2

Answer all the questions in the spaces provided.

1. The length of a piece of paper is measured as 297 ± 1 mm.

Its width is measured as 209 ± 1 mm.
(a) Calculate the fractional uncertainty of its length.

fractional uncertainty = ……………………………….. [1]

(b) Calculate the fractional uncertainty of its width.

fractional uncertainty = …………………………...….. [1]

(c) What is the area of one side of the piece of paper? State your answer with its uncertainty.

area = ………………..±….…….……. mm² [3]

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2. The diagram below shows the velocity-time graph for a vertically bouncing ball. The ball is
released at A and strikes the ground at B. The ball leaves the ground at D and reaches its
maximum height at E. The effects of air resistance can be neglected.

Velocity B

C
0
A E Time
D

(a) With reference to the diagram above, suggest:

(i) Why the gradient of the line AB is the same as the gradient of line DE?
……………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
(ii) What is represented by the area between the line AB and the time axis?
……………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
(iii) Why the area of triangle ABC is greater than the area of triangle CDE?
……………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(b) The ball is dropped from rest from an initial height of 2.0 m. After hitting the ground the
ball rebounds to a height of 1.6 m. The ball is in contact with the ground between B and
D for a time of 0.16 s. Using acceleration of free fall, calculate:
(i) the speed of the ball immediately before hitting the ground.

speed = …………..….. ms -1 [2]

(ii) the speed of the ball immediately after hitting the ground.

speed = …………..….. ms -1 [2]

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(iii) the acceleration of the ball while it is in contact with the ground. State the direction
of this acceleration

acceleration = ……………..….. ms -2 [2]

direction = …………………..….. [1]

3. (a) Explain what is meant by the centre of gravity of an object.

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

(b) A flagpole of mass 25 kg and length D metres is held in a horizontal position by a cable
as shown in the diagram below. The centre of gravity of the flagpole is at a distance of R
metres from point X.

Tension, T
cable
flagpole
30°
X
R

Weight, W

(i) Using the symbols W, R, T and D, write an equation to represent the moments taken
about point X.
……………………………………………………………………………………... [1]
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(ii) If R = 1.0 m, D = 2.5 m, determine the tension, T in the cable.

T = ...…..….………..…N [2]

(iii) Determine the vertical component, Fy of the force exerted by point X on the flag
pole.

Fy = …………………N [2]

4. (a) A spring has an initial length of 13.4 cm. When a load of 4.5 N is suspended from the
spring, its length becomes 14.6 cm. Calculate:
(i) the elastic constant, k of the spring.

k = ...…..……….. Nm-1 [2]

(ii) the length of the spring for a load of 3.5 N.

length = …..……..….. cm [2]

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(b) Distinguish between brittle material and ductile material. Name an example for each type.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………….…………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………….. [4]

5. (a) What is meant by a stationary wave?

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

(b) A student sets up an experiment to determine the speed of sound in air. He scatters some
dust along the lower side of a long glass tube. When the loudspeaker is switched on at
frequency 512 Hz, the dust collects in small piles as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Glass tube
loudspeaker

Signal generator
Piles of dust
Fig. 5.1

(i) The length of the glass tube is 135 cm. Determine the wavelength of the sound waves.

λ = ………………………. m [2]

(ii) Calculate the speed of sound of air in the tube.

speed = ………………… ms-1 [1]

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(iii) Mark with dots inside the tube on Fig.5.1 for:

1. any two points (label them as P and Q) where the air particles are vibrating in phase
with each other.

2. any two points (label them as R and S) where the air particles are vibrating in
antiphase.

[2]

(iv) State and explain how the pattern of the piles of dust will change when the student
increases the frequency of the sound to 1024 Hz.

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

6. (a) Define electric field strength at a point.

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

(b) A high speed electron P enters the space between two charged, parallel plates, as shown in
Fig. 6.1.

-
Fig. 6. 1

(i) Mark with an arrow labelled E, the direction of the electric field between the plates.

[1]

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The electric force acting on the electron is 4.0 x 10 -14 N.

(ii) Calculate the electric field strength.

E= ….......…………… N C -1 [2]

(iii) The two plates are separated by a distance of 2.0 cm.

Show that the potential difference between the plates is 5 kV.

[1]

(iv) On Fig. 6.1, sketch the possible path of the electron inside the space between the
plates.

[2]

(c) If the p.d. between the plates is being increased until to a high enough value so that the
electric field strength exceeds 2 x 106 N C-1, electrical breakdown might occur.
Describe the cause for the electrical breakdown.

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….. [2]
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7. Fig.7.1 shows a circuit in which a resistor R of resistance 2.0 Ω is connected to a fixed power
supply of e.m.f. 2.2 V.

R
Fig. 7.1

(a) The p.d. across R is 2.0 V. A charge of 0.08 C passes through R.

Calculate the energy dissipated in R during the time of current flow.

Energy=……..….………J [2]

(b) During the same period, determine the amount of energy supplied by the power supply.

Energy=……..…………J [2]

(c) Compare your answers in (a) and (b), and account for the difference.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….. [2]

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8. The decay of radioactive nuclei is random and spontaneous.
(a) (i) What is meant by spontaneous?

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

(ii) What is meant by random?

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

(b) A lead nuclide 𝑃𝑏 decays in three separate stages by one alpha- and two beta-
emissions to become a nuclide 𝑋.

(i) State the values of A and Z.

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

(ii) Identify nuclide X.

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

(c) Alpha-particles are described as ionising.

Explain why such particles can ionise the air.

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