Year 12 Physics

Trial HSC Exam

General Instructions Total Marks – 100

• Reading time – 5 minutes Attempt all questions.

• Working time – 180 minutes Section I – Multiple Choice (20 marks)
• Questions 1 - 20
• Write using black pen

• A Periodic Table and Data Sheet is Section II – Short Answer (80 marks):
provided • Questions 21 - 34

• Board-approved calculators may be used

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Section I
20 marks
Attempt Questions 1 - 20

1. Electrons have a charge of 1.602 ´ 10-19 C. Which experimental setup would allow a
physicist to determine this information?

A. C.

B. D.

2. In the Standard Model of Matter, muons are classified as:

A. Mesons
B. Baryons
C. Leptons
D. Muons are not a specific particle, they are already a class of particle

3. An object is thrown horizontally at time t = 0. At t = 0.5 s the object has travelled x metres
horizontally and it has fallen y metres vertically.

What is the initial velocity of the object and the vertical distance fallen at t = 1.0 s?

Initial velocity (m s-1) Distance fallen at 1 s (m)

A. x 2y
B. x 4y
C. 2x 2y
D. 2x 4y

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4. The spectra of two similar stars are compared. One has broader spectral lines than the other.
Which statement is most correct?

A. The stars have different rotational velocities.

B. The stars have a different translational velocity from the point of reference of the observer.
C. The stars have the same density.
D. The stars are composed of different elements, which have different width spectral lines.

5. An electron enters a magnetic field with strength 10.0 mT perpendicularly, at 1225 m s-1.
What will be the radius of curvature of its path?

A. 8.5 ´ 10-4 m
B. 697 nm
C. 6.97 ´ 10-10 m
D. 69.7 ´ 10-7 m

6. A pendulum is used to determine the value of acceleration due to gravity. The length of the
pendulum is varied, and the time taken for one oscillation at each length is recorded. The period
!
of a pendulum is given by 𝑇 = 2𝜋%" where L is its length and g is acceleration due to gravity.

Which of the following could best improve the accuracy of the experiment?

A. Using a stopwatch that measures to nanoseconds rather than milliseconds.

B. Conducting the experiment at different locations on Earth’s surface.
C. Recording the time taken for ten oscillations at each length.
D. Changing the mass of the pendulum.

7. A motorcyclist is cornering on a banked, circular track. Which combination of changes in the

bank angle q and the coefficient of friction µ will result in the greatest increase in the
motorcyclist’s cornering speed?

Change in q Change in µ
A. Decrease Increase
B. Increase Increase
C. Increase Decrease
D. Decrease Decrease

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8. Given that its rest mass is m, which expression gives the binding energy per nucleon of $#He?

A. (2𝑚p + 𝑚n + 𝑚+𝑐 #
B. (2𝑚p + 𝑚n − 𝑚+𝑐 #
(#(p )(n )()+ #
C. $
(#(p )(n ,()+ #
D. $

9. At one point on Earth’s surface at a distance r from Earth’s centre, the gravitational field
strength is 9.76 N kg-1. What will be the gravitational field strength at an altitude of 2r?

A. 1.08 N kg-1
B. 2.44 N kg-1
C. 3.25 N kg-1
D. 4.88 N kg-1

10. Nuclide X can decay by two routes. In Route 1, X decays via a decay to P and then via b-
decay to a final product of Q. In Route 2, X decays via b- decay to R and then via a decay to a
final product of S.

Which statement is correct?

A. Q and S are different isotopes of the same element.

B. X and R have the same mass number.
C. P and R have the same atomic number.
D. X and R are isotopes of the same element.

11. The charges -Q, +2Q, and -2Q are placed at the vertices of an isosceles triangle.

Which of the following best represents the direction of the net force on the charge -Q?

A. C.

B. D.

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12. A group of students have a data set for the orbital radius and orbital period of the planets in the
solar system. Which method should they use to determine the mass of the Sun from their data?

-$ /0
A. Use . # = 12# with the radius and period of each planet to find M, and average the values.
B. Plot a graph of orbital radius versus orbital period and find the gradient, then use this to
calculate M.
C. Plot a graph of the square of the orbital period versus the cube of the orbital radius, then
draw a line of best fit, then find the gradient, then find the reciprocal of the gradient, and
use this to calculate M.
D. Plot a graph of the square of the orbital period versus the cube of the orbital radius, then
draw a line of best fit, then find the gradient, and use this to calculate M.

13. A particle of mass 0.02 kg moves in a horizontal circle of diameter 1 m with an angular velocity
of 3p rad s-1. What is the magnitude and direction of the force responsible for this motion?

Magnitude of force (N) Direction of force

A. 0.09p2 Away from centre of circle
B. 0.03p Towards centre of circle
C. 0.03p2 Away from centre of circle
D. 0.09p2 Towards centre of circle

14. The diagram shows the emission spectrum of an atom.

Which of the following atomic energy level models can produce this spectrum?

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15. A DC motor initially has no load and rotates at constant speed. It is then placed under a
gradually increasing load until eventually it is held still. Which graph best represents the
current usage of this motor with respect to time?

A. C.
I
I

t
t

B. D.
I I

t t

16. A conductive bar travels through magnetic field B at constant velocity v. Whilst this movement
occurs, a measurement device travels along the bar in the directions given below. In which
direction does the measured electron density in the bar increase?

A. Moving up the page

B. Moving down the page
C. Moving into the page
D. Moving out of the page

17. An observer in Spaceship A watches Spaceship B fly past at a relative speed of 0.943c (γ =
3.00). From the observer’s frame of reference, the length of Spaceship B is 150 m. Which is
closest to Spaceship B’s rest length?

A. 50 m
B. 150 m
C. 450 m
D. 900 m

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Questions 18 and 19 refer to the following information.

Some students conducted a practical investigation to experimentally determine the value of Wien’s
displacement constant, b. They used an incandescent light bulb running from 240 V power to
approximate a black body radiator. The peak wavelength of their light bulb’s emission spectrum was
2 ´ 10-3 mm.

18. In their first trial, a digital sensor measured the temperature of the exterior glass of the bulb,
which was 5.2 cm from the actual filament. This yielded a reading of 1900 K. Which best
expresses the real value of b?

A. b > 3.8 m K
B. b < 3.8 m K
C. b < 3.8 ´ 10-3 m K
D. b > 3.8 ´ 10-3 m K

19. For a second trial, the temperature of the filament was measured accurately using a thermal
camera, to a value of 3200 K. However, the incandescent bulb was moving away from the light
sensor at 2 ´ 104 m s-1. Which best expresses the real value of b?

A. b > 6.4 ´ 10-3 m K

B. b < 6.4 ´ 10-3 m K
C. b < 6.4 m K
D. b > 6.4 m K

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20. A conductor, ABCD, is situated in a magnetic field. A galvanometer is inserted in side BC and
a conducting rod XY connects the sides AB and CD, as shown. The rod XY is able to slide and
is moved 5 cm to the left, then 10 cm to the right, and back to its original position.

Which graph shows the possible voltage changes that could be observed on the galvanometer?

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Section II
80 marks
Attempt Questions 21 - 34

Question 21 (3 marks)
A rotating spacecraft, such as the one shown, can generate artificial gravity for its occupants. It 3
cannot rotate at a rate faster than 0.01 Hz or the occupants will become dizzy. Find the
minimum radius of the spacecraft in order for the occupants to feel as if they are on Earth’s
surface.

Question 22 (11 marks)

X and Y are two main sequence stars, shown on the diagram below.

a) Explain the processes that led to the formation of matter following the Big Bang, and then
to the formation of X and Y. 6

b) The CNO cycle operates according to the following reaction. The mass of a helium 3
nucleus is 4.002602 u. Neglecting the mass of electrons and neutrinos, find the energy
released in this reaction.
4#3𝐶 + 4 44H → 4#3𝐶 + 1#𝐻𝑒 + 2 )45𝑒 + 2𝑣

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 c) In which star, X or Y, is the above reaction most likely to occur? Explain your answer. 2

Question 23 (3 marks)
A ball is launched at 60 m s-1. At what angles could this occur for it to travel 250 m 3
horizontally?

Question 24 (6 marks)
De Broglie’s work in physics made substantial contribution to the development of the model of
the atom.

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a) Show that the radius of the nth orbital in a hydrogen atom is equivalent to #2(8. 2

b) Outline the experimental evidence that supported de Broglie’s contribution, and explain
how this addressed a limitation of Bohr’s model of the atom. 4

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Question 25 (10 marks)
Identically sized counterfeit coins made of different metals can be detected using the apparatus
below. Coins are rolled, from rest, on a track between the poles of a magnet. The time taken for
each coin to move from rest at point A to point B is measured with a stopwatch.

Coin
A

S
N Downward
Wtrack
sloping

Electronic
W
balance B

The resistance of various coin materials is shown in the table. Assume that the metals have
equal density.
Metal Resistance (W m)
Copper 0.20
Aluminium 0.40
Gold 0.10
Silver 0.15

a) Identify what differences would be observed between a copper coin and an aluminium
coin, and explain why they occur. 5

b) A 2 A current is run through the downward sloping track from point A to point B, parallel
to the sides of the magnet. The magnetic field strength is 0.5 T, and the length of the track
between the poles is 2 cm.
If the electronic balance initially read 200 g, what will its new reading be? 3

c) A plastic coin starts from rest at point A and is travelling at 23 cm s-1 at point B. Calculate
the difference in height between points A and B. 2

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Question 26 (5 marks)

Energy

Orbital radius

Etotal

a) The graph shows the total energy of an orbiting satellite versus its orbital radius. Sketch 2
two lines on the graph to show the satellite’s kinetic and gravitational energies.

b) Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy when a 300 kg satellite orbiting 3
Earth increases its orbital altitude from 100 km to 200 km.

Question 27 (4 marks)
A proton is launched in an electric field, with an initial velocity of 1 m s-1 at 30° to the horizontal.
The parallel plates are 1 m apart with 1 mV potential difference between them. The procedure is
carried out on Earth’s surface.

+ 1 mV

1m
1 m s-1
30°

What is the range of the proton? 4

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Question 28 (2 marks)
Light’s velocity is not sufficient to escape black holes. Estimate the radius of a black hole with a
mass of 1050 kg. 2

Question 29 (4 marks)
Coil 1 is connected to an AC power source, as shown. When Vin is at maximum positive
amplitude, the magnetic flux at point A is 0.5 Wb. When it is at maximum negative amplitude
the magnetic field has the same magnitude but opposite direction. The AC has a frequency of 50
Hz.
100 turns 200 turns

Vin Vout
50 Hz

Point A
Using the information in the diagram, and assuming ideal conditions, calculate Vout. 4

Question 30 (9 marks)
The electricity grid involves production, conversion, and transmission of electricity. Explain the
operation of THREE components of this system.
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Question 31 (3 marks)
The forces that act on an aircraft are shown. All forces are in the same horizontal plane.

10° 1000 N
centre of mass

1m 1.2 m

What must be the magnitude of force F in order for the plane to maintain level flight? 3

Question 32 (8 marks)
A kaon is a subatomic particle first detected in cosmic rays in 1947. There are four types:
K− - a negatively-charged particle consisting of a strange quark and an up antiquark
K+ - a positively-charged antiparticle of the K− kaon
K0 - a neutral particle consisting of a strange antiquark and a down quark
K0− - the antiparticle of the K0.

a) Name the quarks that make up the K0− particle. 1

b) Use a relevant equation to explain how kaons are accelerated in a synchrotron, and assess
a limitation of particle accelerators for investigating K0 particles. 4

c) K− particles have a mean lifetime of 1.238 × 10−8 s in their own frame of reference. Kaons
produced in a particle accelerator were found to be moving at 0.850c. Calculate their mean 3
lifetime in the frame of reference of a stationary observer.

Question 33 (3 marks)
Describe the production and propagation of electromagnetic waves. 3

Question 34 (9 marks)
To what extent has our understanding of the nature of light been influenced by experimental 9
evidence?

END OF EXAMINATION

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 Section II
Item Marks Module Type
21 4 5 Calculation
22a 6 8 Word
22b 3 8 Calculation
22c 2 8 Word
23 3 5 Calculation
24a 2 8 Calculation
24b 4 8 Word
25a 4 6 Word
25b 3 6 Calculation
25c 2 5 Calculation
26a 2 5 Graph
26b 3 5 Calculation
27 4 6 Calculation
28 2 5 Calculation
29 4 6 Calculation
30 9 6 Word
31 3 5 Calculation
32a 1 8 Word
32b 4 6/8 Word
32c 3 7 Calculation
33 3 7 Word
34 9 7 Word

Section II
Module 5 marks 20
Module 6 marks 23
Module 7 marks 15
Module 8 marks 22
Total items 22
Average item 3.6 (on par with 2019 HSC)
Calculation items 12 (55%)
Calculation marks 35 (44%)

Mac Gilligan, 2020

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