2

Section A For
Examiner’s
Use
Answer all the questions in this section.

1 Fig. 1.1a shows a series of eight electronic timers, positioned at an equal interval of
20 m from each other along a straight road. A car, starting from rest, is driven along
the road. All timers are started the moment the car starts moving, and each timer is
stopped when the front of the car passes it.

electronic timer time (s)

A 4.3
B 6.0
C 7.4
D 8.5
E 9.5
F 10.5

Fig. 1.1a Fig. 1.1b

Fig. 1.1b shows the data collected from timers A to F.

(a) The car is undergoing uniform acceleration for the first 100 m.

(i) Define what is meant by uniform acceleration.

…...…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

(ii) Explain how the results show that the car is accelerating in the first 100 m.

….…………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………..

….…………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………….[2]

(b) Calculate the average speed of the car in the first 100 m.

average speed = ………………………[2]

(c) The car moves at a constant speed once it passes 100 m. Deduce the time
recorded by timer G and timer H.

timer G = ……………………… timer H = …………………..[1]

 3
For
2 Fig. 2.1 shows a remote control toy helicopter of mass 1.5 kg rising upwards at a Examiner’s
constant acceleration of 2.0 m/s2. Take g = 10 N/kg. Use

Fig. 2.1

(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw all the forces acting on the toy helicopter. [2]

(b) Calculate the force generated by the propeller.

force generated by propeller = ………………………[2]

(c) When the toy helicopter reaches at height of 10 m, it hovers at this elevation.

(i) What can you say about the forces acting on the toy helicopter at this
moment?

……..…………………………………………………………………………………..

……...……………………………………………………………………………….[1]

(ii) At the height, the propeller suddenly stops turning. Using the principle of
conservation of energy, find the speed at which the helicopter is falling when
it is 5 m above the ground.

speed = ………………………[3]

[Turn Over
 4
For
3 Fig. 3.1 shows a cat in a diving bell of volume 12 m3. As the bell is lowered into the Examiner’s
water, the water level rises to fill 1 m of the bell. The temperature of the air remains Use
constant. Take g= 10 N/kg and density of water is 1000 kg/m3.

atmospheric pressure
(100 000 Pa)

1m

Fig. 3.1
(a) Explain, in terms of the molecules of air, why the pressure inside the diving bell
increases as it is being lowered.

…………..…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………..…………………………………………………………..

………….…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………...……………………………………………………………………………….[2]

(b) Determine the pressure in the diving bell when the diving bell is filled with 1 m of
water.

pressure = …………………………[2]

(c) Calculate the volume of the diving bell when it is under water. State the formula
that you use in your calculation.

volume = …………………………[2]
 5
For
4 Fig. 4.1 shows two incident rays of light on the top facets of a diamond and a glass Examiner’s
respectively. Use

top facets

bottom facets
Fig. 4.1

Diamond has a refractive index of 2.4 and glass has a refractive index of 1.5.

(a) Determine the critical angle for diamond.

critical angle of diamond = ………………[2]

(b) Given that the critical angle of glass is 41.8°, complete the path of light ray in each
of the materials shown in Fig. 4.1 as they leave the facets, explain which material,
diamond or glass, gives more glitter.

.................................................................................................................................

...…………………………………………………………………………………….……..

.................................................................................................................................

...…………………………………………………………………………………….……..

……………….……………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………..……………………………………………………………[3]

(c) Determine the speed of light in the diamond.

speed = ………………[2]

[Turn Over
 6
For
5 The spraying of pesticides with crop sprayers makes use of electrostatic principles. A Examiner’s
spray gun charges the tiny droplets of pesticide as they leave the nozzle as shown in Use
Fig. 5.1. spray guns

Fig. 5.1
Fig. 5.1

(a) In terms of electron transfer, explain how does the spray gun make the droplets
of pesticides positively charged?

.................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................

…..………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

(b) Explain why the droplets of pesticides must be charged for this task.

.................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................

…..………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

(c) Small amount of electric charges can move about in the plants. What type of
charges will be attracted to the surface of the leaves by the positively charged
drops? Show the distribution of charges in Fig. 5.2.
+
+
+ leaf

Fig. 5.2
Type of charges attracted to the surface: …………………………………………[2]
 7
For
6 Fig. 6.1 shows a cell of e.m.f. 12.0 V is connected in series with a 250 Ω resistor and Examiner’s
a thermistor. The graph on the right shows how the current reading on the ammeter of Use
the thermistor varies with temperature.
current/ mA

1.00

0.80

0.60
Fig. 6.1
0.40

0.20

0.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 temperature / °C
(a) State the current reading at the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point.

current reading at lower fixed point = ………………………

current reading at upper fixed point= ………………………. [1]

(b) Determine the resistance of the thermistor at 80 °C.

resistance = ………………[2]

(c) Explain how the voltmeter reading will change as the temperature drops from
100 °C to 0 °C.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………..…...[2]

[Turn Over
 8
For
7 Double insulation and earth wires protect the user of the electrical appliance. Circuit Examiner’s
breakers and fuses are safety features installed in our homes to protect the electrical Use
appliance.

(a) Explain how the double insulation protects the user of electrical appliance.

………………………………………………………………...……………………………

………………………………………………………………...……………………………

………………………………………………………………...……………………………

……..…………………………………………………………...…………………..…...[2]

(b) Fig. 7.1 shows the inside of a circuit breaker under normal conditions.

Using Fig. 7.1, explain what happens when there is a sudden surge in current.

………………………………………………………………...……………………………

………………………………………………………………...……………………………

………………………………………………………………...……………………………

………………………………………………………………...……………………………

………………...………………………………………………...…………………..…..[2]
 9
For
8 A student sets up a simple apparatus to study the current flowing from terminal X to Examiner’s
Y through a solenoid as shown in Fig. 8.1. Use

pivot
pointer

S
scale
N

Fig. 8.1

(a) The student claims that this apparatus can be used to measure magnitude of direct
current when it is connected across XY. Explain how this works.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………..…..[3]

(b) Suggest 2 ways to increase the sensitivity of this set up.

1 ……………………………………………………………………………………..……..

2 ……………………………………………………………………………………..…...[2]

(c) Another student connects a centre-zero galvanometer across XY. He then uses a
spring and sets magnet vibrating up and down vertically. Describe and explain
what is likely to be observed on the galvanometer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

……………………………………………………………………………………………..[3]

[Turn Over
 10
Section C (30 marks) For
Examiner’s
Answer all the questions in from this section. Question 11 has a choice of parts to answer. Use

9 Fig. 9.1 shows a thermocouple thermometer. Junction A of the thermocouple is in

melting ice.

wire Q wire P

junction A

beaker of
melting ice junction B

Fig. 9.1
(a) Suggest suitable metals for the wire P and wire Q.

wire P = ……………………… wire Q = ……………………….... [1]

(b) What would be the millivoltmeter reading when junction B is placed in another
beaker containing melting ice? Give a reason for your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………..[2]

(c) When junction B is placed in steam of a boiling water, the millivoltmeter reading
reads 25 mV. What is the temperature of the junction B when the millivoltmeter
reads 7.5 mV?

temperature =…………............[2]

(d) State two key advantages of using thermocouple thermometer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………..[2]
 11
For
Examiner’s
(e) A heater which supplies thermal energy of 1.2 kJ every second is completely Use
immersed in the beaker of melting ice at 0 °C. The beaker contains 150 g of ice
and 250 g of water.

Calculate the amount of time required to raise the temperature of the beaker
and its content to room temperature of 30 °C.

You may make use of the following information:

• Specific heat capacity of water is 4 200 J/(kg°C)
• Specific heat capacity of ice is 2 100 J/(kg°C)
• Heat capacity of beaker is 67 J/°C
• Specific latent heat fusion of water is 3.36 x 105 J/kg
• Specific latent heat vaporisation of water is 2.26 x 106 J/kg

time taken =…………[3]

[Turn Over
 12
For
Examiner’s
10 During the construction of a tunnel for MRT, an engineer faces the challenge of the Use
need to locate the position of possible hard rocks in water.

In water

He employs echolocation method where a pulse of ultrasound from the ship is

reflected by the hard rock as shown in Fig. 10.1.

ultrasound emitter and sensor

water surface

hard rock

Fig. 10.1
(a) What is meant by ultrasound?

……….…………………………………………………………………………………..

………...………………………………………………………………………………[1]

(b) Describe how the vibrations of the emitter produces waves of ultrasound and
suggest how these waves are subsequently detected by the sensor.

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

……………………………………………………………………………………………..[3]
 13
For
Examiner’s
Use
(c) The wavelength of the ultrasound is 0.03 m and its speed in water is 1 500 m/s.
Calculate the frequency of this ultrasound.

frequency = ……………………[2]

(d) Fig. 10.3 shows the trace on the screen of a cathode –ray oscilloscope (c.r.o.)
of the transmitted and the reflected pulse. The time base setting on the c.r.o. is
20 ms/cm.

1cm

Fig. 10.3
Determine the depth of the hard rock in water.

depth = ……………………[2]

(e) Describe one other application of the ultrasound.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

…..………………………………………………………………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………..[2]

[Turn Over
 14
For
Examiner’s
11 Use
EITHER

Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) has become a popular refractive surgery for
correcting myopia commonly known as short-sightedness for many teenagers and young
adults. Many patients choose Lasik as an alternative to wearing corrective eyeglasses or
contact lenses.

The surgery involves the use of laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of
radiation) to permanently remove some of the corneal tissue and thereby changing the
shape of the cornea. The technology has advanced such that now it requires less time for
the patient's recovery, and the patient feels less pain overall.

Fig. 11.1 shows the information about the wavelength and the output power of some types
of laser.
types of laser wavelength /m output power /W
-7
Excimer 1.93 x 10 20.0
Argon 4.98 x 10-7 2.0
Krypton 5.68 x 10-7 0.5
-7
HeNe 6.33 x x 10 0.005
Yag 10.6 x 10-7 50.0

Fig. 11.1

The visible spectrum has wavelengths ranging from 4.0 x 10-7 m to 7.0 x 10-7 m.

(a) Which laser emits ultraviolet radiation?

……………………………………………………………………………………………....[1]

(b) Describe the medical uses of ultraviolet radiation.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…….....………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…….....………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………….......[2]

(c) Calculate the frequency of light from the HeNe laser. State clearly any constant
used.

frequency = ……………………[2]
 15

(d) During a lasik treatment, light from the Excimer laser is used to treat a patient’s eye.
This laser fires 15 short pusles of light. Each pulse lasts 0.5s.

Calculate the energy given out by the laser during the treatment.

energy = ……………………[2]

(e) Despite this advancement in technology, not all short-sighted patients can undergo
lasik treatment. They still need to rely on the traditional diverging lens to help them to
see far objects. Fig. 11.2a shows the condition of short-sightedness where the image
formed is in front of the retina.

diverging
retina lens
converging
lens

Fig. 11.2a Fig. 11.2b

On Fig. 11.2b, complete the light path to show how the use of a diverging lens can help
to allow a distant object to get focus on the retina. Explain how the diverging lens
achieve this.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…….....………………………………………………………………………………………........

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…….....………………………………………………………………………………………........

…………………………………………………………………………………………............[2]

(f) Describe the image formed on the retina.

…………………………………………………………………………………………............[1]

[Turn Over
 16

OR
Fig. 11.3a shows a newspaper cutting from Straits Time on 15 Jul 2009 of a newly
installed off-shore wind farm. The world has seen a rise in the number of off-shore wind
farms as the wind is more reliable at sea.

Fig. 11.3b shows a simple setup to illustrate how wind power can be used to generate
electricity.

Wind farm gets 5-MW turbine

Following a one-year delay, the 5-MW turbine was

installed 45 kilometres north of the island of Borkum,
Germany. -- PHOTO: AFP
Fig. 11.3a Fig. 11.3b

(a) Explain the term 5 MW.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….........

……………………………………………………………………………………………....[1]

(b) Explain the term how the electricity can be generated when the blades turn.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…….....………………………………………………………………………………………....

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…….....………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
 17

(c) State the purpose of the iron rod.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….........

……………………………………………………………………………………...………....[1]

(d) State one advantage of a rotating magnet over a rotating coil generator.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….........

………………………………………………………………………………………...……....[1]

(e) A transformer is used to step up the voltage from 50 kV to 300 kV.

(i) Determine the turn ratio for this transformer.

turn ratio=………………..[2]

(ii) Assuming that this transformer is 100% efficient, calculate the current in the
secondary coil.

current=………………..[2]

(iii) In practice, the transformer is hardly 100% efficient. Suggest a possible reason
for this.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

…...…………………………………………………………………………………....[1]