NSEP 2024 Paper (Eng)
NSEP 2024 Paper (Eng)
1. OABC is a regular tetrahedron, each side of which is made of uniform wire of resistance 4W/m. The
length of each side is 2 m. The point M is the midpoint of the side BC. The resistance between O and
M is
A
O
B C
M
(a) 5W (b) 4W (c) 10W (d) 15W
2. A box weighing W is placed on a rough horizontal floor. The coefficient of static friction between the
box and the floor is µ. To move the box, a pulling force F is applied along the rope joined to the box at
an angle q with horizontal. By suitable choice of q, the minimum value of F that can make the box
move is
F
W
(a) µW (b)
1 + m2
mW W 1 - m2
(c) (d)
1 + m2 m
3. The external wall of a room measuring 2 m × 3 m consists of a layer of white pine of thickness
dpine = 2.0 cm and a layer of rock wool in succession. The external temperature is 36 K below the
indoor temperature (Given the thermal conductivity coefficient of white pine KP = 0.10 Wm–1 kelvin–1
and that of rock wool Kw = 0.04 Wm–1 kelvin–1). The thickness of the layer of the rock wool, so that
dQ
the thermal conduction rate Pcond = across the wall does not exceed 120 watt (assuming no loss of
dt
heat during conduction and no other way of heat transfer other than conduction), is
(a) 7.2 cm (b) 6.4 cm (c) 4.8 cm (d) 0.8 cm
1
4. A 240 kg block is suspended from a fixed point O, at the end of a long (L = 13 m) massless rope. A
horizontal force F slowly pushes the block to move it a horizontal distance d = 5 m sideways, to a
position B where it remains stationary as shown in the figure.
Statement-1 : Force F at position B is 980 N.
Statement-2 : Work done by the force to bring the box from A to B is 2352 J
O
L = 13m
F
B
A
d
(a) Only statement 1 is correct
(b) Only statement 2 is correct
(c) Both statements 1 and 2 arc wrong
(d) Both statements 1 and 2 are correct
5. The number of radioactive nuclei N of a radioactive sample is experimentally measured as a function
of time t. At t = 0, N(t = 0) = 50,000 and at t = 10s, N(t = 10s) = 5000 ± 100. The half-life of the
sample is estimated from these measurement. The error in the estimation of the half-life is
approximately [note that for small values of x, Lt ® 0, ln(1 + x) » x]
(a) 0.26 s (b) 0.15 s (c) 0.05 s (d) 0.10 s
6. An amount of heat equal to 10.61 J is given to an ideal gas at constant pressure of one atm (1.01 × 105
Pa). As a result the volume of the gas increases by 30.0 cm3. The gas is
(a) mono atomic
(b) diatomic
(c) tri-atomic
(d) mixture of monoatomic and diatomic
r
7. A ball is projected from point O on the ground with a certain velocity u at angle q from horizontal.
When it reaches point P located at a horizontal distance L from O and is at a height h above the
r
ground, the angle a subtended by the velocity vector v with horizontal at this point P is expressed as
P
a
q
O L
h 2h
(a) tan a = - tan q (b) tan a = + tan q
L L
2h 2h
(c) tan a = tan q - (d) tan a = - tan q
L L
2
8. A flexible chain, of length L and uniform mass per unit length l, slides off the edge of a frictionless
table (sec figure). Initially a length y = y0 of the chain hangs over the edge, with the chain held at rest.
Now the chain is let free. The velocity, of the chain when the chain becomes completely vertical (i.e.
when the chain is just to leave the edge) is
æ y 20 ö æ y 20 ö
(a) v = g ç L - ÷ (b) v = 2g ç L - ÷
è Lø è Lø
(c) v = g ( L - y 0 ) (d) v = 2g ( L - y 0 )
9. A Keplerian telescope is adjusted in its normal setting for parallel rays. Mounting of the objective has
diameter D and the diameter of the image of that mounting formed by the eye piece of the telescope is
d. Magnifying power of the telescope is
D D D+d D
(a) -1 (b) +1 (c) (d)
d d D-d d
10. In the circuit shown below, the resistance R = 3 ´ 10 3 W , the inductance L = 2 H and the
capacitance C = 1 µF have been connected to an AC supply of the peak voltage of Vmax = 5 volt at a
frequency w. Either the switch S1 or the switch S2 is closed at a time. In either case, same maximum
current (imax) is recorded in the circuit. The frequency of the AC source is nearly
R
S1 R
AC ~ V=5sinwt S2
C=1µF L=2H
A
4
21. A glass capillary with inner diameter of 0.40 mm is vertically submerged in water so that the length of its part
protruding above the water is h = 25 mm. Surface tension of water is T = 0.073 Nm–1. Since the water wets the
glass completely, it may be concluded that the:
(a) length of capillary above the water surface is insufficient so the water will flow out as a fountain.
(b) water will rise up to the brim forming a meniscus of radius 1.2 mm at the top.
(c) water will rise up to the brim forming a meniscus of radius 0.6 mm at the top.
(d) water will rise up to the brim forming a meniscus of radius equal to radius of the capillary.
22. The container A in the figure holds an ideal gas at a pressure of 5.0 × 105 Pa at 27 °C. It is connected to the
container B by a thin tube fitted with a closed valve. Container B with volume four times the volume of A holds
the same ideal gas at a pressure 1.0 × 105 Pa at 127 °C The valve is now opened to allow the pressure to
equalize, but the temperature of each container is maintained as before. The common pressure in the two
containers (in kPa) is
×
A
B
(a) 200 (b) 300 (c) 320 (d) 180
23. A thin plastic disc, which is a quarter of a circle of radius R = 0.6 m, lies in the first quadrant of x-y plane, with
the center of curvature at the origin O as shown. It is charged uniformly on one side (one face) with surface
charge density s. Electric potential at point P (0, 0, 0.8 m) is:
y
x
O
s s s s
(a) (b) (c) (d)
8 Î0 8p Î0 20 Î0 40 Î0
24. A spring is compressed under the action of a constant force F. The compression of the spring is x. Suppose the
direction of the force is reversed suddenly as well as its magnitude is doubled. The maximum extension of the
spring beyond its natural length will now be (the spring obey’s Hook’s law).
(a) 2x (b) 3x (c) 4x (d) 5x
25. The charge on a small point object at A produces an electric potential V = 3 volt at a point P. Because of an
unavoidable situation, leakage of the charge from the object at starts at t = 0 at a constant rate of 3 µCs–1. To
maintain the potential of 3 volt at the point P, the object is made to move towards P with a certain velocity v.
When the point object crosses the point D shown in the figure, it is found to have a charge of 10 µC and the
direction of its velocity is perpendicular to OD. The resulting magnetic field B, at this instant, at the loacation O
(such that OD = 1.00 m) is:
A D v P
90°
1m
O
1
(a) 8.1 nT (b) mT (c) 9.9 µT (d) 9.0 nT
9
5
26. In the Bohr model of hydrogen atom, the force between the nucleus and the electron is modified as
e2 æ 1 d ö e0 h 2
F= ç + ÷ , where d is a small constant. Using the Bohr radius the radius a 0 = , the radius of
4 pe0 è r 2 r 3 ø pme 2
nth orbit is:
(a) a0n2 – d (b) a0n2 + d (c) a0 (n – d)2 (d) a0 (n + d)2
27. An infinite number of conducting rings having increasing radius r 0, r1, r2, r3 and so no, such that r 0 = r,
r1 = 2r, r2 = 22r, r3 = 23r and so on ………. Upto ¥, have been placed concentrically on a plane. All the
rings carry the same current I but the current in consecutive rings is in opposite direction shown. The
magnetic field produced at the common centre of the rings is:
¥ ¥
m0 i m0 i m0 i
(a) zero (b) (c) (d)
4r 3r 2r
28. One mole of an ideal monoatomic gas, initially at temperature T, is heated such a way that its molar
heat capacity during the process of heating is C = 2R. The volume of the gas gets tripled (at constant
pressure) during the process. The final temperature attained by the gas is:
1
(a) 3T (b) 32 T (c) T (d) 33 T
3
29. Two small positively charged spherical balls are suspended from a common point at the ceiling by
non-conducting massless string of equal length l. The first ball has mass m1 and charge q1 while the
second ball has mass m2 and charge q2. If the two strings subtend angles q1 and q2 with the vertical as
shown then
q1 q2 l
l
++
m2
+ q2 + +
m 1 + + q1
+
I0 d2 2I 0 d 2I 0 d 2 I0 d 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
e 0 wVA e 0 wVA e 0 wVA 2e 0 wVA
6
31. A small ball of mass m is attached to one end of a massless un-stretchable string of length l and is
held at the point P. The other end of the string is fixed to a support at O such that OP is horizontal.
The minimum downward speed u, that should be imparted to the ball at the point P so that the ball can
complete the vertical circle without any slack in the string is
O P
l
u
(a) 2gl (b) 3gl (c) 4gl (d) 5gl
32. An illuminated point object is placed on the principal axis, in front of an equi-convex glass lens of
focal length f = 40 cm, at a distance of u = 1.20 m front the lens. A reflecting plane mirror has been
placed behind the lens perpendicular to the principal axis and facing the lens. The nature of the final
image and the distance of the plane mirror from the lens so as to form the final image at the plane
mirror itself, is :-
(a) virtual image, 40 cm (b) real image, 40 cm (c) virtual image, 50 cm (d) real image, 20 cm
33. A ball is kicked horizontally from the top C of a hemispherical rock ACB of radius R on a horizontal
ground, with a velocity v, so as not to hit the rock at any point during its flight. Choose the correct
statement (see the figure)
C v
R
R d
A B D
(a) The ball will just strike at B
(b) The ball will strike at D where d = BD = ( 2 -1 R )
(
(c) The ball will strike at D such that d = BD = 2 - 2 R )
gR
(d) The speed v of the ball should always be greater than the critical speed v0 where v0 is .
2
34. The ratio of length, radii and Young's moduls of steel to brass wires in the figure are a, b and g,
respectively. The corresponding ratio of the increase in their length is :-
Steel
2kg
Brass
3kg
2a 5a 2ab2 5ab2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3b2 g 3b2 g 3g 3g
7
35. A uniform beam of light of intensity 60 mW/m2 is incident on a totally absorbing sphere of radius 2.0
µm. The density of the material of the sphere is r = 5.0 × 103 kg/m3. The sphere is placed in a region
of space whre gravitational force can be neglected/ignored. The magnitude of acceleration of the
sphere due to the incidence of the light is :-
(a) 1.5 ms–2 (b) 3.0 ms–2 (c) 7.5 ms–2 (d) Zero
36. The fuse, in the upper branch of the circuit shown, is an ideal 4.0 A fuse. The fuse has zero resistance
as long as current through it remains less than 4.0 A. The fuse blows out when the current reaches 4.0
A. Needless to say that the resistance becomes infinite thereafter. Switch S is closed at time t = 0. The
fuse blows out at time :-
Fuse
15W S
10V
5.0H
direction k̂ being normal to the plane of the paper and directed towards the viewer. The two straight
sections PQ and QR of the wire each have length 2.0 m and the wire carries a current of 2.5 A. Net
r
force on the wire due to magnetic field B is :-
y
Q
x
60º 60º
l l
i i
P R
(a) 40 ˆjN (b) -20 ˆjN (c) -40 ˆjN (d) -20 3ˆjN
38. A charged spherical capacitor consists of two concentric spherical shells of radii a and b (b > a). Half
of the stored electrical energy of this system lies within a spherical region of radius r if :-
a+b 2ab a 2 + b2
(a) r = ab (b) r = (c) r = (d) r =
2 a+b a+b
39. Two stars of masses M1 = Ms and M2 = 15 Ms (where Ms = mass of the Sun) form a binary system.
The stars are revolving round each other, always being at a separation of d = 4 AU between them
(1 AU is distance of the Earth from the Sun), move in circular orbits about their center of mass. The
period of revolution of each star is :-
(a) 1 year (b) 2 years (c) 4 years (d) 8 years
8
226
40. The total energy released in a decay of a stationary Radium nucleus Ra (mass 116 u) is Q = 4.9
MeV (mass of a particle ma = 4 u) then the :-
(a) energy of the recoiled daughter nucleus is nearly 8.7 keV
(b) energy of the recoiled daughter nucleus is nearly 4.81 MeV.
(c) recoil speed of the daughter nucleus is 2.74 × 105 ms–1.
(d) speed of emitted a particle is nearly 1.5 × 106 ms–1
41. A listener at rest (with respect to the air and the ground) hears a sound of frequency f1 from a source
moving towards him with a velocity of 15 ms–1, towards East. If the listener now moves towards the
approaching source with a velocity of 25 ms–1, towards West, he hears a frequency f2 that differs from
f1 by 40 Hz. The frequency f of the sound produced by the source is (speed of sound in the air is 340
ms–1)
(a) 520 Hz (b) 450 Hz (c) 480 Hz (d) 550 Hz
42. A uniform rod of length l swings from a pivot as a physical pendulum. The position of the pivot can
be varied along the length of the rod. The minimum time period with which the rod can oscillate with
L
an appropriate position of the pivot is T = 2p where L is equal to
g
l l l l
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 2 3 2 3
43. The number density of conducting electrons in pure silicon at room temperature is about 1016 m–3. The
number density of conduction electrons is increased by a factor of 10 6 by doping the silicon lattice
with phosphorus. Assume that at room temperature every phosphorus atom contributes one electron to
the conducting band. The fraction of silicon atoms replaced by phosphorus atoms is (Given that the
density of silicon is 2.33 gm/cm3 and that the molar mass of silicon M = 28.1 gm)
(a) 1.0 × 10–7 (b) 2.0 × 10–7 (c) 4.0 × 10–7 (d) 5.0 × 10–7
10
44. A soap bubble 10 cm in radius, with a film thickness of ´ 10 -6 cm , is charged to a potential of 80
3
V. The bubble bursts and converts into a single spherical drop. Assuming that the soap solution is a
good conductor, the potential at the surface of the drop is :-
(a) 2 kV (b) 4 kV (c) 6 kV (d) 8 kV
45. Three resistance, each of R = 4W rated 16 W, are connected across A and B as shown. Potential
difference of V volt is applied between points A and B.
Statement 1 : Maximum potential difference V that can be applied is 12 volt.
Statement 2 : Maximum power that can be dissipated is 24 watt.
R
R
A B
R
+ –
V
(a) Statements 1 and 2 both are wrong
(b) Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is wrong.
(c) Statement 1 is wrong but statement 2 is correct.
(d) Statements 1 and 2 both are correct.
9
46. Water is filled in a vertical cylinder up to a certain height h. The cylinder is made to rotate with an
angular velocity w about a vertical axis coinciding with the axis of the cylinder. The water surface
seen from top appears as a/an
(a) ellipsoid (b) hemisphere (c) paraboloid (d) hyperboloid
47. A uniformly charged non-conducting sphere with its center at C carries positive charge with uniform
charge density +r, except in a spherical cavity (inside the sphere) with center O. The electric field E at
any point inside the cavity is :-
+ +
+ +
+ + +
+ + + +
C
+ + + O
+ + +
10
L
51. A uniform rod OA of length L is freely pivoted at one end O. Let C be the midpoing (i.e. OC = =
2
CA). Choose the correct statement (s) :-
Q
A
L
(a) The rod can perform small angular oscillations with time period T = 2 p
2g
(b) The rod is brought to the horizontal position and then released from rest. The angular velocity of
3g
the rod at the instant when it is vertical is w = .
L
(c) When the oscillating rod comes to the vertical position, it breaks at midpoing C without generating
any impulsive force, the largest angle from vertical reached by the uper part OC of the rod is 60°.
(d) After breaking, the power part just falls vertically rotating about its center.
52. A boy stands on a stationary ice boat on a frictinoless horizontal flat iceberg. The boy and the boat
have a combined mass of M = 60 kg. Two balls of masses m1 = 10 kg and m2 = 20 kg are placed on
the boat. In order to get the boat moving, the boy throws the balls backward horizontally either in
succession or both together. In each case the balls are thrown backward with a certain speed vrel = 6
ms–1 relative to the boat just when the ball is being thrown. The resulting speed of the system of the
boat and the boy is
(a) V = 2.00 ms–1 when both the balls m1 and m2 are thrown together.
(b) V = 3.00 ms–1 when both the balls m1 and m2 are thrown together.
(c) V = 2.17 ms–1 if the balls are thrown one after the other, first m1 and then m2.
(d) V = 2.19 ms–1 if the balls are thrown one after the other, first m2 and then m1.
53. An electric circuit consists of a battery of emf E, an inductance L and a resistance R in series. The
switch S is closed at t = 0. The current in the circuit grows exponentially with time as depicted by
curve (1). The values of the circuit parameters (E, L or R) are now somehow changed. The circuit is
closed second time, the growth of current I follows curve (2). The following conclusions(s) may be
drwan :-
L R I0
(1)
(2)
I
S
E
t
(a) E and R are unchanged but L has increased.
E L
(b) is unchanged but has increased.
R R
E L
(c) is unchanged but has decreased.
R R
(d) Stored magnetic energy has increased.
11
54. The Earth is revolving around the Sun (mass M) in a circular orbit of radius r with a period of
revolution T = 1 year. Suppose that during the revolution of the Earth, at any instant, the mass of the
Sun instantaneously becomes double i.e. 2M. The correct alternative (s) is/are [Assume that the Sun
and the Earth are point masses].
1
(a) The period of revolution of the Earth around the Sun now becomes year.
2
(b) There is no change in angular momentum of the Earth around the Sun.
r
(c) Minimum distance of the Earth from Sun during revolution is now .
3
GM
(d) Maximum speed of the Earth during revolution around the Sun is 3 .
r
55. An optical fibre consists of a glass core (refractive index n1) surrounded by a clidding (refractive index
n2 < n1). A beam of light enters one end of the fibre at P, from air at angle q, with the axis of fibre as
shown in the figure. Choose the correct option(s) :-
A n2
Air P i n1 Q
q Axis
B
(a) Maximum value of q for which a ray can travel down the fibre is q = sin -1 n12 - n 22 .
(b) Maximum value of q for which a ray can travel down the fibre is q = cos–1 n12 - n 22 .
(c) If q = 30° (in air) and n1 = 1.50, then for reflection just at the critical angle, the value of n2 is 2.
(d) A ray entering at q = 0 travels a distance L from P to Q, inside the fibre directly along the fibre
axis. Another ray travelling through fibre is repeatedly reflected at the critical angle, at interface
of glass core and surrounding layer/cladding. Both the rays travel from point P to point Q on the
axis. If the two rays started from point P at the same time, the difference Dt in the time taken to
n1 L
reach the point Q by the two rays is Dt = ´ ( n1 - n 2 ) (here c is the speed of ligth in
n2 c
vaccum)
56. A series LCR circuit fed with AC has resonant angular frequency of w = 2.0 × 104 rad/s. When the
same circuit is driven at an angular frequency of 2.5 × 104 rad/s, it has an impedance of 1.0 kW and
phase constant of f = 45°. The value of L, C and R for this circuit may be :-
(a) R = 707 W (b) L = 78.6 mH (c) C = 31.8 nf (d) R = 506 W
57. A long straight wire, having a radius greater than 4.0 mm, carries a current that is uniformly
distributed over its cross-section. The magnitude of magnetic field B due to the current is 0.28 mT at
r = 4.0 mm and 0.20 mT at r = 10.0 mm, respectively, from the axis of the wire then the :-
(a) magnitude of the magnetic field B at a distance r = 2.0 mm from axis is 0.14 mT.
(b) magnitude of the magnetic field B at r = 5.0 mm is greater than that at r = 6.0 mm.
(c) current flowing in the wire is I = 20 A.
(d) current density in the wire is J » 1.1 × 105 A/m2.
12
58. In the given combination of capacitors C1 = 4µF, C2 = 2 µF, C3 = 2 µF, C4 = 4 µF and C5 = 3 µF, a
source of 12 volt is connected across the points A and B. Then the :-
X
C1 C2
A C5 B
C3 C4
Y
+ –
12V
8
(a) equivalent capacity between A and B is mF .
3
(b) stored electrical energy of the system is 204 µJ.
(c) potential difference between X and Y is Vxy = 2 volt.
(d) potential difference across the capacitor C 2 is 8 volt.
1
59. One mole of an ideal monoatomic gas, initially at temperature T, is compressed to of its volume by
8
a piston in a cylinder such that the heat dissipated into the environment is equal to the change in the
internal energy of the gas. Then the
3R
(a) molar heat capacity of the gas is C = .
2
(b) final temperature of the gas is 2T.
(c) work done on the gas is 3RT.
(d) equation of state of the process is PV4/3 = constant.
60. A solid ball of mass M and radius R (see figure) is lying on a horizontal table. The ball experiences a
short horizontal impulse which imparts a momentum p to the ball. The height of point of impact above
the center line is h = aR (0 £ a £ 1). Choose the correct option/option(s).
h = aR
C
R
O
p2
(a) Translational energy of the ball is .
2M
5 p2 a 2
(b) Energy of pure rotational motion of the ball is .
4 M
2
(c) For a = , the ball rolls without sliding.
5
(d) For a = 0, pure rotational motion will be observed.
13