97 AL Physics/M.C./P.

1997 Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination

AL Physics
Multiple Choice Question

1. vu
B.
A g
F B v 2  u2
C.
2g
v 2  u2
Two wooden blocks A and B are D.
connected by a string which passes over a g
smooth, fixed pulley as shown. The E. It cannot be found as the vertical
maximum friction between any two distance fallen is not known.
surfaces is 2 N. If a horizontal force F is
applied to block B, find its minimum
value for moving B. 4.

A. 2N centre
of mass
B. 4N
8m
C. 6N A
D. 8N
E. 10 N O
20º

2. A ball of mass m is projected vertically The figure shows a car moving round a
downwards with speed v from a certain corner with a radius of 8 m on a banked
height and rebounds from the ground road of inclination 20º. At what speed
back to the same height. Which of the would there be no fiction acting on the
following statements is/are correct? car along OA?
(Neglect air resistance.)
A. 5.0 m/s
(1) The collision between the ball and B. 5.2 m/s
the ground is not perfectly elastic. C. 5.4 m/s
(2) The loss in energy of the ball in the D. 5.6 m/s
collision is ½mv2. E. 5.8 m/s
(3) If the ball is projected vertically
upwards from the same height with
the same speed, it would rebound to 5.
a greater height.
A
A. (1) only
B. (3) only h
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)

A ball bearing is released from rest at a

3. A particle is projected horizontally from a height h on a smooth track and completes
table with an initial speed u and attains a the circular loop of the track. If R is the
speed v just before hitting the ground. reaction acting on the ball bearing at the
What is the time of flight of the particle? highest point A of the loop, which of the
(Neglect air resistance.) following graphs correctly shows the
variation of R with h?
v
A. A.
g
R

0 h
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.2

1
A. X
2
3
B. X
7
B. 7
C. X
R 10
4
D. X
7
1
0 E. X
h 4
C.
R
8. A 50-g mass suspended from a light
helical spring oscillates with vertical
simple harmonic motion of amplitude 2.5
cm. If the maximum kinetic energy of
0 h the mass is 3.0  10-3 J, its frequency of
D. oscillation is
R
A. 0.4 Hz
B. 0.8 Hz
C. 1.1 Hz
0 D. 1.9 Hz
h E. 2.2 Hz
E.
R
9. When a body performs a simple harmonic
motion, which of the following is/are
correct?
0 h (1) Displacement from the equilibrium
position is /2 out of phase with the
velocity.
6. A nucleus originally at rest splits into two
(2) Acceleration is /2 out of phase with
fragments of unequal mass. The
the velocity.
fragment with smaller mass has a larger
(3) Displacement from the equilibrium
position is in phase with the
(1) momentum.
acceleration.
(2) speed.
(3) kinetic energy.
A. (1) only
B. (3) only
A. (1) only
C. (1) and (2) only
B. (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)
10. A low-altitude satellite near the earth’s
surface has a speed of 7.90 km/s. The
radius of the earth is about 4 times that of
7. A constant external torque X is applied to
the moon and the ratio of the average
a flywheel which is initially at rest. The
density of the earth to that of the moon is
angular speed of the flywheel increases to
about 5 : 4. The speed of a low-altitude
a certain value after 21 s. If the external
satellite near the moon’s surface would
torque is now doubled, the flywheel will
be
acquire the same angular speed after 9 s.
Find the average frictional torque exerted
A. 1.77 km/s
at the bearings of the flywheel.
B. 2.21 km/s
C. 2.47 km/s
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.3

D. 3.57 km/s 13. A beam of monochromatic light passes

E. 4.42 km/s through three media of refractive indexes
n1, n2 and n3 respectively as shown. The
boundaries between the media are
11. parallel.
S T
P
n1
R
Q
n2
n3
The above figure shows a transverse
wave propagating to the right along a
string. At the moment shown, which of
the labelled particles has its velocity and Which of the following relations between
acceleration in opposite directions? n1, n2 and n3 is correct?

A. P A. n1 > n3 > n2
B. Q B. n3 > n1 > n2
C. R C. n1 > n2 > n3
D. S D. n2 > n1 > n3
E. T E. n3 > n2 > n1

14. A moving ship sounds a foghorn and an

12. echo is received from a cliff behind it.
incident pulse Which of the following wave
characteristics of the original sound is/are
different from that of the echo?

(1) frequency
Three identical long spiral springs are (2) amplitude
connected respectively to a wall, a light (3) speed
thread and a heavy spring. If a crest-
shaped pulse is sent along each spiral A. (1) only
spring towards the respective boundary, B. (3) only
which of the following diagrams correctly C. (1) and (2) only
show(s) the reflected pulse? (Transmitted D. (2) and (3) only
pulse is not shown.) E. (1), (2) and (3)

(1)
15.
wall P

X
(2)
light thread
light source Y

(3) screen
heavy spring
In a Young’s double-slit experiment, light
of wavelength 400 nm is used. If the path
difference between the light from the two
slits X and Y to a point P on the screen is
A. (1) only 3000 nm, which of the following is/are
B. (3) only correct?
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only (1) P is the 7th dark fringe.
E. (1), (2) and (3) (2) The fringe separation on the screen
increases if the light source is moved
closer to the slits.
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.4

(3) P becomes a bright fringe if light of D. 5 cm greater than 10 cm

wavelength 500 nm is used. E. 10 cm greater than 10 cm

A. (1) only
B. (3) only 19. A plane transmission grating is placed at
C. (1) and (2) only the centre of a circular 0º - 360º
D. (2) and (3) only protractor. A beam of monochromatic
E. (1), (2) and (3) light is incident normally on the grating.
The zeroth-order maximum occurs at a
scale reading of 90º and a first-order
16. Two pipes A and B, with pipe A closed at maximum occurs at a scale reading of
one end and pipe B open at both ends, are 65º. At what scale reading would a
sounded to give fundamental notes of the second-order maximum be observed?
same frequency. The length ratio of pipe
A to pipe B is A. 148º
B. 140º
A. 1:4 C. 130º
B. 1:2 D. 58º
C. 1:1 E. 40º
D. 2:1
E. 4:1
20. The diagram below shows the stress-
strain graphs up to the breaking point for
17. In an arrangement for viewing Newton’s two cylindrical rods made from materials
rings, which of the following would be P and Q respectively, which have the
observed if water is introduced to the same diameter and original length.
space between the lens and the glass
plate? Q
tensile
stress
A. The rings disappear.
P
B. The central spot becomes bright.
C. The separation between the rings
increases.
D. The rings shift towards the centre.
E. There is no observable change. 0 tensile strain

Which of the two materials

18.
L2 (1) is the more ductile
(2) exhibits greater stiffness
L1
(3) has the greater strength?

O (1) (2) (3)

A. Q P Q
B. P Q P
C. Q P P
D. P P Q
10 cm 10 cm 10 cm 10 cm E. Q Q P

The above diagram shows two light rays 21. Which of the following quantities can be
from a point source O passing in turn increased by increasing the voltage across
through a convex lens L1 and a concave a metal wire?
lens L2. Which of the following is true of
the focal lengths of the lenses? (1) the average drift velocity of the
conduction electrons
Focal length of L1 Focal length of L2 (2) the number of conduction electrons
A. 5 cm less than 10 cm per unit volume
B. 10 cm less than 10 cm (3) the speed of the electrical signal
C. 10 cm 10 cm
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.5

A. (1) only A. (1) only

B. (3) only B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3) E. (1), (2) and (3)

22. A metal sphere is charged to a potential 25. Two cylindrical metal rods, X and Y, are
of 100 V. If the charge density on its made from the same material and have
surface is 6.0  10-9 Cm-2, find the radius the same mass. The length of X is three
of the sphere. times that of Y. If currents of 1 A and 2
(Given: permittivity of free space = 8.85 A pass through X and Y respectively, the
 10-12 Fm-1) ratio of the power dissipation in X to that
in Y is
A. 0.04 m
B. 0.15 m A. 9:1
C. 0.21 m B. 1:4
D. 0.35 m C. 9:2
E. 0.60 m D. 3:4
E. 9:4

23.
26. A d.c. motor is connected to a source of
coil constant voltage V. When rotating at a
steady speed, the motor draws a current I
N S and the back e.m.f. developed in its
armature coil is . Which of the
to light beam galvanometer following statements is/are correct?
The above figure shows a small coil,
connected to a light beam galvanometer, (1) The resistance of the armature coil is
placed in a region of uniform magnetic V/I.
field between the poles of a magnet. The (2) The mechanical power developed is
plane of the coil is parallel to the pole I.
faces. Which of the following actions (3) The back e.m.f.  increases with the
would produce a deflection of the speed of rotation.
galvanometer?
A. (1) only
(1) Moving the coil to and fro between B. (3) only
the poles. C. (1) and (2) only
(2) Moving the coil away from the D. (2) and (3) only
region between the pole faces. E. (1), (2) and (3)
(3) Rotating the coil about a diameter
through an angle of 180º.
27. Which of the following combinations of
A. (1) only physical quantities take(s) the unit of
B. (3) only time?
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only (1) capacitance times resistance
E. (1), (2) and (3) (2) inductance divided by resistance
(3) capacitance times inductance

24. A variable capacitor can be used A. (1) only

B. (3) only
(1) as the volume control of an C. (1) and (2) only
amplifier. D. (2) and (3) only
(2) to tune a radio to receive a certain E. (1), (2) and (3)
channel.
(3) to change the power factor of an a.c.
circuit. 28. A charged particle is accelerated across
the gap between two parallel metal plates
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.6

maintained at a certain potential R2, R3 and R4 are 6 , 3 , 1  and 2 

difference in a vacuum. Assuming there respectively. The capacitor has
is no gravitational force, the energy capacitance 20 F. At steady state, the
acquired by the charged particle in charge on the capacitor plate connecting
crossing the gap depends on to A is

(1) the mass of the charged particles. A. +40 C

(2) the width of the gap. B. +80 C
(3) the potential difference between the C. 0 C
plates. D. -80 C
E. -40 C
A. (1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only 31.
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)
A B

29.

D C

A
A light rectangular wire frame ABCD
R
moves with a uniform speed to the left
across a region of uniform magnetic field
acting into paper. Which of the following
A cell of e.m.f. 1.5 V is connected in is/are true at the instant shown in the
series with a variable resistor of figure?
resistance R and an ammeter A of
resistance 0.5 . By varying R, a series (1) A current is flowing in the clockwise
of ammeter readings, I, are taken and a direction.
1 (2) The electric potential at B is higher
graph of against R is plotted. The
I than that at C.
value of the y-intercept is found to be (3) The side AD experiences a magnetic
0.88 A-1. What is the internal resistance force acting to the right.
of the cell?
A. (1) only
A. 0.59  B. (3) only
B. 0.82  C. (1) and (2) only
C. 1.14  D. (2) and (3) only
D. 1.20  E. (1), (2) and (3)
E. 1.32 
32. A circuit is required for doubling the
30. amplitude of a sinusoidal alternating
A voltage. Which of the following circuits
might be suitable?
R1 R2
C
(1)

R3 R4
B input output
6V

500 1000
In the above circuit, the cell has an e.m.f. turns turns
6 V and negligible internal resistance.
(2)
The resistances of the four resistors R1,

10 k
input output
10 k
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.7

ratio of their absolute temperature and the

ratio of the root-mean-square speed of the
molecules are respectively 2 : 1 and 3 : 1,
the ratio of their molecular mass is

A. 2:3
B. 2:9
(3) C. 1:6
D. 9:2
5 k E. 3:2
output
input 5 k 36. A fixed mass of an ideal gas undergoes a
cycle ABCD in which its pressure p and
volume V change as shown in the p-V
diagram below.
A. (1) only
B. (3) only p
C. (1) and (2) only A
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3) B

D C
33. Only a small fraction of the electrical
energy supplied to a light bulb is
converted into light energy. Which of the 0 V
following explanations is/are correct?
Which of the following statements is/are
(1) Energy is absorbed by the glass wall correct?
of the bulb.
(2) The resistance of the filament of the (1) From A to B, work is done by the
bulb is very high. gas.
(3) Most of the energy is emitted as (2) From B to C, heat is extracted from
infra-red radiation. the gas.
(3) From C to D, the internal energy of
A. (1) only the gas increases.
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only A. (1) only
D. (2) and (3) only B. (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3) C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)
34. In a horizontal pipeline of cross-sectional
area 2.5  10-3 m2, the static pressure and
total pressure at a certain point are 0.6  37. When a gas is below its critical
104 Pa and 1.0  104 Pa respectively. The temperature, which of the following is/are
fluid flowing through it is incompressible, correct?
non-viscous and has a density of 1.2  103
kgm-3. The volume flow rate in the (1) Intermolecular forces are significant.
pipeline is (2) The gas can be liquefied by applying
pressure alone.
A. 3.2  10-3 m3s-1 (3) Collisions between molecules are not
B. 6.5  10-3 m3s-1 perfectly elastic.
C. 7.9  10-3 m3s-1
D. 1.0  10-2 m3s-1 A. (1) only
E. 1.7  10-2 m3s-1 B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
35. Two different ideal gases, A and B, are D. (2) and (3) only
contained in two identical vessels. If the E. (1), (2) and (3)
 signal generator

97 AL Physics/M.C./P.8

A V

38. The instantaneous value of an alternating R

current I (in A) at time t (in s) is given by
the equation C
I  2 2 sin 50t In the above circuit, a signal generator of
Which of the following descriptions is/are fixed output voltage is connected in series
correct? with a resistor R and a capacitor C.
When the frequency of the signal
(1) The a.c. frequency is 50 Hz. generator is gradually increased, which of
(2) The value of the current varies the following is the correct variation of
between  2 2 A and  2 2 A. the ammeter and voltmeter readings?
(3) The r.m.s. value of the current is 2 A.
Ammeter reading Voltmeter reading
A. increases increases
A. (1) only
throughout throughout
B. (3) only
B. increases decreases
C. (1) and (2) only
throughout throughout
D. (2) and (3) only
C. increases increases and
E. (1), (2) and (3)
throughout then decreases
D. increases and decreases
then decreases throughout
39.
E. increases and decreases and
incident then decreases then increases
monochromatic
radiation C
A 41. The transition of electrons between three
energy levels in a particular atom gives
rise to three spectral lines. The shortest
and longest wavelengths of those spectral
lines are 1 and 2 respectively. The
d.c. source wavelength of the other spectral line is
A d.c. source is applied to a photocell as
shown. Monochromatic radiation is 1   2
A.
incident on cathode C so that 2
photoelectrons are emitted from the B.  2  1
cathode surface. The maximum kinetic
energy of the photoelectrons reaching 1 2
C.
anode A can be increased by using 1   2
1 1 1
(1) a d.c. source of higher voltage. D. (  )
(2) monochromatic radiation of longer 1  2
wavelength. E. 1 2
(3) the same monochromatic radiation
but higher of intensity.

A. (1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)

40.
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.9

42.
45. In an experiment to determine the period
+15 V of oscillation, T, of a simple pendulum,
the time, t, for a number of complete
1 k oscillations is taken. It is found that the
10 k 20 k time for 30 complete oscillations is 28.7
 0.3 s. Which of the following
1 k statements is/are correct?
20 k
Vout (1) The reading error in t can be reduced
by counting 50 oscillations.
1 k
(2) The percentage error in T is the same
as that in t.
-15 V (3) The period T determined should be
quoted as 0.96  0.01 s.
In the above operational amplifier circuit,
the output voltage Vout is A. (1) only
B. (3) only
A. -5 V C. (1) and (2) only
B. -2.5 V D. (2) and (3) only
C. 0V E. (1), (2) and (3)
D. +2.5 V
E. +5 V

226
43. 88 Ra is one of the nuclides in the
uranium decay series. If the stable end-
product of this series is 20682 Pb , the
number of -particles emitted between
the 226
88 Ra stage and the end of the series
is

A. 4
B. 6
C. 10
D. 14
E. 20

44. Which of the following statements about

a typical nuclear reactor in a power plant
is/are correct?

(1) The percentage of 235U isotope in fuel

rods is higher than that in natural
uranium.
(2) Boron-coated steel rods are used to
control the rate of neutron
production.
(3) Pressurized water is used as coolant
inside the reactor core.

A. (1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)
 97 AL Physics/M.C./P.10

Question No. Key Question No. Key

1. C 26. D
2. C 27. C
3. D 28. B
4. C 29. B
5. E 30. E

6. D 31. A
7. E 32. C
8. E 33. B
9. C 34. B
10. A 35. B

11. E 36. C
12. D 37. C
13. B 38. D
14. C 39. A
15. B 40. B

16. B 41. D
17. D 42. A
18. D 43. A
19. A 44. E
20. A 45. D

21. A
22. B
23. D
24. D
25. E