CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 5
Science in context guidance 4  he crane does work to overcome the
T
downward force of gravity, so all that matters
• The vast majority of wasted energy in any is the vertical height through which the crane
machine comes from heat transferred to the lifts the load.
surroundings, either due to friction or the
 ork done, W = F × s = 500 × 40 = 20 000 J = 20 kJ
w
burning of fuel. Electrical energy transfers
tend to be far more efficient than mechanical 5 work done by force up slope, W = F × s = 100
or thermal energy transfers, so a move from × 0.50 = 50 J
steam engines to electrical generators made a  ork done by contact force = 0 J
w
significant improvement to efficiency during work done by force down slope, W = F × s =
the industrial revolution. −(30 × 0.50) = −15 J (note the movement is in
• Electrical power was first generated on a large the opposite direction to the force)
scale in London in 1882, with a power station work done by gravity, W = F × s = −(100 sin
that could power 3000 lamps. Coal was the 45° × 0.50) = −35 J
main power source for the Western world for 6 change in gravitational potential energy,
most of the 20th century, although nuclear Ep = mgh = 52 × 9.81 × 2.5 = 1275 J ≈ 1300 J
power became a significant player in the 1950s.
7 c hange in gravitational potential energy,
• The most significant growth in electrical Ep = mgh = 100 × 9.81 × 5500 = 5400 kJ or
energy generation has happened in China 5.4 MJ
where electricity production nearly tripled
in size between 2004 and 2016, reaching a 8 a 
Elastic potential energy
massive 6000 TWh, more than any other b  ork is done on the magnets in pulling
W
country in the world. them apart. The potential energy
transferred to the magnets has come from
chemical energy in the student.
Self-assessment questions 1 1
9  inetic energy of car, Ek =
k 2
mv2 = 2
× 500 ×
1 a 
Yes, work done against friction (15)2 = 56 kJ
b  es, gravity does work in making you go
Y  inetic energy of motorcycle, Ek = 12 mv2 = 12 ×
k
faster. 250 × (30)2 = 113 kJ
c  o, because the stone remains at a constant
N The motorcycle has more k.e.
distance from the centre of the circle. 10 change in kinetic energy = k.e. before − k.e.
after
d No, because you do not move. 1
= 1 × 0.200 × (15.8)2 − 2
× 0.200 × (12.2)2
2 work done, W = F × s = mg × s = 70 × 9.81 × 2

2.5 = 1720 ≈ 1700 J = 25 − 15 = 10 J

3 work done, W = F × s = 10 × 250 = 2500 J
a  11 C
 alculate the loss in g.p.e. as the sphere falls
from its highest position.
b 2 500 J (ignoring work done against air
Ep = mgh = 10.0 × 9.81 × 0.15 = 14.7 J
resistance)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

 he gain in the sphere’s k.e. is 14.7 J. Using

T b Kinetic energy → heat (in the brakes)[1]
this to calculate the sphere’s speed,
c  oss of gravitational potential energy →
L
Ek = 1
2
mv2 = 1
2
× 10.0 × v2 = 14.7 J gain in kinetic energy[1]
so, v2 = 14 .7
5.0
= 2.94 m2 s−2 and v = 1.7 m s−1, the 4 horizontal distance moved = 0.5 × 16
i 
a 
same as for the sphere of mass 5.0 kg. = 8.0 m[1]
The result is unchanged for any value of mass. horizontal component of force
12 reduction in gravitational potential energy, = 200 cos 30° = 173 N[1]
ΔEp = mgΔh = 80 000 × 9.81 × (10 000 − 1000)
work done = 173 × 8.0 =
= 7.1 × 109 J 1.39 × 103 J ≈ 1.4 kJ[1]
This energy becomes increased kinetic energy ii Weight acts at 90° to
of air molecules: the air temperature rises. displacement[1]
13 We can say that the change in g.p.e. from
so, work done = 0 J[1]
the top of the jump to the point just before
she enters the water is equal to the change in iii Contact force acts at 90° to
kinetic energy, so that mgh = 12 mv2 displacement[1]

 his means that her speed just before the

T so, work done = 0 J[1]
point where she enters the water is b 86.6 ≈ 87 W[1]
v = 2gh = 2 × 9.81× 10 = 196 = 14 m s−1
5 Truck: k.e. = 12 mv2 = 9.0 MJ[1]
14 a 
kinetic energy as stone reaches foot of
Dust particle: k.e. = 12 mv2 = 14 MJ[1]
cliff, Ek = 12 mv2 = 12 × m × (38)2 = m × 722 J
The dust particle has greater kinetic energy
gravitational potential energy change, Ep = than the truck.[1]
mgh = m × 9.81 × 80 = m × 785 J
6 a  gain in g.p.e. = mgh[1]
so, proportion of g.p.e. converted to k.e.
k.e. 722 = 950 × 9.8 × 50 = 4.66 × 105 J ≈ 4.7 × 105 J
= = 0.92 = 92% [1]
g.p.e 785 work done
b  he rest of the stone’s initial energy is
T b time = [1]
power
converted to heat (because work is done 4.66 × 105
against air resistance). t = = 116.5 ≈ 120 s[1]
work done 4000
15 Rearranging power = gives c wasted power = 2.9 kW[1]
time taken
work done = power × time taken = 50 000 W × wasted energy = power × time[1]
60 s = 3.0 × 106 J (or 3.0 MJ) = 2900 × 116.5 = 3.4 × 105 J[1]
W 4 200 000
16 power = = = 70 000 W = 70 kW 7 Rate at which work is done or work
a 
t 60 done/energy change per second[1]
17 a  work done in one second, W = Fs = 700 ×
W[1]
401 = 28 000 J (28 kJ)
b kinetic energy = 1 × mass × velocity2[1]
b 28 kW 2

 ork done against gravity, W = Fs = weight ×

18 w gain in k.e.
c power = [1]
height moved time taken
1
= mgh = 55 × 9.81 × 28 × 0.20 = 3020 J × 1100 × 182
W 3020 =2 = 7130 ≈ 7.1 kW[1]
so, her useful power = = = 560 W 25
t 5.4 8 i   vertical distance = 40 sin 5° = 3.49 m[1]
a 
Exam-style questions p.e. lost = mgh = 90 × 9.81 × 3.49[1]
1 B[1] = 3078 ≈ 3100 J[1]
1 1
2 B[1] k.e. increase = mv2 = × 90 × 122[1]
ii 
2 2
3 Loss of gravitational potential energy →
a  = 6480 J[1]
gain in kinetic energy[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

b energy produced by cyclist =

i  1
b k.e. = mv2 = × 800 × 202 = 160 000 J[1]
i 
6480 − 3078 = 3402 J [1] 2
energy energy 160 000
useful power output = = power = = = 2.67 × 10 4
time time 6
3402
[1] ≈ 2.7 × 104 W[1]
67
power = 50.8 ≈ 51 W[1] ii Air resistance increases (with speed).[1]
ii Energy is wasted[1] Net driving force less or more energy
as work done against friction in the (per second) wasted, so less available
axle/chain or against air resistance.[1] to increase k.e.[1]
9 a 
Work is the product of force and i   The potential energy of a body is the
11 a 
distance moved.[1] energy stored in the body by reason of
its position or shape.[1]
The distance moved is in the direction
of the force.[1] ii Gravitational p.e. is energy due to
position in a gravitational field.[1]
b i 
As he falls, his potential energy
decreases, his kinetic energy increases Elastic p.e. is energy contained in a
and internal energy (thermal energy/ stretched or squashed object. or When
heat) is produced as work is done an object is raised above the Earth’s
against friction.[1] surface its gravitational p.e. increases.[1]
decrease in p.e. = increase in k.e. When a positively charged object
+ internal energy produced[1] is brought near another positively
charged object its electric p.e.
ii 
Graph with axes labelled and Ep increases.[1]
decreasing linearly from 1000 J to 0[1]
(Maximum [2])
Ek increasing from 0 when h = 0[1]
Ek increases as a straight line to a b mass = density × volume
i 
value below 1000 J at h = 15 m[1] = 1030 × 1.4 × 106 × 10.0 = 1.442 × 1010
≈ 1.4 × 1010 J[1]
1000 ii Water falls an average distance of
5.0 m when released through turbines.
Ek p.e. lost = mgh =
Energy/ J

Ep
1.442 × 1010 × 9.81 × 5.0
(accept also use of h = 10 m)[1]
p.e. lost = 7.07 × 1011 ≈ 7.1 × 1011 J
(or 1.4 × 1012 J if h = 10 used)[1]
15 h / m
iii energy output = 0.5 × (value in ii)
k.e. = work done on body to increase
10 a 
= 3.5 × 1011 J (or 7.1 × 1011 J
speed from 0 to v = F × s[1]
if h = 10 used)[1]
since F = ma and v2 = u2 + 2as and u = 0, energy 3.5 × 1011 J
power = = (or
s= v2 time 6 × 60 × 60
2a 7.1× 10 J
11
v2 1 if h = 10 used)[1]
k.e. = ma × = mv2[1] 6 × 60 × 60
2a 2 power = 1.64 × 107 ≈ 1.6 × 107 W (or
3.3 × 107 W if h = 10 used)[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
3 © Cambridge University Press 2020