Cambridge O Level

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PHYSICS5054/02
Paper 2 Theory For examination from 2023

SPECIMEN PAPER 1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.
● Take the weight of 1.0 kg to be 9.8 N (acceleration of free fall = 9.8 m / s2).

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 80.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

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1 Fig. 1.1 is the speed-time graph for a stone as it falls to the ground.

50

speed 40
m/s
30

20

10

0
0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0
time / s

Fig. 1.1

(a) (i) On Fig. 1.1, mark:

• a letter X to indicate a point where the rock is moving with a constant speed
• a letter Y to indicate a point where the rock is decelerating.
[2]

(ii) At time t = 0, the acceleration of the stone is equal to the acceleration of free fall.

Give the name of the force accelerating the stone at time t = 0.

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

(b) The weight of the stone is 4.0 N.

As the stone falls, the force F of air resistance acting on the rock changes.

(i) State the value of F at time t = 0.

0
F = ....................................................... N [1]

(ii) State the value of F at time t = 10.0 s.

4
F = ....................................................... N [1]

(iii) Suggest why F changes between t = 0 s and t = 10.0 s

It because of the increase in speed.
............................................................................................................................................

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

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

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(c) (i) Using Fig. 1.1, determine the acceleration of the rock at time t = 4.0 s. State the unit of
your answer.

You will need to draw a tangent to the graph in Fig. 1.1 and show your working.

6.7 m/s^2
acceleration = ...................................... unit = .......... [3]

(ii) The mass of the stone is 408 g.

Determine the force F of air resistance acting on the rock at time t = 4.0 s.

Show your working.

2.7
F = ....................................................... N [2]

 [Total: 11]

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2 Fig. 2.1 shows a black car going up a hill on a sunny day.

Fig. 2.1

(a) State:

(i) one way in which the car is gaining thermal energy

Friction between the tyres of the car and road
............................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) one way in which the car is losing thermal energy.

The black surface of the car emits thermal energy.
............................................................................................................................................

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

(b) The car accelerates up the hill.

In addition to an increase in thermal energy, there are other energy transfers taking place.

Describe the other energy transfers.

When the car was at stop it had chemical potential energy. As the car moves up, it is gaining
....................................................................................................................................................
gravitational potential energy. When it is moving and accelerating then the car also experiences
....................................................................................................................................................
kinetic energy.
....................................................................................................................................................

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

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(c) At one point in the motion, the kinetic energy of the car is 90 kJ.

The mass of the car is 800 kg.

Calculate the speed of the car.

speed .................................................... m/s [3]

 [Total: 8]

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3 A passenger in an aircraft seals some air inside a plastic bag.

seal
plastic bag

Fig. 3.1

(a) Explain how the particles of air in the bag exert a pressure on the inside of the bag.
There are more particles, in the given volume, due to why they collide with one another causing
....................................................................................................................................................
a change in momentum. Change in momentum is force, and force per unit area means pressure
....................................................................................................................................................
is being exerted o the walls of the bag.
............................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) When the bag is closed, the pressure of the air inside the aircraft is 80 kPa and the bag
contains 500 cm3 of air.

(i) When the aircraft is on the ground, the pressure of the air inside the aircraft is 100 kPa.

Calculate the volume of air inside the bag when the aircraft is on the ground.

400
volume = .................................................... cm3 [2]

(ii) State one assumption that you made in your calculation in (i).
Temperature is kept constant.
............................................................................................................................................

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

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(c) The point plotted on the graph in Fig. 3.2 shows the initial pressure and volume of the air
inside the bag.

Sketch a line on Fig. 3.2 to show how the volume of the air changes as the pressure increases.

700

600

volume
500
/ cm3

400

300
70 80 90 100 110
pressure / kPa

Fig. 3.2[2]

 [Total: 7]

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4 One type of renewable energy source is shown in Fig. 4.1.

Earth’s surface

hot water cold water

and steam pumped down
up

cracks in hot
rocks

Fig. 4.1

(a) State the name of the renewable energy source shown in Fig. 4.1.
Geothermal energy
............................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) 1000 kg of cold water at a temperature of 20 °C is pumped down to the hot rocks.
The water returns partly as steam and partly as hot water.
The steam and the hot water are both at a temperature of 100 °C.

The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C).

(i) Calculate the energy needed to heat 1000 kg of water from 20 °C to 100 °C.

3.4 x 10^8
energy = ........................................................ J [2]

(ii) Explain why more energy is transferred when 1 kg of the steam cools to 20 °C than when
1 kg of the hot water cools to 20 °C.

You should include a reference to the arrangement of particles in liquids and in gases in
your answer.

Gases can easily be cooled to liquids, as their inter-molecular forces of attraction are weak
............................................................................................................................................
and they have a lot of molecular distance, so less energy is needed to overcome their
............................................................................................................................................
forces of attraction. Moreover, latent heat is given out due to change of state, which increases
............................................................................................................................................
the distance between particles.
............................................................................................................................................

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

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

 [Total: 6]
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5 Fig. 5.1 shows light in air, incident on the side of a rectangular glass block at an angle of 60°.

glass block
60°
r


P
X Y

Fig. 5.1

The refractive index of the glass is 1.6. The light travels in the glass and is incident on side XY
at P.

(a) Underline all the terms that describe a wave of light.

electromagnetic longitudinal radioactive transverse[1]

(b) At the point where the light enters the glass, the angle of refraction is r.

Calculate angle r.

33 degrees
r = ......................................................... ° [2]

(c) (i) Calculate the critical angle c for light travelling in the block.

39 degrees
c = ......................................................... ° [2]

(ii) At P, the angle θ between the ray and the normal is given by θ = 90° – r.

State and explain what happens to the light when it is incident on side XY.
As the light enters incident to XY, there will be total internal reflection, as 57 degrees is
............................................................................................................................................
greater than the critical angle.
............................................................................................................................................

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

 [Total: 7]

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6 A 4.5 V battery is connected in a circuit with an ammeter, a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a
1800 Ω fixed resistor.

Fig. 6.1 is the circuit diagram.

4.5 V

A 1800 

Fig. 6.1

(a) The light incident on the LDR causes its resistance to be 9000 Ω.

Calculate:

(i) the total resistance of the circuit

1500
resistance = ....................................................... Ω [2]

(ii) the reading on the ammeter.

V =IR

0.003
reading = ........................................................ A [2]

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(b) A very bright lamp is switched on and the intensity of the light incident on the LDR increases.

(i) State and explain what happens to the current in the LDR.
increases
what happens to the current ...............................................................................................
As resistance decreases
explanation .........................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) State and explain what happens to the current in the 1800 Ω resistor.
does not change
what happens to the current ...............................................................................................

explanation .........................................................................................................................
Resistance is not affected by LDR

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

 [Total: 6]

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7 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows a horizontal, current-carrying wire PQ in the gap between the poles of a
permanent magnet.

S gap

P Q

N
permanent magnet

Fig. 7.1

(i) There is a magnetic field in the gap between the N pole and the S pole.

The current in PQ is from left to right.

Describe the effect of the magnetic field on PQ.

There is a motor effect, which results in a force being exerted out of the page.
............................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) State the effect on PQ of increasing the strength of the magnetic field in the gap.
It will experience a greater force.
............................................................................................................................................

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

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(b) Fig. 7.2 shows part of a torch. The torch does not contain a battery.

coil magnet

N S

Fig. 7.2

The torch is shaken and this causes the magnet to move backwards and forwards through
the coil.

(i) Explain why an electromotive force (e.m.f.) is induced across the coil when the magnet
moves.
There will be a change in magnetic flux, due to why E.M.F is induced.
............................................................................................................................................

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

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

(ii) State one way to increase the e.m.f. induced.

............................................................................................................................................
Increase the number of turns in the coil

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

(iii) As the magnet moves into the coil, the induced e.m.f. produces a current in the coil.

Explain how this opposes the motion of the magnet.

Lenz's Law is followed here, where when we move the magnet into the coil, there will be
............................................................................................................................................
repulsion as the coil forms a similar pole (north) near the magnet, due to the current.
............................................................................................................................................

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

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

 [Total: 8]

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8 Fig. 8.1 shows a circuit containing a 230 V a.c. supply connected to a television and two lamps.

live

120 W television 40 W 40 W
230 V
a.c. supply

neutral

Fig. 8.1

In normal operation, both switches are closed. The power supplied to each lamp is 40 W and the
power supplied to the television is 120 W.

(a) Calculate, in normal operation:

(i) the total number of kilowatt-hours (kW h) of energy supplied to the circuit in 1.0 hour

0.2
number of kW h = ........................................................... [1]

(ii) the current in each lamp.

0.17
current = ........................................................ A [2]

(b) Explain why the switches are placed in the live wire and not in the neutral wire.
Live wire has voltage of 240 V, whereas neutral wire provide 0V voltage. Plus, the live wire is
....................................................................................................................................................
connected to the power supply, providing energy for a unit charge to pass, so it can switch
....................................................................................................................................................
the circuit off.
....................................................................................................................................................

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

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(c) State one advantage of connecting the two lamps in parallel in this circuit.
They last longer.
....................................................................................................................................................

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

 [Total: 6]

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9 Fig. 9.1 shows the main parts of a nuclear reactor.

control
rod
coolant

moderator

fuel
rod

Fig. 9.1

(a) The fuel rod contains uranium-235, which can undergo nuclear fission.

Describe the process of nuclear fission that occurs in the fuel rod.

Your description should include the role of neutrons in the process.

Nuclear fission is when a nuclei separates to give two nuclei and 3 neutrons. In this case, the
....................................................................................................................................................
fuel rod are that provide the nuclei (fuel which is uranium), that goes through nuclear fission,
....................................................................................................................................................
dividing the nuclei and giving out energy as well as making new neutrons that carry out a chain
....................................................................................................................................................
reaction.
....................................................................................................................................................

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

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

(b) Explain what happens as a control rod is moved out of the reactor core.
There can be more nuclear fission going on without control, that can cause a rise in temperature.
....................................................................................................................................................

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

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(c) The nuclear reactor releases energy at a steady rate.

By referring to neutrons, describe what is happening to achieve this steady rate.

Only one of the nuclei is absorbed, while the others are absorbed by the control rods.
....................................................................................................................................................

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

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

(d) Explain the purpose of the moderator in the nuclear reactor.

They slow down neutrons so that more of them are abosrbed.
....................................................................................................................................................

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

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

 [Total: 8]

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10 The Sun is a star in a stable part of its life cycle.

(a) Using ideas about forces, explain how the Sun remains stable in this part of its life cycle.

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

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

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

(b) Describe what happens to stars of similar mass to the Sun at the end of the stable part of
their life cycle.

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

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

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

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

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

(c) The orbital speed of Earth around the Sun is 30 km / s. Use this value to calculate the distance
of Earth from the Sun.

Show your working. State the unit of your answer.

distance = ...................................... unit = .......... [3]

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(d) The light emitted by distant galaxies show various amounts of redshift.

(i) State the name of the galaxy that contains our Sun.

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

(ii) State what is meant by redshift and describe how it is caused.

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

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

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

(iii) An astronomer compares the spectrum of light emitted by the Sun with the spectrum of
light emitted by distant galaxies P and Q.

Fig. 10.1 shows the same four lines as observed in all three spectrums.

increasing wavelength

Sun

Galaxy P

Galaxy Q

Fig. 10.1

State what Fig. 10.1 enables the astronomer to deduce about galaxy P and galaxy Q.

Explain the astronomer’s reasons in your answer.

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

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

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

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

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

 [Total: 13]

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