Round 1 Physics

Contest 1a

(1) Which of the following devices can be used to measure the interval between two events: meter rule,
stopwatch, spherometer, simple pendulum?

Ans: Stopwatch and simple pendulum

(2) How is the second now defined?

Ans: The duration of a specified number of cycles of a specified transition in cesium-133.

A more precise specification (e.g. 9 192 631 770 cycles of the hyperfine ground state transition radiation) is
acceptable.

(3) Which of the following physical phenomena can be used to estimate the interval between two
events: position variation of a spring-mass system, intensity variation of terrestrial sunlight, electric current
variation in a tuned LC circuit?

Ans: Position variation of a spring-mass system and electric current variation in an LC circuit
Intensity variations of sunlight on earth are subject to phenomena that are not easily predictable.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 1b

(4) Name the process by which an intrinsic semiconductor is converted to an extrinsic semiconductor.

Ans: Doping

(5) What type of extrinsic semiconductor is produced by introducing phosphorous impurities into pure
silicon?

Ans: N type

(6) Name the usual dopant used to convert pure silicon into p-type silicon?

Ans: Boron
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 1c

(7) A two-input logic gate comprises an OR gate whose output is connected to the input of a NOT gate.
What is the output state of the gate when its inputs are both HIGH?

Ans: LOW
NOT(HIGH OR HIGH) = LOW

(8) A two-input logic gate comprises an AND gate whose output is connected to the input of a NOT
gate. What input state results in a LOW output state?

Ans: Both inputs HIGH

(9) A two-input logic gate comprises a two-input AND gate with a NOT gate connected to each input.
What is the output state of the gate when its inputs are both HIGH?

Ans: LOW
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 2a

(1) What are dimensions of angular momentum?

Ans: ML2T-1
Or mass times length squared divided by time.

(2) What are the dimensions of torque?

Ans: ML2T-2
Or mass times length squared divided by time squared.

(3) What are the dimensions of rate of change of acceleration?

Ans: LT-3
Or length divided by time cubed.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 2b

(4) What magnetic material is weakly repelled by a strong inhomogeneous magnetic field?

Ans: Diamagnetic

(5) What is the orientation of the induced magnetization in a diamagnetic material relative to the
direction of the external field that induces it?

Ans: Anti-parallel
Accept opposite.

(6) What is the sign of the magnetic susceptibility of a diamagnetic material?

Ans: Negative
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 2c

(7) What is the magnetic energy stored in a 5 H inductor when it carries a current of 2 A?

Ans: 10 J
U = ½ LI2 = 5 H × (2 A)2 ÷ 2 = 10 J

(8) What inductance stores 5 J of magnetic energy when it carries a current of 1 A?

Ans: 10 H

(9) What is the electromotive force induced in a 5 H inductor when the current through it changes at a
rate of 2 A/s?

Ans: 10 V
EMF = L dI/dt = 5 H ×2 A/s = 10 V
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 3a

(1) What is the acceleration of an object?

Ans: Rate of change of velocity

(2) What is the acceleration of a uniformly moving object?

Ans: Zero

(3) What is the effect of the component of acceleration perpendicular to the velocity of an object on the
motion of the object?

Ans: It changes the direction of motion

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 3b

(4) Under what condition will a particle acted upon by two forces be in equilibrium?

Ans: When the forces have equal magnitude but opposite direction

(5) What can be said about the net torque on an object in rotational equilibrium?

Ans: The net torque is zero

(6) What is the state of equilibrium of a particle moving with constant velocity?

Ans: Dynamic equilibrium

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 3c

An incompressible fluid with a density of 900 kg/m3 is located in a region where the acceleration due
to gravity is approximately 10 m/s2.

(7) What is the gauge pressure at a depth of 20 m below the surface of the fluid?

Ans: 180 000 Pa

P = ρgh = 900 kg/m3 × 10 m/s2 × 20 m =180 000 Pa = 180 kPa

(8) At what depth below the surface of the fluid is the gauge pressure 9000 Pa?

Ans: 1 m

(9) What is the gauge pressure at a depth of 5 m below the surface of the fluid?

Ans: 45 kPa
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 4a

(1) What is the net resistance of a 5 Ω resistor in series with a 15 Ω resistor?

Ans: 20 Ω

(2) What is the current through a 20 Ω resistor when the potential difference across it is 50 V?

Ans: 2.5 A

(3) What is the potential difference across a 20 Ω resistor when the current through it is 2 A?

Ans: 40 V
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 4b

(4) Rank the following in increasing order of electric charge magnitude: alpha particle, beta particle,
gamma ray photon.

Ans: Gamma ray photon, beta particle, alpha particle

(5) Rank the following in increasing order of force of gravity near earth’s surface: neutron, alpha
particle, beta particle.

Ans: Beta particle, neutron, alpha particle

(6) Rank the following in increasing order of penetration depth in lead: beta particle, alpha particle,
gamma ray photon

Ans: Alpha particle, beta particle, gamma ray photon

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 4c

(7) What is the magnitude of the average torque on an object whose angular momentum changes from
20 kg m2/s to 25 kg m2/s in 2 s?

Ans: 2.5 N m
N = ΔL/Δt = (25 J s – 20 J s) / (2 s) = 2.5 N m.

(8) What is the angular momentum after 5 s of an object initially at rest when it is subjected to a uniform
torque of 10 N m?

Ans: 50 kg m2/s

(9) An object with an angular momentum of 20 kg m2/s is brought to rest by a steady torque of
magnitude 5 N m. How long does it take to come to rest?

Ans: 4 s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 5a

Which of the following are derived units in the SI system?

(1) Kilogram, newton, nanosecond.

Ans: Newton

(2) Millimetre, gram, joule.

Ans: Joule

(3) Candela, kelvin, ohm.

Ans: Ohm
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 5b

(4) Name the nuclide which contains one proton and one neutron only.

Ans: Deuterium

(5) Which nuclide contains two protons and one neutron only?

Ans: Helium-3

(6) Name the nuclide which contains two neutrons and one proton only.

Ans: Tritium
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 5c

(7) What type of transformer has more secondary turns than primary turns?

Ans: Step-up transformer

(8) Name the type of transformer in which the primary turns are in series with the secondary turns?

Ans: Autotransformer

(9) What type of transformer has more primary turns than secondary turns?

Ans: Step-down transformer

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 6a

(1) Which of the following are base units in the SI system: kilogram, ampere, volt?

Ans: Kilogram and ampere

(2) Which of the following are not base units in the SI system: Candela, weber, tesla?

Ans: Weber and tesla

(3) What quantity is measured in candelas?

Ans: Luminous intensity

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 6b

(4) Name the state of a p-n junction when the p-type terminal is connected to the positive terminal of a
battery and the n-type terminal is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.

Ans: Forward biased

(5) Name the state of a p-n junction when the n-type terminal is connected to the positive terminal of a
battery and the p-type terminal is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.

Ans: Reverse biased

(6) Name the current that flows across a reverse biased p-n junction.

Ans: Reverse saturation current

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 6c

(7) The focal length of a concave mirror is 10 cm. What is the image distance when the object distance
is 20 cm?

Ans: 20 cm

(8) The focal length of a concave mirror is 20 cm. What is the image distance when the object distance
is 10 cm?

Ans: 20 cm (virtual)

(9) The image distance and the object distance are both 30 cm when an object is placed in front of a
concave mirror. What is the focal length of the mirror?

Ans: 15 cm
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 7a

Give the net displacement for the given sequential displacements.

(1) 10 m due north followed by 10 m due south.

Ans: 0

(2) 30 m due north followed by 20 m due south.

Ans: 10 m due north

(3) 10 m due east followed by 15 m due west.

Ans: 5 m due west

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 7b

(4) What is the distance between a plane mirror and the image it forms of an object placed 20 cm in
front of it?

Ans: 20 cm

(5) Light is incident normally on a plane mirror. What is the angle of reflection?

Ans: 0°

(6) Light is incident normally on a plane mirror. Through what angle is the reflected ray rotated when
the mirror is rotated through 10°?

Ans: 20°
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 7c

The dielectric constant of the material between the plates of a 100 mF capacitor is 4.

(7) What will the capacitance be if the dielectric is removed?

Ans: 25 mF

(8) What will the capacitance be if the dielectric is replaced with one whose relative permittivity is 2?

Ans: 50 mF

(9) What will the capacitance be if the dielectric is replaced with one whose relative permittivity is 6?

Ans: 150 mF
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 8a

(1) Light is incident on a convex surface whose radius of curvature is 10 cm. What is the angle of
reflection when the angle of incidence is 5°?

Ans: 5°

(2) Light is incident on a convex surface whose radius of curvature is 10 cm. What is the angle between
the incident and reflected rays when the angle of incidence is 5°?

Ans: 10°

(3) Light is incident on a concave surface whose radius of curvature is 10 cm. What is the angle of
reflection when the angle of incidence is 5°?

Ans: 5°
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 8b

(4) What is the change in internal energy of a system which absorbs 20 kJ of heat and does 10 kJ of
work?

Ans: 10 kJ (increase)

(5) What is the change in internal energy of a system which absorbs 20 kJ of heat and does 25 kJ of
work?

Ans: -5 kJ (decreases by 5 kJ)

(6) What is the change in internal energy of a system which rejects 20 kJ of heat when 50 kJ of work is
done on it?

Ans: 30 kJ (increase)
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 8c

(7) What is the torque on an object rotating with an angular acceleration of 20 rad/s2 if its moment of
inertia is 5 kg m2 about the axis of rotation?

Ans: 100 N m

(8) What is the angular momentum of an object rotating with a uniform angular velocity of 10 rad/s if its
moment of inertia is 4 kg m2 about the axis of rotation?

Ans: 40 kg m2/s

(9) What is the angular acceleration of a rotating object with a moment of inertia of 5 kg m2 about the
axis of rotation if a torque of 50 N m acts on it?

Ans: 10 rad/s2
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 9a

(1) What is the heat transfer mode by which thermal energy is transferred from a heated end of a metal
bar to colder portions of the bar?

Ans: Conduction

(2) What is the heat transfer mode by which thermal energy is transferred from a heated region of a
liquid to colder regions of the liquid?

Ans: Convection

(3) What is the heat transfer mode by which thermal energy is transported across an evacuated region?

Ans: Radiation
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 9b

(4) What is the relative density of a fluid whose density is 900 kg/m3?

Ans: 0.9

(5) What is the density of a substance whose relative density is 1.3?

Ans: 1300 kg/m3

(6) What is the relative density of water?

Ans: 1
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 9c

(7) What is the effective capacitance of two 10 mF capacitors connected in series?

Ans: 5 mF

(8) What is the effective capacitance of two 10 mF capacitors connected in parallel?

Ans: 20 mF

(9) What is the effective capacitance of two series connected 10 mF capacitors are in parallel with a 5
mF capacitor?

Ans: 10 mF
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 10a

(1) Which of the following are not SI units: newton, pound, dyne?

Ans: Pound and dyne

(2) Which of the following is an SI unit: degree Fahrenheit, degree Celsius, kelvin?

Ans: Kelvin

(3) Which of the following is not an SI unit: inch, metre, hectometre?

Ans: Inch
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 10b

(4) Name the law of motion which asserts that action and reaction forces are equal and opposite.

Ans: Newton’s Third Law

(5) A body is at rest on a floor. Identify the forces on the object and the floor that constitute action and
reaction forces.

Ans: Weight of the object acting on the floor and the normal force exerted by the floor on the object

(6) A horizontal force acts on a body which is stationary on a rough surface without causing it to move.
Identify horizontal action and reaction forces acting on the floor and the body.

Ans: Force of friction on the body and force of friction on the floor
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 10c

(7) What is the effective resistance of three 30 Ω resistors in series?

Ans: 90 Ω

(8) What is the voltage across each of three 30 Ω resistors in series when a current of 2 A flows through
the series combination?

Ans: 60 V

(9) What is the current through a series combination of three 30 Ω resistors when 270 V is applied
across the series combination?

Ans: 3 A
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 11a

(1) What is the force needed to maintain the motion of an object moving with constant speed in a circle?

Ans: Centripetal force

(2) Which of the following is constant when an object moving in a circle covers equal sectors in equal
time: speed, velocity, and acceleration?

Ans: Speed

(3) An object moves uniformly in a circle of radius R. What is the relationship between the centripetal
acceleration of the object and radius of the circle?

Ans: a ∝ 1/R
Centripetal acceleration is inversely proportional to radius.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 11b

(4) Name the current which flows when a p-n junction diode is reverse biased.

Ans: Reverse saturation current

(5) How is a p-n junction diode reverse biased?

Ans: By connecting the n terminal to the positive terminal of a battery and the p terminal to the
negative terminal of the battery

(6) How is a p-n junction diode forward biased?

Ans: By connecting the p terminal to the positive terminal of a battery and the n terminal to the
negative terminal of the battery
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 11c

(7) An object is placed 20 cm in front of a convex mirror with a focal length of 20 cm. What is the
image distance?

Ans: -10 cm (virtual)

(8) An object is placed 20 cm in front of a convex mirror with a focal length of 30 cm. What is the
image distance?

Ans: -12 cm (virtual)

(9) An object is placed 30 cm in front of a convex mirror with a focal length of 20 cm. What is the
image distance?

Ans: -12 cm (virtual)

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 12a

(1) A boat moves up-stream with a velocity of 20 m/s relative to the water. What is its velocity relative
to the bank of the stream if the water moves down-stream at 15 m/s?

Ans: 5 m/s up-stream

(2) A boat moves up-stream with a velocity of 20 m/s relative to the water. What is its velocity relative
to the bank of the stream if the water moves down-stream at 25 m/s?

Ans: 5 m/s down stream

(3) A boat moves down-stream with a velocity of 5 m/s relative to the water. What is its velocity relative
to the bank of the stream if the water moves down-stream at 25 m/s?

Ans: 30 m/s down-stream

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 12b

(4) A container with a volume of 10 cm3 has a mass of 40 g when empty and 50 g when filled with
liquid. What is the density of the liquid?

Ans: 1000 kg/m3 = 1 g/cm3

(5) A density bottle has a mass of 30 g when empty, a mass of 40 g when filled with water, and a mass
of 39 g when filled with a liquid. What is the relative density of the liquid?

Ans: 0.9

(6) A density bottle has a mass of 30 g when empty, a mass of 40 g when filled with water, and a mass
of 45 g when filled with a liquid. What is the density of the liquid?

Ans:1500 kg/m3 = 1.5 g/cm3

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 12c

(7) What is the torque of a 20 N force about a point 20 cm from the point of application of the force?

Ans: 4 N m

(8) What force produces a torque of 20 N m when applied 50 cm from a point?

Ans: 40 N

(9) At what distance from its point of application does a 10 N force produce a torque of 20 N m?

Ans: 2 m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 13a

(1) What is the maximum stress a material can sustain without undergoing permanent deformation?

Ans: Elastic limit

(2) What is the maximum stress for which the strain in a material is proportional to stress?

Ans: Proportional limit

(3) What is the ratio of stress to strain for an elastic material?

Ans: Young’s modulus

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 13b

(4) What is the location of the centre of gravity of a flat square plate?

Ans: Centre of the plate (intersection of the diagonals)

(5) What is the location of the centre of gravity of a flat plate in the shape of an equilateral triangle?

Ans: Intersection of the bisectors or centroid

Or intersection of the medians

(6) What is the location of the centre of gravity of a flat plate in the shape of an isosceles triangle?

Ans: Intersection of the medians or centroid

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 13c

(7) What is the mechanical advantage of simple machine which overcomes a 100 N load with a 10 N
effort?

Ans: 10

(8) What is the velocity ratio of a simple machine with which a 2 m displacement of the effort results in
a 0.5 m displacement of the load?

Ans: 4

(9) What is the velocity ratio of an ideal machine whose mechanical advantage is 5?

Ans: 5
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 14a

(1) What name is given to the phenomenon in which two beams of light combine to produce bright and
dark regions?

Ans: Interference

(2) Which of the following phenomena associated with light are accounted for by its wave nature:
diffraction, interference, photoelectric effect?

Ans: Diffraction and interference

(3) What name is given to the phenomenon in which light spreads out after passing through a very
narrow aperture?

Ans: Diffraction
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 14b

(4) Which of the following elements are ferromagnetic: nickel, iron, and gold?

Ans: Nickel and iron

(5) Which of the following materials is a soft ferromagnetic material: pure iron, steel, and pure copper?

Ans: Pure iron

(6) Which of the following is a hard ferromagnetic material steel, diamond, and pure copper?

Ans: Steel
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 14c

(7) A common-emitter amplifier has a base current of 10 μA. What is the collector current if the current
gain of the transistor is 100?

Ans: 1 mA

(8) A common-emitter amplifier has a collector current of 100 mA. What is the base current if the
current gain of the transistor is 100?

Ans: 1 mA

(9) A common-emitter amplifier has a base current of 100 μA and a collector current of 1 mA. What is
the current gain of the transistor?

Ans: 10
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 15a

(1) Which of the following are derived SI units: A, V, and Wb?

Ans: V and Wb

(2) Which of the following are derived SI units: C, F, and H?

Ans: C, F, and H

(3) Which of the following are derived SI units: T, Ω, and K?

Ans: T and Ω
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 15b

(4) An object moves a distance of 20 m due north in a straight line. What is its average velocity if it
completes the journey in 10 s?

Ans: 2 m/s due north

(5) An object moves a distance of 20 m due north in a straight line. What is its average speed if it
completes the journey in 10 s?

Ans: 2 m/s

(6) An object moves steadily at a velocity of 20 m/s due east. What is its speed?

Ans: 20 m/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 15c

(7) The focal length of a concave mirror is 50 cm. What is the magnification for an object placed 25 cm
from the mirror?

Ans: -2

(8) The focal length of a concave mirror is 40 cm. What is the magnification for an object placed 120
cm from the mirror?

Ans: 0.5

(9) The focal length of a concave mirror is 20 cm. What is the magnification for an object placed 40 cm
from the mirror?

Ans: 1
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 16a

(1) The resistivity of a clay-carbon mixture used in making resistors of a certain size is doubled. How
does the resistance of the resistors change?

Ans: Doubles

(2) The cross-sectional area of a cylindrical conductor is doubled. How does its resistance change?

Ans: Decreases by half

(3) The length of a cylindrical conductor is increased by a factor of four. How does its resistance
change?

Ans: Increases by a factor of four

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 16b

A 1000 kg vehicle rounds a curve of radius 100 m.

(4) What is the centripetal acceleration of the vehicle at a speed of 5 m/s?

Ans: 0.25 m/s2

(5) What is the maximum speed if the limiting radial friction force is 1000 N?

Ans: 10 m/s

(6) What is the centripetal force on the vehicle at a speed of 4 m/s?

Ans: 160 N
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 16c

(7) Three vessels are filled to equal depth, one with water, one with kerosene, and one with mercury.
Rank the vessels of fluid in increasing order of pressure at the bottom.

Ans: Kerosene, water, mercury

(8) Two vessels are filled to equal depth, one with water and the other with kerosene. A third vessel is
filled to half the depth of the others with mercury. Rank the vessels of fluid in increasing order of pressure at
the bottom.

Ans: Kerosene, water, mercury

(9) Two vessels are filled to equal depth, one with distilled water and the other with sea water. A third
vessel is filled to half the depth of the others with alcohol. Rank the vessels of fluid in increasing order of
pressure at the bottom.

Ans: Alcohol, distilled water, sea water

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 17a

(1) What is the linear momentum of a 20 kg object moving at 15 m/s north-east?

Ans: 300 kg m/s north-east

(2) What is the velocity of a 5 kg object with a linear momentum of 60 kg m/s due north?

Ans: 12 m/s due north

(3) What is the mass of an object with a linear momentum of 60 kg m/s due north if its speed is 3 m/s?

Ans: 20 kg
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 17b

(4) Which of the following can be used to measure the width of a hair strand: metre rule, micrometer
screw gauge, and pair of callipers?

Ans: Micrometre screw gauge

(5) Which of the following methods would you prefer for determining the distance between two
communication towers about 50 km apart: measuring the time of flight for light pulses from one tower to the
other and back; covering the distance with a meter rule; comparing the barometric pressure at the base of
each tower?

Ans: Measuring the time between sending and receiving light

(6) Your are required to measure the dimensions of a box containing a few books. You have available a
metre rule, a micrometre screw gauge, and a pair of vernier callipers. Which instrument would you use?

Ans: Metre rule

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 17c

(7) The density of copper is 8920 kg/m3. What is the mass per unit length of copper wire with a cross-
sectional area of 1 mm2?

Ans: 8.92×10-3 kg/m

(8) The mass per unit length of a steel wire is 7.7×10-3 kg/m. What is the density of the steel if the cross-
sectional area is 1 mm2?

Ans: 7700 kg/m3 = 7.7 g/cm3

(9) What is the mass of 20 m of a wire with a mass per unit length of 9×10-2 kg/m?

Ans: 1.8 kg
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 18a

(1) Rank the following in increasing order of thermal conductivity: glass, vacuum, and lead.

Ans: Vacuum, glass, lead

(2) Rank the following in decreasing order of thermal conductivity: lead, copper and gold.

Ans: Gold, copper, lead

(3) Rank the following in decreasing order of thermal conductivity: expanded polystyrene, aluminium
and glass.

Ans: Aluminium, glass, expanded polystyrene

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 18b

(4) Rank the following in increasing order of mass number: neutron, electron, and photon.

Ans: Photon, electron, neutron

(5) Rank the following in increasing order of charge: positron, electron, and alpha particle.

Answer: Electron, positron, alpha particle

(6) Rank the following in decreasing order of number of constituents: photon, alpha particle, and
deuteron.

Answer: Alpha particle, deuteron, photon

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 18c

(7) What is the net resistance of a 40 Ω resistor in parallel with a 10 Ω resistor?

Answer: 8 Ω

(8) A 40 Ω resistor in parallel with a 10 Ω resistor carries a current of 2 A. What is the current in the 10
Ω resistor?

Answer: 8 A

(9) A 40 Ω resistor in parallel with a 10 Ω resistor carries a current of 2 A. What is the power dissipated
in the 10 Ω resistor?

Ans: 640 W
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 19a

(1) Two loud speakers facing each other emit the same note. What phenomenon accounts for the
observation that the intensity of sound varies with position between them?

Ans: Interference of waves

(2) What phenomenon accounts for the observation that sound emitted by a moving source has a
different frequency from the same sound emitted from a stationary source?

Ans: Doppler Effect

(3) When an obstacle is placed directly in front of a sound source, it is observed that the highest
intensity occurs directly behind the obstacle in the region of the geometrical shadow. What phenomenon
accounts for this?

Ans: Diffraction
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 19b

When three un-magnetized objects, A, B and C, are brought near the pole of a strong magnet, A is
strongly attracted, B is very weakly attracted, and C is very weakly repelled.

(4) Which of them is likely a paramagnetic material?

Ans: B

(5) What type of magnetic material is C most likely to be?

Ans: Diamagnetic

(6) Rank the three objects in increasing order of induced magnetic dipole moment.

Ans: C, B, A
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 19c

(7) The moment of inertia of an object is 20 kg m2. What is its angular velocity when its angular
momentum 300 kg m2/s?

Ans: 15 rad/s

(8) The angular momentum of an object is 50 kg m2/s. What is its moment of inertia if it rotates at 5
rad/s?

Ans: 10 kg m2

(9) The moment of inertia of an object is 20 kg m2. What is its angular momentum when its angular
velocity is 5 rad/s?

Ans: 100 kg m2/s

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 20a

(1) The mass of water in a calorimeter is increased by a factor of 5. What is the ratio of the heat capacity
of the water to its heat capacity before the increase?

Ans: 5

(2) 20 kJ of heat is needed to heat an object from 20 ℃ to 25 ℃. What is the heat capacity of the object?

Ans: 4 kJ/K

(3) An object has a heat capacity of 50 kJ/K. How much heat is needed to change its temperature from
20 ℃ to 25 ℃?

Ans: 250 kJ
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 20b

(4) Three equal magnitude forces are in equilibrium. What is the angle between any two of them?

Ans: 120°

(5) Four equal magnitude forces are in equilibrium. What is the smallest angle between two of them?

Ans: 90°

(6) Two equal magnitude forces are in equilibrium. What is the angle between them?

Ans: 180°
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 20c

Three dielectric materials, A, B, and C, are to be used in three capacitors with the equal area and
distance between plates. Material A has dielectric constant of 2, material B has dielectric constant of
4 and material C has dielectric constant of 8.

(7) If two of the capacitors are to be connected in series, which pair of materials will give the smallest
net capacitance?

Ans: A and B

(8) If two of the capacitors are to be connected in series, which pair of materials will give the largest net
capacitance?

Ans: B and C

(9) If two of the capacitors are to be connected in parallel, which pair of materials will give the smallest
net capacitance?

Ans: A and B
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 21a

(1) Which of the following materials would you consider using as an electrical insulator: graphite,
polyethylene, glass?

Ans: Polyethylene and glass

(2) Which of the following would you consider using as a thermal insulator: rubber, graphite, expanded
polystyrene?

Ans: Rubber and expanded polystyrene

(3) Which of the following would you use as an electrical insulator: rubber, porcelain, lead?

Ans: Rubber and porcelain

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 21b

(4) What is the focal length of a concave mirror whose radius of curvature is 10 cm?

Ans: 5 cm

(5) What is the distance between the focus and the centre of curvature of a concave mirror whose focal
length is 10 cm?

Ans: 10 cm

(6) What is the radius of curvature of a concave mirror whose focal length is 20 cm?

Ans: 40 cm
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 21c

(7) What is the torque on an object with a moment of inertia of 20 kg m2 rotating with an angular
acceleration of 5 rad/s2?

Answer: 100 N m = 100 kg m2/s2

(8) What is the angular acceleration of an object with a moment of inertia of 20 kg m2 when a torque of
50 N m acts on it?

Answer: 2.5 rad/s2

(9) What is moment of inertia of an object whose angular acceleration is 15 rad/s2 when a torque of 75
N m acts on it?

Answer: 5 kg m2
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 22a

(1) A 0.1 kg bullet moving at 300 m/s strikes a sandbag and comes to rest in 0.1 s. What is the average
force on the bullet?

Answer: 300 N

(2) A 0.1 kg bullet moving at 300 m/s strikes a plank and exits with a speed of 200 m/s after 0.2 s. What
is the average force the plank exerts on the bullet?

Answer: 50 N

(3) A 0.1 kg bullet moving at 300 m/s strikes a plank and exits with a speed of 200 m/s after 0.2 s. What
is the impulse of the force the plank exerts on the bullet?

Answer: 10 kg m/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 22b

(4) The distance between two objects is 5 cm. What is the distance between their images in a plane
mirror?

Answer: 5 cm

(5) The angle between two lines is 30°. What is the angle between their images in a plane mirror?

Answer: 30°

(6) How many images of an object can two plane mirrors at right angles form?

Answer: 3
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 22c

(7) What is the output pulse sequence from a NOT gate when the input sequence is 010?

Ans: 101

(8) What is the output pulse sequence from a NOT gate when the input sequence is 100?

Ans: 011

(9) What input pulse sequence to a NOT gate produces the output sequence 000?

Ans: 111
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 23a

(1) What is the total distance travelled in a displacement of 10 m due west followed by a displacement
of 10 m due north?

Ans: 20 m

(2) What is the distance between the start point and the end point in a displacement of 4 m due east
followed by a displacement of 3 m due north?

Ans: 5 m

(3) What is the total distance travelled in a displacement of 4 m due east followed by a displacement of
3 m due north?

Ans: 7 m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 23b

(4) What property of a p-n junction allows it to be used as a rectifier?

Answer: It has a much higher resistance for current flowing in one direction than for current flowing
in the opposite direction
Accept it allow current to flow in only one direction

(5) Where is the depletion layer in a p-n device located?

Answer: At the p-n junction, extending partly into each type of material

(6) What are the minority carriers in the p-type region of a p-n device?

Answer: Electrons
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 23c

(7) Name the region of an optical fibre in which light is confined.

Answer: Core

(8) Name the region immediately surrounding the core of an optical fibre.

Answer: Cladding

(9) Which region of an optical fibre has a higher refractive index than the other, the core or the
cladding?

Answer: The core

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 24a

(1) Two massive bodies attract each other with a gravitational force of 2 mN when the distance between
them is 5 m. What is the force of attraction when the distance between them is 10 m?

Answer: 0.5 mN

(2) Two massive bodies attract each other with a gravitational force of 0.4 mN when the distance
between them is 50 m. What is the force of attraction when the distance between them is 25 m?

Answer: 1.6 mN

(3) Two objects each with mass 10 000 kg attract each other with a gravitational force of 0.2 mN. What
is the force of attraction when the mass of one of the objects is increased to 20 000 kg?

Answer: 0.4 mN
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 24b

(4) Rank the following in order of increasing energy: ultraviolet radiation, microwave radiation, gamma
radiation.

Answer: Microwave, ultraviolet, gamma radiation

(5) Rank the following in order of increasing wavelength: infrared radiation, blue light, x-rays.

Answer: x-rays, blue light, infrared radiation

(6) Rank the following in order of increasing frequency: red light, radio waves, ultraviolet radiation.

Answer: Radio waves, red light, ultraviolet radiation

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 24c

The specific heat capacity of a substance is 200 J kg-1 K-1.

(7) What is the heat capacity of 60 kg of the substance?

Answer: 12 kJ/K = 12 000 J/K

(8) How much thermal energy is required to increase the temperature of 1 kg of the substance by 20 K?

Answer: 4000 J = 4 kJ

(9) What mass of the substance has a heat capacity of 50 J/K?

Answer: 0.25 kg = 250 g

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 25a

An ideal step-up transformer has a turns ratio of 1:50.

(1) What is the number of secondary turns if the primary has 1000 turns?

Answer: 50 000

(2) What is the secondary voltage when the primary voltage is 100 V?

Answer: 5000 V = 5 kV

(3) What is the secondary current when the primary ac current is 2 A?

Answer: 0.04 A = 40 mA
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 25b

(4) What is the phenomenon by which the intensity of a wave decreases as it passes through a
substance?

Answer: Absorption
Accept attenuation.

(5) What is the phenomenon by which the frequency of a wave changes as the speed of an observer
changes?

Answer: Doppler Effect

(6) What is the phenomenon by which two waves combine to produce zero intensity?

Answer: Destructive interference

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 25c

The acceleration due to gravity in a certain region is 10 m/s2.

(7) What is the potential energy relative to the ground of a 5 kg object held 2 m above ground?

Answer: 100 J

(8) What is the kinetic energy just before striking the ground of a 5 kg object held 12 m above ground?

Answer: 600 J

(9) How high does a 5 kg object rise when thrown vertically upward with a kinetic energy of 50 J?

Answer: 1 m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 26a

(1) What is the power dissipated by a 10 Ω resistor when it carries 2 A?

Answer: 40 W

(2) How much current flows through a 5 Ω resistor when it dissipates 500 W?

Answer: 10 A

(3) What resistance dissipates 400 W when 5 A flows through it?

Answer: 16 Ω
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 26b

(4) What is the velocity ratio of a simple machine?

Answer: Ratio of distance moved by the effort to that by the load

(5) What is the mechanical advantage of a simple machine?

Answer: Ratio of load to effort

(6) What is the relationship between velocity ratio and mechanical advantage of an ideal simple
machine?

Answer: They are equal

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 26c

(7) What is the relationship between critical angle and index of refraction relative to air?

Answer: n sin θc = 1 or sin θc = 1/n

(8) The refractive index of a type of glass is 1.5 and that of water is 1.3. In which medium must light be
incident on a boundary between water and the glass if it must not be totally reflected?

Answer: Water

(9) What happens at the boundary between glass and air when light is incident from glass to air at an
angle less than the critical angle?

Answer: Reflection and transmission

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 27a

(1) Name the phenomenon in which electromagnetic radiation ejects electrons from a metal surface.

Answer: Photoelectric effect

(2) Name the minimum photon energy required for photoelectric ejection of an electron from a metal
surface.

Answer: Work function

(3) What is stopping potential?

Answer: Minimum negative potential on a collecting electrode for zero photoelectric current
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 27b

(4) What is the electromotive force of a cell?

Answer: Work done per unit charge conveyed in a circuit in which the cell is connected

(5) Why is the voltage measured with a voltmeter across the terminals of a cell different from the
electromotive force of the cell?

Answer: The current drawn by the voltmeter results in a potential drop across the internal resistance
of the cell

(6) Which of the following are secondary cells: lead-acid, lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, Leclanchè?

Answer: Lead-acid, lithium-ion, and nickel-cadmium

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 27c

(7) What is the velocity after 20 s of an object moving from rest with a uniform acceleration of 4 m/s2
due south?

Answer: 80 m/s due south

(8) What is the acceleration of a body whose velocity changes uniformly from 2 m/s to 52 m/s in 100 s?

Answer: 0.5 m/s2

(9) What is the initial velocity of a body moving with a uniform acceleration of 5 m/s2 if its velocity is
32 m/s after 6 s?

Answer: 2 m/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 28a

(10) Which of the following are base units in the SI system: metre, joule, second, watt, newton?

Answer: Metre and second

(11) Which of the following are derived units in the SI system: coulomb, candela, tesla, kelvin, kilogram?

Answer: Coulomb and tesla

(12) Which of the following units are not used in the SI system: kilometre, pound, metre per second,
kilogram-force, pascal?

Answer: Pound and kilogram-force

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 28b

What are the dimensions of the following physical quantities?

(13) Velocity

Answer: 𝑳/𝑻
Accept length divided by time but not m/s.

(14) Displacement

Answer: 𝑳

(15) Acceleration

Answer: 𝑳/𝑻𝟐
Accept length divided by time squared.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 28c

(16) A 5 kg mass moves due north with speed 8 m/s. What is its linear momentum?

Answer: 𝟒𝟎 𝐤𝐠 𝐦/𝐬 due north = 𝟒𝟎 𝐍 𝐬 due north

(17) What is the velocity of a 3 kg mass whose linear momentum is 15 N s due east?

Answer: 𝟓 𝐦/𝐬 due east

(18) What is the mass of an object moving with speed 20 m/s if the magnitude of its linear momentum is
60 N s?

Answer: 𝟑 𝐤𝐠
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 28d

A particle undergoes a displacement by 2 m in the positive 𝑥 direction followed by a displacement of 3 m in

the negative 𝑥 direction.

(19) What is the total displacement of the particle?

Answer: 𝟏 𝐦 in the negative 𝒙 direction

(No partial credit if direction is not given.)

(20) What is the distance covered by the particle in the first half of its displacement?

Answer: 𝟐 𝐦

(21) What is the total distance covered by the particle?

Answer: 𝟓 𝐦
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 29a
The distance between two points is measured to be 0.025 m.

(10) How many significant figures are there in the result?

Answer: 𝟐

(11) State the result in scientific notation.

Answer: 𝟐. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝐦

(12) What is the uncertainty in the result?

Answer: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐦
Accept 1 mm.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 29b

(13) What is the heat capacity of an object?

Answer: The thermal energy required for a unit change in temperature of the object.

(14) What is the specific heat capacity of a substance?

Answer: The thermal energy required for a unit change in temperature of a unit quantity of the
substance.

(15) What is the relationship between the heat capacity of an object and the specific heat capacity of the
substance it is made of?

Answer: Heat capacity equals product of quantity of substance and specific heat capacity.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 29c

(16) The density of a certain alloy is 6400 kg/m3 . What is the mass of a cube of the alloy 50 cm on the
side?

Answer: 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠
𝑀 = 𝜌𝑉 = 6400 kg/m3 × (0.5 m)3 = 800 kg.

(17) The density of water is 1000 kg/m3 at 4 °C. What is the volume of 300 kg of water at 4 °C?

Answer: 𝟎. 𝟑 𝐦𝟑 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝐜𝐦𝟑

𝑉 = 𝑀/𝜌 = 300 kg ÷ (1000 kg/m3 ) = 0.3 m3 .

(18) What is the density in SI units of a substance if 21 g of it has a volume of 20 cm3 ?

Answer: 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑

𝜌 = 𝑀/𝑉 = (21 × 10−3 kg) ÷ (20 × 10−6 m3 ) = 1050 kg/m3 .
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 29d
A 2 kg object is launched vertically upward with speed 5 m/s and returns to its launch point.

(19) What is the ratio of the upward flight time of the object to its total flight time?

Answer: 𝟏/𝟐
The upward flight lasts as long as the downward flight.

(20) What is the kinetic energy of the object when it returns to its launch point?

Answer: 𝟐𝟓 𝐉

(21) What is the change in gravitational potential energy of the object when it returns to its launch point?

Answer: 𝟎 𝐉
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 30a
A real object is placed 20 cm in front of a plane mirror.

(10) What is the distance between the image and the object?

Answer: 𝟒𝟎 𝐜𝐦

(11) What is the angle between the mirror plane and a line drawn between equivalent points on the object
and the image?

Answer: 𝟗𝟎°

(12) What is the ratio of the height of the image to that of the object?

Answer: 𝟏: 𝟏
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 30b

(13) What is the SI prefix for 10−12 ?

Answer: Pico

(14) What is the SI prefix for 1012 ?

Answer: Giga

(15) What factor does the SI prefix nano represent?

Answer: 𝟏𝟎−𝟗
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 30c

(16) A lever requires a 20 N effort to overcome a 100 N load. What is its mechanical advantage?

Answer: 𝟓
MA = Load ÷ Effort = 100 N ÷ 20 N = 5.

(17) The mechanical advantage of a simple machine is 20. What effort is required to overcome a 60 N
load?

Ans: 𝟑 𝐍
Effort = Load ÷ MA = 60 N ÷ 20 = 3.

(18) The mechanical advantage of a simple machine is 4. What load can an effort of 10 N overcome?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎 𝐍
Load = Effort × MA = 10 N × 4 = 40 N.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 30d

(19) What is the frequency of a wave with wavelength 5 mm and velocity 350 m/s?

Ans: 𝟕𝟎 𝐤𝐇𝐳 = 𝟕𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐇𝐳

𝑓 = 𝑣/𝜆 = (350 m/s) ÷ 5 × 10−3 m = 70 000 s −1 = 70 kHz.

(20) What is the wavelength of a wave with frequency 100 Hz and velocity 340 m/s?

Ans: 𝟑. 𝟒 𝐦
𝜆 = 𝑣/𝑓 = (340 m/s) ÷ 100 Hz = 3.4 m.

(21) What is the velocity of a wave with frequency 12 kHz and wavelength 0.05 m?

Ans: 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝐦/𝐬

𝑣 = 𝑓𝜆 = (12 000 Hz) × 0.05 m = 600 m/s.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 31a

(10) What is the linear momentum of an object?

Ans: Product of mass and velocity

(11) What is the relationship between the linear momentum of an object and the net force on it?

Ans: Net force equals rate of change of linear momentum

(12) What is the relationship between impulse and linear momentum?

Ans: Impulse equals change in linear momentum

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 31b

(13) What does the half-life of a radioactive substance represent?

Ans: The time for half the number of active atoms to decay

(14) What does the mean life of a radioactive element represent?

Ans: The average lifetime of a nucleus of the element

(15) What does the decay constant of a radioactive element represent?

Ans: The reciprocal of the mean life

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 31c

(16) The distance between two electric charges is doubled. How does the force on each of them change?

Ans: Decreases by a factor of 4

(17) The charge on each of two electric charges is doubled. How does the force on each of them change?

Ans: Increases by a factor of 4

(18) The charge on each of two electric charges is halved and the distance between them is also halved.
How does the force on each of them change?

Ans: Remains the same

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 31d

(19) The frequency of the fundamental note of a stretched 0.2 m string fixed at both ends is 256 Hz.
What is the velocity of waves on the string?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎𝟐. 𝟒 𝐦/𝐬

𝑣 = 𝑓𝜆 = 256 Hz × 0.4 m = 102.4 m/s
(The fundamental note on a string fixed at both ends has wavelength twice the length between the ends.)

(20) The wave velocity on a stretched 0.5 m string fixed at both ends is 512 m/s. What is the frequency
of the fundamental note?

Ans: 𝟓𝟏𝟐 𝐇𝐳
Wavelength of fundamental is 2 × 0.5 m so 𝑓 = 𝑣/𝜆 = 512 m/s ÷ 1 m = 512 Hz.

(21) The wave velocity on a stretched string fixed at both ends is 400 m/s. What is the length of the
string if the frequency of the fundamental note is 100 Hz?

Ans: 𝟐 𝐦
𝑙 = 𝜆/2 = 𝑣/(2𝑓) = 2 m.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 32a

(10) Name one conserved physical quantity in an elastic head-on collision between two objects.

Ans: Energy and linear momentum

Any one is acceptable. Mass conservation is implied by energy conservation.

(11) Name one physical quantity which is not conserved in an inelastic head-on collision between two
objects which separate after colliding.

Ans: Energy

(12) Name one conserved physical quantity in a head-on collision between two objects which stick
together after colliding.

Ans: Linear momentum

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 32b

A 20 kg mass moving to the left at 30 m/s directly towards a wall bounces back at 20 m/s.

(13) What is the change in linear momentum of the mass?

Ans: 1000 kg m/s = 1000 N s

Final momentum minus initial momentum = 20 kg × (20 m/s)– 20 kg × (−30 m/s) = 1000 kg m/s.

(14) What is the impulse of the force exerted by the wall on the ball?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐍 𝐬
Impulse = change in linear momentum.

(15) What is the average force on the mass if it is in contact with the wall for 0.1 s?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐍 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐤𝐍
Average force = impulse / time.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 32c

(16) The specific heat of fusion of nitrogen is 25.7 kJ/kg and its melting point is 63.15 K. How much
heat is emitted when 100 kg of liquid nitrogen just solidifies at 63.15 K?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓𝟕𝟎 𝐤𝐉
Heat emitted = latent heat = specific latent heat × mass = 25.7 kJ/kg × 100 kg = 2570 kJ.

(17) The specific heat of fusion of ice is 334 kJ/kg. How much heat is required to just melt 5 kg of ice at
0 ℃?

Ans: 𝟏𝟔𝟕𝟎 𝐤𝐉
Heat required = 334 kJ/kg × 5 kg = 1670 kJ.

(18) The specific heat of fusion of ice is 334 kJ/kg. How much ice at 0 ℃ is just melted by 668 kJ of
thermal energy?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠
Mass = heat ÷ specific heat = 668 kJ ÷ 334 kJ/kg = 2.00 kg.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 32d

The acceleration due to gravity at a certain location is 10 m/s2 .

(19) An object is to be launched vertically upward to a height of 5 m. What must be the launch speed?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐦/𝐬
𝑣 = √2𝑔ℎ = 10 m/s.

(20) What is the speed of an object released from a height of 1.8 m?

Ans: 𝟔. 𝟎 𝐦/𝐬
𝑣 = √2𝑔ℎ = 6.0 m/s.

(21) An object is launched vertically upward with a speed of 2 m/s. What height does it attain?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟐 𝐦
ℎ = 𝑣 2 /(2𝑔) = 0.2 m.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 33a

(10) Which of the following are scalar quantities: velocity, speed, displacement, distance, density?

Ans: Speed, distance, density

(11) Which of the following are vector quantities: angular momentum, acceleration, volume, force,
temperature?

Ans: Angular momentum, acceleration, force

(12) Which of the following are scalar quantities: energy, torque, time, mass, magnetic field?

Ans: Energy, time, mass

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 33b

(13) What is the electrical resistance of an automotive headlight bulb which dissipates 90 W at 12 V?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟔 𝛀
𝑅 = 𝑉 2 /𝑃 = (144 V)2 ÷ (90 W) = 1.6 Ω.

(14) What is the power dissipated by a 4 Ω resistor carrying 5 A?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐖
𝑃 = 𝐼 2 𝑅 = 100 W.

(15) What is the potential difference across a 250 Ω resistor when it dissipates 1 mW?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟓 𝐕
𝑃 = 𝑉 2 /𝑅 so 𝑉 = √𝑃𝑅 = √0.25 V 2 = 0.5 V.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 33c

(16) The length of a simple pendulum is quadrupled. How does the period of small oscillations change?

Ans: Increases by 2
𝑇 ∝ √𝑙/𝑔 .

(17) The mass at the end of an oscillating vertical spring is doubled. How does the period of small
oscillations change?

Ans: Increases by √𝟐
𝑇 ∝ √𝑚/𝑘.

(18) The stiffness of a spring is increased by a factor of four. How does the period of small oscillations
change?

Ans: Decreases by 2
𝑇 ∝ √𝑚/𝑘.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 33d

(19) What length of material with resistivity 0.01 Ω m and cross-sectional area 5 cm2 gives a resistance of
20 Ω?

Ans: 1 m
𝑙 = 𝑅𝐴/𝜌 = 20 Ω × 5 × 10−4 m2 ÷ (0.01 Ω m) = 1 m.

(20) What is the electrical resistance of a 20 cm long specimen with cross-sectional area 5 cm2 and
resistivity 10 Ω m?

Ans: 4000 Ω
𝑅 = 𝜌𝑙/𝐴 = (10 Ω m) × (0.20 m) ÷ (5 × 10−4 m2 ) = 4000 Ω.

(21) What is the cross-sectional area of a 200 Ω resistor which is 50 cm long made of a material with
resistivity 0.1 Ω m?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐦𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟓 𝐜𝐦𝟐

𝐴 = 𝜌𝑙/𝑅
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 34a

(10) What does the specific latent heat of fusion of a substance represent?

Ans: The thermal energy required to isothermally change unit mass of the substance between the
liquid and solid states

(11) What does specific gravity or relative density of a liquid represent?

Ans: The ratio of the density of the liquid to that of water

Or: The ratio of the mass of a given volume of liquid to the mass of an equal volume of water.

(12) What does the specific volume of a substance represent?

Ans: The volume of unit mass of the substance

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 34b

(13) Two forces with magnitude 10 N and 8 N have the same direction. What is the magnitude of their
resultant?

Ans: 𝟏𝟖 𝐍

(14) Two forces with magnitude 15 N and 7 N have opposite direction. What is the magnitude of their
resultant?

Ans: 𝟖 𝐍

(15) Two equal and opposite forces each has a magnitude 5 N. What is the magnitude of the resultant
force when a 3 N force parallel to one of them is added?

Ans: 𝟑 𝐍
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 34c

(16) The electrical conductivity of a carbon-clay mixture is 20 S/m. What is its electrical resistivity?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 𝛀 𝐦
𝜌 = 1/𝜎 = 0.05 Ω m.

(17) The electrical resistance of an electrical component is 0.1 Ω. What is its conductance?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐒
Accept 10 Ω−1

(18) The electrical admittance of an electrical component is 50 S. What is its impedance?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐 𝛀
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 34d

(19) The activity of a radioactive sample is 10 000 s−1 . What is the decay constant of the sample if it
contains 1012 active nuclei?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝐬−𝟏

𝜆 = 𝐴/𝑁 = 10 000 s −1 ÷ 1012 = 10−8 s−1.

(20) What is the activity of a radioactive sample containing 100 000 active nuclei with a decay constant
of 2 × 10−3 s−1?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐬−𝟏

𝐴 = 𝜆𝑁 = 2 × 10−3 s−1 × 100 000 = 200 s−1 .

(21) A radioisotope has a decay constant of 5 × 10−3 s −1. How many active nuclei are contained in a
sample with an activity of 100 s −1 ?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑁 = 𝐴/𝜆 = (100 s−1 ) ÷ (5 × 10−3 s −1 ) = 20 000.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 35a

(10) The linear momentum of an object is constant. What is the net force on it?

Ans: Zero

(11) The velocity of an object is constant. What is the net force on it?

Ans: Zero

(12) The net torque on an object is zero. What can be said about the angular momentum of the object?

Ans: It is constant
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 35b

(13) What are the dimensions of force?

Ans: 𝑴𝑳/𝑻𝟐

(14) What are the dimensions of torque?

Ans: 𝑴𝑳𝟐 /𝑻𝟐

(15) What are the dimensions of impulse?

Ans: 𝑴𝑳/𝑻
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 35c

(16) An object moves at a constant speed of 2 m/s in a circle of radius 5 m. What is the magnitude of its
acceleration?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟖 𝐦/𝐬𝟐
𝑎 = 𝑣 2 /𝑅 = (2 m/s)2 ÷ 5 m = 0.8 m/s 2 .

(17) An object moves at a constant speed of 20 m/s in a circle. What is the radius of the circle if the
magnitude of its acceleration is 2 m/s2?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐦
𝑅 = 𝑣 2 /𝑎 = (20 m/s)2 ÷ (2 m/s 2 ) = 200 m.

(18) What is the speed of an object moving uniformly around a circle of radius 2 m with an acceleration
of 2 m/s 2 ?

Ans: 𝟐 𝐦/𝐬
𝑣 = √𝑎𝑅 = √2 m/s 2 × 2 m = 2 m/s.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 35d

(19) A cyclist accelerates at 0.8 m/s 2 when her speed is 4 m/s. How far does she travel in 5 s?

Ans: 𝟑𝟎 𝐦
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 /2 = 4 m/s × 5 s + 0.8 m/s 2 × (5 s)2 /2 = 20 m + 10 m = 30 m.

(20) A body moves with a uniform acceleration of 5 m/s2 . If its initial speed is 2 m/s, how far has it
moved when its speed is 8 m/s?

Ans: 𝟔 𝐦
𝑠 = (𝑣 2 – 𝑢2 )/(2𝑎) = ((8 m/s)2 – (2 m/s)2 ) ÷ (2 × 5 m/s2 ) = 6 m.

(21) The speed of an object changes uniformly from 4 m/s to 25 m/s in 7 s. What is the acceleration of
the object?

Ans: 𝟑 𝐦/𝐬𝟐
𝑎 = (𝑣 – 𝑢)/𝑡 = (25 m/s − 4 m/s) ÷ (7 s) = 3 m/s 2 .
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 36a

(10) What is the relationship between the angular momentum and the linear momentum of a particle?

Ans: Angular momentum equals moment of linear momentum

Or cross/vector product of position vector and linear momentum (in the order given). Do not accept product
of position and linear momentum or some variant such as distance times linear momentum.

(11) What is the relationship between torque and force?

Ans: Torque equals moment of force

Or cross/vector product of position vector and force (in the order given). Do not accept product of position
and force or some variant such as distance times force.

(12) What is the relationship between angular momentum and torque?

Ans: Torque equals rate of change of angular momentum

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 36b

(13) What quantity is given by the slope of a displacement-time graph?

Ans: Velocity

(14) What quantity is given by the area under a velocity-time graph?

Ans: Displacement

(15) What quantity is given by the slope of a velocity-time graph?

Ans: Acceleration
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 36c

(16) To determine the power of an engine, the height h to which it lifts an object, the time t it takes, and
the weight w of the object are measured. How can the power be estimated from these measurements?

Ans: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 = 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 ÷ 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 = 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 × 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ÷ 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 = 𝒉𝒘/𝒕

(17) An object of mass m slides on a horizontal surface with an initial speed v and comes to rest in time t.
What is the average power dissipated by friction?

Ans: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 = 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 ÷ 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐 /(𝟐𝒕)

(18) A spring with spring constant k undergoes an extension by x in time t. What is the average power of
the elastic force?

Ans: Power = change in elastic energy ÷ time = kx2/(2t)

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 36d

(19) What is the change in kinetic energy of a 20 𝜇C charge when it is accelerated through a potential
difference of 300 V?

Ans: 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝐉
𝑈 = 𝑄𝑉 = 20 𝜇C × 300 V = 600 𝜇J

(20) What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force on a 20 𝜇C charge in a 5000 V/m electric field?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟏 𝐍
𝐹 = 𝑄𝐸 = 20 𝜇C × 5000 V/m = 0.1 N

(21) What potential difference is required to change the kinetic energy of a 50 𝜇C charge by 0.1 J?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐕
𝑉 = 𝑈/𝑄 = 0.1 J ÷ (50 𝜇C) = 2000 V
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 37a

Arrange the following in increasing order of wavelength.

(10) Light, radio wave, microwave, soft x-ray.

Ans: Soft x-ray, light, microwave, radio wave

(11) Red light, blue light, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation.

Ans: Ultraviolet radiation, blue light, red light, infrared radiation

(12) Hard x-ray, gamma ray, ultraviolet radiation, green light.

Ans: Gamma ray, hard x-ray, ultraviolet radiation, green light

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 37b

Light is incident on the boundary between two media, one with a higher refractive index than the
other.

(13) In which medium of incidence can total internal reflection occur?

Ans: The denser medium (that is, the medium with the higher index)

(14) Name the minimum angle of incidence at which total internal reflection occurs.

Ans: Critical angle

(15) What is the angle refraction when total internal reflection just occurs?

Ans: 𝟗𝟎°
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 37c

(16) An ideal transformer has a primary-to-secondary turns ratio of 20:1. What is the secondary voltage
amplitude when the primary voltage amplitude is 220 V?

Ans: 𝟏𝟏 𝐕
𝑁𝑝 /𝑁𝑠 = 𝑉𝑝 /𝑉𝑠 so 𝑉𝑠 = 𝑉𝑝 × 𝑁𝑠 /𝑁𝑝 = 220 V × 1/20 = 11 V.

(17) An ideal transformer has a primary-to-secondary turns ratio of 40:1. What is the current amplitude in
the primary coil when the secondary coil delivers alternating current with amplitude 1.6 A?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎 𝐦𝐀
𝑁𝑝 /𝑁𝑠 = 𝐼𝑠 /𝐼𝑝 so 𝐼𝑝 = 𝐼𝑠 × 𝑁𝑠 /𝑁𝑝 = 1.6 A × 1/40 = 0.04 A = 40 mA

(18) An ideal transformer has a primary-to-secondary turns ratio of 50: 1. If the secondary supplies 20 W
to a load, what power does the primary consume?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎 𝐖
An ideal transformer has 100% efficiency so secondary power equals primary power.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 37d

Take the Planck constant as 6.6 × 10−34 J s.

(19) What is the de Broglie wavelength of a particle whose linear momentum is 3.0 × 10−28 kg m/s?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝐦
𝜆 = ℎ/𝑝 = (6.6 × 10−34 J s) ÷ 3.0 × 10−28 kg m/s = 2.2 × 10−6 m.

(20) What is the momentum of a photon of wavelength 5.5 × 10−9 m?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟓 𝐤𝐠 𝐦/𝐬

𝑝 = ℎ/𝜆 = (6.6 × 10−34 J s) ÷ 5.5 × 10−9 kg m/s = 1.2 × 10−25 kg m/s.

(21) What is the energy of a photon of frequency 5.0 × 1014 Hz?

Ans: 𝟑. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟗 𝐉
𝐸 = ℎ𝑓 = (6.6 × 10−34 J s) × (5.0 × 1014 Hz) = 3.3 × 10−19 J.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 38a

(10) State the relationship between the frequency and the period of a wave.

Ans: Period is the reciprocal of frequency

(11) State the relationship between the frequency and the wavelength of a wave.

Ans: The product of frequency and wavelength equals wave velocity

(Or phase velocity.)

(12) State the relationship between the frequency of a note and that of its first harmonic.

Ans: The frequency of the first harmonic equals twice the frequency of the note
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 38b

(13) Which of the following are units of temperature: degree Celsius, degree Baumé, kelvin, degree
Rankine?

Ans: degree Celsius, kelvin, degree Rankine

(14) Which of the following are units of weight: kilogram, newton, joule per meter, kilogram meter per
second?

Ans: Newton, joule per meter

(15) Which of the following are units of energy: Watt, kilowatt hour, newton meter, kilogram meter
squared per second squared?

Ans: Kilowatt hour, newton meter, kilogram meter squared per second squared
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 38c

(16) The current through an inductor changes uniformly from 20 mA to 30 mA in 5 s. If the induced
electromotive force is 4 mV, what is the self-inductance of the inductor?

Ans: 𝟐 𝐇
𝐿 = 𝐸𝑡/𝛥𝐼 = 0.004 V × 5 s ÷ (0.03 A − 0.02 A) = 2 H

(17) What is the magnetic flux linking a 1.2 H inductor when it carries a steady current of 2.0 A?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟒 𝐖𝐛
𝜙 = 𝐿𝐼 = 2.4 Wb

(18) What is the energy stored in a 3.5 H inductor when it carries a steady current of 2.0 A?

Ans: 𝟕. 𝟎 𝐉
𝐸 = 𝐿𝐼 2 /2 = 3.5 H × (2.0 A)2 ÷ 2 = 7.0 J
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 38d

(19) What is the volume of 99.9 kg of water at 15 ℃ if the density of water is 999 kg/m3 at that
temperature?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟏 𝐦𝟑
𝑉 = 𝑚/𝜌 = 99.9 kg ÷ 999 kg/m3 = 0.1 m3

(20) What is the mass of a 0.5 m3 block of aluminium if the density of aluminium is 2700 kg/m3 ?

Ans: 𝟏𝟑𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐠
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉 = 2700 kg/m3 × 0.5 m3 = 1350 kg

(21) What is the density of a substance if 5 kg of it occupies 0.004 m3 ?

Ans: 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑

𝜌 = 𝑚/𝑣 = 5 kg ÷ 0.004 m3 = 1250 kg/m3
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 39a

(10) How does the frequency of a simple pendulum change when its length is doubled?

Ans: Decreases by a factor of 𝟏/√𝟐 = √𝟐/𝟐

𝑓 ∝ √𝑔/𝑙

(11) How does the frequency of a spring-mass system change when the mass is doubled?

Ans: Decreases by a factor of 𝟏/√𝟐 = √𝟐/𝟐

𝑓 ∝ √𝑘/𝑚

(12) How does the frequency of a simple pendulum change when the mass of the pendulum bob is
doubled?

Ans: Remains unchanged

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 39b

(13) What is the lower fixed point on the Celsius scale and what value is assigned to it?

Ans: Ice point, assigned 𝟎 ℃

(14) What is the upper fixed point on the Celsius scale and what value is assigned to it?

Ans: Steam point, assigned 𝟏𝟎𝟎 ℃

(15) What value is assigned the upper fixed point on the Fahrenheit scale?

Ans: 𝟐𝟏𝟐 ℉
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 39c

(16) What average force can bring a 20 kg object moving at 5.0 m/s to rest in 4.0 s?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓 𝐍
𝐹 = change in linear momentum ÷ time = (20 kg × 5.0 m/s – 0) ÷ 4.0 s = 25 N

(17) How long will it take a 50 kg object moving at 2.0 m/s to come to rest if a steady 20 N decelerating
force acts on it?

Ans: 𝟓 𝐬
𝑡 = change in linear momentum ÷ force = (50 kg × 2.0 m/s − 0) ÷ 20 N = 5.0 s

(18) What average force can bring a 50 kg object moving at 2.0 m/s to rest in 1.0 s?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐍

𝐹 = change in linear momentum ÷ time = (50 kg × 2.0 m/s – 0) ÷ 1.0 s = 100 N

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 39d

The acceleration due to gravity at a location is 10 m/s2 .

(19) What is the gauge pressure at a depth of 5 m below the surface of a liquid of density 700 kg/m3 ?

Ans: 35 000 Pa = 35 kPa

𝑃 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ = 700 kg/m3 × 10 m/s2 × 5 m = 35 000 Pa = 35 kPa

(20) At what depth below the surface of a liquid of density 800 kg/m3 is the gauge pressure 400 Pa?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 𝐦
ℎ = 𝑃/𝜌𝑔 = 400 Pa ÷ (800 kg/m3 × 10 m/s2 ) = 0.05 m

(21) What is the density of a liquid if the gauge pressure is 5000 Pa at a depth of 0.2 m?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑

𝜌 = 𝑃/ℎ𝑔 = 5000 Pa ÷ (0.2 m × 10 m/s2 ) = 2500 kg/m3
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 40a

(10) What is the smallest angular momentum the electron in the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom can
have?

Ans: ℏ = Planck constant divided by 𝟐𝝅

(11) What is the quantum number for the lowest orbit in the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom?

Ans: 1

(12) What is the angular momentum of the electron in the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom when the
electron is in a stationary state with quantum number 𝑛?

Ans: 𝒏ℏ = 𝒏 times Planck constant divided by 𝟐𝝅

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 40b

(13) Name the device that converts heat directly into electricity.

Ans: Thermocouple

(14) Name the phenomenon in which a temperature-dependent potential difference appears across the
junction of two dissimilar metals when the metals are brought into contact.

Ans: Thermoelectric effect

(15) Give a common use of a thermocouple.

Ans: Temperature measurement, heating, cooling

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 40c

A particle executes simple harmonic motion along a straight line with equilibrium position at 𝑥 = 0,
period 20 s and amplitude 5 cm.

(16) What is the shortest time taken by the particle to move from 𝑥 = 0 to 𝑥 = 5 cm?

Ans: 𝟓 𝐬

(17) What is the time taken by the particle to move a distance of 10 cm?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐬

(18) What is the distance moved by the particle in 20 s?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎 𝐜𝐦
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 40d

The permittivity of free space is 8.8 × 10−12 F/m.

(19) What is the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor with plate area 10 m2 and plate separation
0.1 mm?

Ans: 𝟖. 𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝐅
𝐶 = 𝜖0 𝐴/𝑑 = 8.8 × 10−12 F/m × 10 m2 ÷ 0.1 × 10−3 m = 8.8 × 10−7 F

(20) What is the plate separation for a parallel-plate capacitor with a capacitance of 2.2 × 10−12 F and a
plate area of 10 m2 ?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎 𝐦
𝑑 = 𝜖0 𝐴/𝐶 = 8.8 × 10−12 F/m × 10 m2 ÷ 2.2 × 10−12 F = 40 m

(21) What is the plate area for a parallel-plate capacitor with a capacitance of 132 × 10−12 F and a plate
separation of 0.2 mm?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑 𝐦𝟐 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝐦𝟐

𝐴 = 𝐶𝑑/𝜖0 = 132 × 10−12 F × 0.2 × 10−3 m ÷ 8.8 × 10−12 F/m = 3 × 10−3 m2
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 41a

You will be given in order the first three colours of a colour coded resistor. Give the corresponding
resistance.

(10) Blue, gray, red.

Ans: 𝟔𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝛀 = 𝟔. 𝟖 𝐤𝛀

(11) Orange, orange, orange.

Ans: 𝟑𝟑 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝛀 = 𝟑𝟑 𝐤𝛀

(12) Orange, white, blue.

Ans: 𝟑𝟗 𝐌𝛀
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 41b

A bipolar junction transistor can be operated in several modes. When asked, give one and one only
one mode.

(13) Give one mode of operation of a bipolar junction transistor.

Ans: Active, saturation, or cut-off

(14) Give another mode of operation of a bipolar junction transistor.

Ans: Active, saturation, or cut-off

(15) Give the third mode of operation of a bipolar junction transistor.

Ans: Active, saturation, or cut-off

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 41c

The radiant emittance of a blackbody is 200 W/m2 when its temperature is 200 K.

(16) What is its emittance when its temperature is 400 K?

Ans: 𝟑𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐖/𝐦𝟐

𝜎𝑇 ∝ 𝑇 4 so 𝜎400 = 𝜎200 (𝑇400 /𝑇200 )4 = 200 W/m2 × (400 K ÷ 200 K)4 = 3200 W/m2

(17) What is its emittance when its temperature is 100 K?

Ans: 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓 𝐖/𝐦𝟐

𝜎𝑇 ∝ 𝑇 4 so 𝜎100 = 𝜎200 (𝑇100 /𝑇200 )4 = 200 W/m2 × (100 K ÷ 200 K)4 = 12.5 W/m2

(18) What is its emittance when its temperature is 800 K?

Ans: 𝟓𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐖/𝐦𝟐

𝜎𝑇 ∝ 𝑇 4 so 𝜎800 = 𝜎200 (𝑇800 /𝑇200 )4 = 200 W/m2 × (800 K ÷ 200 K)4 = 51200 W/m2
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 41d

(19) A 20 N force is applied 50 cm from the fulcrum of a lever. What is the moment of the force about
the fulcrum?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐍 𝐦
𝑁 = 𝐹𝑑 = 20 N × 0.5 m = 10 N m

(20) At what distance from the fulcrum of a lever does a 20 N force yield a turning moment of 100 N m?

Ans: 𝟓 𝐦
𝑑 = 𝑁/𝐹 = 100 N m ÷ 20 N = 5 m

(21) What force gives a turning moment of 50 N m at a distance of 25 cm from the fulcrum of a lever?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐍 𝐦
𝐹 = 𝑁/𝑑 = 50 N m ÷ 0.25 m = 200 N m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 42a

(10) What property of a thermistor allows it to be used for measurement of temperature?

Ans: Dependence of resistance on temperature

(11) What property of a thermocouple allows it to be used for measurement of temperature?

Ans: Dependence of the potential difference across the thermocouple on temperature

(12) What property of a quartz crystal oscillator allows it to be used for measurement of temperature?

Ans: Dependence of resonance frequency on temperature

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 42b

(13) What is the shape of a typical planetary orbit?

Ans: Ellipse

(14) What is the name of the orbital point at which a planet is closest to the sun?

Ans: Perihelion

(15) What is the name of the orbital point at which a planet is farthest from the sun?

Ans: Aphelion
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 42c

(16) The period of a simple harmonic oscillator is 0.500 s and its amplitude is 20.0 cm. What is its
frequency?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎 𝐇𝐳
𝑓 = 1/𝑇 = 1/(0.500 s) = 2.00 Hz

(17) The period of a simple harmonic oscillator is 0.500 s and its amplitude is 20.0 cm. What is its
angular frequency? You may leave your answer in terms of 𝜋.

Ans: 𝟒𝝅 𝐫𝐚𝐝/𝐬
𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 = 2𝜋/𝑇 = 2𝜋/(0.5 s) = 4𝜋 rad/s

(18) The period of a simple harmonic oscillator is 0.5 s and its amplitude is 20 cm. What is the amplitude
of its velocity? You may leave your answer in terms of 𝜋.

Ans: 𝟖𝟎𝝅 𝐜𝐦/𝐬

𝑉 = 𝜔𝐴 = 4𝜋 rad/s × 20 cm = 80𝜋 cm/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 42d

A particle moves uniformly in a circular orbit of radius 0.200 m with a speed of 0.500 m/s.

(19) What is its angular velocity?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟓𝟎 𝐫𝐚𝐝/𝐬
𝜔 = 𝑣/𝑟 = (0.500 m/s) ÷ (0.200 m) = 2.50 rad/s

(20) How many revolutions does it make in one minute?

Ans: 𝟐𝟑. 𝟗
rpm = 𝜔 × (60 s/min) ÷ (2𝜋 rad/rev) = 2.50 rad/s × (60 s/min) ÷ (2𝜋 rad/rev) = 75.0/𝜋 rev/min
= 23.9 rev/min

(21) What distance does it cover in one minute?

Ans: 𝟑𝟎. 𝟎 𝐦
𝑠 = 2𝜋𝑟 × rpm × 1 min = 2𝜋 × 0.200 m × 75.0/𝜋 rev/min × 1 min = 30.0 m = 𝑣𝑡
= 0.500 m/s × 60 s = 30.0 m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 43a

(10) State Lenz’s law.

Ans: The induced emf is in such a direction as to oppose the change causing it

(11) State Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction.

Ans: The induced emf equals the rate of decrease of flux linkage

(12) State Ohm’s law.

Ans: Current in a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across it

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 43b

(13) Three resistors 𝑅1 , 𝑅2 and 𝑅3 are connected in parallel. How must a voltmeter be connected to
measure the potential difference across 𝑅2 ?

Ans: Across the combination

(14) Three resistors 𝑅1 , 𝑅2 and 𝑅3 are connected in parallel. How must an ammeter be connected to
measure the current through 𝑅2 ?

Ans: In series with 𝑹𝟐 only

(15) Three resistors 𝑅1 , 𝑅2 and 𝑅3 are connected in series. How must a voltmeter be connected to
measure the potential difference across 𝑅2 ?

Ans: Across 𝑹𝟐 only

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 43c

A converging lens has a focal length of 30 cm.

(16) What is the image position for an object placed 40 cm from the pole of the lens?

Ans: 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝐜𝐦
𝑣 = 𝑢𝑓/(𝑢 − 𝑓) = 40 cm × 30 cm ÷ (40 cm − 30 cm) = 120 cm

(17) What is the lateral magnification of the image of an object placed 50 cm from the pole of the lens?

Ans: −𝟏. 𝟓
𝑀 = −𝑣/𝑢 = −𝑓/(𝑢 − 𝑓) = −30 cm ÷ (50 cm − 30 cm) = −1.5

(18) What is the image position for an object placed 25 cm from the pole of the lens?

Ans: −𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝐜𝐦
𝑣 = 𝑢𝑓/(𝑢 − 𝑓) = 25 cm × 30 cm ÷ (25 cm − 30 cm) = −150 cm
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 43d

A 1.00 𝜇F capacitor is connected in series with a 5.00 Ω resistor and a 13.6 V battery. The base of
natural logarithms is approximately 2.72.

(19) What is the time constant of the circuit?

Ans: 𝟓. 𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝐬
𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 5.00 Ω × 1.00 𝜇F = 5.00 𝜇s

(20) What charge is stored on the capacitor after an infinitely long time?

Ans: 𝟏𝟑. 𝟔 𝝁𝐂
𝑄 = 𝐶𝜀 = 1.00 𝜇F × 13.6 V = 13.6 𝜇C

(21) What is the charge stored on the capacitor 5 𝜇s after the circuit is connected?

Ans: 𝟓. 𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝐂
𝑞 = 𝑄/𝑒 = 13.6 𝜇C ÷ 2.72 = 5.00 𝜇C
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 44a

(10) What property of electric charge did the Millikan oil drop experiment demonstrate?

Ans: Quantization of electric charge

(11) Give one force that acts on the oil drops in the Millikan experiment.

Ans: Electrostatic force, gravity, viscous drag and upthrust

Any one

(12) Give one other force that acts on the oil drops in the Millikan experiment.

Ans: Electrostatic force, gravity, viscous drag and upthrust

Any one
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 44b

(13) What does 1 J represent?

Ans: The work of a 𝟏 𝐍 force when its point of application moves 𝟏 𝐦 in the direction of the force

(14) What does 1 W represent?

Ans: The power (or rate of working) developed when 𝟏 𝐉 of work is done per second

(15) What does 1 eV represent?

Ans: The energy of an object carrying one proton or one electron charge when it is accelerated
through a potential difference of 𝟏 𝐕
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 44c

(16) What is the radius of gyration of a 5 kg object whose moment of inertia is 20 kg m2 ?

Ans: 𝟐 𝐦
𝑟 = √𝐼/𝑀 = √20 kg m2 ÷ 5 kg = 2 m

(17) What is the moment of inertia of a 5 kg object whose radius of gyration is 10 m?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠 𝐦𝟐
𝐼 = 𝑀𝑟 2 = 5 kg × (10 m)2 = 500 kg m2

(18) What is the radius of gyration of a 2.00 kg object whose moment of inertia is 162 kg m2 ?

Ans: 𝟗. 𝟎𝟎 𝐦
𝑟 = √𝐼/𝑀 = √(162 kg m2 ) ÷ (2.00 kg) = 9.00 m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 44d

(19) An object located 100 m due south of a reference point moves to 100 m due north in 200 s. What is
its average velocity?

Ans: 𝟏 𝐦/𝐬 due north

𝑣avg = change in position ÷ time taken = 200 m due north ÷ 200 s = 1 m/s

(20) An object located 100 m due east of a reference point moves to 600 m due east in 200 s. What is its
average velocity?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟓 𝐦/𝐬
𝑣avg = change in position ÷ time taken = 500 m due east ÷ 200 s = 2.5 m/s

(21) The velocity of an object moving at 50 m/s due east changes to 80 m/s due east in 20 s. What is its
average acceleration?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟓 𝐦/𝐬𝟐
𝑣avg = change in position ÷ time taken = 30 m/s due east ÷ 20 s = 1.5 m/s2
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 45a

(10) What is the ground state energy in electron-volts of the hydrogen atom?

Ans: −𝟏𝟑. 𝟔 𝐞𝐕

(11) What is the energy in electron volts of the first excited state of the hydrogen atom?

Ans: −𝟑. 𝟒𝟎 𝐞𝐕
𝐸𝑛 = −13.6 eV/𝑛2 = −13.6 eV ÷ 4 = −3.40 eV

(12) What is the energy in electron volts of the second excited state of the hydrogen atom?

Ans: −𝟏. 𝟓𝟏 𝐞𝐕
𝐸𝑛 = −13.6 eV/𝑛2 = −13.6 eV ÷ 9 = −1.51 eV
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 45b

Give the type of extrinsic semiconductor obtained by doping silicon with the given element.

(13) Arsenic

Ans: N-type

(14) Phosphorous

Ans: N-type

(15) Boron

Ans: P-type
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 45c

The carbon-12 atom has a mass of 1.99 × 10−26 kg and the oxygen-16 atom has a mass of 2.66 ×
10−26 kg. The carbon-oxygen bond length is 1.13 × 10−10 m.

(16) What is the moment of inertia of the carbon monoxide molecule about an axis perpendicular to the
bond passing through the carbon atom?

Ans: 𝟑. 𝟒𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒𝟔 𝐤𝐠 𝐦𝟐
𝐼 = ∑𝑚𝑟𝑖2 = 1.99 × 10−26 kg × 0 + 2.66 × 10−26 kg × (1.13 × 10−10 m)2 = 3.40 × 10−46 kg m2

(17) What is the moment of inertia of the carbon monoxide molecule about an axis perpendicular to the
bond and passing through the oxygen atom?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟓𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒𝟔 𝐤𝐠 𝐦𝟐
𝐼 = ∑𝑚𝑟𝑖2 = 1.99 × 10−26 kg × (1.13 × 10−10 m)2 + 2.66 × 10−26 kg × 0 = 2.54 × 10−46 kg m2

(18) What is the moment of inertia of the carbon monoxide molecule about an axis perpendicular to the
bond and passing through the centre of the molecule?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟒𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒𝟔 𝐤𝐠 𝐦𝟐
𝑟 = 0.565 × 10−10 m for each atom so
𝐼 = ∑𝑚𝑟𝑖2 = (1.99 × 10−26 kg + 2.66 × 10−26 kg) × (0.565 × 10−10 m)2 = 1.48 × 10−46 kg m2
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 45d

Acceleration due to gravity at a location is 9.8 m/s2.

(19) What is the work done by gravity when a 2.0 kg object launched upward attains a height of 5.0 m?

Ans: −𝟗𝟖 𝐉
𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒔 = −𝑚𝑔𝑦 = −2.0 kg × 9.8 m/s2 × 5.0 m = −98 J

(20) What is the work done by gravity when a 4 kg object launched upward at an angle of 50° to the
horizontal attains a height of 25 m?

Ans: −𝟗𝟖𝟎 𝐉
𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒔 = −𝑚𝑔𝑦 = −4.0 kg × 9.8 m/s2 × 25.0 m = −980 J

(21) What is the work done by gravity when a 5 kg object falls through a height of 2 m?

Ans: 𝟗𝟖 𝐉
𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒔 = −𝑚𝑔𝑦 = −5.0 kg × 9.8 m/s2 × (−2.0 m) = 98 J
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 46a

(10) What are the majority charge carriers in an n-type semiconductor?

Ans: Electrons

(11) What are the minority charge carriers in a p-type semiconductor?

Ans: Electrons

(12) What are the majority charge carriers in a p-type semiconductor?

Ans: Holes
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 46b

A 100 N net force pulls a 2 kg sled from rest.

(13) What is the work done by the net force when the sled has moved 2 m?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐍 𝐦 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐉

𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒔 = 𝐹𝑠 = 100 N × 2 m = 200 J

(14) What is the work done by the net force when the sled has moved 5 m?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐍 𝐦 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐉

𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒔 = 𝐹𝑠 = 100 N × 5 m = 500 J

(15) What is the kinetic energy of the sled when it has moved 5 m?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐍 𝐦 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐉

𝐾. 𝐸. = 𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒔 = 𝐹𝑠 = 100 N × 5 m = 500 J
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 46c

(16) What is the charge stored on a 47.0 𝜇F capacitor at 40.0 V?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟖𝟖 𝐦𝐂 = 𝟏𝟖𝟖𝟎 𝝁𝐂
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = 47.0 𝜇F × 40.0 V = 1.88 mC

(17) At what voltage does a 40 𝜇F capacitor store 5 𝜇C of charge?

Ans: 𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝐦𝐕 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝐕

𝑉 = 𝑄/𝐶 = 5 𝜇C ÷ 40 𝜇F = 0.125 V = 125 mV

(18) What capacitance is required to store 10 mC of charge at 5 V?

Ans: 𝟐 𝐦𝐅
𝐶 = 𝑄/𝑉 = 10 mC ÷ 5 V = 2 mF
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 46d

(19) What is the energy in electron volts of the photon emitted when a hydrogen atom makes a transition
from the second excited state to the first excited state?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟖𝟗 𝐞𝐕
𝐸photon = |𝐸2 − 𝐸3 | = |(−13.6 eV/22 ) − (−13.6 eV/32 )| = 1.89 eV

(20) What is the energy in electron volts of the photon absorbed in a transition from the ground state to
the first excited state of the hydrogen atom?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎. 𝟐 𝐞𝐕
𝐸photon = |𝐸2 − 𝐸1 | = |−13.6 eV/22 − (−13.6 eV/12 )| = 10.2 eV

(21) What is the energy in electron volts of the photon absorbed in a transition from the ground state to
the second exited state of the hydrogen atom?

Ans: 𝟏𝟐. 𝟏 𝐞𝐕
𝐸photon = |𝐸3 − 𝐸1 | = |−13.6 eV/32 − (−13.6 eV/12 )| = 12.1 eV
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 47a

(10) What is the bias condition of the collector-base junction in a bipolar transistor in cut-off?

Ans: Reverse bias

(11) What is the bias condition of the emitter-base junction in a bipolar transistor in cut-off?

Ans: Reverse bias

(12) What is the bias condition of the collector-base junction in a bipolar transistor in saturation?

Ans: Forward bias

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 47b

(13) For an elliptical planetary orbit, what is the geometric location of the sun?

Ans: A focus

(14) What is apogee?

Ans: The orbital point at which a terrestrial satellite is farthest from earth

(15) What is perigee?

Ans: The point of closest approach of a terrestrial satellite

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 47c

(16) What is the maximum kinetic energy of electrons ejected from a photocathode by 6.2 eV photons if
the work function of the photocathode is 5.0 eV?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟐 𝐞𝐕

(17) What is the work function of a photocathode if the maximum kinetic energy of electrons ejected
from it is 0.4 eV when 4.7 eV photons are incident on it?

Ans: 𝟒. 𝟑 𝐞𝐕

(18) The work function of copper is 4.7 eV. What is the photon energy required to generate 0.5 eV
electrons from copper?

Ans: 𝟓. 𝟐 𝐞𝐕
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 47d

Take the Planck constant as 6.6 × 10−34 J s.

(19) What is the orbital angular momentum of the seventh Bohr orbit?

Ans: 𝟕. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟒 𝐉 𝐬
𝐿 = 𝑛ℏ = 7 × 6.6 × 10−34 J s ÷ (2𝜋) = 3.3 × 10−34 J s × 7/𝜋 = 7.3 × 10−34 J s

(20) Which Bohr orbit has orbital angular momentum 2.1 × 10−33 J s?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎
𝑛 = 𝐿/ℏ = 2.1 × 10−33 J s ÷ (6.6 × 10−34 J s ÷ (2𝜋)) = 20

(21) What is the orbital angular momentum of the first Bohr orbit?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟒 𝐉 𝐬
𝐿 = 𝑛ℏ = 1 × 6.6 × 10−34 J s ÷ (2𝜋) = 3.3 × 10−34 J s × 1/𝜋 = 1.05 × 10−34 J s
Accept 1.05 × 10−34 J s.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 48a

(10) What is an intrinsic semiconductor?

Ans: A pure semiconductor with no dopants and equal concentration of each carrier type

(11) What is an extrinsic semiconductor?

Ans: A doped semiconductor with excess carriers of one type

(12) What is a compensated semiconductor?

Ans: A doped semiconductor with equal concentration of each carrier type

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 48b

(13) What is thermionic emission?

Ans: Electron emission by heat

(14) What is field emission?

Ans: Electron emission by electrostatic field

(15) What is the piezoelectric effect?

Ans: Charge generation by mechanical stress

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 48c

(16) What is the speed of a 2 kg object when 100 J of work is done in moving it from rest?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐦/𝐬
𝑣 = √2𝐾. 𝐸./𝑚 = √2 × 100 J/(2 kg) = 10 m/s

(17) What energy is needed to give a stationary 20 kg object a speed of 5 m/s?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐉
𝐾. 𝐸. = 𝑚𝑣 2 /2 = 20 kg × (5 m/s)2 ÷ 2 = 250 J

(18) What mass attains a speed of 20 m/s from rest when given an energy of 50 J?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝐤𝐠
𝑚 = 2𝐾. 𝐸./𝑣 2 = 2 × 50 J ÷ (20 m/s)2 = 0.25 kg
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 48d

(19) An ideal gas at a pressure of 100 kPa undergoes an isothermal expansion to twice its initial volume.
What is its final pressure?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐏𝐚
𝑃2 = 𝑃1 𝑉1 /𝑉2 = 100 kPa × (𝑉1 /2𝑉1 ) = 50 kPa

(20) An ideal gas of volume 5 m3 undergoes an isothermal process in which its pressure is halved. What
is its final volume?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐦𝟑
𝑉2 = 𝑃1 𝑉1 /𝑃2 = 5 m3 × (2𝑃2 /𝑃2 ) = 10 m3

(21) An ideal gas at a pressure of 10 kPa undergoes an isothermal compression to half its initial volume.
What is its final pressure?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎 𝐤𝐏𝐚
𝑃2 = 𝑃1 𝑉1 /𝑉2 = 10 kPa × (2𝑉2 /𝑉2 ) = 20 kPa
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 49a

(10) What type of semiconductor dopant is called acceptor?

Ans: One which accepts electrons (thereby producing excess holes in the valence band)

(11) What type of semiconductor is formed by doping an intrinsic semiconductor with acceptor atoms?

Ans: P-type

(12) What type of semiconductor dopant is called donor?

Ans: One which donates electrons (thereby producing excess electrons in the conduction band)
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 49b

(13) Name the region near the metallurgical junction of a p-n device where no free charge carriers exist.

Ans: Depletion layer

(14) Which of the following best describes the electrical behavior of the depletion layer of a p-n junction:
metal, semiconductor, or insulator?

Ans: Insulator

(15) Give the bias condition needed to operate a p-n junction as a capacitor.

Ans: Reverse bias

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 49c

At a certain instant a 3.0 C charge of mass 4.0 kg is moving in the positive 𝑥 direction with speed
2.0 m/s in a uniform 0.50 T magnetic field directed in the positive 𝑦 direction. No other fields are
present.

(16) What is the magnitude of the magnetic force on the charge?

Ans: 𝟑. 𝟎 𝐍
𝐹 = |𝑞𝒗 × 𝑩| = 𝑞𝑣𝐵 = 3.0 C × 2.0 m/s × 0.50 T = 3.0 N

(17) What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the charge?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 𝐦/𝐬𝟐
𝑎 = 𝐹/𝑚 = 3.0 N ÷ 4.0 kg = 0.75 m/s 2

(18) What is the speed of the charge after 5 s?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟎 𝐦/𝐬
The acceleration is radial so no change in speed occurs.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 49d

(19) A 2.0 𝜇F capacitor is connected in series with a 100 Ω resistor and a 20 V battery. What is the
maximum charge the capacitor can have?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎 𝝁𝐂
𝑄 = 𝐶𝜀 = 2.0 𝜇F × 20 V = 40 𝜇C

(20) A 2.0 𝜇F capacitor is connected in series with a 100 Ω resistor and a battery. What is the emf of the
battery if the maximum charge the capacitor is 100 𝜇C?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎 𝐕
𝜀 = 𝑄/𝐶 = 100 𝜇C/2.0 𝜇F = 50 V

(21) A 5.0 𝜇F capacitor is connected in series with a 10 Ω resistor and a 40 V battery. What is the
maximum charge the capacitor can have?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝐂
𝑄 = 𝐶𝜀 = 5.0 𝜇F × 40 V = 200 𝜇C
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 50a

(10) How does the internal energy of an ideal gas change when its temperature is doubled?

Ans: Increases by a factor of 𝟐

(11) How does the rms speed of ideal gas molecules change when temperature is doubled?

Ans: Increases by a factor of √𝟐

(12) How does the mean kinetic energy of ideal gas molecules change when temperature is doubled?

Ans: Increases by a factor of 𝟐

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 50b

(13) Where is the neutral point of the electric field produced by two equal point charges located?

Ans: Halfway between the charges

(14) Where is the neutral point of the electric field produced by two equal point charges located?

Ans: At infinity

(15) Where is the neutral point of the magnetic field produced by two opposing equal magnetic poles
located?

Ans: Halfway between the poles

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 50c

A 5.0 𝜇F capacitor is connected in series with a 2.0 Ω resistor and a 20 V battery.

(16) What is the rate of change of charge on the capacitor when the charge on it is 50 𝜇C?

Ans: 𝟓. 𝟎 𝐂/𝐬
𝑑𝑞/𝑑𝑡 = (𝐶𝜀 − 𝑞)/(𝑅𝐶) = (5.0 𝜇F × 20 V − 50 𝜇C) ÷ (2.0 Ω × 5.0 𝜇F) = 5.0 C/s

(17) What is the rate of change of charge on the capacitor when the charge on it is 75 𝜇C?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟓 𝐂/𝐬
𝑑𝑞/𝑑𝑡 = (𝐶𝜀 − 𝑞)/(𝑅𝐶) = (5.0 𝜇F × 20.0 V − 75 𝜇C) ÷ (2.0 Ω × 5.0 𝜇F) = 2.5 C/s

(18) What is the rate of change of charge on the capacitor when the charge on it is 90.0 𝜇C?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟎 𝐂/𝐬
𝑑𝑞/𝑑𝑡 = (𝐶𝜀 − 𝑞)/(𝑅𝐶) = (5.0 𝜇F × 20 V − 90 𝜇C) ÷ (2.0 Ω × 5.0 𝜇F) = 1.0 C/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 50d

(19) How much work must be done on a 5.0 kg object at rest to increase its speed to 8.0 m/s?

Ans: 𝟏𝟔𝟎 𝐉
𝑊 = Δ𝐾. 𝐸. = 5 .0 kg × (8.0 m/s)2 /2 − 0 = 160 J

(20) How much work must be done on a 5.0 kg object moving at 2.0 m/s to increase its speed to 8.0 m/
s?

Ans: 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝐉
𝑊 = Δ𝐾. 𝐸. = 5 .0 kg × (8.0 m/s)2 /2 − 5.0 × (2.0 m/s)2 /2 = 150 J

(21) How much work is done by friction to bring a 2.0 kg object moving at 9.0 m/s to rest?

Ans: 𝟖𝟏 𝐉
𝑊 = Δ𝐾. 𝐸. = 0 − 2.0 × (9.0 m/s)2 /2 = 81 J
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 51a

(10) Give one mode of the bipolar junction transition which is used for operating the transistor as a
switch.

Ans: Saturation or cut-off

One only

(11) Give another mode of the bipolar junction transition which is used for operating the transistor as a
switch.

Ans: Saturation or cut-off

One only

(12) Give one mode of the bipolar junction transistor which is used for operating the transistor as a linear
amplifier.

Ans: Active
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 51b

(13) What is the sign of the magnetic susceptibility of a paramagnetic material?

Ans: Positive

(14) What is the sign of the magnetic susceptibility of a diamagnetic material?

Ans: Negative

(15) What is the sign of the magnetic susceptibility of a ferromagnetic material?

Ans: Positive
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 51c

(16) What is the energy stored in a 20 𝜇F capacitor charged to 50 V?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝐉 = 𝟐𝟓 𝐦𝐉
𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 2 /2 = 20 𝜇F × (50 V)2 /2 = 25000 𝜇J = 25 mJ

(17) What is the energy stored in a 50 𝜇F capacitor charged to 20 V?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐦𝐉
𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 2 /2 = 50 𝜇F × (20 V)2 /2 = 10000 𝜇J = 10 mJ

(18) What is the energy stored in a 10 𝜇F capacitor charged to 10 V?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝐉
𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 2 /2 = 10 𝜇F × (10 V)2 /2 = 500 𝜇J
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 51d

(19) An ideal gas at 300 K undergoes an isobaric process in which its volume increases by a factor of
three. What is its final temperature?

Ans: 𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝐊
𝑇2 = 𝑉2 𝑇1 /𝑉1 = 3𝑉1 𝑇1 /𝑉1 = 3𝑇1 = 900 K

(20) An ideal gas at 400 K undergoes an isobaric process in which its temperature decreases to 100 K. By
what factor does its volume change?

Ans: 𝟏/𝟒
𝑉2 = 𝑉1 𝑇2 /𝑇1 = 𝑉1 /4

(21) What is the initial temperature of an ideal gas whose final temperature is 1000 K after an isobaric
process in which its volume increases by a factor of 5?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐊
𝑇1 = 𝑉1 𝑇2 /𝑉2 = 𝑉1 𝑇2 /5𝑉1 = 𝑇2 /5 = 200 K
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 52a

(10) What is the process by which majority carriers are transported across an unbiased p-n junction?

Ans: Diffusion

(11) What is the process by which minority carriers are transported across an unbiased p-n junction?

Ans: Drift

(12) What transport process removes charge carriers generated in the depletion layer of a p-n junction
towards the extremities of the device?

Ans: Drift
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 52b

(13) Give the name of one stroke of the four-stroke internal combustion engine.

Ans: Intake, compression, power, exhaust

One only

(14) Give the name of another stroke of the four-stroke internal combustion engine.

Ans: Intake, compression, power, exhaust

One only, not already given

(15) Give the name of a third stroke of the four-stroke internal combustion engine.

Ans: Intake, compression, power, exhaust

One only, not already given
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 52c

A 5 C charge is moving at 2 m/s perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of 2 T.

(16) What is the magnetic force on the charge?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎 𝐍
𝐹 = |𝑞𝒗 × 𝑩| = 5 C × 2 m/s × 2 T = 20 N

(17) What is the work done by the magnetic field on the charge when it moves 3 m?

Ans: 𝟎
𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒔 = 𝐹𝑠 cos 𝜃 = 20 N × 3 m × cos 90° = 0

(18) What is the change in kinetic energy of the charge when it moves 9 m?

Ans: 𝟎
Δ𝐾. 𝐸. = 𝑊 = 0
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 52d

(19) What is the induced emf when magnetic flux is changing at a rate of 5 Wb/s?

Ans: −𝟓 𝐕
𝜀 = −𝑑𝜙/𝑑𝑡 = −5 Wb/s = −5 V

(20) What is the induced emf when magnetic flux is changing at a rate of −25 Wb/s?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓 𝐕
𝜀 = −𝑑𝜙/𝑑𝑡 = −(−25 Wb/s) = 25 V

(21) What rate of change of flux induces an emf of 100 V?

Ans: −𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐖𝐛/𝐬

𝑑𝜙/𝑑𝑡 = −𝜀 = −100 V = −100 Wb/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 53a

(10) Name the regions of saturated magnetization in a ferromagnetic material.

Ans: Magnetic domain

(11) Name the boundary between regions of saturated magnetization in a ferromagnetic material.

Ans: Domain wall

(12) Name the magnetization curve produced when a ferromagnetic material is cyclically magnetized.

Ans: Hysteresis loop

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 53b

(13) What property of light is demonstrated by diffraction of light through a narrow slit?

Ans: Wave property

(14) What property of light is demonstrated by ejection of electrons from the surface of a metal when
short wavelength light falls on it?

Ans: Particle property

(15) What name is given to a particle of light?

Ans: Photon
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 53c

A particle with charge 50 𝜇C moves in the positive 𝑥 direction in a uniform 5 T magnetic field which
is directed along the positive 𝑥-axis.

(16) What is the magnitude of the electric field on the charge if the net force on it is zero?

Ans: 0

(17) What is the direction of the electric field on it if its acceleration is in the negative 𝑥 direction?

Ans: Negative 𝒙-direction

(18) What is the net force on it if the electric field on it is 2 V/m in the positive 𝑥 direction?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝐍 in the positive 𝒙 direction

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 53d

A single-stage op-amp amplifier has a negative feedback resistor 𝑅𝑓 and a grounded non-inverting
input. A signal is applied to the inverting input through a resistor 𝑅𝑖 in series with the inverting input.

(19) What is the closed-loop voltage gain of the amplifier if 𝑅𝑓 = 10 kΩ and 𝑅𝑖 = 1 kΩ?

Ans: −𝟏𝟎
𝐺 = −𝑅𝑓 /𝑅𝑖 = −10 kΩ ÷ 1 kΩ = −10

(20) What must 𝑅𝑓 be to obtain a closed-loop voltage gain of −50 when 𝑅𝑖 = 1 kΩ?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝛀
𝑅𝑓 = −𝑅𝑖 𝐺 = −1 kΩ × (−50) = 50 kΩ

(21) What must 𝑅𝑖 be to obtain a closed-loop gain of −2 when 𝑅𝑓 = 20 kΩ?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐤𝛀
𝑅𝑖 = −𝑅𝑓 /𝐺 = −20 kΩ ÷ (−2) = 10 kΩ
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 54a

(10) State Kepler’s first law.

Ans: Each planet moves in an elliptical orbit with the sun at one focus.

(11) State Newton’s law of universal gravitation.

Ans: Everybody attracts every other body with a force that is proportional to the product of the
masses of the bodies and inversely proportional to the square of their separation and acts along the
line joining them.

(12) State Coulomb’s law.

Ans: Two stationary point charges exert a force on each other which is proportional to the product of
the charges, is inversely proportional to the square of their separation, acts along the line joining the
charges, and is attractive if the charges are opposite, repulsive otherwise.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 54b

(13) What is an isobaric process?

Ans: Constant pressure process

(14) What is an isochoric process?

Ans: Constant volume process

(15) What is an isothermal process?

Ans: Constant temperature process

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 54c

The Wien displacement law constant is 0.0029 m K.

(16) The wavelength of maximum emission intensity of a blackbody is 500 nm. What is its temperature?

Ans: 𝟓𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐊
𝑇 = 0.0029 m K ÷ 𝜆𝑚 = 0.0029 m K ÷ (500 × 10−9 m) = 5800 K

(17) The temperature of a blackbody is 1160 K. What is the wavelength of maximum emission intensity?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝐦 = 𝟐. 𝟓 𝝁𝐦
𝜆𝑚 = 0.0029 × 10−3 m K ÷ 𝑇 = 0.0029 × 10−3 m K ÷ (1160 K) = 2.5 × 10−6 m = 2.5 𝜇m

(18) The wavelength of maximum emission intensity of a blackbody is 800 nm. What is its temperature?

Ans:
𝑇 = 0.0029 m K ÷ 𝜆𝑚 = 0.0029 m K ÷ (800 × 10−9 m) = 3625 K
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 54d

A 15.0 𝜇F capacitor charged to 10.0 V is connected in series with a 2.00 Ω resistor.

(19) What is the rate of decrease of charge on the capacitor when the charge on it is 25.0 𝜇C?

Ans: 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓 𝝁𝐂/𝐬

𝑑𝑞/𝑑𝑡 = −𝑞/(𝑅𝐶) = −25.0 𝜇C ÷ (10.0 V × 2.00 Ω) = −12.5 𝜇C/s

(20) What is the rate of change of charge on the capacitor when the charge on it is 50.0 𝜇C?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓. 𝟎 𝝁𝐂/𝐬

𝑑𝑞/𝑑𝑡 = −𝑞/(𝑅𝐶) = −50.0 𝜇C ÷ (10.0 V × 2.00 Ω) = −25.0 𝜇C/s

(21) What is the rate of change of charge on the capacitor when the charge on it is 75.0 𝜇C?

Ans: 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓 𝝁𝐂/𝐬

𝑑𝑞/𝑑𝑡 = −𝑞/(𝑅𝐶) = −25.0 𝜇C ÷ (10.0 V × 2.00 Ω) = −12.5 𝜇C/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 55a

At the initial moment, the displacement of a simple harmonic oscillator moving along the 𝑥-axis is
zero and the oscillator is moving in the positive direction. The amplitude of the oscillator is 20 cm
and its frequency of 5 Hz. You may leave your answers in terms of 𝜋 where appropriate.

(1) What is the initial velocity of the oscillator?

Ans: 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝝅 𝐜𝐦/𝐬 = 𝟐𝝅 𝐦/𝐬

𝑥 = (20 cm) sin(2 × 5 Hz × 𝜋𝑡) so 𝑣 = (200𝜋 cm/s) cos(10 Hz × 𝜋𝑡) implying 𝑣(0) = 200𝜋 cm/s =
2𝜋 m/s.

(2) When is the displacement of the oscillator first 10 cm?

Ans: 𝟏/𝟔𝟎 𝐬 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐 𝐬
When 𝑥 = 10 cm, sin(10 Hz × 𝜋𝑡) = 1/2 so 10 Hz × 𝜋𝑡 = 𝜋/6 and 𝑡 = 1/60 s

(3) What is the acceleration of the oscillator when its displacement is 10 cm?

Ans: −𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝝅𝟐 𝐜𝐦/𝐬𝟐 = −𝟏𝟎𝝅𝟐 𝐦/𝐬𝟐

1
𝑎 = −(2000𝜋 2 cm/s 2 ) sin (10 Hz × 𝜋 × s) = −1000𝜋 2 cm/s2 = −10𝜋 2 m/s 2
60
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 55b

(4) The thermal conductivity of copper is 400 W m−1 K −1 . What is the rate of heat transfer across a
copper heat sink of thickness 2 cm and area 0.0025 m2 when its cold face is at 20 ℃ and its hot face is at
80 ℃?

Ans: 𝟑𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐖
|𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑡| = 𝑘𝐴(𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐿 )/𝐿 = 400 W m−1 K −1 × 0.0025 m2 × 60 K ÷ 0.02 m = 3000 W

(5) The thermal conductivity of window glass is 1 W m−1 K −1. What is the rate of heat transfer across a
single glazed window glass of thickness 5 mm and cross sectional area 2 m2 when room temperature is
25 ℃ and it is 35 ℃ outside?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐖
|𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑡| = 𝑘𝐴(𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐿 )/𝐿 = 1 W m−1 K −1 × 2 m2 × 10 K ÷ 0.005 m = 4000 W

(6) The thermal conductivity of iron is 80 W m−1 K −1 . At what temperature difference between the hot
and cold faces of an iron plate of thickness 2 cm and area 1 m2 will the heat transfer rate across it be
1600 W?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟒 𝐊
(𝑇𝐻 − 𝑇𝐿 ) = |𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑡|𝐿/(𝑘𝐴) = 1600 W × 0.02 m ÷ (80 W m−1 K −1 × 1 m2 ) = 0.4 K
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 55c

For each pair of experimental quantities, give the quantities that must be plotted to obtain a
straight-line graph without using logrithms.

(7) The electrostatic force between two charges as the distance between them is varied.

Ans: Force against the reciprocal of distance squared.

(8) The gravitational force between two masses as the distance between them is varied.

Ans: Force against the reciprocal of distance squared.

(9) The force needed to stretch an elastic wire as elongation is varied.

Ans: Force against elongation

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 55d

(10) Why does a metal surface in a room feel much cooler to the touch than a wooden surface in the same
room and at the same temperature as the metal surface?

Ans: The metal surface conducts heat away from the hand faster than the wooden surface because it
is a better thermal conductor.

(11) Why is the temperature of air near the ceiling of a room without a fan or air conditioning higher than
the temperature of air near the floor of the same room?

Ans: Cold air is denser than warm air and air is a bad conductor of heat.

(12) When a mercury-in-glass thermometer at room temperature is placed in water at a higher

temperature, the column of mercury falls before rising. Why is this so?

Ans: The glass bulb expands when heated in contact with the water and the mercury column falls to
fill the additional volume of the bulb; the mercury only expands when heat reaches it through the
poorly conducting glass.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 56a

You have a meter rule, a micrometre screw gauge, a pair of Vernier callipers, and a spherometer.
Which of these would you use for the given measurement?

(1) The cladding diameter of an optical fibre.

Ans: Micrometre screw gauge

(2) The radii of curvature of a biconvex lens whose diameter is about 10 cm.

Ans: Spherometer

(3) The internal diameter of a test tube.

Ans: Vernier callipers

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 56b

(4) What is the process by which the quantity of fluid in a lead-acid secondary battery decreases during
charging?

Ans: Electrolysis of water

(5) What is the usual method of determining the state of charge of a flooded lead-acid battery?

Ans: By measuring the specific gravity (relative density) of the electrolyte

(6) What remedial action is needed for a flooded lead-acid battery whose fluid level has decreased after
repeated charge-discharge cycles?

Ans: Addition of distilled water

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 56c

A series inductance-capacitance circuit contains a 50 𝜇F capacitance and a 5 mH inductance. You

may leave your answer in terms of 𝜋.

(7) What is the capacitive reactance of the circuit at 200 Hz?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎/𝝅 𝛀
𝑋𝐶 = 1/𝜔𝐶 = 1/(2𝜋𝑓𝐶) = 1 ÷ (2𝜋 × 200 Hz × 50 × 10−6 F) = 50/𝜋 Ω

(8) What is the inductive reactance of the circuit at 200 Hz?

Ans: 𝟐𝝅 𝛀
𝑋𝐿 = 𝜔𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 = 2𝜋 × 200 Hz × 5 × 10−3 H = 2𝜋 Ω

(9) What is the resonance frequency of the circuit?

Ans:
𝑓 = 𝜔/2𝜋 = 1/(2𝜋√𝐿𝐶) = 1/ (2𝜋√5 × 10−3 H × 50 × 10−6 F) = 1000/𝜋 Hz
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 56d

Take acceleration due to gravity as 9.8 m/s2.

(10) What is the horizontal range of a projectile launched at an angle of 15° above the horizontal with
speed 99 m/s?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐦
𝑅 = 𝑣 2 sin 2𝜃 /𝑔 = (99 m/s)2 × sin(2 × 15°) ÷ 9.8 m/s2 = 500 m

(11) What is the flight time of a projectile launched at an angle of 30° above the horizontal with speed
98 m/s?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐬
𝑇 = 2𝑣 sin 𝜃 /𝑔 = 2 × 98 m/s × sin 30° ÷ 9.8 m/s 2 = 10 s

(12) What is the greatest height attained by a projectile launched at an angle of 30° to the horizontal with
speed 99 m/s?

Ans: 𝟑𝟕𝟓 𝐦
ℎ = 𝑣 2 cos2 𝜃 /(2𝑔) = (99 m/s)2 × cos 2 30° ÷ (2 × 9.8 m/s2 ) = 375 m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 57a

(1) In an experiment to verify Coulomb’s law, the logarithm of the force on a pair of equal charges is
plotted against the logarithm of the distance between them. What is the slope of the graph obtained?

Ans: −𝟐

(2) The logarithm of the tension in a wire is plotted against the logarithm of elongation. What is the
slope of the graph obtained?

Ans: 𝟏

(3) To establish an empirical law relating cathode current and anode voltage of a vacuum tube, the
logarithm of cathode current was plotted against the logarithm of anode voltage and a graph of slope 3/2
was obtained. What is the likely variation of cathode current with anode voltage?

Ans: Cathode current varies as anode voltage to the power 𝟑/𝟐

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 57b

A measuring cylinder containing water to the 25 cm3 mark gives a reading of 95 g on an electronic
balance. When a steel ball is carefully inserted into the water, the level rises to 35 cm3 and the
balance reads 170 g.

(4) What is the volume of the ball?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎 𝐜𝐦𝟑
𝑉ball = 𝑉final − 𝑉initial = 35 cm3 − 25 cm3 = 10 cm3

(5) What is the mass of the ball?

Ans: 𝟕𝟓 𝐠
𝑀 = 170 g − 95 g = 75 g

(6) What is the density in SI units of the material of the ball?

Ans: 𝟕𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑

𝜌 = 𝑀/𝑉 = 75 g ÷ 10 cm3 = 7.5 g /cm3 = 7500 kg/m3
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 57c

Take the specific heat capacity of water as 4200 J kg −1 K −1 and room temperature as 25 ℃.

(7) What is the final temperature attained when 2 kg of water at the ice point is added to 8 kg of water at
the steam point without heat exchange with the surroundings?

Ans: 𝟖𝟎 ℃
(𝑇𝑓 − 𝑇𝑖 )𝑐𝑚𝑖 = (𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑓 )𝑐𝑚𝑠 so 𝑇𝑓 = (𝑇𝑠 𝑚𝑠 + 𝑇𝑖 𝑚𝑖 )/(𝑚𝑠 + 𝑚𝑖 ) = (100 ℃ × 8 kg + 0 ℃ × 2 kg) ÷
(8 kg + 2 kg) = 80 ℃

(8) How much heat is lost when 8 kg of water at the steam point cools to room temperature?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟓𝟐 𝐌𝐉
|𝑄| = 𝑚𝑐|Δ𝑇| = 8 kg × 4200 J/(kg K) × 75 K = 2.52 MJ

(9) How much heat is needed to bring 20 kg of water at the ice point to room temperature?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟏 𝐌𝐉
|𝑄| = 𝑚𝑐|Δ𝑇| = 20 kg × 4200 J/(kg K) × 25 K = 2.1 MJ
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 57d

(10) Name the process in which a large unstable atomic nucleus splits into smaller more stable atomic
nuclei.

Ans: Fission

(11) Name the process by which two small atomic nuclei coalesce into a larger nucleus.

Ans: Fusion

(12) Name the nuclear reaction by which energy is obtained from uranium-235 in a reactor.

Ans: Fission
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 58a

(1) Name the forces on a body falling in a viscous fluid that act opposite to the direction of motion of
the body?

Ans: Upthrust and fluid friction (viscous drag)

(2) What is the name given to the ultimate velocity attained by an object falling in a viscous fluid?

Ans: Terminal velocity

(3) Which of the forces acting on a body falling in a viscous fluid depend on the speed of the body?

Ans: Viscous drag

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 58b

A 20 C charge is placed on an empty conducting spherical shell of inner radius 10 cm and outer
radius 15 cm.

(4) How is the charge distributed on the shell?

Ans: Uniformly on the outer surface.

(5) Describe the electric field lines inside the hollow of the shell.

Ans: There are no field lines inside.

(6) Describe the electric field lines outside the shell.

Ans: Radially outward and perpendicular to the surface of the shell.

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 58c

Water of density 1000 kg/m3 flows through a pipe with cross sectional area 4 cm2 at a speed of
5 m/s.

(7) What volume of water flows out of the pipe in 20 s?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 𝐦𝟑
𝑉 = 𝐴𝑣𝑡 = 4 × 10−4 m2 × 5 m/s × 20 s = 0.04 m3

(8) What mass of water flows out of the pipe in 20 s?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎 𝐤𝐠
𝑀 = 𝜌𝐴𝑣𝑡 = 1000 kg /m3 × 4 × 10−4 m2 × 5 m/s × 20 s = 40 kg

(9) How long will it take to fill a 6 m3 tank with water from the pipe?

Ans: 𝟑𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐬
𝑡 = 𝑉/(𝐴𝑣) = 10 m3 ÷ (4 × 10−4 m2 × 5 m/s) = 3000 s = 50 min
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 58d

Young’s modulus of a 50 cm long bar of an aluminium alloy with square section of side 1 cm is
70 GPa.

(10) What is the stress in the bar when the strain is 0.0001?

Ans: 𝟕 𝐌𝐏𝐚
𝜎 = 𝐸𝜖 = 70 × 109 Pa × 0.0001 = 7 × 106 Pa

(11) What is the strain in the bar when the stress is 5 MPa?

Ans: 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟕

𝜖 = 𝜎/𝐸 = 5 × 106 Pa ÷ 70 × 109 Pa = 7 × 10−5

(12) What is the elongation of the bar when the stress is 5 MPa?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟓 𝐜𝐦
Δ𝑙 = 𝜖𝑙 = 7 × 10−5 × 50 cm = 0.0035 cm = 35 𝜇m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 59a

(1) What is the relationship between the magnetic energy of a magnetic dipole and the angle between
the dipole moment vector and the direction of the magnetic field at its location?

Ans: Magnetic energy is proportional to the cosine of the angle

(2) What is the orientation of a magnetic dipole in a magnetic field that gives minimum magnetic
energy?

Ans: When the dipole moment is parallel to the field, i.e. when the angle between them is zero.

(3) What is the orientation of a magnetic dipole in a magnetic field that gives maximum magnetic
energy?

Ans: When the dipole moment is anti-parallel to the field, i.e. when the angle between them is 𝟏𝟖𝟎° or
𝝅.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 59b

(4) Emitter is to source as base is to …

Ans: Gate

(5) Collector is to source as emitter is to …

Ans: Drain

(6) Gate is to drain as base is to …

Ans: Collector
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 59c

(7) How much work is done on a vehicle which is towed 25 m on a level road by means of a rope with
tension 200 N and inclined at 60° to the horizontal?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐉
𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒅 = 𝐹𝑑 cos 𝜃 = 200 N × 25 m × cos 60° = 2500 J

(8) How much work is done by gravity when an object weighing 20 N slides down a 5 m frictionless
plank inclined at 30° to the horizontal?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎 𝐉
𝑊 = 𝑭 ⋅ 𝒅 = 𝐹𝑑 cos 𝜃 = 20 N × 5 m × cos 60° = 50 J

(9) 5000 J of work is done in towing a vehicle 10 m on a level road by means of a rope inclined at 60°
to the horizontal. What is the tension in the rope?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐍
𝐹 = 𝑊/(𝑑 cos 𝜃) = 5000 J ÷ (10 m × cos 60°) = 1000 N
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 59d

(10) A two-stage non-inverting amplifier has a voltage gain of 100. If the gain of the first stage is −20,
what is the gain of the second stage?

Ans: −𝟓
𝐴2 = 𝐴𝑉 /𝐴1 = 100 ÷ (−20) = −5

(11) What is the gain of a two-stage amplifier with input stage voltage gain of −10 and output stage
voltage gain of 8?

Ans: −𝟖𝟎
𝐴𝑉 = 𝐴𝑖 𝐴𝑜 = −10 × 8 = −80

(12) A two-stage inverting amplifier has a voltage gain of −50. If the gain of the output stage is −10,
what is the gain of the input stage?

Ans: 𝟓
𝐴𝑖 = 𝐴𝑉 /𝐴𝑜 = −50 ÷ (−10) = 5
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 60a

(1) How does the frequency of vibrations of a string fixed at both ends depend on the length of the
string?

Ans: Frequency is inversely proportional to length

(2) How does the frequency of vibrations of a string fixed at both ends depend on the tension in the
string?

Ans: Frequency is proportional to square root of tension

(3) How does the frequency of vibrations of a string fixed at both ends depend on the mass per unit
length of the string?

Ans: Frequency is inversely proportional to square root of linear density

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 60b

Two conducting spheres, 𝐴 and 𝐵, carry an equal amount of positive electric charge. The radius of
sphere 𝐴 is two times the radius of sphere 𝐵.

(4) By what factor is the surface charge density of 𝐵 different from that of 𝐴?

Ans: 𝟒
𝜎 = 𝑄/4𝜋𝑅 2 so 𝜎𝐵 /𝜎𝐴 = 𝑅𝐴2 /𝑅𝐵2 = 4

(5) By what factor is the electric potential at the surface of 𝐵 different from that at the surface of 𝐴?

Ans: 𝟐
𝑉 ∝ 1/𝑅 so 𝑉𝐵 /𝑉𝐴 = 𝑅𝐴 /𝑅𝐵 = 2

(6) By what factor is the magnitude of the electric field strength at the surface of 𝐵 different from that at
the surface of 𝐴?

Ans: 𝟒
𝐸 ∝ 1/𝑅 2 so 𝐸𝐵 /𝐸𝐴 = 𝑅𝐴2 /𝑅𝐵2 = 22 = 4
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 60c

Give the neutron number of the given isotope.

(7) Sodium-22

Ans: 𝟏𝟏
𝑍 = 11 and 𝐴 = 22 so 𝑁 = 22 − 11 = 11

(8) Potassium-40

Ans: 𝟐𝟏
𝑍 = 19 and 𝐴 = 40 so 𝑁 = 40 − 19 = 21

(9) Nitrogen-14

Ans: 𝟕
𝑍 = 7 and 𝐴 = 14 so 𝑁 = 14 − 7 = 7
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 60d

Take the speed of light in vacuum as 3.0 × 108 m/s.

(10) When a proton and an electron combine to form a hydrogen atom, the mass of the atom is less than
the sum of the proton and electron mass by 2.4 × 10−35 kg. What is the energy liberated?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟖 𝐉
𝐸 = 𝑐 2 Δ𝑚 = (3.0 × 108 m/s)2 × 2.4 × 10−35 kg = 2.2 × 10−18 J

(11) When two particles collide inelastically and bind together, the mass of the bound state is less than
the total mass of the free particles by 8.0 × 10−31 kg. What is the binding energy of the particles?

Ans: 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟒 𝐉
𝐸 = 𝑐 2 Δ𝑚 = (3.0 × 108 m/s)2 × 8.0 × 10−31 kg = 7.2 × 10−14 J

(12) The binding energy of a composite particle is 8.1 × 10−15 J. What is the difference in mass between
the particle and its constituent particles?

Ans: 𝟗. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟐 𝐤𝐠
Δ𝑚 = 𝐸/𝑐 2 = 8.1 × 10−15 J ÷ (3.0 × 108 )2 = 9.0 × 10−32 kg
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 61a

(1) Which of the following lasers operates at a wavelength of 1.06 𝜇m: Helium-neon, argon-ion,
neodymium-YAG?

Ans: Neodynium-YAG

(2) What is the wavelength of a red helium-neon laser?

Ans: 𝟔𝟑𝟐. 𝟖 𝐧𝐦 (𝟔𝟑𝟑 𝐧𝐦)

(3) What is the wavelength of an indium gallium arsenide laser?

Ans: 𝟗𝟖𝟎 𝐧𝐦
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 61b

(4) What is remanence?

Ans: The magnetization that remains after the magnetizing field is removed

(5) What is coercivity?

Ans: The opposing magnetizing field required to reduce magnetization to zero

(6) What is saturation magnetization?

Ans: The maximum magnetization attainable

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 61c

(7) What is the focal length of a plano-convex lens with radius of curvature of the curved surface of 1 m
and refractive index 1.5.?

Ans: 𝟐 𝐦
1/𝑓 = (𝑛 − 1)(1/𝑅1 − 1/𝑅2 ) so 𝑓 = 1 m ÷ (1.5 − 1) = 2 m

(8) What is the focal length of a bi-convex lens with radii of curvature 1 m and −1 m and refractive
index 1.5?

Ans: 𝟏 𝐦
1 1
1/𝑓 = (𝑛 − 1)(1/𝑅1 − 1/𝑅2 ) = (1.5 − 1) (1 m − −1 m) = 0.5(2/m) so 𝑓 = 1 m

(9) What is the focal length of a plano-concave lens with radius of curvature of the curved surface of
−1 m and refractive index 1.5.?

Ans: −𝟐 𝐦
1/𝑓 = (𝑛 − 1)(1/𝑅1 − 1/𝑅2 ) so 𝑓 = −1 m ÷ (1.5 − 1) = −2 m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 61d

(10) What is the coefficient of restitution for a collision in which an object moving at 20 m/s strikes a
stationary rigid wall directly and bounces back with speed 12 m/s?

Ans: 𝟑/𝟓
𝑒 = −𝑣𝑓 /𝑣𝑖 = −(−12 m/s) ÷ (20 m/s) = 3/5

(11) The coefficient of restitution for the collision between a ball and a stationary rigid wall is 3/4. What
is the rebound speed of the ball if it strikes the wall directly at 60 m/s?

Ans: 𝟒𝟓 𝐦/𝐬
|𝑣𝑓 | = 𝑒|𝑣𝑖 | = 3/4 × 60 m/s = 45 m/s

(12) The coefficient of restitution for the collision between a ball and a stationary rigid wall is 1/5. What
is the initial speed of the ball if it rebounds from the wall at 10 m/s after a direct strike?

Ans: 𝟓𝟎 𝐦/𝐬
|𝑣𝑖 | = |𝑣𝑓 |/𝑒 = 10 m/s ÷ (1/5) = 50 m/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 62a

(1) Under what condition is linear momentum conserved?

Ans: Zero net force

(2) Under what condition is angular momentum conserved?

Ans: Zero net torque

(3) Under what condition is a rigid body in equilibrium?

Ans: Zero net force and zero net torque

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 62b

What physical quantity is represented by the area under the graph showing the relationship
between the given quantities?

(4) Variation of the net force on a body with time.

Ans: Impulse or change in linear momentum of the body

(5) Variation of pressure with volume of a system.

Ans: Work

(6) Variation of linear momentum with velocity of a particle moving along the 𝑥-axis.

Ans: Work of the net force on the particle

Accept change in kinetic energy of the particle but not kinetic energy.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 62c

(7) What is the energy stored in a 20 mH inductor when it carries a current of 2 A?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎 𝐦𝐉 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 𝐉
𝐸𝑚 = 𝐿𝐼 2 /2 = 20 mH × (2 A)2 ÷ 2 = 40 mJ

(8) What inductance stores 2 J at a current of 500 mA?

Ans: 𝟏𝟔 𝐇
𝐿 = 2𝐸𝑚 /𝐼 2 = 2 × 2 J ÷ (0.5 A)2 = 16 H

(9) At what current does a 75 mH inductance store 600 mJ?

Ans: 𝟒 𝐀
𝐼 = √2𝐸𝑚 /𝐿 = √2 × 600 mJ ÷ 75 mH = 4 A
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 62d

The wave function of a traveling wave is 𝐴 cos(𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡) where 𝐴 = 100 V/m, 𝑘 = 2000𝜋 m−1 and
𝜔 = 6𝜋 × 1011 rad/s.

(10) What is the wavelength of the wave?

Ans: 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝐦 = 𝟏 𝐦𝐦
𝜆 = 2𝜋/𝑘 = 2𝜋 ÷ (2000𝜋 m−1 ) = 10−3 m = 1 mm

(11) What is the frequency of the wave?

Ans: 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐇𝐳
𝑓 = 𝜔/2𝜋 = 6𝜋 × 1011 rad/s ÷ (2𝜋) = 3 × 1011 Hz

(12) What is the phase velocity of the wave?

Ans: 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐦/𝐬

𝑐 = 𝜔/𝑘 = 6𝜋 × 1011 rad/s ÷ (2000𝜋 m−1 ) = 3 × 108 m/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 63a

(1) What is the gravitational force due to earth on an earth satellite of mass 𝑚?

Ans: 𝑮𝒎𝑴𝑬 /𝒓𝟐 with 𝑮 the gravitational constant, 𝑴𝑬 the mass of earth, and 𝒓 the distance from the
satellite to the centre of earth
Please do not accept 𝑚𝑔ℎ as this is only approximately correct for objects near earth’s surface.

(2) What is the minimum speed an object on earth’s surface must be given to escape the gravitational
influence of earth?

Ans: √𝟐𝑮𝑴𝑬 /𝑹𝑬 = 𝟏𝟏 𝐤𝐦/𝐬

Please do not accept “escape velocity” without further specification.

(3) What is the radius of a circular geosynchronous orbit?

𝟑
Ans: √𝑮𝑴(𝑻/𝟐𝝅)𝟐 = 𝟒𝟐 𝐌𝐦
The period 𝑇 is one day for a geosynchronous orbit.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 63b

The thermal conductivity of lead is 35 W m−1 K −1 , that of copper is 400 W m−1 K −1 and that of
iron is 80 W m−1 K −1 . Determine the rate of heat transfer for the given composite slab of area
0.5 m2 whose faces are maintained at the steam point and the ice point.

(4) Lead of thickness 0.2 m in series with iron of thickness 0.5 m.

Ans: 𝟒. 𝟐 𝐤𝐖
|𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑡| = Δ𝑇𝐴/(𝐿1 /𝑘1 + 𝐿2 /𝑘2 )
|𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑡| = 100 K × 0.5 m /[0.2 m/(35 W m−1 K −1 ) + 0.5 m/(80 W m−1 K −1 )] = 4179 W
2

(5) Lead of thickness 0.2 m in series with copper of thickness 0.5 m.

Ans: 𝟕. 𝟐 𝐤𝐖
|𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑡| = 100 K × 0.5 m2 /[0.2 m/(35 W m−1 K −1 ) + 0.5 m/(400 W m−1 K −1 )] = 7179 W

(6) Iron of thickness 0.2 m in series with copper of thickness 0.5 m.

Ans: 𝟏𝟑 𝐤𝐖
|𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑡| = 100 K × 0.5 m2 /[0.2 m/(80 W m−1 K −1 ) + 0.5 m/(400 W m−1 K −1 )] = 13333 W
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 63c

The Stefan-Boltzmann constant may be taken as 5.67 × 10−8 W m−2 K −4 and the emissivity of the
human body as 1.

(7) What is the radiant power emitted by a young person with total body surface area 1 m2 when his
body temperature is 37 ℃?

Ans: 𝟓𝟐𝟑 𝐖
𝑃 = 𝜎𝐴𝑒𝑇 4 = 5.67 × 10−8 W m−2 K −4 × 1 m2 × 1 × (310 K)4 = 523 W

(8) What is the radiant power emitted by a feverish person with total body surface area of 1 m2 when his
temperature is 40 ℃?

Ans: 𝟓𝟒𝟒 𝐖
𝑃 = 𝜎𝐴𝑒𝑇 4 = 5.67 × 10−8 W m−2 K −4 × 1 m2 × 1 × (313 K)4 = 544 W

(9) What is the radiant power absorbed by a young person with total body surface area 1 m2 in a room
at 27 ℃?

Ans: 𝟒𝟓𝟗 𝐖
𝑃 = 𝜎𝐴𝑒𝑇 4 = 5.67 × 10−8 W m−2 K −4 × 1 m2 × 1 × (300 K)4 = 459 W
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 63d

A transformer rated at 10 kW has a primary-to-secondary turns ratio of 5: 1 and an efficiency of

90% at 36% of its rated capacity.

(10) What input power is required for the transformer to deliver 3.6 kW at its secondary?

Ans: 𝟒 𝐤𝐖
𝑃𝑝 = 𝑃𝑠 /𝜂 = 3.6 kW/0.9 = 4 kW

(11) What is the primary voltage when the secondary delivers 3.6 kW at 90 V?

Ans: 𝟒𝟓𝟎 𝐕
𝑉𝑝 = 𝑉𝑠 (𝑁𝑝 /𝑁𝑠 ) = 90 V × 5/1 = 450 V

(12) What is the primary current when the secondary delivers 3.6 kW at 100 V?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟖 𝐀
𝐼𝑝 = 𝑃𝑝 /𝑉𝑝 = 𝑃𝑠 (𝑁𝑠 /𝑁𝑝 )/(𝜂𝑉𝑠 ) = 3.6 kW × (1/50) ÷ (0.9 × 100 V) = 0.8 A
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 64a

(1) Which of the following could be a unit of gravitational potential: J, N, N m/kg, J kg?

Ans:𝐍 𝐦/𝐤𝐠

(2) Which of the following could be a unit of electrostatic potential: J/C, N/C, J, J/kg?

Ans: 𝐉/𝐂

(3) Which of the following could be a unit of electric field strength: N m, N C, N/C, N/kg?

Ans: 𝐍/𝐂
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 64b

Give the physical constant in SI units to four significant digits.

(4) Coulomb law constant.

Ans: 𝟖. 𝟗𝟖𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝐍 𝐦𝟐 /𝐂 𝟐

(5) Gravitational constant.

Ans: 𝟔. 𝟔𝟕𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟏 𝐍 𝐦𝟐 /𝐤𝐠 𝟐

(6) Proton mass.

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟕 𝐤𝐠

 Round 1 Physics
Contest 64c

(7) At a certain instant, particle 𝐴 is moving with a velocity in m/s of 2𝒊̂ + 3𝒋̂ and particle 𝐵 is moving
with a velocity in m/s of 2𝒋̂ − 𝒌̂ . What is the velocity of 𝐵 relative to 𝐴?

̂ ) in 𝐦/𝐬
Ans: (−𝟐𝒊̂ − 𝒋̂ − 𝒌
̂ ) m/s − (2𝒊̂ + 3𝒋̂) m/s = (−2𝒊̂ − 𝒋̂ − 𝒌
𝒗𝐵𝐴 = 𝒗𝐵 − 𝒗𝐴 = (2𝒋̂ − 𝒌 ̂ ) m/s

(8) ̂ to
The position in meters of a particle moving along a space curve changes from 20𝒊̂ + 10𝒋̂ − 10𝒌
̂ in 5 s. What is the average velocity of the particle?
40𝒊̂ − 10𝒋̂ + 30𝒌

̂ ) in 𝐦/𝐬
Ans: (𝟒𝒊̂ − 𝟒𝒋̂ + 𝟖𝒌
𝒗avg = Δ𝒓/Δ𝑡 = (𝒓𝑓 − 𝒓𝑖 )/Δ𝑡 = [(40𝒊̂ − 10𝒋̂ + 30𝒌 ̂ ) m − (20𝒊̂ + 10𝒋̂ − 10𝒌
̂ ) m] ÷ (5 s)
̂ ) m ÷ (5 s) = (4𝒊̂ − 4𝒋̂ + 8𝒌
= (20𝒊̂ − 20𝒋̂ + 40𝒌 ̂ ) m/s

(9) ̂ and that of particle 𝐵 is 2𝒋̂ − 𝒌

The position in meters of particle 𝐴 is 5𝒊̂ + 8𝒋̂ + 3𝒌 ̂ . What is the
position of 𝐴 relative to 𝐵?

̂ ) in 𝐦
Ans: (5𝒊̂ + 6𝒋̂ + 4𝒌
̂ ) m − (2𝒋̂ − 𝒌
𝒓𝐴𝐵 = 𝒓𝐴 − 𝒓𝐵 = (5𝒊̂ + 8𝒋̂ + 3𝒌 ̂ ) m = (5𝒊̂ + 6𝒋̂ + 4𝒌
̂) m
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 64d

A laser emits at a wavelength of 663 nm with a power of 0.200 W. Take Planck’s constant as 6.63 ×
10−34 J s and the speed of light in vacuum as 3.00 × 108 m/s.

(10) What is the energy of each photon emitted by the laser?

Ans: 𝟑. 𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟗 𝐉
𝐸 = ℎ𝑐/𝜆 = 6.63 × 10−34 J s × 3.00 × 108 m/s ÷ (663 × 10−9 m) = 3.00 × 10−19 J

(11) What is the momentum of each photon emitted by the laser?

Ans: 𝟏. 𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟕 𝐤𝐠 𝐦/𝐬

𝑝 = ℎ/𝜆 = 6.63 × 10−34 J s ÷ (663 × 10−9 m) = 1.00 × 10−27 kg m/s

(12) How many photons are emitted each second by the laser?

Ans: 𝟔. 𝟔𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟕
Emission rate= 𝑃/𝐸 = 0.200 W ÷ (3.00 × 10−19 J) = 6.67 × 1017 photons/s
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 65a

Give the physical constant in SI units to four significant figures.

(1) The Planck constant.

Ans: 𝟔. 𝟔𝟐𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟒 𝐉 𝐬

(2) The speed of light in vacuum.

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟗𝟗𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐦/𝐬

(3) The Avogadro number.

Ans: 𝟔. 𝟎𝟐𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐦𝐨𝐥−𝟏

Accept 6.022 × 1023 particles/mol
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 65b

(4) How does the electric field strength outside a uniformly charged sphere vary with distance from the
centre of the sphere?

Ans: Inverse square

𝐸 ∝ 1/𝑟 2

(5) How does the electric field strength inside a uniformly charged sphere vary with distance from the
centre of the sphere?

Ans: Linearly
𝐸∝𝑟

(6) How does the electric field strength inside a uniformly charged conducting sphere vary with distance
from the centre of the sphere?

Ans: Zero
𝐸 is not just constant in this case; it is specifically zero.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 65c

You may take the Coulomb law constant as 9 × 109 V m/C.

(7) A 20 𝜇C charge is placed at the origin and a −50 𝜇C charge is placed at 𝑥 = 2 m on the 𝑥 axis. What
is the electric field strength at 𝑥 = 1 m on the 𝑥 axis?

Ans: 𝟔. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝐕/𝐦 in +𝒙 direction

𝑞𝑖 (𝒓 − 𝒓𝑖 ) 20 𝜇C × 𝒊̂ −50 𝜇C × (−𝒊̂)
𝑬=∑ 3
= 9 × 109 V m/C × [ + ] = 6.3 × 105 𝒊̂ V/m
4𝜋𝜖0 |𝑟 − 𝑟𝑖 | (1 m)2 (1 m)2
Accept N/C in place of V/m.

(8) A 20 𝜇C charge is placed at the origin and a 50 𝜇C charge is placed at 𝑥 = 2 m on the 𝑥 axis. What
is the electric field strength at 𝑥 = 1 m on the 𝑥 axis?

Ans: 𝟐. 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝐕/𝐦 in −𝒙 direction

𝑞𝑖 (𝒓 − 𝒓𝑖 ) 9
20 𝜇C × 𝒊̂ 50 𝜇C × (−𝒊̂)
𝑬=∑ 3
= 9 × 10 V m/C × [ 2
+ 2
] = −2.7 × 105 𝒊̂ V/m
|𝑟
4𝜋𝜖0 − 𝑟𝑖 | (1 m) (1 m)

(9) Two 20 𝜇C charges are placed 2 m apart on the 𝑥 axis. What is the electric field strength midway
between them?

Ans: 0
𝑞𝑖 (𝒓 − 𝒓𝑖 ) 9
20 𝜇C × 𝒊̂ 20 𝜇C × (−𝒊̂)
𝑬=∑ = 9 × 10 V m/C × [ + ] = 0 𝒊̂ V/m
4𝜋𝜖0 |𝑟 − 𝑟𝑖 |3 (1 m)2 (1 m)2
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 65d

A 5 Ω resistor of negligible heat capacity is inserted into a thermally insulating vessel containing 1 kg
of water at 25 ℃ and 10 V is applied to it. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J kg −1 K −1.

(10) What is the temperature of the water after 21 s?

Ans: 𝟐𝟓. 𝟏 ℃
Δ𝑇 = 𝑄/𝐶 = 𝑃𝑡/𝑚𝑐 = 𝑉 2 𝑡/𝑅𝑚𝑐 = (10 V)2 × 21 s ÷ (5 Ω × 1 kg × 4200 J kg −1 K −1 ) = 0.1 K so 𝑇 =
25 ℃ + 0.1 ℃ = 25.1 ℃

(11) How long will it take to increase the temperature of the water by 2 K?

Ans: 𝟒𝟐𝟎 𝐬
𝑡 = 𝑅𝑚𝑐Δ𝑇/𝑉 2 = (5 Ω × 1 kg × 4200 J kg −1 K −1 × 2 K) ÷ (10 V)2 = 420 s

(12) How much water can be heated to 30 ℃ in 42 s?

Ans: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 𝐤𝐠
𝑚 = 𝑉 2 𝑡/𝑅𝑐Δ𝑇 = (10 V)2 × 42 s ÷ (5 Ω × 4200 J kg −1 K −1 × 5 K) = 0.04 kg
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 66a

(1) How does the electric potential inside a charged conducting sphere vary with distance from the
centre of the sphere?

Ans: Constant
It is not necessarily zero.

(2) How does the electric potential on the surface of a charged conducting sphere vary with position on
the sphere?

Ans: Constant

(3) How does the electric potential outside a charged conducting sphere vary with distance from the
centre of the sphere?

Ans: Inversely
𝑉 ∝ 1/𝑟
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 66b

Give the physical constant in SI units to four significant figures.

(4) Permittivity of free space.

Ans: 𝟖. 𝟖𝟓𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 𝐅/𝐦

Accept 8.854 × 10−12 C2 N−1 m−2 .

(5) Electron mass.

Ans: 𝟗. 𝟏𝟎𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑𝟏 𝐤𝐠

(6) Electron charge.

Ans: −𝟏. 𝟔𝟎𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟗 𝐂

Please do not accept a positive value.
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 66c

A 20 𝜇C charge is placed at the origin. What is the electrostatic potential at the given position vector
in meters? You may take the Coulomb law constant as 9 × 109 V m/C

(7) 2𝒊̂

Ans: 𝟗𝟎 𝐤𝐕
𝑞
𝑉= = 9 × 109 V m/C × 20 𝜇C ÷ 2 m = 90 kV
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟

(8) 4𝒋̂

Ans: 𝟒𝟓 𝐤𝐕
𝑞
𝑉= = 9 × 109 V m/C × 20 𝜇C ÷ 4 m = 45 kV
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟

(9) ̂
3𝒌

Ans: 𝟔𝟎 𝐤𝐕
𝑞
𝑉= = 9 × 109 V m/C × 20 𝜇C ÷ 3 m = 60 kV
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 66d

The distances to perihelion and aphelion of an asteroid are 300 Gm and 500 Gm respectively.

(10) What is the distance between the apsides of the orbit of the asteroid?

Ans: 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐆𝐦
2𝑎 = 300 Gm + 500 Gm = 800 Gm

(11) What is the semi-major axis of the orbit of the asteroid?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝐆𝐦
𝑎 = 2𝑎/2 = 800 Gm ÷ 2 = 400 Gm

(12) What is the eccentricity of the orbit of the asteroid?

Ans: 𝟏/𝟒 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝑎𝑒
𝑎𝑒 = 𝑎 − 300 Gm = 100 Gm so 𝑒 = 100 Gm ÷ 400 Gm = 1/4
𝑎
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 67a

Which of the following are not composed of sub-particles?

(1) Electron, anti-proton, neutron.

Ans: Electron

(2) Anti-neutron, anti-neutrino, proton.

Ans: Anti-neutrino

(3) Deuteron, alpha particle, neutrino?

Ans: Neutrino
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 67b

(4) What is the thermal efficiency of a heat engine that absorbs 50 J of heat at a high temperature
reservoir and rejects 30 J of heat to a low temperature reservoir?

Ans: 𝟒𝟎%
𝜂 = 𝑊/𝑄𝐻 = (𝑄𝐻 − |𝑄𝐿 |)/𝑄𝐻 = (50 J − 30 J) ÷ (50 J) = 40%

(5) What is the thermal efficiency of a heat engine that does 50 J of work when it rejects 30 J of heat to a
low temperature reservoir?

Ans: 𝟔𝟐. 𝟓%
𝜂 = 𝑊/𝑄𝐻 = 𝑊/(𝑊 + |𝑄𝐿 |) = 50 J ÷ (50 J + 30 J) = 62.5%

(6) What is the work done by a heat engine with an efficiency of 20% when it rejects 50 J of heat to a
low temperature reservoir?

Ans: 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓 𝐉
𝑊 = 𝜂𝑄𝐻 = 𝜂(𝑊 + |𝑄𝐿 |) ⇒ 𝑊 = 𝜂𝑄𝐿 /(1 − 𝜂) = 0.2 × 50 J ÷ (1 − 0.2) = 12.5 J
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 67c

In a Frank-Hertz experiment conducted with a certain atomic vapour, it is observed that as the grid
voltage is increased from 0 V the anode current increases until the grid voltage reaches 18.7 V when
the anode current falls.

(7) What event occurs at a grid voltage of 18.7 V to cause the anode current to fall?

Ans: Inelastic collision between electrons and atoms in the vapour between cathode and grid reduces
the electron energy below what is needed to reach the anode

(8) What would be observed if the anode voltage were increased from 18.7 V to 40 V?

Ans: Anode current increases until grid voltage reaches 𝟑𝟕. 𝟒 𝐕 where it falls and then increases as
grid voltage is increased from 𝟑𝟕. 𝟒 𝐕 to 𝟒𝟎 𝐕

(9) What do the observations imply for the energy structure of the atoms in the vapour?

Ans: The atoms have an energy level 𝟏𝟖. 𝟕 𝐞𝐕 above the ground state
 Round 1 Physics
Contest 67d

(10) What unary operation is obtained by replacing the feedback resistor in an op-amp inverting amplifier
with a capacitor?

Ans: Integration

(11) What unary operation is obtained by replacing the input resistor in an op-amp inverting amplifier
with a capacitor?

Ans: Differentiation

(12) What unary operation is obtained by replacing the feedback resistor in an op-amp inverting amplifier
with a diode?

Ans: Logarithm