Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

1. Let the electrostatic force between two electrons (Fe) be x times the gravitational force (Fg) between
them. Then, x is of the order of

a) 1040 b) 1042 c) 1038 d) 1037

Sol. Mass of electron: me = 9.11 x 10-31 kg

Charge of electron: e = 1.6 x 10-19 C
1 𝑞1 𝑞2 9𝑥109 𝑥1.6 x 10−19 1.6 x 10−19 2.3 𝑥 10−28
Electrostatic force between the electrons : Fe = = =
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟 2 𝑟2 𝑟2

Gravitational force between the electrons:

𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2 6.67 𝑥 10−11 𝑥 9.11 x 10−31 9.11 x 10−31 5.53 𝑥 10−71
Fg = 𝑟2
= 𝑟2
= 𝑟2

Order of magnitude is the power of 10 after expressing the number in scientific form.
If the number is greater than 5, order of magnitude increases by 1.

2. An arrow shot vertically upwards loses its initial speed by 60 % in 3 seconds. The maximum height
reached by the arrow is (g = 9.8 m/s2)

a) 122.5 m b) 44.1 m c) 100 m d) 45 m

Sol. Initial speed of the particle: u

Velocity of the particle after 3 sec: v = u – at  0.4 u = u – 9.8 x 3  0.6 u = 29.4  u = 49 m/s
𝑢2 49 𝑥 49
Maximum height reached by the arrow: H = 2𝑔 = 2 𝑥 9.8
= 122.5 m

3. A certain force applied to a body A gives it an acceleration of 10 m/s2. The same force applied to
body B gives it an acceleration of 15 m/s2. If the two bodies are joined together and the same force
is applied to the combination, the acceleration will be

a) 6 m/s2 b) 25 m/s2 c) 12.5 m/s2 d) 9 m/s2

𝐹 𝐹
Sol. Acceleration of A: a = 𝑚  10 = 𝑚  F/10 = mA
𝐴 𝐴

𝐹 𝐹
Acceleration of B: a = 𝑚𝐵
 15 = 𝑚𝐵
 F/15 = mB
𝐹 𝐹 1 150
Acceleration of the combined mass : a = 𝑚 +𝑚
= 𝐹 𝐹 = 1 1 = 25
= 6 m/s2
𝐴 𝐵 + +
10 15 10 15

4. A ball is dropped from a height of 7.2 m. It bounces back to 3.2 m after striking the floor. The ball
remains in contact with the floor for 20 milli sec. Given that g = 10 m/s2, the average acceleration
of the ball during the contact is

a) 100 m/s2 b) 200 m/s2 c) 600 m/s2 d) 1000 m/s2

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Sol. Velocity of the ball before striking the floor: v = √2𝑔ℎ = √2𝑥10𝑥7.2 = √144 = 12 m/s

Velocity of the ball after striking the floor: V1 = √2𝑔ℎ = √2𝑥10𝑥3.2 = √64 = 8 m/s

Time of contact with the floor: t = 20 ms = 20 x 10-3 sec

∆𝑣 12 −(−8) 20
Average acceleration: a = = = = 1000 m/s2
∆𝑡 0.02 0.02

5. A loaded bus (mass m2) and an unloaded bus (mass m1) are both with the same kinetic energy.
Brakes are applied to both the buses so as to exert same retarding force. If S1 and S2 are the
distances covered by the two buses respectively before coming to rest, then S1 / S2 is

a) 1 b) m1 / m2 c) 𝑚1 d) m12 / m22
√𝑚
2

Sol. Both the buses have same initial kinetic energy, and both come to rest.
So, change in kinetic energy for both the buses is same. (k1 = k2)
Same retarding force is applied to both the buses. (F1 = F2)
Work energy thm: Wnet = k  FS = k  FS1 = k and FS2 = k  S1 = S2
So, the two buses will travel same distance before coming to rest

6. A ray of light is incident on a hollow glass prism as shown. Then the ray will undergo

a) deviation and dispersion both b) deviation but no dispersion

c) dispersion but no deviation d) neither deviation nor dispersion

Sol. The walls of the glass prism act as glass slab with parallel surfaces.
So, the light ray undergoes lateral shift but not any deviation.
Since it is a hollow (air inside) prism, no dispersion takes place.
Moreover, dispersion phenomenon requires white (compound) light.
There is nothing mentioned about the nature of light incident,
whether it is mono chromatic or white light

7. In a neon discharge tube 2.8 x 1018 Ne+ ions move to the right per second while
1.2 x 1018 electrons move to the left per second. Therefore, the current in the discharge tube is

a) 0.64 A towards right b) 0.256 A towards right

c) 0.64 A towards left d) 0.256 A towards left

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Sol. No. of +ve ions moving to right: 2.8 x 1018

No. of electrons moving to left: 1.2 x 1018
+ve ions moving towards right and electrons moving towards left will contribute the current in
same direction (towards right)
𝑞 𝑛1 𝑒 + 𝑛2 𝑒 𝑒(𝑛1 +𝑛2 ) 1.6 𝑥 10−19 (1.2 x 1018+ 2.8 x 1018)
Current in the discharge tube: I = 𝑡 = 𝑡
= 𝑡
= 1
= 0.64 A

8. Three equal resistors are connected as shown in figure. Maximum power that can be dissipated by
each resistance is 40 W. Therefore, the maximum power that can be safely dissipated in the
combination is

a) 120 W b) 80 W c) 60 W d) 40 W

Sol. Maximum power dissipated in each resistor: 40 W

Maximum power dissipation corresponds to
maximum current i: i2R = 40 W
Total power dissipated in the circuit:
3
(𝑖/2)2 𝑅 + (𝑖/2)2 𝑅 + (𝑖)2 𝑅 = i2R = 1.5 x 40 = 60 W
2

9. An object is placed at a distance x1 from the focus of a concave mirror. Its real image is formed at a
distance x2 from the focus. Hence, the focal length of the mirror is

𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥1 + 𝑥2
a) b) √𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐 c) d) |𝑥1 − 𝑥2 |
𝑥1 +𝑥2
2

Sol. Let the focal length of the mirror be f

Object distance: u = f + x1 / Image distance: v = f + x2
1 1 1 1 1 1
Mirror formula: + =  + =
𝑣 𝑢 𝑓 𝑓+𝑥2 𝑓+𝑥1 𝑓
f2 + f x2 + f2 + f x1 = f2 + f x1 + f x2 + x1x2
f2 = x1x2  f = √𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐

10. How much water should be filled in a container 21 cm in height so that it appears half filled when
viewed from the top of the container? (RI of water 4/3)

a) 8 cm b) 10.5 cm c) 12 cm d) 14 cm

Sol. Depth of the container: 21 cm

Let the water be filled up to (21 – x) cm
The container should appear to be half filled.
𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 21−𝑥 4
𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ
= refractive index; 𝑥
= 3  x = 9 cm

So, the depth of water in the container: 21 – x = 21 – 9 = 12 cm

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11. An electron moving to east in horizontal plane is deflected towards south by a magnetic field. The
direction of this magnetic field is

a) towards north b) towards west c) downwards d) upwards

Sol. ̅ = q (𝒗
Force on a charged particle in magnetic field: 𝑭 ̅)
̅𝒙𝑩
Here the particle is electron: 𝐹̅ = -e(𝑣̅ 𝑥𝐵̅)
The direction of deflection is nothing but the direction of force on electron.
Since it is cross product, we can apply any rule regarding the cross product.
Close fingers of right hand from first vector to second; thumb indicates direction of cross product.

12. The figure shows a ray of light incident on a convex lens parallel to its principal axis.
Obviously, the emergent ray passes through the principal focus F.
Which of the following statements is correct?

a) the ray bends downwards only once inside the lens

b) the ray bends downwards at each surface
c) the ray bends downwards at the first surface and upwards at the second surface
d) the ray bends upwards at the first surface and downwards at the second surface

13. Which of the following does not represent correct refraction?

a) b)

c) d)

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Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

Sol. As a light ray travels from one transparent medium to another, it deviates from its original straight-
line path. This phenomenon is known as refraction.
The light ray bends towards normal in denser medium and away from normal in rarer medium.
In second diagram, light bends away from normal in denser medium (n = 1.5)
So, this does not represent correct refraction.

14. The figure shows graphical representation of sound wave. The quantities on x and y axes
respectively are

a) time and displacement b) distance and pressure

c) distance and change in density d) density and pressure

Sol. As sound wave (longitudinal) is travelling in in gas,

compressions and rarefactions are formed.
Compression: pressure, density & temperature are high.
Rarefaction: pressure, density & temperature are low.

15. A certain amount of heat is required to raise the temperature of x gram of substance through t1 0C.
The same amount of heat when taken away from y gram of water, it cools though t2 0C. Therefore,
the specific heat of the substance is

a) 𝑦𝑡1 b) 𝑥𝑡2 c) 𝒚𝒕𝟐 d) 𝑥𝑡1

𝑥𝑡2 𝑦𝑡1 𝒙𝒕𝟏 𝑦𝑡2

Sol. Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of x gram substance through t10C:
Q = ms t = xst1
Amount of heat released when the temperature of y gram water falls through t20 C
Q = ms t = y (1) t2 [Specific heat of water in CGS units: 1 cal/gm 0C]
𝒚𝒕𝟐
From the above equations: xst1 = y (1) t2  s = 𝒙𝒕𝟏

16. A boy throws a stone (mass 100 g) vertically upwards. It reaches a height of 10 m and then falls to
the ground. The work done by the boy is (g = 10 m/s2)

a) 10 J b) 20 J c) zero d) – 10 J

Sol. Mass of the stone: m = 100 g = 0.1 kg and Height attained by the stone: h = 10 m
Work done by gravity: wg = -mgh = - 0.1 x 10 x 10 = - 10 J
Work done by boy wb = - wg = 10 J

17. Which of the following does not involve friction?

a) writing on paper using pencil b) turning a car to the left on horizontal road
c) a car at rest parked on a sloping ground d) motion of a satellite around the earth

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Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

Sol. Motion of a satellite around the earth involves gravitational force.

Centripetal force is necessary for the circular motion of any object. In the case of satellite, this
centripetal force is provided by gravitational force.
Moreover, the satellites revolve around the earth at a height larger than the height of the
atmosphere. So, it does not encounter any air resistance or friction.

18. In the circuit shown in figure, if the points A and B

are joined by a wire, the current in this wire will be

a) 1A b) 2A c) 4A d) zero
24 𝑥 24
Sol. Effective resistance of the circuit: R = 24+24 = 12 

𝑉 24
Current through the circuit: I = 𝑅 = 12 = 2 A

This current is divided equally into both branches. (1 A)

Applying Ohm’s law: Vc – VA = 12 x 1 = 12 V and Vc – VB = 12 x 1 = 12 V

Subtracting the equations: VA – VB = 0 (the pd between points A and B is zero)

When these points are connected by a wire, the current is zero.

19. Two vectors of equal magnitude are inclined to each other at an angle . Keeping the direction of
one of them fixed, the other is rotated through an equal angle . Now, the resultant of these vectors
has the same magnitude as each of the two vectors. Therefore, angle  is

a) 900 b) 300 c) 450 d) 600

Sol. Let the magnitude of each vector: p

By keeping the first vector fixed, rotate the second vector by . Now the
angle between the vectors is 2.
2𝜃
Resultant of these vectors: parallelogram law: R = 2P cos 2
= 2P cos 

This result is equal to magnitude of one vector:

1
R = P  2P cos  = P  cos  = 2   = 600

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Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

20. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

a) electric current is a scalar quantity

b) electric lines of force are closed curves
c) magnetic lines of induction are closed curves
d) changing magnetic field induces an electric current in a coil

Sol. Electric current is a scalar because it does not obey laws of vector addition
Electric field lines are open curves. They start on +ve charge and end on –ve charge. The open
lines indicate that electric field is conservative in nature.
Magnetic lines are closed loops. They flow from N to S outside the magnet and from S to N inside
the magnet.
Changing magnetic field induces an electric current in a coil according to Faraday’s law.

21. Consider points A, B, C and D on a horizontal cardboard, equidistant from centre O as shown in
figure. A copper wire perpendicular to the cardboard passes through the centre O and carries an
electric current flowing upwards. Deflection of magnetic needle will be maximum when it is kept at
the point

a) A b) B c) C d) D

Sol. The current is flowing vertically up. So, the magnetic field lines that are
concentric circles, will be anti-clockwise.
Horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic field acts from S to N pole.
The two fields are in same direction at point A.
So, the magnetic needle gives maximum deflection at point A

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