

ii. Show that the kinetic energy of the combined block and bullet
immediately after the bullet has lodged in the block is 5.0 J.
0.40  ( 5.0 )
2

Kinetic energy = = 5.0 J

2

D. The bullet lodges at the center of mass G of the block. Calculate the vertical
height h through which the block rises after the collision.

Kinetic energy lost (= potential energy gained) = mgh

5
h= = 1.3m
0.40  9.8
Chapter 5: Pressure

Level L | 14
14. The pressure in a water pipe in the ground floor of a building is 4.0 x 105 Pa but three
floors up it is only 2 x 105 Pa. What is the height between the ground floor and the
third floor? (The water in the pipe may be assumed to be stationary; density of water
= 1.0 x 103 kg/m3; g = 10 m/s2).

To calculate the height of the third floor, find the difference in pressure between
the floor:
p = gh
4.0 × 105 - 2.0 × 105 = 1000 x 10 x h
h = 20 m

15.

In the Hydraulic Press shown above, areas A and A’ are 0.20m2 and 15m2 respectively.
Find the mass of a load N knowing that M weighs 8kg.

Since M and N are at the same horizontal level in contact with the same liquid at
rest, they experience the same pressure p.
F’ / F = A’ / A
since F' = N x g and F = M x g we can write
(N x g) / (M x g) = A’/ A, hence N / M = A' / A
The mass of the load N is given by:
N = M x A' / A = 8 x 15 / 0.2 = 600 Kg.

16. A gas bulb connected to an open-end monometer shows that the mercury level in the
arm of the monometer connected to the gas is 115 mm Hg lower that the level in the
other end. What is the pressure of the gas?
The pressure of the gas is equal to the pressure exerted by the Hg column plus
the atmospheric pressure since an open-end manometer is being used.
Then pgas = ρgh + Patm = 13,600 x 10 x 0.115 + 105 = 115,640 Pa.

Chapter 7: Atomic Physics

Level L | 15
17. A radioactive source was thought to emit -radiation. In an attempt to confirm this,
a student arranged a Geiger-Muller tube, connected to a rate-meter, close to the
source, and then placed sheets of different materials as absorbers between the source
and the tube. Three readings of the rate-meter were taken in 20 second intervals for
each sheet and the results were as follows:
Rate-meter reading
Absorber material counts per minute
1 2 3
Air 100 130 130
Paper 130 120 140
Cardboard 130 130 100
Aluminum (0.5 mm thick) 110 120 110
Aluminum (5 mm thick) 50 60 40
Lead (5 mm thick) 40 50 50
Lead (50 mm thick) 50 40 50

A. Give reasons confirming that the source does not emit  or -rays but emits -
radiation.

The count rate does not drop by placing cardboard or 0.5 mm of aluminum,
we conclude source does not emit  particles
The count rate drops by placing 5 mm of aluminum, source emits  - radiation
The count rate does not drop, by placing 50 mm of lead, source does not emit -
radiations

B. Suggest another test, not involving absorption, you could perform to further confirm
that the source emitted -radiation.
Adjust a magnetic field by using a magnet such that the emitted radiations are
perpendicular to the field. The count rate drops, because -radiations are
deflected.

C. As only -radiation was emitted, what is the reasont for the rate-meter readings when
50-mm thick lead absorber is used.

The reading is due to background radiation.

D. Why identical readings were not obtained each time for the same absorber? If the
source had been emitting either -radiation or -radiation a different set of readings

Level L | 16
 would have been obtained. Copy the table below for an -source and a -source and
complete the table by inserting suitable estimated values you would expect to obtain
for each absorber.

Rate-meter reading
Absorber material counts per minute
-source -source
Air 150 150
Paper
Cardboard
Aluminum (0.5 mm thick)
Aluminum (5 mm thick)
Lead (5 mm thick)
Lead (50 mm thick)

Rate-meter reading
Absorber material counts per minute
-source -source
Air 150 150
Paper 50 150
Cardboard 50 150
Aluminum (0.5 mm thick) 50 150
Aluminum (5 mm thick) 50 150
Lead (5 mm thick) 50 150
Lead (50 mm thick) 50 60

18. The following readings were obtained from a rate meter measuring radioactive
emission from a radioactive nuclide A:
With no radioactive substance present, the rate meter registers 40 counts per
minute.
Time in mins 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1
Counts per min. 520 380 285 216 158

A. Plot a graph relating the activity of the radioactive nuclide A with time.

B. What information (physical quantity) can you deduce from the graph?
Half - Life

C. Explain the meaning of this quantity.

Time taken for half the mass or half the activity to be lost.

Level L | 17
 D. What gives rise to the background radiation of 40 counts per minute?
Radioactive Nuclide A

E. Is the correction for background radiation always necessary?

Yes

19. The table shows some radioactive materials found in rocks, with their half-lives and
the substances formed when they decay.

Isotope Substance formed on decay Half-life in millions of years

Rubidium-87 Strontium-87 49000
Thorium-232 Lead-208 14000
Uranium-238 Lead-206 4500
Potassium-40 Argon-40 1250
Uranium-235 Lead-207 704
Iodine-129 Xenon-129 17

The age of the earth is thought to be 4600 million years. Rocks are dated by
comparing the amount of an isotope present in a rock to the amount of the
substance that is formed when it decays.

A. Explain which isotope is more suitable for dating rocks thought to have the same
age as the Earth.
It has to have a half-life similar to the age of the Earth.
So it is possible to make a precise comparison between the amount of
uranium-238 and lead-206 as they should be present in approximately equal
amounts.

B. A rock is found to contain thorium-232 and lead-208 in the ratio 4:3. Estimate the
age of the rock?
The age of the rock is 2 x half-life =
2 14, 000 million years = 28, 000 million years.
Three-quarters of the thorium has decayed into lead

C. Explain why rocks cannot be dated by comparing the proportions of iodine-129

and xenon-129.
It is not possible to make a reliable measurement of the amount of xenon
formed from the decay of iodine

20.

Level L | 18
 A. How are X-rays produced?
By hitting a metal target with a fast moving Electron

B. Name the part of the electromagnetic spectrum next to X-rays which has:
i. Wavelengths longer than that of X-rays.
Ultraviolet

ii. Wavelengths shorter than that of X-rays.

-rays

C. If the frequency of an X-ray is 1.2  1019 Hz, calculate its wavelength knowing
that the speed of light is 3.0  108 m/s.

V V
V = f   = (1 m) V = f   = (1 m)
f f
3.0  108 3.0  108
= = 2.5  10 −11 m (1 m) = = 2.5  10 −11 m (1 m)
.  10
12 19
.  10
12 19

Level L | 19
Chapter 8.1 – 8.7: Qualitative Study of Energy
21. The following are five energy conversions:
A. Chemical into electrical.
B. Electrical into chemical.
C. Electrical into mechanical.
D. Mechanical into electrical.
E. Heat or internal into electrical.

Which of the above takes place in each of the following cases?

a) A rotating turbine is connected to a light bulb. D

b) A car battery being charged. B

c) A man using a lift to go up to the 10th floor. C

22.
a) List and describe three forms of energy found in particles of matter.
The three forms of energy are internal energy, heat energy and chemical
energy.
Internal energy is related to random thermal energy of the particles, their
intermolecular potential energy, and chemical potential energy.
Heat energy refers to the hotness of a body.
Chemical energy is referred to the form of potential energy stored in chemicals
and in food.

b) Describe energy transfers and transformations involved in making a car run

using fossil fuels.
Solar energy is absorbed by living organisms and stored as chemical energy.
Organisms die and decompose over years which lead to the formation of the
fossil fuels.
When fossil fuels are burned in cars, it releases energy as mechanical and
thermal energies.

23.
a) What is meant by nuclear fission?
Fission is the splitting of heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei.
Provoked nuclear reaction usually takes place when a heavy nucleus, such as
Uranium, absorbs a neutron.

Level L | 20
 b) When 1 kg of Uranium 235U undergoes complete nuclear fission, 0.82 g of
matter is completely converted to energy.
How much energy is released by the complete fission of 1 kg of 235U?

E = mc2 = (0.82 x 10-3) (3 x 108)2 = 7.4 x 1013 J

c) Which common process makes use of nuclear fission?

Power (energy) generation in nuclear power plants.

d) Explain why the above process is more economically viable than using fossil
fuels.
Few kilograms of Uranium produce the same amount of energy produced by
millions of barrels of oil.
All of the waste products from fission reactors are tightly controlled and most
remain in reasonably small containers at the site where the power was
produced.
In contrast to the fossil fuel competition, nuclear reactors do not need tall
smoke stacks in order to disperse their waste products all over the globe.

e) Explain two advantages of using fission.

No burning takes place, and no polluting gases are released into the
atmosphere: No greenhouse gases, no acid rain, no small particle soot, no
mercury, and no smog inducing nitrogen oxides.
There is no shortage of uranium, and the new type of nuclear reactors, known
as fast breeder reactors, make their own fuel, plutonium, while producing
energy.

24. Fill in the blanks below to complete the energy chain in the case of a hydroelectric
power station.

Level L | 21
25. Explain, using an example, the following:
a) Energy has a tendency to dilute itself:
Any appropriate example showing that energy has the tendency to flow out of
bodies in which it is concentrated, and to distribute itself over a larger quantity
of matter:
(Hot water, kinetic energy of a billiard ball).

b) The degradation of energy:

Energy finally changes to random molecular motions (i.e. heat or thermal
energy).
Heat energy in the form of random molecular kinetic energy is the most dilute
form of energy.

26. Name one type of radiation that has a higher frequency than ultraviolet.
Gamma rays (or X-rays).

Name one type of radiation that has a longer wavelength than visible light.
Infrared (or radio waves).

27. Energy can exist in many different forms and can be changed in size from one form
to another.
a) How can the kinetic energy of a car be increased?
By increasing its speed.

b) How can the elastic potential energy of a spring be increased?

By increasing its extension.

c) How can the internal or random thermal energy of the molecules of a cup of tea
be decreased?
By cooling the cup of tea.

d) When a car crashes into a wall, its kinetic energy becomes zero. Why is it
incorrect to say that the “kinetic energy has been lost”?
The kinetic energy of the car has been changed to other forms: heat,
deformation, sound.

Level L | 22
28. Fill in the blanks:
Two reasons to save energy and energy resources:

Save the limited resources of fossil fuels for uses other than
_____burning_____________.

Save the environment from being poisoned by pollutants like too much carbon
dioxide, which contributes to the ___greenhouse effect________, and acidic oxides,
which cause ______acid rain_________, which destroys forests and lakes.

29. Give the names of the devices that can be used to transform energy from one form to
another:
a) From nuclear to thermal:
Gamma source.

b) From thermal to mechanical:

Steam turbine.

Level L | 23
Chapter 9: Energy, Work and Machines
30. A car of mass 1000 kg moving on a horizontal road with a steady velocity of 10 ms –
1
is acted upon by a total frictional force of 400 N.

Find the power due to the engine.

F d
P= ;
t
d
v= ;
t
= P = F  v

P = 10  400 = 4000 W

31. A skier with a mass of 88 kg hits a ramp of snow at 16 m/s and becomes airborne. At
the highest point of flight, the skier is 3.7 m above the ground. What is the skier’s
gravitational potential energy at this point?

Level L | 24
32. A 5.00 × 102 N crate is pushed to the top of a 5.00 m ramp, which is inclined at 20.0°
with the horizontal. What is the potential energy of the crate?

33. A pendulum with a mass of 1 kg is released from a height of 1.5 cm above the height
of its resting position. How fast will the pendulum be moving when it passes through
the lowest point of its swing?

34. A pole-vaulter clears 6.00 m. With what velocity does the vaulter strike the mat in
the landing area? (Assume no air resistance and that g = 9.81 m/s2.)

Level L | 25
35. A 15.0 kg crate, initially at rest, slides down a ramp 2.0 m long and inclined at an
angle of 20.0° with the horizontal. Using the work-kinetic energy theorem and
disregarding friction, find the velocity of the crate at the bottom of the ramp. (g =
9.81 m/s2)

36. C

37. C

38. A

39. A

40. A

41. C

42. B

43. E

44. E

Level L | 26