A2 Physics Short Questions of 2 or 3 Marks

Q.1 By reference to the definition of gravitational potential, explain why gravitational

potential is a negative quantity.

(gravitational) force is attractive

(gravitational) potential at infinity is zero
decrease in potential energy as masses approach
or displacement and force in opposite directions

Q.2 Features of geostationary orbit.

A satellite in geostationary orbit appears to remain above the same point on the Earth

id
and has a period of 24 hours.
Equatorial orbit.
Satellite orbits the earth from West to East.

ah
Q.3 Suggest quantitatively why it may be assumed that the Sun is isolated in space from
other stars.
Sh
many stars all around the Sun
net effect of forces/fields is zero

Q.4 Explain how a satellite may be in a circular orbit around a planet.

oq

gravitational force (of attraction between satellite and planet)

provides / is centripetal force (on satellite about the planet)
ro

Q.5 Explain why, for changes in vertical position of a point mass near the Earth’s
surface, the gravitational field strength may be considered to be constant.
Fa

changes in height much less than radius of Earth

so (radial) field lines are almost parallel

Q.6 By reference to the pattern of the lines of gravitational force near to the surface of
the Earth, explain why the acceleration of free fall near to the Earth’s surface is
approximately constant.

the lines are radial

near the surface the lines are (approximately) parallel
parallel lines so constant field strength
constant field strength hence constant acceleration of free fall

Q.7 Explain why the gravitational potential energy of the rock is negative.

potential energy is zero at infinity

(gravitational) forces are attractive
work must be done on the rock to move it to infinity.
Q.8 State the relationship between gravitational potential and gravitational field strength.

(gravitational) field strength equals negative (gravitational) potential gradient

Q.9 How does the equation a = (-K/m) x show that the oscillations are SHM?

m is constant or k / m is constant and so acceleration / a proportional to displacement / x

negative sign shows that acceleration / a is in opposite direction to displacement / x

Q.10 Gravitational potential values are negative whereas the electric potential values can
be positive and negative. Why?

There is only a force of attraction between masses whereas charges can attract as well as repel
each other.

Q.11 By reference to electric field lines, explain why, for points outside an isolated
spherical conductor, the charge on the sphere may be considered to act as a point

id
charge at its centre.

ah
lines perpendicular to surface
or
lines are radial
lines appear to come from centre.
Sh
Q.12 State one similarity and one difference between the electric field lines and the
gravitational field lines around an isolated positively charged metal sphere.
oq

similarity: lines are radial / greater separation of lines with increased distance from the sphere.
difference: gravitational lines directed towards sphere and electric lines directed away from
sphere.
ro

Q.13 For any point outside a spherical conductor, the charge on the sphere may be
considered to act as a point charge at its centre. By reference to electric field lines,
explain this.
Fa

electric field lines are radial/normal to surface (of sphere)

electric field lines appear to originate from centre (of sphere)

Q.14 State the relationship between electric potential and electric field strength at a
point.

field strength = potential gradient

‘–’ sign included or directions discussed

Q.15 In terms of the particles of a gas, explain how does a gas become conductor.

Electric field applies forces on electrons and the nuclei in opposite directions.
Electrons are stripped of the nuclei.
Gas becomes ionized and the ionized gases are conductor.
Q.16 What is meant by internal energy of a substance?

The sum of K.E and P.E of the particles of matter in random distribution.

Q.17 Why is the internal energy of a gas is equal to the sum of K.E of the particles.
Gas particles are far away from each other so there are no forces of attraction.
GPE of the particles is zero.
Sum of K.E of the particles of gas is equal to the internal energy.

Q.18 State the change in internal energy when a solid melts.

The change in volume is negligible, so work done is zero.

Thermal energy is provided for the melting process.
Internal energy increases so positive sign.

Q.19 State the change in internal energy when a tyre or a balloon bursts.

id
Work is done by the gas against the atmosphere due to increase in volume.
Gas loses energy while expanding, so cools down.

ah
Internal energy decreases.

Q.20 State the change in internal energy of a ball/rock falling in vacuum.

Sh
No air resistance so no rise in temperature so no change in K.E of the particles.
no change in particles’ spacing so no change in potential energy
no change in internal energy.
oq

Q.21 State the change in internal energy of a ball/rock falling in air.

Rise in temperature due to air resistance so increase in K.E of the particles.

no change in particles’ spacing so no change in potential energy
ro

Internal energy increases.

Q.22 Why is the recorded temperature by a thermometer is different from the

Fa

thermodynamic temperature?

Thermometric property does not depend on any thermometric property.

Thermometer measures the temperature with the help of thermometric property that does not
change linearly with temperature.

Q.23 Suggest why, in practice, Hall probes are usually made using a semiconductor
material rather than a metal.

VH is inversely proportional to n.
For semiconductor n is much smaller
so VH much larger even in weaker magnetic field.
Q.24 Suggest why, in practice, Hall probes are usually made using a thin slice of
material.

VH is inversely proportional to t (thickness).

so VH much larger even in weaker magnetic field.

Q.25 velocity secletor

Electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to each other.

Velocity of the charged particle is perpendicular to both the fields.
For undeviated path, the magnetic force should be equal to electric force, qvB = qE
A specific velocity is used to achieve this.

Q.26 Use the concept of discrete electron energy levels to explain the existence of these
darker lines.

 photon gives energy to electron (in an inner shell) or electron (in an inner shell) absorbs a

id
photon
 electron moves (from lower) to higher energy level

ah
 energy (of photon) is equal to difference in energy levels
 electron de-excites giving off photon (of same energy)
 photons emitted in all directions
Sh
Q.27 Why is induced e.m.f is out of phase with the input?

e.m.f is induced when magnetic field lines are cut by the conductor.
e.m.f is equal to negative gradient of magnetic flux linkage.
oq

So 90 degrees out of phase.

Q.28 How can electron diffraction be used to find atomic spacing?

ro

When the de-Broglie’s wavelength of moving electron is equal to atomic spacings they from
Fa

diffraction fringes.
Wavelength depends on speed which is determined by using voltage.

Q.29 What are the pieces of evidence provided by the photoelectric effect about the
particulate nature of light?

• Instantaneous emission of electrons.

• Threshold frequency below witch no emission of photoelectrons.
• Max. electron energy depends on frequency of incident photon.
• Max. electron energy does not depend on intensity of EM radiation.
• Rate of emission of electrons depends on intensity of EM radiation.
• Rate of emission of electrons does not depend on frequency of EM radiation.
Q.30 Explain how the emission spectrum provides evidence for the existence of discrete
energy levels for the electron in a hydrogen atom.

Each line corresponds to a specific photon energy.

Photon emitted when an electron changes its energy level.
photon energy = difference in energy levels
Discrete energy changes imply discrete energy levels.

Q.31 Use the concept of discrete electron energy levels to explain the existence of dark
lines in absorption spectrum.

id
Q.32 A capacitor stores energy but not the charge. Why?

ah
Plates are equally but oppositely charged.
Net stored charge is zero.
Energy is needed to separate the charges.
Sh
Q.33 What happens to the photoelectric current if the frequency of the incident light is
increased, keeping its intensity constant?
When the frequency is increased, the intensity also increases. To keep the intensity constant we
have to reduce the no. of incident photons. So the no. of emitted photoelectrons decreases.
oq

Hence the photoelectric current decreases.

Q.34 Why an e.m.f is induced when a conductor is moved in the magnetic field?
ro

Magnetic field lines are cut due to motion of the conductor.

Magnetic flux linkage changes.
Fa

This induces an e.m.f according to Faraday’s Law of EM Induction.

Q.35 In terms of energy, explain why a nuclear reaction is energetically possible?

The nucleon number of products is smaller than the reactants.

The B.E per nucleon of the products is greater than the reactants.
So products are more stable so energetically possible.

Q.37 In terms of energy, explain why a nuclear reaction is energetically impossible?

The nucleon number of products is greater than the reactants.

The B.E per nucleon of the products is smaller than the reactants.
So products are less stable so energetically not possible.
Q.38 Why high temperature is needed to start a fusion reaction?

Nuclei are positively charged so there are forces of repulsion between them.
High speed is needed to overcome the forces of repulsion, which needs high K.E.
High temp. is needed for higher K.E.

Q.39 Why is there a Sharp Cut-off at the Min. Wavelength? (X-Rays)

Some of the electrons from the filament, when hit the metal target, lose all of their energy in
single collision hence producing max. level of excitation and on de-excitation produce X-Ray
photons with max. energy and min. wavelength.

Q.40 Why is There a Continuous Distribution of 𝝀? (X-Rays)

• When an electron from the filament hits the electron, it produces excitation.
• On de-excitation X-ray photons are produces.
• Range of energies/speeds of electrons from filament so range of energies and

id
wavelengths.

ah
Q.41 Why are there high sharp Peaks on the Graph? (X-Rays)

• When electrons from the filament hit the metal anode some of their energy is also
converted into thermal energy.
Sh
• This rise in temperature of anode produce excitations resulting into the peaks.

Q.42 Why do we use filters at the window of the X-ray tube?

oq

• Those X-Ray photons which have longer wavelength (low energy) don’t penetrate even
through the flesh and don’t contribute in the contrast.
• They only increase the radiation dose so they are filtered at the window by using
Aluminum Filters.
ro

Q.43 Why two gamma ray photons are produced in PET?

Fa

Electron and positron annihilate while moving in opposite direction so total momentum is zero.
Photons move in opposite directions with equal momenta to conserve momentum.
One photon has momentum so must be two of the them.

Q.44 Explain how the gamma photons are used to produce an image.

 the two gamma photons travel in opposite directions

 gamma photons detected (outside body / by detectors)
 gamma photons arrive (at detector) at different times
 determine location of production (of gamma)
 image of tracer concentration in tissue produced
Q.45 Explain how cosmologists use observations of emission spectra from stars in
distant galaxies to determine that the Universe is expanding.

wavelengths (of spectral lines) are greater (than their known values)
redshift shows stars (in distant galaxies) moving away from Earth.

Q.46 Explain how Hubble’s law and the idea of the expanding Universe lead to the Big
Bang theory of the origin of the Universe.

(all) parts of Universe moving away from each other

more distant objects are moving away faster
matter must have been close together / very dense in the past.

Q.47 Explain how positrons cause the emission of gamma-radiation from the body during
PET scanning.

positron interacts with electron

id
(pair) annihilation occurs
mass of particles converted into gamma photons

ah
Q.48 Advantage of short half life of radiotracer in PET.

Material decays quickly due to shorter half life.

Sh
Patient is not subjected to radiation for longer duration.

Q.49 Advantage of smaller penetration of positron in PET.

oq

Positron meets an electron in a short distance to produce gamma photons.

Gamma photons are produced very close to the position of interaction.
So determination of position of cancer.
ro

Q.50 Why a detector near a source detects count rate higher than actual?

Background radiations.
Fa

Daughter nuclei also radioactive.

Q.51 Why a detector near a source detects count rate lower than actual?

Radiations absorbed in the rock.

Radiations absorbed in the air between rock and the detector.
Random decay.