5

2 A spring is placed on a flat surface and different weights are placed on it, as shown in For
Fig. 2.1. Examiner’s
Use

weights

spring

Fig. 2.1

The variation with weight of the compression of the spring is shown in Fig. 2.2.

compression
/ cm
3

0
0 10 20 30 40
weight / N

Fig. 2.2

The elastic limit of the spring has not been exceeded.

(a) (i) Determine the spring constant k of the spring.

k = ........................................... N m–1 [2]

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 6

(ii) Deduce that the strain energy stored in the spring is 0.49 J for a compression of For
3.5 cm. Examiner’s
Use

[2]

(b) Two trolleys, of masses 800 g and 2400 g, are free to move on a horizontal table. The
spring in (a) is placed between the trolleys and the trolleys are tied together using thread
so that the compression of the spring is 3.5 cm, as shown in Fig. 2.3.

thread

spring
trolley trolley
mass 800g mass 2400 g

Fig. 2.3

Initially, the trolleys are not moving.

The thread is then cut and the trolleys move apart.

(i) Deduce that the ratio

speed of trolley of mass 800 g

speed of trolley of mass 2400 g

is equal to 3.0.

[2]

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(ii) Use the answers in (a)(ii) and (b)(i) to calculate the speed of the trolley of mass For
800 g. Examiner’s
Use

speed = ........................................... m s–1 [3]

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3 A shopping trolley and its contents have a total mass of 42 kg. The trolley is being pushed For
along a horizontal surface at a speed of 1.2 m s–1. When the trolley is released, it travels a Examiner’s
distance of 1.9 m before coming to rest. Use

(a) Assuming that the total force opposing the motion of the trolley is constant,

(i) calculate the deceleration of the trolley,

deceleration = ........................................... m s–2 [2]

(ii) show that the total force opposing the motion of the trolley is 16 N.

[1]

(b) Using the answer in (a)(ii), calculate the power required to overcome the total force
opposing the motion of the trolley at a speed of 1.2 m s–1.

power = ........................................... W [2]

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(c) The trolley now moves down a straight slope that is inclined at an angle of 2.8° to the For
horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3.1. Examiner’s
Use

2.8°

Fig. 3.1

The constant force that opposes the motion of the trolley is 16 N.

Calculate, for the trolley moving down the slope,

(i) the component down the slope of the trolley’s weight,

component of weight = ........................................... N [2]

(ii) the time for the trolley to travel from rest a distance of 3.5 m along the length of the
slope.

time = ............................................ s [4]

(d) Use your answer to (c)(ii) to explain why, for safety reasons, the slope is not made any
steeper.

..........................................................................................................................................

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

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4 (a) (i) Define the terms For

Examiner’s
1. tensile stress, Use

..................................................................................................................................

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

2. tensile strain,

..................................................................................................................................

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

3. the Young modulus.

..................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) Suggest why the Young modulus is not used to describe the deformation of a liquid
or a gas.

..................................................................................................................................

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

(b) The change ∆V in the volume V of some water when the pressure on the water increases
by ∆p is given by the expression
∆V
∆p = 2.2 × 109 ,
V
where ∆p is measured in pascal.
In many applications, water is assumed to be incompressible.
By reference to the expression, justify this assumption.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

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

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(c) Normal atmospheric pressure is 1.01 × 105 Pa. For

Examiner’s
Divers in water of density 1.08 × 103 kg m–3 frequently use an approximation that every Use

10 m increase in depth of water is equivalent to one atmosphere increase in pressure.

Determine the percentage error in this approximation.

error = ........................................... % [3]

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5 (a) State what is meant by For

Examiner’s
(i) the frequency of a progressive wave, Use

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) the speed of a progressive wave.

..................................................................................................................................

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

(b) One end of a long string is attached to an oscillator. The string passes over a frictionless
pulley and is kept taut by means of a weight, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

string
pulley

oscillator
weight

Fig. 5.1

The frequency of oscillation is varied and, at one value of frequency, the wave formed
on the string is as shown in Fig. 5.1.

(i) Explain why the wave is said to be a stationary wave.

..................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) State what is meant by an antinode.

..................................................................................................................................

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

(iii) On Fig. 5.1, label the antinodes with the letter A. [1]

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(c) A weight of 4.00 N is hung from the string in (b) and the frequency of oscillation is For
adjusted until a stationary wave is formed on the string. The separation of the antinodes Examiner’s
on the string is 17.8 cm for a frequency of 125 Hz. Use

The speed v of waves on a string is given by the expression

T
v= ,
m
where T is the tension in the string and m is its mass per unit length.
Determine the mass per unit length of the string.

mass per unit length = ........................................... kg m–1 [5]

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 14

6 An electric heater consists of three similar heating elements A, B and C, connected as shown For
in Fig. 6.1. Examiner’s
Use

240 V S1

A B

S2

C
S3

Fig. 6.1

Each heating element is rated as 1.5 kW, 240 V and may be assumed to have constant
resistance.
The circuit is connected to a 240 V supply.

(a) Calculate the resistance of one heating element.

resistance = ……………….……….. Ω [2]

(b) The switches S1, S2 and S3 may be either open or closed.

Complete Fig. 6.2 to show the total power dissipation of the heater for the switches in
the positions indicated.

S1 S2 S3 total power / kW

open closed closed ……………………

closed closed open ……………………

closed closed closed ……………………

closed open open ……………………

closed open closed ……………………

[5]

Fig. 6.2
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237
7 Uranium-236 ( 236
92U) and Uranium-237 ( 92U) are both radioactive. For
Uranium-236 is an α-emitter and Uranium-237 is a β-emitter. Examiner’s
Use

(a) Distinguish between an α-particle and a β-particle.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [4]

(b) The grid of Fig. 7.1 shows some proton numbers Z on the x-axis and the number N of
neutrons in the nucleus on the y-axis.

149

148
number of
neutrons N
147

146

145
236
92U
144

143

142

141

140
88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97
proton number Z

Fig. 7.1

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The α-decay of Uranium-236 ( 236

92U) is represented on the grid. This decay produces a For
nucleus of thorium (Th). Examiner’s
Use

(i) Write down the nuclear equation for this α-decay.

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

(ii) On Fig. 7.1, mark the position for a nucleus of

1. Uranium-237 (mark this position with the letter U),

2. Neptunium, the nucleus produced by the β-decay of Uranium-237 (mark this

position with the letters Np). [2]

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Answer all the questions in the spaces provided. For

Examiner’s
Use

1 (a) The current in a wire is I. Charge Q passes one point in the wire in time t. State

(i) the relation between I, Q and t,

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

(ii) which of the quantities I, Q and t are base quantities.

..........................................................................................................................................

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

(b) The current in the wire is due to electrons, each with charge q, that move with speed v
along the wire. There are n of these electrons per unit volume.
For a wire having a cross-sectional area S, the current I is given by the equation

I = nSqv k,

where k is a constant.

(i) State the units of I, n, S, q and v in terms of the base units.

I .............................................................................................................................

n .............................................................................................................................

S .............................................................................................................................

q .............................................................................................................................

v .............................................................................................................................
[3]

(ii) By considering the homogeneity of the equation, determine the value of k.

k = ………………………….. [2]

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2 A car is travelling along a straight road at speed v. A hazard suddenly appears in front of For
the car. In the time interval between the hazard appearing and the brakes on the car coming Examiner’s
into operation, the car moves forward a distance of 29.3 m. With the brakes applied, the front Use
wheels of the car leave skid marks on the road that are 12.8 m long, as illustrated in Fig. 2.1.

position of car
skid mark
when hazard appears

29.3 m 12.8 m

Fig. 2.1

It is estimated that, during the skid, the magnitude of the deceleration of the car is 0.85 g,
where g is the acceleration of free fall.

(a) Determine

(i) the speed v of the car before the brakes are applied,

v = …………………… m s–1 [2]

(ii) the time interval between the hazard appearing and the brakes being applied.

time = ……………..…………. s [2]

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(b) The legal speed limit on the road is 60 km per hour. For
Use both of your answers in (a) to comment on the standard of the driving of the car. Examiner’s
Use
..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

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3 (a) Distinguish between the moment of a force and the torque of a couple. For
Examiner’s
moment of a force ........................................................................................................... Use

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

torque of a couple ............................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
[4]

(b) One type of weighing machine, known as a steelyard, is illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

4.8 cm pivot 12 N sliding weight metal rod

hook 2.5 N sliding weight

Fig. 3.1

The two sliding weights can be moved independently along the rod.

With no load on the hook and the sliding weights at the zero mark on the metal rod, the
metal rod is horizontal. The hook is 4.8 cm from the pivot.

A sack of flour is suspended from the hook. In order to return the metal rod to the
horizontal position, the 12 N sliding weight is moved 84 cm along the rod and the 2.5 N
weight is moved 72 cm.

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(i) Calculate the weight of the sack of flour. For

Examiner’s
Use

weight = …………………………N [2]

(ii) Suggest why this steelyard would be imprecise when weighing objects with a weight of
about 25 N.

..........................................................................................................................................

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

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6 (a) Explain what is meant by the diffraction of a wave. For

Examiner’s
.......................................................................................................................................... Use

..........................................................................................................................................

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

(b) (i) Outline briefly an experiment that may be used to demonstrate diffraction of a
transverse wave.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [3]

(ii) Suggest how your experiment in (i) may be changed to demonstrate the diffraction
of a longitudinal wave.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [3]

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7 A potential divider circuit consists of two resistors of resistances P and Q, as shown in For
Fig. 7.1. Examiner’s
Use

P Q

Fig. 7.1

The battery has e.m.f. E and negligible internal resistance.

(a) Deduce that the potential difference V across the resistor of resistance P is given by the
expression
P
V= E.
P+Q

[2]

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(b) The resistances P and Q are 2000 Ω and 5000 Ω respectively. For
A voltmeter is connected in parallel with the 2000 Ω resistor and a thermistor is connected Examiner’s
in parallel with the 5000 Ω resistor, as shown in Fig. 7.2. Use

6.0 V

2000 Ω 5000 Ω

Fig. 7.2

The battery has e.m.f. 6.0 V. The voltmeter has infinite resistance.

(i) State and explain qualitatively the change in the reading of the voltmeter as the
temperature of the thermistor is raised.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [3]

(ii) The voltmeter reads 3.6 V when the temperature of the thermistor is 19 °C.
Calculate the resistance of the thermistor at 19 °C.

resistance = ……………………… Ω [4]

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