1

Section A
[60 marks]
Answer all questions
1.

Diagram 1 shows a bag of cement of mass 35 kg on a ramp with 15 slopes to horizontal.

Frictional force exerted between the bag and the ramp is 90.6 N.

Ramp

Diagram 1
(a)

What is meant by frictional force?

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(b)

Calculate the resultant force parallel to the ramp.

[2 marks]
(c)

Based on your answer in (b), explain what happens to the motion of the bag of
cement?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
[2 marks]

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2.

Diagram 2 shows a spring.

Diagram 2
(a)

When a load is attached to the spring ;

(i)

What happen to the length of the spring?

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(ii)

What is the energy stored in the spring?

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(iii) If the number of load is increased, what will happen to the energy in 2a(ii)?
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(b)

The initial length of a spring is 15 cm. When a load with mass 300 g is attached
to the spring, the length of the spring is 21 cm.
What is the length of the spring if a load with mass 500g is attached to the spring?

[3 marks]
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(c)

The spring in Diagram 2 is not suitable to be used as a spring cradle.

Suggest modifications to be done based on the characteristics given below.
(i)

Arrangement of the springs

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(ii)

Reason
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(iii) Stiffness of the spring

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(iv) Reason
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

3.

Diagram 3.1 and Diagram 3.2 show two balloons A and B exerted with the same force.

needle

Finger

Diagram 3.1
(a)

Diagram 3.2

What is meant by pressure?

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(b)

Based on Diagram 3.1 and Diagram 3.2,

(i)

Which balloon will burst easily?

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

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(ii)

Compare the pressure exerted to the balloon

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(iii) Compare the surface area of finger and needle which in contact with the
balloon.
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(iv) Relate the pressure exerted on the balloon with the surface area
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(v)

What happens to the pressure on the balloon if force exerted is increased?

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(c)

State the physics concept involved

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

4.

Diagram 4 shows hydraulic oil trapped between two pistons of different areas. A force
of 100 N is applied on the small piston.

Force 100 N

Diagram 4

(a)

Name the physics principle involved.

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

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(b)

Calculate the pressure produced by the small piston.

[2 marks]
(c)

(i)

The pressure is transmitted equally to the large piston, what is the change to
the force produced on the large piston?
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(ii)

Calculate the force produced on the large piston.

[2 marks]
5.

Diagram 5(a) shows a stone hanging from a spring balance. The reading of the spring
balance is 3.0 N. When the stone is immersed in water, as shown in Diagram 5(b), the
reading is 2.5 N.

Diagram 5(a)
(a)

Diagram 5(b)

What is meant by weight?

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

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(b)

What is the weight of the object?

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(c)

Another force, F is acting on the object in Diagram 5(b). Name the force.
_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(d)

Calculate the
(i)

magnitude of the force, F

(ii)

volume of the object, given that the density of water, 1000 kg m 3

[3 marks]

6.

Diagram 6.1 shows a concrete water tank filled with water.

Diagram 6.1
(a)

State a factor that affects the water pressure in the tank.

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

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(b)

(i)

Compare the water pressure at P and Q

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(ii)

Calculate the water pressure at Q.

(Density of water = 1000 kg m-3)

[2 marks]
(c)

Diagram 6.2 shows water flows from the concrete tank to the house water tank.

Diagram 6.2
(i)

What is the factor that causes the water to flow from the concrete tank to
the water tank in the house?
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(ii)

The flow of water from the concrete tank to the house will stop at level P.
Explain why the supply stops?
_____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
[2 marks]

(d)

Suggest two modifications that can be done to ensure the water flow continously
to the house water tank.
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
[2 marks]

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7.

Diagram 7.1 and Diagram 7.2 show two identical thistle funnels that are covered with
rubber sheets and are immersed in measuring cylinders filled with liquid P which
density is 0.8 g cm-3. A manometer is connected to the thistle funnel using rubber tube.
The depth, h1 and h2 are measured from the surface of the liquid P to the rubber sheet.

h2

Diagram 5(a)
(a)

Diagram 5(b)

State the function of manometer?

_________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(b)

Observe Diagram 7.1 and Diagram 7.2.

(i)

Compare h1 and h2
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(ii)

Compare the difference in height of the water level in the manometer.

_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(iii) Name the physical quantity that represents the difference in height of the
water in manometer.
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(iv) Relate the answers in 7(b) (i) and 7(b) (ii).
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

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(v)

Relate the depth of the liquid and the physical quantity in 7(b) (iii).
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(c)

Liquid P with density 0.8 g cm-3 in Diagram 7.2 is then replaced by liquid Q with
density 1.0 g cm-3. Predict what will happen to the difference in height of the
water in manometer and give your reason.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
[2 marks]

Diagram 8 shows the arrangement of the hydraulic brake system of a car. The crosssectional area of the main brake cylinder, the front brake cylinder and the rear brake
cylinder are 5 x 10-4 m2, 6.0 x 10-4 m2 and 5.5 x 10-4 m2 respectively.
Front wheel brake
Rear wheel brake
Brake
pedal

Piston

Main
cylinder
Brake
fluid
Brake
shoe

Piston

Cylinder
Diagram 8
The car brake system works based on the principle of pressure transferring in liquid.
(a)

The brake pedal is pressed with a constant force of 30 N.

(i)

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On Diagram 8 indicate with arrow the motion direction of the brake liquid
[2 marks]

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(ii)

State the relationship between the liquid pressure in the front brake cylinder
and the rear brake cylinder.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(iii) Calculate the pressure exerted on each rear brake system.

[2 marks]
(iv) Calculate the output force exerted by each rear brake system.

[2 marks]
(b)

Explain why a larger force is applied to the front brake piston compared to the
rear brake piston.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
[2 marks]

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Section B
[20 marks]
Answer any one question from this section.
9.

You are a coach responsible to choose a student to join the school basketball team. A
basic physical fitness test was carried out and the results based on certain characteristics
are as shown in table 9.1.
Characteristics

Mass

Height

Responding

Power (Time taken

Time taken

(kg)

(m)

Time (s)

to transfer 50

to complete

bricks to a distance

100m run

of 5m)

(s)

Students
A

70

1.30

0.01

4 minutes

11.0

65

1.50

0.20

3 minutes

10.6

50

1.70

0.01

2 minutes

10.5

60

1.40

0.05

2 minutes

11.2

40

1.60

0.04

1 minutes

12.4

Table 9.1

(a)

What is meant by power?

[1 mark]

(b)

Based on table 9.1, explain the suitable characteristics of the student to be in the
basketball team. Choose which student will be in the basketball team and explain
your choice.
[10 marks]

(c)

When a 100 m runner reached the finish line, the runner stopped suddenly and
fell on the ground. Explain the situation using the appropriate physics concept.
[4 marks]

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(d)

Two students were asked to run up the stairs to the top floor of a 10 m building.
Data obtained for the two students are as shown by table 9.2.
Mass / kg

Time / s

Student 1

55.0

12.0

Student 2

60.0

14.0

Table 9.2
Calculate power of each student and determine which student has the highest
power.
[5 marks]

10.

Diagram 10.1 shows the air balloon which is used as a weather balloon to carry a
radiosonde instrument for collecting data about the atmosphere. The weather balloon
rises up in the air due to Archimedes Principle.

Diagram 10.1
(a)

(i)

State Archimedes principle.

[1 mark]

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(ii)

Explain why a weather balloon that is rising up in the air will stop at certain
altitude.
[4 marks]

(b)

(i)

The weight of a boat is 15 000 N and the volume of the immersed portion of
the boat is 5.0 m3.
Calculate the buoyant force exerted to the boat.
[Density of sea water is 1020 kg m-3]

(ii)

A heavy box is put on the boat.

Calculate the maximum weight of the box so that the boat will not sink
completely.

[5 marks]

(c)

Diagram 10.2 shows four boats, P, Q, R and S, with different specifications.

You are required to determine the most suitable boat that can carry many
passengers, move with high speed and safe.
Study the specifications of all the four boats from the following aspects.
-

The material used to build the body of the boat

The volume of the boat

The distance of the Plimsoll line from the surface of the sea.

The size of the propeller

Explain the suitability of the above aspects and hence, determine the most
suitable boat to carry heavy load and move with high speed.
Justify your choice.

[10 marks]

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Diagram 10.2

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