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A-level
PHYSICS
Paper 2

Friday 24 May 2019 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours

Materials
For this paper you must have:
• a pencil and a ruler For Examiner’s Use
• a scientific calculator Question Mark
• a Data and Formulae Booklet.
1

Instructions 2
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen. 3
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. 4
• Answer all questions.
5
• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write
outside the box around each page or on blank pages. 6
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of 7−31
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want TOTAL
to be marked.
• Show all your working.

Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 85.
• You are expected to use a scientific calculator where appropriate.
• A Data and Formulae Booklet is provided as a loose insert.

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Do not write
Section A outside the
box

Answer all questions in this section.

0 1 Figure 1 shows a perfectly insulated cylinder containing 0.050 kg of liquid nitrogen at

a temperature of 70 K.
A heater transfers energy at a constant rate of 12 W to the nitrogen.
A piston maintains the pressure at 1.0 × 105 Pa during the heating process.

Figure 1

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0 1 . 1 The nitrogen is heated from 70 K and is completely turned into a gas after 890 s. box

Calculate the specific heat capacity of liquid nitrogen.

Give an appropriate unit for your answer.

specific latent heat of vaporisation of nitrogen = 2.0 × 105 J kg−1

boiling point of nitrogen = 77 K

[5 marks]

specific heat capacity = unit =

Question 1 continues on the next page

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0 1 . 2 The work done by the nitrogen in the cylinder when expanding due to a change of box

state is X.
The energy required to change the state of the nitrogen from a liquid to a gas is Y.

Deduce which is greater, X or Y.

density of liquid nitrogen at its boiling temperature = 810 kg m−3

density of nitrogen gas at its boiling temperature = 3.8 kg m−3

[4 marks]

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0 2 . 1 State what is meant by the internal energy of a gas. box

[2 marks]

0 2 . 2 Absolute zero of temperature can be interpreted in terms of the ideal gas laws or the
kinetic energy of particles in an ideal gas.

Describe these two interpretations of absolute zero of temperature.

[2 marks]

Question 2 continues on the next page

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0 2 . 3 A mixture of argon atoms and helium atoms is in a cylinder enclosed with a piston. box

The mixture is at a temperature of 310 K.

Calculate the root mean square speed (crms) of the argon atoms in the mixture.

molar mass of argon = 4.0 × 10−2 kg mol−1

[3 marks]

crms = m s−1

0 2 . 4 Compare the mean kinetic energy of the argon atoms and the helium atoms in the
mixture.
[1 mark]

0 2 . 5 Explain, in terms of the kinetic theory model, why a pressure is exerted by the gas on
the piston.
[3 marks]

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0 2 . 6 The mixture of gases in the cylinder stays the same.

Explain, using the kinetic theory model, two changes that can be made independently
to reduce the pressure exerted by the gas.
[3 marks]

14

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0 3 . 1 Define gravitational potential at a point. box

[1 mark]

0 3 . 2 Figure 2 shows the positions of equipotential surfaces at different distances from the
centre of the Moon.

Figure 2

Explain how the equipotential surfaces in Figure 2 show that the gravitational field is
not uniform.
[1 mark]

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0 3 . 3 Calculate, using Figure 2, the escape velocity at the surface of the Moon. box

radius of Moon = 1.74 × 106 m

[4 marks]

escape velocity = m s−1 6

Turn over for the next question

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0 4 Figure 3 shows an arrangement used to investigate the repulsive forces between two box

identical charged conducting spheres.

The spheres are suspended by non-conducting thread.

Figure 3

Each sphere has a mass of 3.2 × 10−3 kg and a radius of 20 mm.

The distance d is 40 mm.

The capacitance of a sphere of radius r is 4πε0r.

Each sphere is charged by connecting it briefly to the positive terminal of a

high-voltage supply, the other terminal of which is at 0 V.
After this has been done the charge on each sphere is 52 nC.

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0 4 . 1 Calculate the potential of one of the spheres. box

[3 marks]

potential = V

0 4 . 2 The charged spheres in Figure 3 are at equilibrium.

Draw labelled arrows on Figure 3 to show the forces on sphere B.

[2 marks]

0 4 . 3 Suggest a solution to one problem involved in the measurement of d in Figure 3.

[2 marks]

Question 4 continues on the next page

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0 4 . 4 Show that the magnitude of the electrostatic force on each sphere is about 4 × 10−3 N. box

[3 marks]

0 4 . 5 A student measures the angle θ when the apparatus in Figure 3 is at equilibrium.

The student records θ as 7°.

Discuss whether this measurement is consistent with the other data in this
investigation.
[2 marks]

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0 4 . 6 The student says that the gravitational force between the two spheres has no box

significant effect on the angle at which the spheres are in equilibrium.

Deduce with a calculation whether this statement is valid.

[2 marks]

14

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0 5 A square coil of wire is rotating at a constant angular speed about a horizontal axis. box

Figure 4 shows the coil at one instant when the normal to the plane of the coil is at
30° to a magnetic field.

Figure 4

The area of the coil is 5.0 × 10−4 m2 and the flux density of the uniform magnetic field
is 2.5 × 10−2 T.

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0 5 . 1 The maximum flux linkage of the coil during its rotation is 1.5 × 10−3 Wb turns. box

Calculate the number of turns in the coil.

[2 marks]

number of turns =

0 5 . 2 Calculate the flux linkage of the coil at the instant shown in Figure 4.
[1 mark]

flux linkage = Wb turns

Question 5 continues on the next page

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0 5 . 3 The coil forms part of an electrical generator. Figure 5 shows the emf generated by box

the coil.

Figure 5

Calculate the peak value of the emf generated.

[2 marks]

emf = V

0 5 . 4 Sketch on Figure 6 the variation with time of flux linkage for the same time interval as
Figure 5.
[1 mark]

Figure 6

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0 6 A thermal nuclear reactor uses a moderator to lower the kinetic energy of fast-moving box

neutrons.

0 6 . 1 Explain why the kinetic energy of neutrons must be reduced in a thermal nuclear
reactor.
[1 mark]

0 6 . 2 As a result of a collision with an atom of a particular moderator, a neutron loses 63%

of its kinetic energy.

A neutron has an initial kinetic energy of 2.0 MeV.

Calculate the kinetic energy of the neutron after five collisions.

[2 marks]

kinetic energy = eV

Question 6 continues on the next page

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0 6 . 3 The kinetic energy of a neutron in a thermal nuclear reactor is reduced from about box

2 MeV to about 1 eV.

Explain why the number of collisions needed to do this depends on the nucleon
number of the moderator atoms.
[2 marks]

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0 6 . 4 One fission process which can occur in a thermal nuclear reactor is represented by box

the equation

235 90
92U + 10n = 142 1
54Xe + 38Sr + 4 0n

Calculate in MeV the energy released in this fission process.

235
mass of 92 U = 235.044 u

142
mass of 54 Xe = 141.930 u

90
mass of 38 Sr = 89.908 u

1
mass of 0 n = 1.0087 u
[3 marks]

energy released = MeV

Question 6 continues on the next page

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0 6 . 5 Many magazine and newspaper articles focus on the risks of using nuclear power. box

State three benefits of using nuclear power.

[3 marks]

11

END OF SECTION A

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Section B box

Each of Questions 07 to 31 is followed by four responses, A, B, C and D.

For each question select the best response.

Only one answer per question is allowed.

For each question completely fill in the circle alongside the appropriate answer.

CORRECT METHOD WRONG METHODS

If you want to change your answer you must cross out your original answer as shown.

If you wish to return to an answer previously crossed out, ring the answer you now wish to select
as shown.

You may do your working in the blank space around each question but this will not be marked.
Do not use additional sheets for this working.

0 7 Brownian motion
[1 mark]

A makes it possible to see the motion of air molecules.

B is caused by the collisions of smoke particles.

C is caused by collisions between air molecules and smoke particles.

D occurs because air is a mixture of gases and the molecules have

different masses.

Turn over for the next question

Turn over ►

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0 8 Which row shows two scalar quantities? box

[1 mark]

A gravitational potential gravitational field strength

B mass gravitational potential

C gravitational field strength weight

D weight gravitational potential

0 9 What is the angular speed of a satellite in a geostationary orbit around the Earth?
[1 mark]

–5
A 1.2 × 10 rad s–1
–5 –1
B 7.3 × 10 rad s

C 4.2 × 10–3 rad s–1

D 2.6 × 10–1 rad s–1

1 0 A planet of mass M and radius R rotates so quickly that material at its equator only just
remains on its surface.

What is the period of rotation of the planet?

[1 mark]

R
A 2π
GM

GM
B 2π
R

R3
C 2π
GM

GM
D 2π
R3

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1 1 Satellites N and F have the same mass and are in circular orbits about the same planet. box

The orbital radius of F is greater than that of N.

Which is greater for F than for N?

[1 mark]

A gravitational force on the satellite

B angular speed

C kinetic energy

D orbital period

1 2 An object moves freely at 90° to the direction of a gravitational field.

The acceleration of the object is

[1 mark]

A zero.

B opposite to the direction of the gravitational field.

C in the direction of the gravitational field.

D at 90° to the direction of the gravitational field.

Turn over for the next question

Turn over ►

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1 3 When an electron is moving at a speed v perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of flux box

density B, it follows a path of radius R.

v
A second electron moves at a speed perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of flux
2
density 4B.

What is the radius of the path of the second electron?

[1 mark]

R
A
8

R
B
4

C 2R

D 8R

1 4 A small object of mass m has a charge Q. The object remains stationary in an evacuated
space between two horizontal plates. The plates are separated by a distance d and the
potential difference between the plates is V.

What is V?
[1 mark]

mQg
A
d
mdg
B
Q
mQ
C
d
md
D
Q

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1 5 1.5 mJ of work is done when a charge of 30 µC is moved between two points, M and N, in box

an electric field.

What is the potential difference between M and N?

[1 mark]

A 20 mV

B 20 V

C 45 V

D 50 V

1 6 An electric field acts into the plane of the paper. An electron enters the field at 90° to the
field lines.

The force on the electron is

[1 mark]

A zero.

B along the direction of the field.

C at 90° to the field.

D opposite to the direction of the field.

1 7 The ionisation potential for the atoms of a gas is V. Electrons of mass m and charge e
travelling at a speed v can just cause ionisation of atoms in the gas.

What is v?
[1 mark]

eV
A
2m
2eV
B
m

eV
C
2m

2eV
D
m

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1 8 When a small radioactive source is placed in a cloud chamber, straight tracks about 4 cm box

long are observed. The same source is placed 10 cm from a Geiger tube and a count rate
is detected. When a sheet of aluminium 5 mm thick is placed between the source and the
Geiger tube the count rate falls to the background count rate.

Which types of radiation are emitted by the source?

[1 mark]

A α, β and γ

B β and γ

C α and γ

D α and β

1 9 A parallel-plate capacitor is made by inserting a sheet of dielectric material between two

plates. Both plates are in contact with the sheet.

Which relative permittivity and sheet thickness give the greatest capacitance?
[1 mark]

Relative permittivity Thickness / mm

A 2 0.40

B 3 0.90

C 4 1.0

D 6 1.6

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2 0 A 1.0 µF capacitor is charged for 20 s using a constant current of 10 µA. box

What is the energy transferred to the capacitor?

[1 mark]

A 5.0 × 10–3 J

–2
B 1.0 × 10 J

C 2.0 × 10–2 J

D 4.0 × 10–2 J

2 1 A 1.0 µF capacitor initially stores 15 µC of charge. It then discharges through a 25 Ω

resistor.

What is the maximum current during the discharge of the capacitor?

[1 mark]

A 0.60 mA

B 1.2 mA

C 0.60 A

D 1.2 A

2 2 The initial potential difference across a capacitor is V0. The capacitor discharges through
a circuit of time constant T. The base of natural logarithms is e.

What is the potential difference across the capacitor after time T ?

[1 mark]

V0
A
2

V0
B
e

C V0 e

D V0 ln 2

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2 3 The plane of coil PQRS is parallel to a uniform magnetic field. box

When a current I is in the coil

[1 mark]

A there are no magnetic forces acting on SP and QR.

B there are no magnetic forces acting on PQ and RS.

C an attractive magnetic force acts between SP and QR.

D an attractive magnetic force acts between PQ and RS.

2 4 A horizontal wire of length 0.50 m and weight 1.0 N is placed in a uniform horizontal
magnetic field of flux density 1.5 T directed at 90° to the wire.

What is the current that just supports the wire?

[1 mark]

A 0.33 A

B 0.75 A

C 1.3 A

D 3.0 A

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2 5 Which is not an assumption about gas particles in the kinetic theory model for a gas? box

[1 mark]

A They collide elastically with the container walls.

B They have negligible size compared to the distance between the

container walls.

C They travel between the container walls in negligibly short times.

D They collide with the container walls in negligibly short times.

2 6 A coil P is connected to a cell and a switch.

A second closed coil Q is parallel to P and is arranged on the same axis.

When the switch is closed, coil Q experiences a force.

Which row describes the force on Q?

[1 mark]

Force Direction of force

A increases to constant value to left

B increases to constant value to right

C increases then decreases to left

D increases then decreases to right

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2 7 Three identical magnets P, Q and R are released simultaneously from rest and fall to the box

ground from the same height.

P falls directly to the ground.

Q falls through the centre of a thick horizontal conducting ring.
R falls through a similar ring that has a gap cut into it.

In which order do the magnets reach the ground?

[1 mark]

A P and R arrive together, followed by Q.

B P and Q arrive together, followed by R.

C P arrives first, followed by Q which is followed by R.

D All three magnets arrive simultaneously.

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2 8 A steady current I dissipates power P in a resistor of resistance R. box

An alternating current through a resistor of resistance 2R has a peak value of I.

What is the power dissipated in the second resistor?

[1 mark]
P
A
2

B P

C 2P

D 2P

2 9 The figure shows an oscilloscope trace of a sinusoidal ac voltage.

The time base setting is 5 ms cm–1 and the Y-voltage gain is 10 V cm–1.

Which row describes the ac voltage?

[1 mark]

rms voltage / V Frequency / Hz

A 14 50

B 14 100

C 7 50

D 7 100

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3 0 A deuterium nucleus and a tritium nucleus fuse together to form a helium nucleus and a box

particle X. The equation for this process is:

2 3 4
H + H → He + X
1 1 2

What is X?
[1 mark]

A electron

B neutron

C positron

D proton

3 1 What effect are the control rods intended to have on the average kinetic energy and
number of fission neutrons in a thermal nuclear reactor?
[1 mark]

Average kinetic energy of

Number of fission neutrons
fission neutrons

A unchanged unchanged

B reduced unchanged

C unchanged reduced

D increased reduced

25

END OF QUESTIONS

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DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE

ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED

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Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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