RAFFLES JUNIOR COLLEGE

2007 Preliminary Examination

PHYSICS 9745 / 01
Higher 2

Paper 1 Multiple Choice

20 September 2007
1 hour 15 minutes
Additional Materials: OMR form
Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

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Do not open this booklet until you are told to do so.

Fill in your particulars on the OMR form.

There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions. For each question
there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the OMR form.

Read the instructions on the OMR form very carefully.

Each correct answer will score one mark. A mark will not be deducted for a wrong
answer.

Any rough working should be done in this booklet.

This booklet consists of 17 printed pages including the cover page.

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Data

speed of light in free space, c = 3.00 x 108 m s-1

permeability of free space, µo = 4π x 10-7 H m-1

permittivity of free space, εo = 8.85 x 10-12 Fm-1

(1 / (36 π)) x 10-9 Fm-1

elementary charge, e = 1.60 x 10-19 C

the Planck constant, h = 6.63 x 10-34 J s

unified atomic mass constant, u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg

rest mass of electron, me = 9.11 x 10-31 kg

rest mass of proton, mp = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

molar gas constant, R = 8.31 J K-1 mol-1

the Avogadro constant, NA = 6.02 x 1023 mol-1

the Boltzmann constant, k = 1.38 x 10-23 J K-1

gravitational constant, G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2

acceleration of free fall, g = 9.81 m s-2

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Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion, s = ut + ½at2

v2 = u2 + 2as

work done on/by a gas, W = p∆V

hydrostatic pressure, p = ρgh

gravitational potential, Gm
φ = −
r

displacement of particle in s.h.m. x = xo sin ωt

velocity of particle in s.h.m. v = vo cos ωt

= ±ω (x o
2
− x2 )
resistors in series, R = R1 + R2 + ?

resistors in parallel, 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ?

electric potential, V = Q / 4πεor

alternating current/voltage, x = xo sin ωt

transmission coefficient, T = exp(-2kd)

8π 2 m ( U − E )
where k =
h2

radioactive decay, x = xo exp (-λt)

decay constant 0.693

λ =
t1
2
 4

1 The diagrams show the scale readings of a travelling microscope focused in turn on
each of the ends of a short rod.

3 4 cm 6 7 cm

0 5 10 0 5 10

On reading the vernier, an error of one division either way may be made.

What is the length of the rod and the associated error in the measurement?
A (3.11 ± 0.01) cm B (3.11 ± 0.02) cm
C (3.21 ± 0.01) cm D (3.21 ± 0.02) cm

2 A car is travelling along a straight road. The graph shows the variation with time t of its
acceleration a during part of the journey.
a
W

X Z
0
t

At which points on the graph does the car have its greatest velocity and greatest
displacement?

Greatest velocity Greatest displacement

A W X
B W Z
C X Y
D X Z

3 Two blocks of masses m1 and m2 are a

connected by a light rod as shown.
rod m2
If the blocks are moving with acceleration
a down a smooth slope, what is the m1
tension in the rod?

A m1a B m2a C (m1 + m2)a D zero

 5

4 Two spheres, A and B, are moving towards each other at speeds u1 and u2 respectively
and make a head-on elastic collision. After the collision, A and B move off with speeds
v1 and v2 respectively, as shown.

before collision A B
u1 u2

after collision A B
v1 v2

What is the correct expression that equates the relative speed of approach to the
relative speed of separation?
A u1 + u2 = v 1 + v 2 B u1 + u2 = v 2 – v 1
C u2 – u1 = v 2 – v 1 D u1 – u2 = v 2 – v 1

5 A small sphere is projected upwards at a height of a few centimetres from the surface of
a viscous liquid. On entering the liquid, the sphere experiences a viscous force that is
proportional to its velocity. Which one of the following graphs most clearly represents
the variation of acceleration a with time t of the sphere?

A B
a a

0 0
t t

C D
a a

0 0
t t
 6

6 A beam of negligible mass is supported by two rods X and Y. A block A of mass 200 g
and a ball B of mass 100 g rest on the beam as shown. Both A and B have uniform
density.

1.4 cm 1.2 cm

A B

X Y
4.0 cm 10.0 cm

If ball B starts to roll to the right, what is the distance it has moved when the beam just
loses contact with rod X?
A 6.6 cm B 8.0 cm C 8.6 cm D 9.4 cm

7 A 0.50 kg mass, with an initial kinetic energy of 15 J, moves up a smooth slope. What is
the kinetic energy of the mass after it has moved a distance of 3.0 m?

3.0 m

30°

A 0.29 J B 2.3 J C 7.6 J D 15 J

8 A mass is attached to a string and whirled in a vertical circle. The angular velocity of the
circular motion is gradually increased. At which point of the motion is the string most
likely to break and in which direction will the mass move after the string breaks?

The string is most likely to break The mass will move

when the mass is at the
A top radially outwards
B top along the tangent to the circular motion
C bottom radially outwards
D bottom along the tangent to the circular motion
 7

9 What is the speed of a geostationary satellite orbiting Earth?

[Given: mass of Earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg]
A 3.08 × 103 m s−1
B 4.71 × 104 m s−1
C 1.80 × 105 m s−1
D 4.23 × 107 m s−1

10 Two stars of masses M and 2M move in circular motion about their common centre of
mass. Which of the following statements is true?
A Both stars move with the same speed.
B Both stars move with the same angular velocity.
C Both stars move with the same radius.
D Such a motion is not possible.

11 The diagram shows a displacement-time graph of a body performing simple harmonic

motion.

displacement

C D
A
time

At which one of the points, A, B, C or D is the body travelling and accelerating in the
same direction?
 8

12 Graph R shows the variation of amplitude of an oscillating system with the frequency at
which it is driven.
amplitude

frequency
When the damping of the system is decreased, graph S is obtained.
Which of the following best shows the graph S?

A B
amplitude amplitude

R R
S S

frequency frequency

C D
amplitude amplitude

S
R R
S
frequency frequency

13 A student tries to determine the specific latent heat of vaporisation of a liquid by an

electrical method. A heater is used to boil the liquid and when the liquid is boiling, the
mass of liquid vaporised per second is measured at two different powers for the heater.
At the power of 40 W and 80 W, the liquid is vaporised at the rate of 0.0417 g s−1 and
0.0893 g s−1 respectively.
What is the best estimate of the specific latent heat of vaporisation of the liquid?
A 840 kJ kg−1 B 896 kJ kg−1 C 928 kJ kg−1 D 959 kJ kg−1
 9

14 Container X contains neon and container Y contains argon. The two containers are
identical and the two gases are at the same temperature. The pressure in X is twice
that in Y. What is the ratio of the mean kinetic energy of a neon molecule to the mean
kinetic energy of an argon molecule?
[The relative atomic masses of neon and argon are 20 and 40 respectively.]
A 0.5 B 1 C 2 D 4

15 A sound wave of frequency 1500 Hz propagates from left to right through a gas. The
diagram below shows the positions of some gas molecules at a particular instant of
time.

P Q

The distance between particles P and Q is 0.500 m.

What is the speed of sound in this gas?
A 300 m s−1 B 330 m s−1 C 375 m s−1 D 400 m s−1

16 A point source of sound radiates energy uniformly in all directions. The amplitude of
oscillation of the air molecules at a distance of 3.2 m from the source is 32 µm.
Assuming that the sound is propagated without energy loss, what is the amplitude of
the oscillation of the air molecules at a distance of 1.0 m from the source?
A 10 µm B 102 µm C 328 µm D 3280 µm

17 Which of the following gives three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of
increasing wavelength?
A radio waves, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays
B microwaves, infra-red radiation, ultraviolet radiation
C gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation, microwaves
D visible light, gamma rays, radio waves
 10

18 A guitar string of length L is stretched between two fixed points P and Q and made to
vibrate transversely as shown.
A
P Q
s B
L
Two particles A and B on the string are separated by a distance s. The maximum
kinetic energies of A and B are KA and KB respectively.
Which of the following gives the correct phase difference and maximum kinetic energies
of the particles?

Phase difference Maximum kinetic energy

 3s  same
  × 360
0
A
 
2L

 3s  KA < KB
  × 360
0
B
 2L 

C 180o same

D 180o KA < KB

19 A diffraction grating has 600 lines per millimetre. When a parallel beam of light is
incident normally on the grating, the angular separation between the two second order
maxima is 600. What is the wavelength of the incident beam?
A 420 nm B 550 nm C 720 nm D 830 nm

20 Two point charges +Q and −4Q are situated as shown. At which point could the resultant
electric field due to these charges be zero?

+Q −4Q

A B C D
 11

21 In the diagrams, the thin lines show equipotential lines and the bold arrows show the
electric field lines and their directions. Which set of equipotential lines and field lines is
possible?

A B
9V 7V 5V 9V 7V 5V

C D
9V 7V 5V 9V 7V 5V

22 Two horizontal metal plates, each of length 100 mm, are separated by 7.0 mm. The
upper plate is at a potential of −2.0 V.

− 2.0 V
electron 7.0 mm

100 mm

If an electron situated between the two plates (see diagram above) experiences a force
of 3.2 × 10−16 N upwards, what is the potential of the bottom plate?
A − 202 V B − 16 V C + 12 V D + 198 V

23 If the length and diameter of a wire of circular cross section are both doubled, the
resistance is
A unchanged
B doubled
C increased by four times
D halved
 12

24 In the circuit below, R1, R2 and R3 are fixed resistors and R is a variable resistor.

I2
I1
R3
R1

R2

As R decreases,
A I1 remains unchanged, I2 increases
B I1 decreases, I2 increases.
C I1 increases, I2 decreases.
D I1 increases, I2 increases.

25 In the circuit below, the potential difference between points W and Y is 5.0 V.

5.0 Ω 5.0 Ω

W Y

2.0 Ω 3.0 Ω
Z

5.0 V
The potential of X with respect to Z is
A + 0.50 V B − 0.50 V C + 2.5 V D − 2.5 V

26 Three light bulbs, each rated at 120 V, 50 W, are connected in series to a 120 V power
supply. The power dissipated by each bulb is
A 5.56 W B 16.7 W C 50 W D 150 W
 13

27 Two cells of e.m.f.’s E1 and E2 and of negligible internal resistances are connected with
one fixed resistor R and two variable resistors as shown in the diagram below. When
the galvanometer shows no deflection, the values of the variable resistors are P and Q.
E1 R

P Q

E2
E2
What is the ratio ?
E1

P P P +Q P +Q +R
A B C D
P +Q P +Q + R P P

28 Six vertical conductors are placed at the corners of a regular hexagon ABCDEF as
shown below. Each conductor at A, B, C, D and E carries equal currents in the same
direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. The conductor at F carries the same
current but in the opposite direction.
A B
North

F West C East

South
E D
Ignoring the Earth’s magnetic field, in which direction is the net force on the conductor
at C due to the other conductors?
A North B South C East D West

29 A wire 30 cm long with a mass of 4.0 g, is placed on a

horizontal platform in a magnetic field of flux density
0.040 T. The diagram on the right shows the top view of
the set-up. 30° B
When a current I is now passed through the wire, the wire I
accelerates constantly upwards away from the platform.
If the acceleration of the wire is 0.020 m s−2, what is the
current in the wire?
A 6.7 x 10−3 A B 1.3 x 10−2 A C 3.3 A D 6.6 A
 14

30

Magnet

When a magnet is brought near the screen of a cathode ray tube, the image becomes
distorted, as shown in the diagram above.
This distortion occurs because the magnetic force affects
A the direction of emission of photons from the screen
B the electrical circuitry of the cathode ray tube
C the path of the electrons
D the fluorescent coating on the surface of the screen

31 O
thread

R
N

common
axis W E

coil ring
S
An aluminium ring hangs vertically from a thread with its axis pointing east-west and is
free to swing about point O, as shown in the diagram above. A coil is fixed near to the
ring and coaxial with it. With the switch closed, the rheostat R is adjusted to increase
the current in the circuit to a maximum before decreasing it again. What will the motion
of the aluminium ring be during this time?
A swings in the direction of E and remains there
B swings in the direction of W and remains there
C swings in the direction of E then in the direction of W
D swings in the direction of W then in the direction of E
 15

32 The diagram on the right shows a wire carrying a

current I. The magnetic flux density due to the
µ0 Ι P
straight wire is given by B = . A straight
2π r I
conductor PQ is placed on the same vertical plane as v
r
the wire and is moved at constant speed v away from
Q
the wire.
How will the magnitude of the induced e.m.f. in PQ
vary and which end will be at a higher potential?

magnitude of induced e.m.f. end at higher potential

A decreases P
B decreases Q
C increases P
D increases Q

33 A rectangular coil of wire, initially Z

placed as shown in the diagram on
the right, is rotated about axis YY’ coil
with constant angular velocity in a Y
magnetic field which acts in the
direction of XX’. X’
Which graph best represents the X
variation with time t of the e.m.f. E
Y’
induced in the coil?

Z’

A B
E E

0 0
t t

C D
E E

0 0
t t
 16

34 A generator produces a current of 60 A r.m.s. at a voltage of 120 V r.m.s. The voltage is

stepped up to 4500 V r.m.s. by an ideal transformer and transmitted through a power
line of total resistance 1.0 Ω.
What is the percentage power lost in the transmission line?
A 0.018% B 0.024% C 0.036% D 0.048%

35 When a parallel beam of white light passes through sodium vapour, dark lines appear in
the spectrum of the emergent light. This is because energy is absorbed by the sodium
atoms and
A is not re-radiated at all
B is re-radiated gradually over a long period of time
C is re-radiated uniformly in all directions
D is re-radiated as ultra-violet radiation

36 What is the de Broglie wavelength of a proton moving with a speed of 1.00 × 107 m s−1?
A 4.14 × 10−22 m
B 1.32 × 10−15 m
C 3.97 × 10−14 m
D 7.28 × 10−11 m

37 The following graph shows the spectrum of X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube.

intensity

wavelength
If the potential difference between the target and cathode is increased, which one of the
following combinations represents a possible change in wavelength and intensity of the
peaks?

Wavelength Intensity
A remain the same increase
B decrease remain the same
C remain the same remain the same
D decrease increase
 17

38 A laser-spectroscopy group obtained an emission spectrum for hydrogen, part of which

is shown in the figure below:

Intensity

linewidth

Frequency of emitted photon

The emission lines which represent electronic transitions between discrete energy
levels are not perfectly sharp, but instead display finite linewidths as present above.
Which of the following best accounts for this phenomenon?
A energy-time uncertainty principle
B quantum tunneling of electrons
C position-momentum uncertainty principle
D wave-particle duality of photons

39 A stationary nucleus of mass number A undergoes radioactive decay and emits an

alpha particle. If the total energy released is E, what is the kinetic energy of the alpha
particle?
4 A−4  4   A 
A  E B  E C  E D  E
A  A  A−4  A+ 4

40 In an experiment on the transport of nutrients in the root structure of a plant, two

radioactive nuclides X and Y were used. Initially, the ratio
Number of nuclei of nuclide X
= 2.50
Number of nuclei of nuclide Y

Three days later the ratio

Number of nuclei of nuclide X
= 4.20
Number of nuclei of nuclide Y
Given that nuclide Y has a half-life of 1.60 days, what is the half-life of nuclide X?
A 4.26 days B 2.66 days C 1.14 days D 0.875 days