07 AL Physics/M.C./P.

2007 Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination

AL Physics
Multiple Choice Questions

1. 3. An object is projected vertically upwards

from the ground. If air resistance is taken
P into account, which of the following graphs
best shows the variation of the velocity v of
Q the object with time t, starting from the
moment when the object leaves the ground (t
W = 0) up to the time when it returns to the
ground (t = T)?
The figure shows a weight W supported by
two light rigid rods P and Q. The rods are A.
smoothly hinged to the wall and mounted in
the same vertical plane. Which of the
following descriptions about the rods is
correct?

rod P rod Q
A. in compression in tension
B. in compression in compression
C. in tension in tension B.
D. in tension in compression

2.
constant
velocity

m C.
M


A wedge of mass M is fixed to the ground.

A block of mass m slides down the wedge
with constant velocity as shown. What is
the normal reaction exerted by the ground on
the wedge? D.

A. (M + m)g
B. Mg + mg cos 
C. Mg + mg cos2
D. Mg + mg cos  sin 
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.2

4. An aircraft flies with a constant speed in a

horizontal circle of radius 10 km. If its (1) The amplitude of oscillation must be
wings slant at an angle of 21.8 to the small.
horizontal, find the speed of the aircraft. (2) The acceleration is always directed
towards a fixed point.
(3) The frequency of oscillation is
independent of the amplitude.

A. (1) only
B. (2) only
A. 280 ms-1 C. (1) and (3) only
B. 200 ms-1 D. (2) and (3) only
C. 140 ms-1
D. 100 ms-1
8. Which of the following best gives the orders
5. In which of the following situations does the of magnitude of the wavelengths of ultra-
person concerned experience violet radiation and microwaves in air?
‘weightlessness’?
ultra-violet radiation microwaves
(1) an astronaut in a spacecraft which is A. 10-8 m 10-2 m
coasting in outer space with its rocket B. 10-8 m 10-5 m
engines shut off C. 10-10 m 10-2 m
(2) an astronaut in a spacecraft which is D. 10-10 m 10-5 m
decelerating to make a soft landing on
the moon
(3) a parachutist descending with a constant 9. A diver at a depth of x below the water
velocity in the air surface looks up and finds that the sky
appears to be within a circle of radius r. The
A. (1) only critical angle of water in this case is given
B. (3) only by
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only A. tan-1 (r/x).
B. sin-1 (r/x).
C. tan-1 (x/r).
6. D. sin-1 (x/r).

P O X Q
10.
A particle performs simple harmonic motion
along a straight line between P and Q as
shown. The particle passes the equilibrium
position O and travels to the right at time t =
0. It passes point X the first time after 3 s
and it passes X the second time after a
further 2 s. After what further time will the
particle pass X the third time?

A. 16 s
B. 14 s A beam of monochromatic light falls at
C. 12 s normal incidence on a diffraction grating.
D. 10 s Third-order diffracted beams are found at
angles of 45 to the incident direction. What
is the highest order of diffracted beam that
7. Which of the following statements about can be observed?
simple harmonic motion in one dimension
is/are INCORRECT? A. 3rd order
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.3

B. 4th order C. (1) and (2) only

C. 5 th order D. (2) and (3) only
D. 6 th order

14.
11. In a Young’s double-slit experiment using
monochromatic light of wavelength 550 nm,
the fringes are observed through the
eyepiece of a travelling microscope at a
distance of 1.0 m from the double slits. X
If .the separation between the first and the
fifth dark fringes is 5.0 mm, find the slit 72 Y
separation.

A. 0.3  10-4 m
+Q 360 40
B. 1.1  10-4 m
C. 4.4  10-4 m
D. 5.5  10-4 m The above figure gives the electric field
strength (in arbitrary units) at various points
near an isolated point charge +Q. Which of
12. An object is placed at the focus of a concave the following correctly gives the electric
lens of focal length 10 cm. What is the field strength (in the same arbitrary units) at
magnification of the image formed? X and at Y?

A. 0.5 electric field electric field

B. 1.0 strength at X strength at Y
C. 2.0 A. 72 30
D. infinite B. 72 36
C. 90 30
D. 90 36
13. The figure shows two small charged spheres
P and Q suspended by identical nylon
threads from a fixed point O. At 15.
equilibrium, the threads OP and OQ make
angles  and  ( < ) with the vertical.

O


Q

P In the above figure, XYZ is a small right-

angled triangular metal frame moving with a
constant velocity across a rectangular region
Which of the following conclusions must be PQRS with a uniform magnetic field
correct? pointing into the paper. Which of the
following graphs best shows the variation of
(1) Both P and Q carry positive charges. the current I induced in the frame with time
(2) The charge on P is greater than that on t?
Q in magnitude.
(3) The mass of P is greater than that of Q.

A. (1) only
B. (3) only
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.4

A.
I

0
t

B.
I

0
t

C.
I

0
t

D.
I

0
t

16.

The above figure shows the V-I

characteristic curves of resistance wire X
and filament bulb Y. If they are connected
in series with a 12 V d.c. supply of
negligible internal resistance, estimate the
voltage across the bulb Y.
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.5

A. 3V 19.
B. 4V horizontal
C. 5V
20
D. 6V

earth
17. 8.0 A magnetic
3V field

C
R A segment of a vertical wire 0.50 m long
carrying a current of 8.0 A is placed in the
earth magnetic field. The direction of the
6V field dips at an angle of 20 to the
Which of the following is/are correct for the horizontal. If the resulting magnetic force
above circuit at steady state? on the wire is 7.5  10-5 N, fmd the flux
density of the earth magnetic field.
(1) The current in the circuit is zero.
(2) The voltage across C is independent of A. 6.4  10-6 T
its capacitance. B. 1.8  10-5 T
(3) The voltage across C is independent of C. 2.0  10-5 T
the resistance of R. D. 5.5  10-5 T

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (1) and (3) only 20. A beam of charged particles passes through
C. (2) and (3) only crossed uniform electric and magnetic fields
D. (1), (2) and (3) without deflection. If the electric field is
removed, the beam will split up into several
beams. This splitting may be due to the
18. particles having different
Q R (1) charges
(2) masses
(3) incident velocities

A. (1) only
B. (3) only
P S C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only
Four long straight current-carrying wires
perpendicular to the plane of the paper are 21.
arranged at the comers of a square PQRS as
shown. The same current I flowing in the
same direction along the wires at P, Q and S
while the current flowing along the wire at R
is in the opposite direction. If the wire at P
experiences no net force, find the current In the above figure, a solenoid P and a metal
flowing in the wire at R. ring Q are arranged coaxially and close to
each other. A sinusoidal a.c. varying with
A. time t as shown in the graph is supplied to
B. I/2 solenoid P. Which of the following
C. descriptions is INCORRECT?
D. 2I
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.6

A. From 0 to t1, the current in Q is in A. 6 days

opposite sense to that in P. B. 9 days
B. From tl to t2, Q is attracted towards P. C. 12 days
C. The force on Q is at a maximum at time D. 18 days
tl.
D. The force on Q is zero at time t2.
25.

22.

A student used a simple pendulum to

A rectangular coil of 50 turns is being measure the acceleration due to gravity g.
rotated at 300 revolutions per minute in a He measured the time (t) for 20 oscillations
uniform magnetic field. The field is using various length L of the pendulum. A
perpendicular to the coil’s central axis in the plot of t2 against L deviates from the
plane of the coil. If the maximum flux ‘theoretical’ graph (the dashed line). Which
linking each turn of the coil is 5.1  10-3 Wb, of the following could be a reason?
the maximum e.m.f. induced in the coil is
(1) He used a stop watch which runs
A. 0.2 V consistently too fast.
B. 1.3 V (2) He neglected the radius of the pendulum
C. 4.0 V bob when measuring L.
D. 8.0 V (3) He miscounted the number of
oscillations such that the time for only
19 oscillations was taken to be t.
23. An electric motor driven by a constant
voltage d.c. supply is used to raise a load. If A. (1) only
the load is increased, how will each of the B. (2) only
following change correspondingly? C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
(1) speed of rotation of the armature coil
(2) current in the armature coil
(3) back e.m.f. in the armature coil 26. Two children P and Q are travelling on
kateboards with frictionless rollers towards
(1) (2) (3) each other as shown. Both are moving at a
A. decrease unchanged increase speed of 1.2 ms-1. The mass of each child
B. unchanged increase unchanged together with a skateboard is 30 kg. Initially
C. decrease increase unchanged P holds a ball of mass 1.0 kg, he then throws
D. decrease increase decrease the ball straight towards Q at a horizontal
velocity of 15 ms-1. After child Q catches
and keeps the ball, what is his velocity? (All
24. A radioactive source consists of 64  1012 velocities are relative to the ground.)
atoms of nuclide P of half-life 2 days.
Another source consists of 8  1012 atoms of
nuclide Q of half-life 3 days. After how
long will the number of active nuclei in the
two sources be equal? (Assume that the
daughter nuclides of both P and Q are
stable.)
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.7

A. 0.74 ms-1 to the right (3) The frequency of oscillation is the same
B. 0.74 ms-1 to the left at all vibrating points of the rope.
C. 0.68 ms-1 to the right
D. 0.68 ms-1 to the left A. (1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
27. D. (2) and (3) only
v
30.

earth

Suppose a space craft is launched with an

initial speed v and it eventually enters a
circular orbit near the earth’s surface. If the A beam of unpolarized light of intensity I
launching speed was increased to 2v, the passes normally through two polaroids P
spacecraft would (Neglect air resistance.) and Q aligned parallel to each other. The
polarizing axis of each polaroid is
A. revolve uniformly in a circular orbit represented by an arrow. The polarizing
around the earth with a longer period. axis of P is vertical while that of Q makes
B. revolve uniformly in a circular orbit 60 with the vertical. What is the intensity
around the earth with a shorter period. of the transmitted beam detected by the
C. revolve in an elliptical orbit around the observer, assuming that the only absorption
earth with a longer period. mechanism is due to polarization?
D. leave the earth and travel to outer space.

A.
28. It is known that a geostationary
communication satellite is at a height of
B.
5.6R above the earth’s surface where R is the
radius of the earth. Which of the following
is the best estimate for the separation C.
between the moon and the earth?
D.
A. 50 R
B. 60 R
C. 150 R
D. 180 R 31. Which of the following statements about the
decibel (dB) are correct?

29. A uniform heavy rope hangs freely from a (1) A ten-fold increase in sound intensity is
support. The support is made to oscillate equivalent to an increase of 10 dB in
horizontally with a small amplitude so as to sound intensity level.
send transverse waves down the rope. A (2) The sound intensity level in a noisy
standing wave is set up as these waves are restaurant is about 40 dB.
reflected at the free end. Which of the (3) The threshold of pain is about 120 dB in
following statements is/are correct? sound intensity level.

(1) The tension is the same throughout the A. (1) and (2) only .
rope. B. (1) and (3) only
(2) The wavelength is the same throughout C. (2) and (3) only
the rope. D. (1), (2) and (3)
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.8

(3) When R = 4 , the power consumed in

32. Two pipes of lengths 42.6 cm and 41.5 cm S is at a maximum.
respectively, each closed at one end, give
beats of frequency 5 Hz when sounding their A. (1) only
fundamental notes together. Neglecting end B. (2) only
corrections, find the speed of sound in air. C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
A. 331 ms-1
B. 326 ms-1
C. 321 ms-1 35.
D. 316 ms-1

33.
P Q

The above figure shows the trajectory of a

positively charged particle travelling along a
curve from P to Q in an electric field. The In the above circuit, a capacitor C is charged
particle is subject to electrostatic forces by a 6 V battery of negligible internal
only. Which of the following deductions resistance. When switch S is opened, the
must be correct? ammeter reading drops from an initial value
of 80 A to 20 A in 28 s. Estimate the
(1) The curve is one of the field lines in the capacitance of C.
field.
(2) P is at a higher electric potential than Q. A. 140 F
(3) The sum of kinetic energy and electrical B. 190 F
potential energy of the particle at P is C. 270 F
equal to that at Q. D. 540 F

A. (2) only
B. (3) only 36.
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (1) and (3) only

34.

In the above circuit, the cell has constant The figure shows a semiconductor specimen
e.m.f. and internal resistance 2.0 . R is a containing negative charge carriers. It has a
variable resistor while S is a standard constant current flowing to the right and is
resistor of resistance 6.0 . Which of the perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field
following conclusions must be correct? pointing out of the paper. Which of the
following is/are correct for the Hall voltage
(1) When R = 0, the power output of the developed between the upper and the lower
cell is at a maximum. faces of the specimen?
(2) When R = 2 , the power consumed in
R is at a maximum.
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.9

(1) The Hall voltage will be reversed if the A. (1) only

specimen is replaced by another B. (3) only
semiconductor containing positive C. (1) and (2) only
charge carriers. D (2) and (3) only
(2) The Hall voltage will become larger if
the specimen is replace by a metallic
specimen of the same dimensions and 39.
carries the same current.
(3) The Hall voltage will become smaller if
the separation t between the upper and
lower faces is reduced while the current
is kept unchanged.

A. (1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only The above figure shows an LC circuit in
D. (2) and (3) only which P, Q are the input terminals and R, S
are the output terminals. Which of the
following can be a possible function of this
37. circuit?

A. It blocks the steady d.c. component and

gives low frequency a.c. output.
B. It blocks the steady d.c. component and
gives high frequency a.c. output.
C. It blocks the low frequency a.c.
component and gives high frequency
a.c. output.
When the sinusoidal a.c. shown in Figure (1) D. It blocks the high frequency a.c.
is applied to a resistor R, it produces heat at component and gives nearly steady d.c.
a mean rate P. What is the mean rate of heat output.
production when a square wave a.c. of the
same frequency and amplitude shown in
Figure (2) is applied to the same resistor R? 40.
E4
A. Energy E3
B. 2P E2
C.
D. 4P

E1
38. An inductor has an inductance of 1 H.
Which of the following deductions must be The above figure, drawn to scale, represents
correct? the energy levels for an electron in a certain
atom. The transition from E3 to E1 gives a
(1) It has a flux linkage of 1 Wb when a green line (in the spectrum). Which of the
current of 1 A flowing through it. following transitions may give a red line?
(2) It stores 1 J of energy when it has a flux
linkage of 1 Wb. A. E4 to E1
(3) It loses all its magnetic flux in 1 s when B. E4 to E2
it is connected to a resistor of resistance C. E3 to E2
1 . D. E2 to E1
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.10

41. The work function W of five metals are 43. Four uniform wires A, B, C and D are loaded
tabulated below. with different weights W and the resulting
extensions x are given below. Which wire
Metal Caesium Barium stores the greatest amount of elastic
W/10-19 J 3.4 4.0 potential energy? (Assume that the wires
obey Hooke’s law.)
Calcium Magnesium Beryllium
4.6 5.9 8.0 W x
A. 10 N 7 mm
If monochromatic light of wavelength 400 B. 15 N 6 mm
nm is incident on each of the metals, how C. 20 N 5 mm
many of them would exhibit photoelectric D. 25 N 3 mm
effect?
(Given: Planck constant = 6.6  10-34 J s)
44. Which of the following thermodynamic
A. 1 processes on a fixed mass of an ideal gas is
B. 2 IMPOSSIBLE?
C. 3
D. 4 A. It absorbs heat and expands while its
internal energy increases.
B. It absorbs heat and expands while its
42. internal energy decreases.
C. It liberates heat and is compressed while
F its internal energy increases.
D. It absorbs heat and is compressed while
its internal energy decreases.

45. Which of the following statements about a-

0 e
decay is/are correct?
A wire of known cross-sectional area is (1) Some heavy nuclei tend to increase their
stretched by a steadily increasing force and neutron-proton ratio (N/Z) through -
the force is then slowly reduced. A graph of decay.
the stretching force F is plotted against the (2) -decay shows that -particle is stable.
extension e. Which of the following can be (3) The mass of a radioactive nucleus is
found using information from the graph? less than the sum of the masses of the
daughter nucleus and the -particle.
(1) the elastic limit of the wire
(2) the force constant of the wire A. (1) only
(3) the breaking stress for the wire B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
A. (2) only D. (2) and (3) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only

END OF PAPER
 07 AL Physics/M.C./P.11

Question No. Key Question No. Key

1. (53) 26. (51)

2. (54) 27. (58)
3. (60) 28. (67)
4. (75) 29. (54)
5. (51) 30. (40)

6. (52) 31. (62)

7. (38) 32. (69)
8. (35) 33. (77)
9. (79) 34. (38)
10. (42) 35. (23)

11. (53) 36. (29)

12. (77) 37. (78)
13. (51) 38. (46)
14. (55) 39. (47)
15. (19) 40. (35)

16. (39) 41. (48)

17. (41) 42. (30)
18. (82) 43. (56)
19. (56) 44. (67)
20. (52) 45. (54)

21. (25)
22. (81)
23. (42)
24. (63)
25. (66)