ISC Question Paper

Physics
2010
 PHYSICS
Paper-I
(Theory)
(Three hours)
(Candidates are allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper,
They must NOT start writing during this time)
Answer all questions in Part I and six questions from Part II, Choosing two questions
from each of the Sections A, B and C.
All working including rough work should be done on the same sheet as, and adjacent to,
the rest of the answer.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
(Material to be supplied: Log tables including Trigonometric functions)
A list of useful physical constants is given at the end of this paper.
PART I
Answer all questions
Question 1
A Choose the correct alternative A, B , C or D for each of the questions given [5]
below:
(i) Electric field intensity ‘E’ at a point P (Figure 1) at a perpendicular distance ‘r’
from an infinitely long line charge X’X having linear charge density λ is given
by:
P

X’ X
Figure 1

(A) ⎛ 1 ⎞ 2λ (B) ⎛ 1 ⎞ 2λ
E = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ 2 E = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ 4πε o ⎠r ⎝ 4πε o ⎠ r
(C) ⎛ 1 ⎞λ (D) ⎛ 1 ⎞λ
E = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ 2 E = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ 4πε o ⎠r ⎝ 4πε o ⎠r

B Answer all questions briefly and to the point: [15]

(i) In an electric dipole, what is the locus of a point of zero potential?

(ii) What is the resistance of a carbon resistor whose coloured bands are shown
below:
Yellow White
Red Brown

A carbon resistor
Figure2
(iii) A part of an electric circuit is shown below (Figure 3):
B
2Ω
I
3A
5A A 4Ω

2A
6Ω

Figure 3
nd
Using Kirchoff’s 2 Law, find the current I flowing through the 4Ω resistor.

(iv) Figure 4 below shows a graph of emf ‘e’ generated by an ac generator verses
time ‘t’.
Y

e 200
(Volt)
0.10 0.15
0.05 0.20 t (second)
–200

– Y’ Figure 4
What is the frequency of the emf?

(v) Arrange the three types of magnetic materials, i.e. paramagnetic, diamagnetic
and ferromagnetic materials, in decreasing order of their magnetic
susceptibility.

(vi) Which electromagnetic wave is longer than X ray but shorter than light wave?

(vii) Calculate the critical angle for glass and water pair.
(The refractive index for glass is 1.50 and refractive index for water is 1.33)

(viii) Name an optical device, which, when used with a spectrometer, can determine
the wavelength of the given monochromatic light.

(ix) Young’s double slit experiment was performed with monochromatic light of
blue colour. The experiment was then repeated, first with light of red colour
and then, with light of yellow colour. Which colour produces interference
pattern with maximum fringe separation (i.e. fringe width)?
(x) Calculate the dispersive power of glass up to three decimal places, from the
following data:
Refractive index of glass for red colour =1.60
Refractive index of glass for yellow colour =1.61
Refractive index of glass for violet colour =1.62
 (xi) De Broglie wavelength of electrons of kinetic energy E is λ. What will be its
value if kinetic energy of electrons is made 4E?

(xii) How much energy will be created if 1 g of matter is destroyed completely?

(xiii) Complete the following nuclear reaction:

(xiv) State one important use of a Zener diode.

(xv) Draw a labelled graph of voltage verses time for a signal voltage used in digital
circuits.

PART II
Answer six questions in this part, choosing two questions from each of the Sections A, B
and C.
SECTION A
Answer any two questions
Question 2

(a) An isolated 16μF parallel plate air capacitor has a potential difference of [2]
1000 V (Figure 5 a). A dielectric slab having relative permittivity (i.e.
dielectric constant) =5 is introduced to fill the space between the two
plates completely (Figure 5 b). Calculate:
(i) the new capacitance of the capacitor.
(ii) the new potential difference between the two plates of the capacitor.
16μF Dielectric slab
+ – + –
+ A – + –
+ I – + –
+ R – + –
V=1000V
Figure 5 a Figure 5 b

(b) An electron revolves round the nucleus of hydrogen atom in a circular [4]
orbit of radius 5 x 10–11 m. Calculate:
(i) intensity of electric field of the nucleus at the position of the
electron.
(ii) electrostatic potential energy of the hydrogen nucleus and electron
system.

(c) (i) What is Peltier effect? State one difference between Peltier effect [3]
and Seebeck effect.
(ii) Explain the statement: ‘Temperature coefficient of resistance of a
metal is 4 x10–3/oC.
Question 3
(a) In the circuit shown below (Figure 6), PQ is a uniform metallic wire of [4]
length 4 m and resistance 20Ω. Battery B has an emf of 10V and
internal resistance of 1Ω. J is a jockey or slide contact. Resistance of the
ammeter A and connecting wires is negligible.

Z
X=1Ω 10Ω Y=4Ω
Figure 6
G
J
P Q
4m,20Ω
A
B

(i) When the jockey J does not touch the wire PQ, what is the reading
of the ammeter A?
(ii) Where should the jockey J be pressed on the wire PQ so that the
galvanometer G shows no deflection?

(b) What is ‘current density’? Write the vector equation connecting current [2]
density J with electric field intensity E, for an ohmic conductor.
r
(c) A small magnetic needle NS having magnetic dipole moment Pm is kept [3]
r r
in two uniform and perpendicular magnetic fields BF and B H as shown
below (Figure 7).
r
BH North
r
West BF East

Figure 7 South

r r
(i) What is the effect of each of the magnetic fields BF and B H
on the needle?
(ii) When the needle is in equilibrium, obtain an expression for
r r r
angle θ made by the needle with B H in terms of BF and B H
only.

(b) (i) In case of polarized light, what is meant by the ‘plane of [2

‘polarisation’?
(ii) Find refractive index of glass if its polarizing angle is 60o.
Question 4

(a) Figure 8 below shows two very long conductors PQ and RS kept [3]
parallel to each other in vacuum at a distance of 20cm. They carry
currents of 5A and 15A, respectively, in the same direction, as shown.
r
Find the resultant magnetic flux density BR at a point M which lies
exactly midway between PQ and RS.
P R

I1 =5A I2 =15A
M

20cm

Q S
Figure 8

(b) With the help of a neatly drawn labelled diagram, prove that the [3]
magnitude of motional emf ‘e’ is given by e=Blv, where ‘l is the length
of a metallic rod and ‘v’ is the velocity with which it is pulled in a
transverse magnetic field ‘B’.
(c) Plot a labelled graph showing variation in impedance Z of a series LCR [3]
circuit with frequency f of alternating emf applied to it. What is the
minimum value of this impedance?

Impedance Z
R, the ohmic resistance

Frequency (f)

SECTION B
Answer any two questions

Question 5 [3]

(a) On the basis of Huygen’s wave theory, show that when light is incident
on a plane mirror obliquely, angle of reflection is equal to angle of
incidence.
 (b) (i) What is a continuous emission spectrum? Name one source of light [3]
which produces such a spectrum.
(ii) Explain in brief why dark lines are observed in the solar spectrum.

(c) An equiconvex lens of glass, having focal length of 10cm is split into [2]
two identical plano-convex lenses each having focal length f1 as shown
below (Figure 9)

Radius R Radius R

Plane
Surface

F=10cm f1 f1
Figure 9

Find the value of f1.

Question 6

(a) An illuminated point O kept 20cm from a thin convex lens L1 of focal [4]
length 15 cm as shown below. A thin diverging lens L2 of focal length
25cm is kept co-axial with the first lens and 35 cm from it, as shown in
Figure 10.

L1 L2

Object
Common
20cm 35cm Principal axis
Figure 10

Find the position of the final image formed by this combination of

lenses.

(b) (i) What are coherent sources? [2]

(ii) In Young’s double slit experiment, what is path difference
between the two light waves forming 5th bright band (fringe)) on
the screen?
 (c) State one similarity and one difference between interference of light and [2]
diffraction of light.

Question 7

(a) A ray EF of monochromatic light is incident on the refracting surface AB [3]

of a regular glass prism (refractive index=1.5) at an angle of incidence of i
=55o (Figure 11). If it emerges through the adjacent face AC, calculate the
angle of emergence ‘e’.
A

F G
i e
E D
B C
Figure 11

(c) (i) Explain the statement: “Angular magnification of a compound [3

microscope in normal use is 30.”
(ii) State how the resolving power of an astronomical telescope can be
increased.

SECTION C
Answer any two questions

Question 8

(a) In Millikan’s oil drop experiment, the two plates are 2cm apart. When a [3]
potential difference of 2355 V is applied between them, an oil drop of
radius 1μm is found to remain suspended. Calculate the number of
excess electrons on the drop.
[Density of oil = 900kg/m3. Density of air may be ignored]

(b) Figure12 below shows a simple X ray tube. P1 and P2 are power [2]
supplies which generate 6V and 40,000 V respectively. Show how you
will connect these power supplies to the X ray tube so that it stars
producing X rays.
6V
X ray tube
Vacuum + P1 –
T
A Power supplies
F + –
P2

40,000V
Figure 12
 (c) (i) Write a balanced equation showing nuclear fission of Uranium [3]
(235
)
92 U nucleus.

(ii) In a nuclear reactor, what is the function of:

(1) Cadmium rods?
(2) Graphite rods?

Question 9

(a) Starting with N = N 0 e − λt , obtain a relation between disintegration [2]

constant ‘λ’ of a radioactive element and its half life (T). Various terms
have their usual meaning.
N
N = N o e −λt ........(1) When t = T then, N = o
2

(b) On an energy level diagram of hydrogen, show by a downward or an [3]

upward arrow, a transition which results in:
(i) emission line of Balmer series.
(ii) emission line of Lyman series.
(iii) absorption line of Lyman series.

(c) Calculate: [3]

(i) ( )
Mass defect of Helium 24 He nucleus and
(ii) Its binding energy in MeV.
Mass of a proton = 1.007276 u
Mass of a neutron = 1.008665 u
Mass of 24 He nucleus = 4.001506 u

Question 10

(a) Draw a labelled diagram of a common emitter amplifier. What is the 3]

phase angle between the input and output voltages?
(b) Threshold wavelength of a certain metal is 792 nm. What is the [3]
maximum kinetic energy of photo-electrons emitted by this metal if it is
exposed to ultraviolet light of wavelength 396 nm?
(c) The following combination of gates acts as a logic gate. With the help [2]
of a truth table, find out which logic gate the combination represents.

A Y1 Y
B

A B Y1 Y
0 0 1 0
0 1 0 1
1 0 0 1
1 1 0 1
It is an OR gate.
Useful Constants and Relations:
1 Sped of light in vacuum (c) = 3.0 x 108 ms-1
2 Charge of a proton (e) = 1.6 x 10-19 C
3 Plank’s constant (h) = 6.6 x 10-34 Js
4 Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10ms-2
5 Constant of proportionality for Coulomb’s Law ⎛ 1 ⎞ = 9 x109 mF-1
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ 4πε o ⎠
6 Constant of proportionality for Biot-Savart Law ⎛ μo ⎞ = 10-7 Hm-1
⎜ ⎟
⎝ 4π ⎠
7 Electron volt 1 eV = 1.6 x10-19 J
8 Unified Atomic Mass Unit (1 u) = 931 MeV