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Candidate Number
HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY
HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION Marker’s Examiner’s
Use Only Use Only
Marker No. Examiner No.
PHYSICS PAPER 2 (Sample Paper)
Question-Answer Book
Question No. Marks Marks
Time allowed : 1 hour
This paper must be answered in English Section A
1-8

Section A
9
INSTRUCTIONS
Section B
1-8
(1) Write your Candidate Number in the space provided
on Page 1.
Section B
(2) Stick barcode labels in the spaces provided on 9
Pages 1, 3, 5 and 7.
Section C
(3) Answer the questions from any TWO sections of this 1-8
paper.
Section C
(4) Write your answers in the spaces provided in this 9
Question-Answer Book. Do not write in the margins.
Answers written in the margins will not be marked. Section D
1-8
(5) Supplementary answer sheets will be provided on
request. Write your Candidate Number, mark the Section D
question number box and stick a barcode label on 9
each sheet. Tie them loosely but securely with a
string INSIDE this Question-Answer Book.

(6) The diagrams in this section are NOT necessarily

drawn to scale.

HKDSE-PHY 2−1 (Sample Paper) 95

 Section A : Astronomy and Space Science
Given : 1 astronomical unit = 1.50
1011 m
1 parsec = 3.08
1016 m = 3.26 ly
1 light year = 9.46
1015 m

A1. Which of the following is NOT contained in the astronomical object shown in the figure ?
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A. Cluster of galaxies
B. Nebula
C. Star
D. Star cluster
Answer :

A2. Hong Kong’s longitude and latitude are 114.1°E and 22.3°N respectively. What is the altitude of the north
celestial pole when observed in Hong Kong ?

A. 22.3°
B. 65.9°
C. 67.7°
D. 114.1°
Answer :

A3. Which of the following statements concerning the celestial sphere model can be used to explain why stars in
the east are rising and stars in the west are setting ?

A. The celestial sphere rotates from west to east with a period of a day.
B. The celestial sphere rotates from east to west with a period of a day.
C. Stars move on the celestial sphere from west to east with a period of a year.
D. Stars move on the celestial sphere from east to west with a period of a year.
Answer :

A4. According to the Ptolemy’s geocentric model,

A. Jupiter moves in a circular orbit around the Earth.

B. The Earth-Venus distance is always smaller than the Earth-Sun distance.
C. The Earth-Mars distance is always smaller than the Earth-Sun distance.
D. It is not possible to observe Jupiter at mid-night.
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−2 (Sample Paper) 96

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A5. Which statement is INCORRECT ?

A. Planets move around stars in elliptical orbits.

B. Comets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.
C. The cube of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the square of the length of its
semi-major axis around the Sun.
D. For a given planet orbiting around the Sun, the speed of the planet increases as its distance
from the Sun decreases.
Answer :

A6. The average of the closest and farthest distances of a comet from the Sun is 18 AU. What is its orbital
period ?

A. 6.9 yr
B. 18 yr
C. 76 yr
D. 200 yr
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Answer :

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(For Questions 7 and 8) A star has a luminosity 1000 times that of the Sun and its surface
temperature is 3900 K.
A7. The star is a

A. supernova.
B. white dwarf.
C. blue giant star.
D. red giant star.
Answer :

A8. What is the radius of the star ? (Assume that the surface temperature of the Sun is 5800 K and that all stars
are blackbody emitters.)

A. 14 times the radius of the Sun

B. 21 times the radius of the Sun
C. 70 times the radius of the Sun
D. 4900 times the radius of the Sun
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−3 (Sample Paper) 97

 A9. The Crab Nebula is an expanding, roughly spherical shell of gas in the constellation Taurus. According to
a recent study, its average apparent angular size is 5.8 arc minute. The whole nebula has negligible
velocity relative to the Earth, and the nebula is at a distance of 2000 pc from the Earth. The wavelength of
an O III spectral line found in the spectrum of the light emitted by the gas moving towards the Earth from
around the middle part of the Crab Nebula is 374.13 nm along the line of sight of an observer on the Earth.
The wavelength of the same spectral line observed in the laboratory is 375.99 nm.

core of the nebula

at the start

direction towards
the Earth
expanding spherical
shell of gas

(a) What is the radius of the Crab Nebula ? Give your answer to two significant figures in parsecs.
(2 marks)
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(b) Calculate the speed of that gas which is moving towards the Earth. Give your answer in km s−1 to
two significant figures. (3 marks)

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HKDSE-PHY 2−4 (Sample Paper) 98

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A9. (c) (i) The Crab Nebula was formed by the explosion of a star whose size was negligible compared
with the present size of the nebula. Estimate the age of the Crab Nebula. Give your
answer to two significant figures in years. State the assumption made in your calculation.
(3 marks)
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(ii) Actually, the Chinese observed the stellar explosion which created the Crab Nebula in
1054 A.D. and so we know that its age is about 950 years. Give a possible reason to explain
why the Crab Nebula’s age estimated in (c)(i) is longer than 950 years. (2 marks)

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HKDSE-PHY 2−5 (Sample Paper) 99

 Section B : Atomic World

B1. Which of these conclusions could NOT be deduced from Rutherford’s scattering experiment ?

(1) Alpha particles are helium nuclei.

(2) There are discrete energy levels in an atom.
(3) The positive charge in an atom is confined to a very small region.

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

B2. The equivalent wavelength of a photon of energy 10 eV is

A. 213 nm
B. 124 nm
C. 25.6 nm
D. 19.7 nm
Answer :
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B3. The ionization potential of a hydrogen atom is 13.6 V. How much energy is required to excite an electron

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from the ground state to the first excited state in a hydrogen atom ?

A. 10.2 eV
B. 6.8 eV
C. 3.4 eV
D. 1.9 eV
Answer :

B4.
Energy

−4E
−6E

The energy levels of a certain atom are as shown. Which of these may undergo an inelastic collision with
the atom ?

(1) an electron with kinetic energy 3E

(2) a photon with energy 2E
(3) a photon with energy 3E

A. (2) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−6 (Sample Paper) 100

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B5. In an experiment on the photoelectric effect, a beam of monochromatic light is directed onto a metal plate to
liberate electrons. The velocity of the fastest photoelectrons emitted is

A. directly proportional to the frequency of the incident light.

B. directly proportional to the intensity of the incident light.
C. independent of the nature of metal.
D. independent of the intensity of the incident light.
Answer :

B6. The work function W of five metals are tabulated below.

Metal Caesium Barium Calcium Magnesium Beryllium

W /10−19 J 3.4 4.0 4.6 5.9 8.0

When monochromatic light of wavelength 400 nm is incident on each of the metals, how many of them
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would exhibit photoelectric emission ?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer :

B7. Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

(1) Photoelectric effect is an evidence that light possesses particle nature.

(2) Electron diffraction suggests that electrons can behave like waves.
(3) The line spectrum of atomic hydrogen suggests that the atom has discrete energy levels.

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (2) and (3) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer :

B8. Graphite is a conductor because of the ‘delocalization’ of electrons. Where are these delocalized
electrons ?

A. formed on the surface of graphite.

B. formed within the carbon layers of graphite.
C. formed homogeneously within graphite.
D. formed in a ‘sea’ of positive ions.
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−7 (Sample Paper) 101

 B9. (a) An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential difference V (in V). Show that its final de
1.23
Broglie wavelength λ (in nm) is given by λ ≈ . (2 marks)
V

(b) In a transmission electron microscope (TEM), electrons are accelerated by a potential difference of
50 kV.
(i) Estimate the final de Broglie wavelength of the electrons. (1 mark)
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(ii) Describe how the electrons are focused in the TEM and explain how the image of the sample
is formed. (3 marks)

(iii) Suggest ONE method to increase the resolving power of the TEM. Explain. (2 marks)

(c) State ONE daily life application of nanotechnology and discuss any potential health risks associated
with it. (2 marks)

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HKDSE-PHY 2−8 (Sample Paper) 102

 Section C : Energy and Use of Energy
C1. The Coefficient of Performance (COP) of a heat pump is

A. the ratio of energy absorbed from the cold reservoir to the energy rejected to the hot
reservoir.
B. the heat energy rejected to the hot reservoir per unit work input.
C. the ratio between the total energy input to the useful work done.
D. the ratio between the extra work input to the total energy input.
Answer :

C2. In the figure, a light source is a perpendicular distance h above a horizontal surface. The amount of
illuminance (unit: lux) of a point on the surface at a distance R from the source is directly proportional to

light source

θ R
h

point of
measurement
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A. cos2θ/R 2

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B. cos2θ/h 2
C. cos3θ/h 2
D. cos3θ/R 2
Answer :

C3. If each fission of uranium-235 liberates 200 MeV of energy, how much uranium-235 must undergo fission
per second to generate a power of 1000 MW ?

A. 2.0
10−24 kg
B. 2.2
10−10 kg
C. 5.2
10−8 kg
D. 1.2
10−5 kg
Answer :

C4. Which of these is NOT an advantage of Battery Electric Vehicle ?

A. zero emission
B. low energy cost per kilometre covered
C. long mileage range
D. energy security by diversifying energy sources
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−9 (Sample Paper) 103

 C5. Which of these actions reduces the heat gained in the summer by buildings in Hong Kong ?

A. Increase the OTTV values of the building envelope

B. Apply solar films on windows to reduce solar heat gain
C. Minimise internal heat gain from indoor activities
D. Improve the air-tightness of the building envelope
Answer :

C6. The solar constant is 1367 W m−2 (power per unit area from the Sun reaching the outer atmosphere) and the
Earth-Sun distance is 1.50 ×1011 m (i.e. 1 AU), estimate the total radiation power of the Sun.

A. 3.9 × 1026 W
B. 3.2 × 1025 W
C. 2.3 × 1025 W
D. 7.7 × 1024 W
Answer :

C7. In estimating the maximum power available from a wind turbine, what is assumed to true ?

(1) The density of air is constant.

(2) The direction of wind relative to the orientation of the turbine is unchanged.
(3) The area swept by the turbine is constant.

A. (1) and (2) only

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B. (2) and (3) only

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C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer :

C8. A fuel cell cannot be classified as a Renewable Energy Source because

A. it is a secondary energy source.

B. its supply is limited.
C. it is from fossil sources.
D. the time scale for regeneration is too long.
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−10 (Sample Paper) 104

 C9. (a) Gas cookers and induction cookers are common domestic cooking devices. Their typical
conversion efficiencies and costs are tabulated below:

Cooking device Conversion efficiency Cost

Gas cooker 40% $0.25 per MJ
Induction cooker 75% $0.90 per kW h

(i) Explain how an induction cooker generates heat in a cooking vessel placed on it. (2 marks)

(ii) Give a reason why the conversion efficiency of gas cookers is much lower than that of
induction cookers. (1 mark)
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(iii) If a gas cooker and an induction cooker are used to heat up 1 kg of water at room temperature
of 25°C to boiling. Calculate the cost of doing this for each cooker. (4 marks)
Given : specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg−1°C−1.

(b) The European Commission is preparing to replace incandescent light bulbs across most of Europe by
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs). State TWO advantages and
TWO disadvantages of such a move. (3 marks)

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HKDSE-PHY 2−11 (Sample Paper) 105

 Section D : Medical Physics
The table shows the speed of sound in, and density of, different tissues.

Tissue Speed of sound in tissue / m s−1 Density / kg m−3

Fat 1450 952
Blood 1570 1025
Muscle 1580 1076
Bone 3050 2560

D1.
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A man places his spectacles on a book as shown above. What kind of lenses does he wear and what defect
of vision does he have ?

Lenses Defect of vision

A. converging lenses long-sightedness

B. converging lenses short-sightedness
C. diverging lenses long-sightedness
D. diverging lenses short-sightedness
Answer :

D2. Which of these contribute to the attenuation of ultrasound when it passes through body tissues ?

(1) interference
(2) scattering
(3) absorption

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (2) and (3) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer :

D3. Which part of the body is most clearly imaged with ultrasound ?

A. lung
B. bone
C. liver
D. intestine
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−12 (Sample Paper) 106

 D4. Ultrasound of intensity 10 mW cm−2 is incident normally at a
fat-muscle interface as shown. What is the intensity of the
ultrasound reflected from the interface ?

A. 0.11 mW cm−2
B. 0.33 mW cm−2
C. 0.67 mW cm−2 incident reflected
D. 0.89 mW cm−2 fat
interface
transmitted
muscle

Answer :

D5. Which statements about Radionuclide Imaging (RNI) are correct ?

(1) The image resolution of a radionuclide image is far worse than that of an X-ray image.
(2) RNI relies on its ability for the study of function rather than structure.
(3) A bone scan that shows a hot spot (i.e. intense increase uptake of tracer) in the bone reveals the
existence of a tumour.
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A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer :

D6. Why is a rotating anode used in an X-ray tube ?

A. To save energy
B. To dissipate heat more efficiently
C. To produce better image resolution
D. To produce a more intense X-ray beam
Answer :

D7. Which criteria are essential when choosing radioactive sources as medical tracers in human bodies ?

(1) The sources should have a short half-life.

(2) The radiation emitted should have a weak ionizing power.
(3) The radiation emitted should not be deflected by an electric field.

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Answer :

D8. The half-life of Tc-99m is 6 hours. A patient is given an injection containing 5.7 × 10−18 kg of Tc-99m and
the scan is taken 4 hours after the injection. Calculate how much Tc-99m remains undecayed when the
scan is taken.

A. 2.9 × 10−18 kg
B. 3.3 × 10−18 kg
C. 3.6 × 10−18 kg
D. 3.8 × 10−18 kg
Answer :

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HKDSE-PHY 2−13 (Sample Paper) 107

 D9. (a) nair

nclad cladding

θmax ncore glass fibre

cladding

The figure shows the cross-section of an optical fibre in an endoscope. Rays incident with angle θ
smaller than a certain value θmax will fall into the range of guided modes, i.e. they can be transmitted
to the far end of the optical fibre.

(i) Complete the light ray in the figure and explain why it will be guided through the optical
fibre. (3 marks)
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1
1 2 2
(ii) Show that sin θmax = (ncore − nclad )2 . (3 marks)
nair

(b) Briefly describe how an endoscope could be used to obtain tissue samples from inside the trachea of
the lung, and explain why the endoscope is of particular use in this procedure. (4 marks)

END OF PAPER

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HKDSE-PHY 2−14 (Sample Paper) 108