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PHYSICS A-LEVEL PAPER I
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Question/Answer Book
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Time allowed : 3 hours
This paper must be answered in English.
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INSTRUCTIONS 6
1. Write your Name, Class and Class
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Number in the spaces provided on the
cover of this Question/Answer Book.
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2. This section carries 120 marks.
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3. Answer ALL questions.
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Total
Total
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Useful Formulae in Advanced Level Physics
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i. Answer ALL questions.
ii. Write your answers in the spaces provided in this question/answer book. In calculations
you should show all the main steps in your working.
iii. Assume : velocity of light in air = 3 108 m s1
acceleration due to gravity = 10 m s2
1. An object M of unknown mass is attached to the lower end of a spiral system. The upper
end of the spring is clamped with a retort stand. The system is set to oscillate up and
down in simple harmonic motion about the equilibrium position O as shown in Figure 1.
P
M Q
O
R
X
Figure 1
(a) It is known that a simple harmonic motion is isochronous. Explain what is meant by
an isochronous oscillation. (1 mark)
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(b)Sketch suitable graphs in the space provided (in page 4) to illustrate the variation of
the following quantities with the displacement x measured from the equilibrium
position O:
(i) the velocity,
(ii) the acceleration,
(iii) the kinetic energy, and
(iv) the total potential energy (both the elastic p.e. and the gravitational p.e.)
of the system. Assume that the gravitational p.e. at the equilibrium position is taken as
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zero. (4
marks)
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Velocity Acceleration
x x
0 0
x x
0 0
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1. (c) (Continued)
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(d) What will be the new period of oscillation if the system is placed on the moon?
(1 mark)
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(e) If object N is added into the system by joining it together with object M, the period of
oscillation becomes 8.75 s. Given that the mass of object N is 0.05 kg, determine
(i) the mass of object M, (2 marks)
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2. (a) A flywheel is mounted horizontally with its axle. There is a constant frictional couple
at the bearings. The flywheel is set in motion by a 0.5 kg mass hung from a light string
wrapped round the axle. The diameter of the axle is 25 mm. The mass falls from rest,
and the string unwinds without slipping so that the flywheel makes 10 revolutions
before the string becomes detached from the axle. The flywheel then makes a further
50 revolutions before coming to rest. If the speed of the mass at the instant it becomes
detached is 0.2 m s 1 , find
(i) the angular acceleration of the flywheel and the tension in the string in the first 10
revolutions, (3 marks)
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2. (a) (i) (Continued)
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(ii) the angular deceleration of the flywheel in the last 50 revolutions, (1 mark)
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(iii) the moment of inertia of the flywheel and axle about the axis of rotation.
(2 marks)
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2. (b) (Continued)
(ii)
Figure 2
In Figure 2 disc A is rotating freely about a vertical axis at 150 revolutions per
minute. The second disc, B, which is not rotating, is dropped onto the rotating
disc. The combined discs then rotate at 60 revolutions per minute.
(I) Find the ratio of the moment of inertia of the disc B to that of disc A.
(2 marks)
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(II) Determine the percentage decrease in the kinetic energy of the system when
the connection is made. What happens to this energy loss? (3 marks)
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3. A rectangular slice, of width d = 2.0 mm and thickness t = 0.5 mm, carries a current I = 16
A in the direction as shown in Figure 3. A uniform magnetic field B = 0.1 T is applied in
the direction shown. The Hall voltage is measured between X and Y. Given that there are
1.0 1029 charge carriers per cubic metre and each carries a charge of 1.6 1019 C.
Figure 3
(a) Determine the sign of the charge carriers in the slice. (1 mark)
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(c) Calculate the transverse electric force on each charge carrier. (2 marks)
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(d) (i) Calculate the value of the electric field between X and Y. (1 mark)
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3. (d) (Continued)
(ii) Hence, using the answer of (d)(i), determine the Hall voltage between X and Y.
(2 marks)
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(e) State one precaution in the process of measuring the Hall voltage. (1 mark)
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(f) Suggest any three modifications to the process of measurement so that the value of the
Hall voltage can be increased. (3 marks)
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4. (a) Figure 4 shows a series LCR circuit. The frequency of the applied p.d. is maintained
such that the circuit is in resonance.
Figure 4
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4. (a) (Continued)
(b) In the process of investigating resonance in a series LCR circuit, the current is
measured over a range of frequencies which includes the resonant frequency of the
circuit. The r.m.s. value of the applied p.d. is kept at 6 V and its value is monitored by
CRO 1. The p.d. across R is monitored by CRO 2.
(i) Draw a circuit diagram to show how the above process can be achieved.
(2 marks)
(ii) Explain how the current through the circuit can be determined by the reading of
CRO 2. (1 mark)
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(iii)The resonant frequency is around 2500 Hz. Choose suitable combination(s) of the
values of L and C from the following list. Justify your answer. (3 marks)
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4. (b) (iii) (Continued)
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(iv) The r.m.s. value of the current is not to exceed 50 mA. If L is a pure inductor,
determine a suitable value for R. (2 marks)
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(v) Sketch and label a graph showing the expected results. Using the same axes,
sketch a second graph showing the effect on the results of increasing the value of
R.
(2 marks)
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5. Figure 5 shows a circuit diagram of a linear voltage amplifier which can amplify the
amplitude of sinusoidal a.c. signals. The current gain of the transistor is 110 and base-
emitter voltage is 0.6 V.
Figure 5
(a) (i) Before the application of the a.c. signal, calculate the value of input voltage when
the circuit just saturates. (2 marks)
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(ii) Hence sketch the graph of input-output voltage characteristics of the amplifier.
(1 mark)
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5. (Continued)
(b) What is the meaning of proper biasing for a linear voltage amplifier? (1 mark)
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(c) Before the application of the a.c. signal, the amplifier is now in proper biasing
condition.
(i) Calculate the collector current. (1 mark)
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(d) (i) Then an a.c. signal of amplitude 0.1 V is applied in the circuit. Sketch a graph to
show how the output voltage at point X varies with time.
(ii) Repeat (d)(i) if the amplitude of the signal changes to 0.2 V.
(3 marks)
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5. (d) (Continued)
(i) (ii)
Input voltage /V Input voltage /V
0.2
0.1
0 time /s time /s
0
0.1
0.2
time /s time /s
0 0
(iii) What is the function of capacitors C 1 and C2? A student says they must have large
capacitance. Do you agree? Explain. (1 mark)
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6. A common signal generator is connected to two identical loudspeakers as shown in Figure
6 below. The loudspeakers emit a note of frequency 2000 Hz. An observer walks along a
line 5.0 m from the loudspeakers. He hears a loud sound at A, which decreases to a
minimum at B and then increases in intensity as he walks towards C.
Figure 6
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(b) Explain why the loudness of the sound detected decreases as the observer walks from
A to B and it becomes a minimum at B. (3 marks)
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(c) Calculate the wavelength of the sound emitted by the loudspeakers. (Given: Speed of
sound in air = 330 m s1) (1 mark)
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6. (Continued)
(e) The connections to one of the loudspeakers are reversed. What difference does the
observer notice as he walks from A to C? Explain briefly. (2 marks)
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(f) If the two loudspeakers are replaced by two small identical light bulbs and a screen is
placed along the line A to C, no interference pattern can be observed on the screen.
Suggest two possible reasons. (2 marks)
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7. (a) Sound from a loudspeaker has an intensity of 2.4 104 W m2, measured at a distance
of 0.5 m from the loudspeaker. The threshold of hearing is 1.0 1012 W m2.
(i) What is the intensity of the sound measured at a distance of 1.0 m from the
loudspeaker? (2 marks)
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(ii) Calculate the intensity level of the sound at a distance of 1 m from the
loudspeaker in decibels. (1 mark)
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(iii) Assuming that the sound is emitted in all directions, calculate the distance from
the loudspeaker where the sound becomes inaudible. (1 mark)
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7. (a) (Continued)
(iv) What is the difference between intensity and intensity level. (2 marks)
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(b) A star moves in a circular orbit of radius a about the center C as shown in Figure 7.
Observations in the plane of the orbit show that the wavelength of a spectral line from
the star varies between 599.9 nm and 600.1 nm in the course of one revolution. (Speed
of light = 3.0 108 m s1)
Figure 7
(i) Mark on Figure 7 to show the positions of the star when emitted spectral lines are
599.9 nm and 600.1 nm. Explain why the observed wavelength varies.
(2 marks)
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7. (b) (Continued)
(iii) If the orbital period of the star is 3.6 106 s, calculate the orbital radius a.
(1 mark)
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8. (a) (i) Explain briefly what is meant by the Young modulus of the material of a wire.
(1 mark)
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(ii) Two wires P and Q have the same natural length of 20 m and the same diameter
of 4 10 3 m . When each of them is under a tension of 200 N, the wire P
extends 5 10 3 m while Q extends 10 10 3 m . Find the Young modulus for
the material of each wire. (2 marks)
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(iii)
P Q
12 cm
A B
Figure 8-1
20 cm
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cm
8. (a) (iii) (Continued)
The two wires are suspended in parallel, 12 cm apart, as shown in Figure 8-1, to
carry a uniform rectangular block, 20 cm long. The points of attachment of the
load A and B are adjusted so that the block remains horizontal. Where must point
A be relative to the left end of the block? (3 marks)
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(b) In Figure 8-2, the graph shows how the resultant force F between a pair of molecules
might vary as the separation r between them increases. Positive values of the force
indicate that it is attractive; negative values indicate that it is repulsive.
Figure 8-2
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8. (b) (Continued)
(i) Use the graph to determine the energy required to decrease the separation of the
molecules from 3.03 10 10 m to 2.88 10 10 m . (2 marks)
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(ii) Explain why Hookes law is obeyed for small changes in the length of a wire made
by this material. (1 mark)
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(iii) It can be shown that the Young modulus for a solid is approximately given by
k
E for small displacements, where r0 is the equilibrium spacing between the
r0
molecules and k is the force per unit displacement between the molecules.
Estimate the value of k and hence determine the Young modulus for the solid
represented by the graph.
(3 marks)
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9. (a) What is the photoelectric effect? What does it imply about the nature of light?
(2 marks)
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(b) Write down the photoelectric equation relating the maximum kinetic energy of the
emitted electrons to the energy of the incident photon and the work function of the
metal surface. Explain briefly what the work function is and how this leads to the
equation you have written down. (2 marks)
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9. (Continued)
(c)
Figure 9
(i) If the quantum yield (defined as the average number of photoelectrons emitted
per incident photon) is 0.16, calculate the total current across the space between
the plates shortly after the light is turned on. (Given 1e = 1.6 10 19 C ) (2
marks)
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(ii) How long will it take for the potential difference between the plates to drop to
zero? Explain briefly (Take the current to be constant at this time interval.).
(2 marks)
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9. (c) (Continued)
(iii) Find the work function of the lower plate and the threshold frequency of incident
photons for the emission of photoelectrons (Given that the Planck constant,
h 6.63 10 34 J s ). (2 marks)
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(iv) The current across the space also eventually drops to zero. What is the potential
difference between the plates at this moment? Indicate the polarity of each plate.
Explain briefly. (2 marks)
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Figure 10
10. (a) (Continued)
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The detector uses a very weak source of americium. This gives off alpha particles
which collide with air molecules in the sensing chamber. As a result of the collisions,
the air molecules become ionized and a current passes between the electrodes A and B.
When smoke enters the sensing chamber the ionization current is reduced and this
causes the alarm to sound.
(i) Explain why the radiation from the americium source is not hazardous to the
people living in the house. (2 marks)
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(ii) Will the smoke detector work just as well if the americium is replaced with a beta
source of the same strength? Explain briefly. (2 marks)
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(b) (i) Define half-life and decay constant for a radioactive substance. (2 marks)
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10. (b) (Continued)
(ii) Natural carbon, mainly composed of C-12, in a living organism contains a fraction
1.3 10 12 of C-14 atoms.
(I) Calculate the number of C-14 decays per minute you would expect in 1.0
gram of carbon from a living organism if C-14 decays with a half-life of 5730
years. (Given Avogadros number = 6.02 10 23 mol 1 ) (2 marks)
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(II) A fossil sample containing 2.0 grams of carbon gives a measured decay of
7.5 decays per minute. Estimate the age of the fossil. (2 marks)
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(III) State two advantages which make C-14 a suitable nuclide for dating
archaeological samples. (2 marks)
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END OF PAPER
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