Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

1. One side of a glass slab is silvered as shown in figure. A light

ray is incident on the other side at an angle 450. Refractive
index of glass is 1.5. The deviation of the ray of light from its
initial path when it comes out of the slab is
√2
( given sin−1 3
= 280)

a) 1800 b) 900 c) 1200 d) 450

Sol. Bottom surface of the glass slab is silvered and the light ray is incident on the upper surface.
3
Snell’s law : n1 sin 1 = n2 sin 2  1 x sin 45 = 2 sin r  r = 280

Deviation at first refraction : i – r = 45 – 28 = 170 clockwise

Deviation at reflection : 180 – 2r = 180 – 56 = 1240 anti-clockwise
Deviation at second refraction : i – r = 45 – 28 = 170 clockwise
Net deviation: 124 – 34 = 900 anti-clockwise

2. An object of mass 1 kg is made to slide down a smooth inclined plane of length 20 m. If the kinetic
energy possessed by the body at the bottom of the plane is 100 J, the inclination of the plane with
the horizontal is ( g = 10 m/s2)

a) 300 b) 370 c) 600 d) 450

Sol. Mass of the object: m = 1 kg

Kinetic energy on reaching the bottom of the inclined plane:
1 1
k = 2 𝑚 𝑣 2 = 2 x 1 x v2 = 100  v = 10 √2 m/s

Acceleration on an inclined plane: a = g sin  = 10 sin 

1
Kinematics equation: v2 – u2 = 2as  200 – 0 = 2 x 10 sin  x 20 sin  = 2   = 300

3. An inclined plane of inclination  is placed in water as shown in figure. Consider a small area A
around point P at a depth h. If density of water is  and acceleration due to gravity is g, the force
experienced by A due to hydrostatic pressure is

a) gh (A) sin  b) gh (A) c) gh d) gh (A) sec 

Sol. The point of consideration P is at a depth h below the free surface of

the liquid.
Pressure acting at that point: P = hg
Force experienced by the elemental area A: P (A)
F = gh (A)
Hydrostatic pressure acts always perpendicular to the surface.

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4. Consider the following two statements about light and sound. Choose the most appropriate option:
I. when light and sound travel from air to water, light may bend towards normal while sound may
bend away from normal
II. Sound is longitudinal wave while light is transverse wave

a) statement I is correct while statement II is incorrect.

b) statement I and statement II are incorrect
c) statement I and statement II are both correct and statement II is not the reason for I
d) statement I and statement II are correct and statement II is the correct reason for I

Sol. Sound waves in air and water are longitudinal while light waves are transverse electromagnetic.
As a ray (wave) travels from one medium to another, it bends towards normal in denser medium
and away from normal in rarer medium.
For sound: water is rarer medium (speed of sound in water is more than that in air)
For light: water is denser medium (speed of light in water is less than that in air)

5. The percentage change in acceleration due to gravity at an altitude equal to radius of earth
compared to that on the surface of earth is given by

a) 25 % increase b) 35 % decrease c) 25 % decrease d) 75 % decrease

Sol. Acceleration due to gravity on the surface : g

𝑅 2
Acceleration due to gravity at certain height : gh = g ( )
𝑅+ℎ

R is radius of the earth, h is altitude

𝑅 2 𝑅 2
gh = g (𝑅+ℎ)  gh = g (𝑅+𝑅) = g/4
𝑔
𝑔ℎ −𝑔 −𝑔 3
Percentage change in gravity: x 100 = 4 x 100 = − x 100 = - 75 %
𝑔 𝑔 4

6. A particle accelerates with a constant acceleration a0 and reaches a maximum velocity and then
decelerates with a0 and comes to rest. The position – time graph describing the situation is best
represented by
a) b)

c) d)

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Sol. The object is moving with constant acceleration / deceleration.

Velocity will change according to: v = u + at
𝟏
Position of the particle will change according to: s = ut + 𝟐 at2

7. Two bulbs of specifications 50 W, 220 V and 100 W, 200 V are connected first
(I) in parallel and then (II) in series across 220 V power supply. Choose the correct statement

a) In I 50 W will glow brighter and in II 100 W will glow brighter

b) in I 50 W will glow brighter and II both will glow equally brighter
c) In both cases 50W bulb will glow brighter
d) In I 100 W will glow brighter and II 50 W will glow brighter

Sol. Power consumed by the bulb is the indication of its brightness.

In series combination : current is same : Pc = i2R  Pc ∝ R
𝑉2 220 𝑥 220
Resistance of first bulb : R1 = 𝑃
= 50
= 968 
𝑉 2 200 𝑥 200
Resistance of second bulb : R2 = 𝑃
= 100 = 400 
𝑉 2
In parallel combination : voltage is same : Pc = ( 𝑠 ) Pr
𝑉𝑟
220 2
Power consumed by first bulb: P1 = ( ) 50 = 50 W
220
220 2
Power consumed by second bulb: P2 = ( ) 100 = 121 W
200

8. Which of the following situation is impossible?

a) A body having constant velocity and variable acceleration

b) a body having zero velocity and non-zero acceleration
c) a body having constant acceleration and variable velocity
d) a body having velocity and acceleration in opposite directions

Sol. a) A body cannot have constant velocity and variable acceleration

b) Highest point of a vertically projected body
c) Body in uniform circular motion
d) Body in simple harmonic motion

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9. A liquid A of density 1.6 g/cc and liquid B of unknown density is poured into a U tube as shown.
The liquids are immiscible. If height of A is hA = 26.6 cm and height of B is hB = 50 cm, the
density of B is

a) 3.01 g/cc b) 0.85 g/cc c) 0.33 g/cc d) 1.18 g/cc

Sol. Pressure at a given horizontal level is same.

Pressure due to liquid A: Po + AghA
Pressure due to liquid B: Po + BghB
From the principles of hydrostatics:
Po + AghA = Po + BghB  AhA = BhB
AhA 1.6 𝑥 26.6
B = = = 0.85 g/cc
hB 50

10. Diagram shown trajectory of a cricket ball. The set of arrows

which show the direction of the acceleration of ball at P and Q
respectively are

a) ↑↓ b) c) ↓↓ d)

Sol. Acceleration in horizontal direction : ax = 0 m/s2

Acceleration in vertical direction : ay = g m/s2
The direction of acceleration due to gravity is independent of direction of motion of the body.
It always acts in vertically down ward direction.
So, the correct option is C

11. If temperature of a certain mass of aluminum having specific heat capacity of 0.8 J/g 0C is lowered
by 6 0C and heat lost is 96 J, then mass of aluminum is

a) 20 g b) 48 g c) 60 g d) 16 g

Sol. The amount of heat lost by a substance : Q = ms t

m is mass of substance, s is specific heat capacity, t is change in temperature
96 2
Q = ms t  96 = m x 0.8 x 1000 x 6  m = 4800 = 100 kg = 20 g

12. In photoelectric effect, the maximum kinetic energy Ek of photoelectrons depends on frequency f of
light incident on a metal surface of work function . In an experiment, f is varied and Ek is
measured. To determine the value of Planck’s constant

a) plot Ek against  and find intercept of best fitted line

b) plot Ek against  and find slope of line of best fit
c) plot Ek against f and find slope of line of best fit
d) plot Ek against f and find intercept of best fitted line

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Sol. Ek – maximum kinetic energy of photo electrons

f – frequency of incident radiation /  - work function of the metal
Einstein’s photo electric equation :
E =  + Ek  hf =  + Ek  Ek = hf -  (y = mx – c)
This is a straight-line equation with +ve slope and –ve y intercept.

13. Essential requirement for the operation of a step down transformer is

a) laminated iron core b) electrical connection between primary and secondary coils
c) non-magnetic core d) magnetic interaction between primary and secondary coils

Sol. Laminated core : helps reduce eddy current losses by increasing the resistance of the core
There is no electrical connection between primary and secondary windings of the transformer.
They are linked by magnetic flux
High frequency transformers may have nonmagnetic core
Magnetic interaction between primary and secondary is the essential principle of working of a
transformer (electromagnetic induction)

14. On a rainy wet day, a thunder is heard 6 sec after lightening. If speed of sound is 350 m/s, the
altitude of the cloud is

a) 1.8 km b) 1.9 km c) 2.5 km d) 2.1 km

Sol. Let the altitude of the cloud be h

ℎ ℎ
Time taken by light to travel : tl = 𝑡 = 3 𝑥 108
𝑙

ℎ ℎ
Time taken by sound to travel : ts = =
𝑡𝑠 350
ℎ ℎ ℎ
Time difference between light and sound : t = ts- tl = 350 - 3 𝑥 108 ≅ 350
ℎ
350
= 6  h = 350 x 6 = 2100 m = 2.1 km

15. There are three bodies A, B and C. Body A when brought closer to B, attract. When body B is
brought closer to C, they repel. We can then conclude

a) body A and B should have opposite charges while C should have same charge as B
b) body A and B should have same charge while C may have opposite charge
c) body B and C definitely have same kind of charge while A may have opposite charge
d) body C is neutral while body A and B have opposite charges

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Sol. A and B attract either they are oppositely charged or one of them is uncharged
B and C repel both are similarly charged.
From the above observations, we can conclude that B is not neutral

16. A body of mass 2 kg moving in +ve X direction with a speed 4 m/s, collides head on with another
body of mass 3 kg moving in –ve X direction with a speed of 1 m/s. During collision, a loud sound
is heard and they both start moving together. The sound energy cannot be greater than

a) 12 J b) 14 J c) 17.5 J d) 15 J

Sol. Total kinetic energy before collision :

1 1 1 1
2
m1 v12 + 2 m2 v22 = 2 x 2 x 16 + 2 x 3 x 1 = 16 + 1.5 = 17.5 J

Common velocity after collision: m1v1−m2v2 = (m1+m2) v  2 x 4 – 3 x 1 = (2+3) v  v = 1 m/s

1 1
Kinetic energy after collision : 2 (m1+m2) v2 = 2 x 5 x 1 = 2.5 J

Loss in kinetic energy : k = ki – kf = 17.5 – 2.5 = 15 J

So the maximum sound energy = 15 J

17. In nuclear reactor, the electrons and protons are moving in opposite direction across a small hole in
2 sec. If number of electrons and protons is 2 x 1016 each, the current through the hole is given by

a) 3.2 mA b) zero c) 6.4 mA d) 1.6 mA

Sol. Electrons and protons moving in opposite directions contribute current in the same direction.
(towards the movement of +ve charge : protons)
No. of electrons = No. of protons = 2 x 1016 and time: t = 2 sec
𝑞 𝑛𝑒 1.6 𝑥 10−19 (2 x 1016 +2 x 1016 )
Current : I = 𝑡 = 𝑡
= 2
= 3.2 x 10-3 A = 3.2 mA

18. Which radiation is easiest to shield?

a) Beta b) alpha c) gamma d) neutron

Sol. Alpha:  : 2He4: 2 units +ve charge and 4 units mass. Heavy particle with less ionization and
penetrating power.
Beta:  : -1e0: 1 unit –ve charge and almost zero mass. Light particle with high ionization and
penetrating power.
Gamma:  : Electromagnetic radiation with no charge. Very high penetrating and ionizing powers.
Neutron: n: no charge and 1unit mass. More penetrating power than  and  but do not ionize the
matter directly like other charged particles.

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19. Two infinite wires are placed parallel to each other. They carry currents (same magnitude) I1 and I2.
The magnetic fields are B1 and B2 respectively. Different situations are given in column 1. The
comments on the direction and strength of magnetic field are given in column II
match the following.

a) b)

c) d)

column I column II

1. Mid-point, current in same direction p. B2 > B1 and B1+ B2 is into

2. Right outside, current in same direction q. B2 > B1 and B2 – B1 is out
3. Mid-point, current in opposite directions r. B1 = B2 and B2 – B1 = 0
4. Right outside, current in opposite directions s. B1 = B2 and B1 + B2 = 2B into

a) 1 – p; 2 – q; 3 – r; 4 – s b) 1 – s; 2 – r; 3 – p; d – q
c) 1 – r; 2 – p; 3 – s; 4 – q d) 1 – s; 2 – r; 3 – q; 4 – p

Sol. Magnetic field due to a straight current carrying conductor : B = 𝜇𝑜 𝑖

2𝜋 𝑟

The field lines are concentric circles with the wire at the centre, encircling the wire in according to
right hand rule.
a) As both currents are in the same direction, the magnetic fields at the centre are equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction. So they cancel each other.
b) The point of consideration is closer to second wire. So the field created by it is more in
strength and both the fields are directed into the plane of the paper.
c) As the currents are in opposite direction, the magnetic fields at the centre are equal in
magnitude and in same direction.
d) The point of consideration is closer to second wire. So the field created by it is more in
strength. So the resultant field B2 – B1 is out

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