June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 0 of 12

EXAM QUESTION PAPER CONTROL FORM

(To be completed and signed by examiner)

Exam Month JUNE Exam Year 2018

Primary Module Code PHYV101 Paper Number

Document Reference

Module Name Physics 1A (For Engineers)

Other Module Codes linked to this question paper (Please include George Campus and Foundation Level)

Name of Examiner TB Gibbon

& F Voster
Staff Number 220125 Cell Number 072 0818792
071 1727923
Please indicate the following information on the COVER PAGE of the exam question paper:

APPROVED paper duration Minutes 180 Total marks 150

Number of pages submitted Exam Question Paper: 12 Number of addenda

(including paper control form Plus submitted
and addenda) Answersheet for Section A:
12
* SECTION A must be answered on the Special Printed Answersheet Provided
* SECTION B must be answered separately on standard NMU exam books and multiple choice answer sheets
* The invigilator must collect SECTION A and SECTION B and the multiple choice answer sheets separately into
two separate piles (which will be marked by different lecturers)
May exam paper be published after exam? No
May students remove exam paper from venue? No
Please indicate on which campus(ses) this exam question paper will be written
SOUTH X NORTH/2ND AVE MISSIONVALE GEORGE
Special printing requirements: (eg single pages only, coloured paper, etc.)
* Answersheets for Section A to be stapled separately to question paper *Pages printed back-to-back
Paper moderated? YES X NO Paper approved by HOD? YES X NO

Internal moderator signature: _____________________________ Date: _______________

HOD/DOS signature: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

Declaration by examiner: I have taken the required maximum security precautions to the best
of my knowledge and I have sealed and signed the envelope containing this examination
question papers and/o memorandum/marking guideline and module outcomes.
Examiner signature: ______________________________ Date: ________________
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 1 of 12

JUNE 2018 EXAMINATION

MODULE DESCRIPTION : Physics 1A (for Engineers)

MODULE CODE : PHYV101

FACULTY : Science

QUALIFICATION : Engineering

EXAMINATION DATE : 1 June 2018

SESSION STARTS AT : 14:00

DURATION (IN MINUTES) : 180

TOTAL MARKS : 150

PAGES : 12

ADDENDA : Formulas and Constants

EXAMINER : 1. Prof Tim Gibbon

2. Dr F Vorster

MODERATOR : 1. Prof JR Botha

: 2.

INSTRUCTIONS : 1) Answer Section A & Section B (all questions)

Section A
2) Use separate answer books for each Section
3) Answer Section A on the printed answer book
provided
Section B
4) Answer each question on a seperate page
5) Only non-programmable calculators may be
used.
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 2 of 12

DO NOT TURN THE PAGE BEFORE TOLD TO DO SO

SECTION A
Mechanics
Marks: 90

Answer ALL the questions

PLEASE USE SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

Given: g = 9.8 m/s2

QUESTION 1
1. A graph of velocity versus time has been sketched below for a rapid transit train on a
straight track.

Between 1 and 3 s, its average velocity was:

a) 40 km/h
b) 50 km/h
c) 60 km/h
d) 100 km/h
e) None of the above
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 3 of 12

a) 2. The block shown moves with constant velocity on a horizontal surface. Two of the
forces on it are shown. A frictional force exerted by the surface is the only other horizontal
force on the block. The frictional force is:

a) 0
b) 2 N, leftward
c) 2 N, rightward
d) slightly more than 2 N, leftward
e) slightly less than 2 N, leftward

3. A box of mass m is placed on an incline with angle of inclination θ. The box does
not slide. The magnitude of the frictional force in this case is:
N
f
a) μs mg sin θ
b) mg cos θ
c) mg sin θ
d) zero θ
e) None of the above
W
4. In a system that follows Hooke's law, to double the displacement, the force
a) and energy stored must both be doubled.
b) is doubled but the energy stored will be unchanged.
c) is doubled and the energy stored is four times as great.
d) is doubled but the energy stores is one-fourth as great.
e) none of these.

5. Consider a rotation through an angle of 4.00 rad along a circular path of 5.00 m
radius. The distance traveled along this path would be:
a) 35 m
b) 21 m
c) 32 m
d) 23 m
e) 0 m
[5 x 2 marks = 10 marks]
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 4 of 12

QUESTION 2
a) A snapping turtle follows the path shown in the accompanying diagram. What would the
magnitude and direction have been of a single displacement that took the turtle from A to
B?

(8)

b) Given: x = 3t - 4t 2 + t 3 meter

Calculate:
i) The position at t = 1 s
ii) Average velocity between t = 2 and t = 4 s
iii) Instantaneous velocity at t = 2 s
iv) Instantaneous acceleration at t = 3 s
(8)

c) Consider an object of mass m moving with constant acceleration in one direction. Derive
the following equation of motion:

s = ut + 1 at 2
2
(7)
[23]

--------------------------------------------------
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 5 of 12

QUESTION 3

a) The system shown is in equilibrium. The pulleys and all surfaces are frictionless.
i) Draw the forces acting on the block.
ii) Calculate the Tension in the rope.

(8)

b) A small remote controlled car with mass 1.5 kg moves at a constant speed of 12 m.s-1 in a
vertical circle inside a metal track (see the Figure below). What is the magnitude of the force
exerted by the track on the car at point B?

(5)

c) Give the most general definition of “Work”. Be sure to provide the equation and define all
relevant symbols.
(2)
d) Derive an expression for the work done by an external force to elongate a spring.

x n+1
Given ∫x n
dx =
n +1
(5)
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 6 of 12

e) State the work-energy theorem.

(2)

f) A 2 kg block slides down a frictionless curved ramp It then slides 9 m far on a rough
horizontal surface before coming to rest. (see Figure below).
i. What is the speed of the block at the bottom of the frictionless ramp?
ii. Calculate the acceleration of the block over the 9m section at the bottom of the hill.
iii. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the rough surface?
(6)

[28]
2
[28]

--------------------------------------------------

QUESTION 4
a) Define torque 𝜏.
##⃗ Be sure to provide the equation and define all relevant symbols.
(2)

b) State the two conditions that need to be satisfied for static equilibrium.
(2)

c) A 600 N person stands on a horizontal beam of length 8 m and a weight of 200 N (see
figure). The beam is attached to the wall by a pin connection. The person stands 2 m from
the wall. Find the tension in the supporting cable and the horizontal and vertical
components of the force exerted on the beam by the wall.
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 7 of 12

(6)

d) State Pascal’s law

(2)

e) A styrofoam slab has a thickness of 10 cm and a density of 300 kg/m3. What is the area of
the slab if it floats just awash in fresh water when a 75 kg swimmer is aboard?

Given: Density of water = 1.0 x 103 kg.m-3

(7)

[19]

___________________________________________________________________________

End of Section A
Section B start on the next page
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 8 of 12

SECTION B

Physical Properties of Matter

Marks : 60

Answer all the questions of Section B in a separate answer book.

Answer each question on a new page.
Answer the multiple choice questions on the separate form provided

a) A sinusoidal wave travelling in the positive x-direction on a string has an amplitude of

15.0cm, a wavelength of 40.0 cm, and a frequency of 8.00 Hz. The vertical position of an
element of the medium at t = 0 and x = 40 cm is y = 0 cm.
b) Write down the wave equation that describes this transverse wave. (4)
c) How many waves will move past a fixed point in 5 seconds. (1)
d) The propagation speed of the wave. (2)
e) The maximum transverse velocity of the elements of the string. (2)
(Remember to give your answer in the correct units!)

f) A wire consists of 20 m of copper wire (µ = 2.88 x 10-2 kg.m-1) joined to 10 m of steel wire (µ
= 1.38 x 10-2 kg.m-1). The 30 m wire is stretched to a tension of 200 N. How long will it take a
transverse wave to travel the entire length of wire? (5)

[14]

a) A loudspeaker at a rock music concert has a maximum power output of 140 Watt. Assuming
no significant reflection from the ground, how close to the speaker can an average person
stand before his eardrums begin to hurt (at 120dB)? (6)

b) Dolphins hunting prey use underwater sonar echo-location (a series of high pitch click
sounds) to find their target. A dolphin moving towards a school of fish (prey) swims at
30km/h while the fish tries to escape by swimming away at 20 km/h. The dolphin sends out
a sonar signal at 50 kHz. The speed of sound in water is given as 1533 m.s-1.
i) What is the frequency of the sonar signal as detected by the school of fish? (3)
ii) What is the frequency that is detected by the dolphin from the signal reflected back
from the school of fish? (3)

c) While tuning the C-note, a piano tuner hears 3 beats per second between the C- tuning fork
(oscillating at 523 Hz) and the oscillating C string.
i) What are the two possible frequencies of the string? (2)
ii) When the tension in the string is reduced slightly the beat frequency increases to 6
beats per second. Determine the original frequency of the string. (2)
[16]
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 9 of 12

a) Determine the thermal energy required to convert 100 g of ice at -20ºC to steam at 120ºC. (7)

b) The average thermal conductivity of the walls and window of a melting furnace is
0.300W/m°C and the average thickness is 21 cm. The total surface area of the furnace is
4.00 m2. The furnace is kept warm by burning natural gas having a heat of combustion of
54x106 J/kg. How much energy is required to keep the temperature inside the furnace at
800 °C if the outside temperature is 30 °C? (3)

[10]

Multiple Choice Questions (Answer on separate sheet provided)

Wave Motion

a) If y = 0.02 sin (30x − 400t) (SI units) and if the mass density of the string on which the wave
propagates is 0.005 kg/m, then the transmitted power is: (2)
a. 1.03 W
b. 2.13 W
c. 4.84 W
d. 5.54 W
e. 106 W

!
b) For the transverse wave described by, 𝑦 = 0.15sin ["#(2𝑥 − 64𝑡)] (SI units) determine the
maximum transverse speed of the particles of the medium. (2)
a. 0.192 m/s
b. 0.6π m/s
c. 9.6 m/s
d. 4 m/s
e. 2 m/s

Sound

c) Determine the intensity (in W/m2) of a harmonic longitudinal wave with a pressure
amplitude of 8.0 × 10−3 N/m2 propagating down a tube filled with helium.
(ρ = 0.179kg/m3, v = 972 m/s.) (2)
a. 3.7 × 10-7
b. 1.8 × 10-7
c. 9.2 × 10-8
d. 4.6 × 10-8
e. 1.5 × 10-8
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 10 of 12

d) By what factor is the intensity of sound at a rock concert louder than that of a whisper when
the two intensity levels are 120 dB and 20 dB respectively? (2)
a. 1012
b. 108
c. 106
d. 1010
e. 1011

e) A point source emits spherical sound waves with a power output of 100 watts. What is the
sound level (in dB) at a distance of 10 m? (2)
a. 139
b. 119
c. 129
d. 109
e. 10

Superposition and Standing Waves

f) Two harmonic waves are described by

and

What is the amplitude of the resultant wave? (2)

a. 8.0 m
b. 4.3 m
c. 6.0 m
d. 3.2 m
e. 3.0 m

g) Two harmonic waves are described by

and

What is the magnitude of the displacement (in cm) of this wave at x = 3 cm and t = 5 sec? (2)
a. 12.0
b. 3.00
c. 6.00
d. 2.25
e. 0
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 11 of 12

Temperature

h) A pressure of 10.0 mm Hg is measured at the triple-point of water using a constant-volume

gas thermometer. What will the pressure be (in mm Hg) at 50.0°C? (2)
a. 68.3
b. 1.80
c. 31.8
d. 11.8
e. 8.50

i) An auditorium has dimensions 10 m × 10 m × 60 m. How many moles of air fill this volume
at one atmosphere and 0°C? (2)
a. 2.7 × 102
b. 2.7 × 104
c. 2.7 × 103
d. 2.7 × 105
e. 2.7 × 106

j) One mole of an ideal gas is held at a constant pressure of 1 atm. Find the change in volume
(in liters) if the temperature changes by 50°C. (2)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
[20]
June 2018: Module Code: PHYV101 Page 12 of 12

Addendum Formulas

v=ƒλ æ v + vo ö
vy = -w A cos (kx – wt) ƒ' = ç ÷ƒ
ay = -w2A sin(kx – wt) è v - vs ø
y = y1+y2 = 2A cos (f /2) sin (kx
tension T
v= = - wt + f /2)
mass/length µ
1
El 2 µw A l 1 y = (2A sin kx) cos wt.
2 2

P= = = µw 2 A2v
T T 2

DL / Li
a=
DT

TC
v = (331 m/s) 1 +
! !
273
ΔP max =
Power = Fρ"vvx ω smax
1
( Power )avg = r Av w 2smax 2
2
( DPmax )
2

I=
2 rv
( Power )avg ( Power )avg
I= =
A 4p r 2

Table 1. Specific heat capacity for the different phases of H2O

Specific heat capacity

water 4186 J/kg°C

ice 2090 J/kg°C
steam 2010 J/kg°C

Table 2. Material properties

Substance Melting Point (ºC) Lf (J/kg) Lv (J/kg) Expansion coefficient (ºC-1)
Water 0 3.33 x 105 2.26 x 106
Aluminium 660 3.97 x 104 1.14 x 107 24 x 10-5
Copper 1083 1.34 x 105 5.06 x 105 17 x 10-5