Physics 9702 · AS & A Level
May/June 2019
120 questions from this paper, with worked solutions and instant marking.
Which unit may be written in base units as $\text{kg m}^2\text{ s}^{-2}$?
SI units
A stone is released from a high building. Air resistance is important. The dashed curve shows how the distance fallen changes with time. A second stone has the same dimensions but a lower mass and is released from the same building. Which curve shows the motion of the second stone?
Non-uniform motion
A helium atom of mass $m$ strikes a wall head-on. It reaches the wall with speed $v$ and then returns along the same line of motion. Assume that the collision is perfectly elastic. What is the change in the momentum of the atom during the collision?
Linear momentum and its conservation
A cylindrical iceberg with height $H$ is floating in sea water. Its upper end rises to a height $h$ above the water surface. The density of ice is $\rho_i$ and the density of sea water is $\rho_w$. What is the value of $h$ for the iceberg above the sea water?
Density and pressure
As illustrated, a couple acts on a tap. What is the torque of the couple?
Turning effects of forces
A crane is fitted with a counterweight so that it does not topple while raising a load, as illustrated. The counterweight has a mass of $5000\ \text{kg}$. The crane is designed to lift a load of $12.0\ \text{kN}$, and the horizontal distance from the pivot to the load is $17.0\ \text{m}$. At what distance from the pivot must the centre of gravity of the counterweight be placed to maintain equilibrium of the crane?
Turning effects of forces
Three forces act in parallel on an object. The object is in equilibrium because of these forces. What conditions must these forces satisfy?
Equilibrium of forces
An empty glass beaker has a mass of $103\ \text{g}$. If it is filled with water, its overall mass becomes $361\ \text{g}$. If it is filled with cooking oil, its overall mass becomes $351\ \text{g}$. The density of water is $1.00\ \text{g cm}^{-3}$. What is the density of the cooking oil?
Density and pressure
A boy pulls a sledge across a horizontal surface by means of a rope attached to it, and the sledge moves with constant velocity. The rope has a tension of $100\ \text{N}$ and is kept at $30^{\circ}$ above the horizontal. What amount of work does the boy do on the sledge as it is pulled a distance of $5.0\ \text{m}$ along the surface?
Energy conservation
The kinetic energy $E_k$ of an object with mass $m$ moving at speed $v$ is represented by the equation below. $E_k = \tfrac{1}{2}mv^2$ Which equation is not used when deriving this equation?
Equations of motion
A grasshopper with mass $0.12\ \text{g}$ leaps upwards. Over a period of $0.020\ \text{s}$, it pushes off using its back legs and then leaves the ground at a speed of $3.0\ \text{m s}^{-1}$. What is the average power developed by the grasshopper's legs?
Energy conservation
The luminosity $L$ of a star is represented by $L = 4\pi r^2 \sigma T^4$ in which $r$ denotes the star’s radius, $T$ denotes the star’s temperature and $\sigma$ is a constant with units $\text{W m}^{-2}\text{ K}^{-4}$. What are the SI base units of $L$?
SI units
A spring with an initial length of $100\ \text{mm}$ is being shortened by a force. The graph illustrates how the compressive force $F$ changes with the spring length $L$. How much energy is stored in the spring when the length is $70\ \text{mm}$?
Elastic and plastic behaviour
A $0.80\ \text{m}$ steel wire and a $1.4\ \text{m}$ brass wire are connected end to end. The joined wires are hung from a fixed support, and a force of $40\ \text{N}$ is exerted on them, as illustrated. The Young modulus of steel is $2.0 \times 10^{11}\ \text{Pa}$. The Young modulus of brass is $1.0 \times 10^{11}\ \text{Pa}$. The cross-sectional area of each wire is $2.4 \times 10^{-6}\ \text{m}^2$. Both wires obey Hooke’s law. Determine the total extension. Neglect the weight of the wires.
Stress and strain
A transverse wave travelling through a medium has the waveform shown, where $y$ represents vertical displacement and $x$ represents horizontal distance. The wave moves at a speed of $20.0\ \text{cm s}^{-1}$. A particle in the medium vibrates vertically. Which graph of vertical displacement $y$ against time $t$ most closely shows the motion of this particle?
Progressive waves
The graph shows how particle displacement changes with distance along a transverse wave at one instant. The wave is travelling to the right. Which point on the wave is a position where the particles are moving upwards at the greatest speed?
Transverse and longitudinal waves
A water-filled long tube has a tap attached at its lower end, as illustrated. A tuning fork is made to vibrate above the tube, and the water is then permitted to flow out slowly from the tube. As the water level falls, a louder sound is produced at regular intervals. The difference in water level between successive louder sounds is $32\,\text{cm}$. What is the wavelength of the sound in the tube?
Stationary waves
An insect at rest on the water surface produces circular ripples using its legs, as shown in diagram 1. The insect then starts moving to the right, as shown in diagram 2. Which row describes how the movement of the insect changes the waves at $X$?
Doppler effect for sound waves
A toy motorboat is travelling with constant velocity $v$ and bobs vertically on the surface of a pond. As a result, the boat produces circular water waves with frequency $2.0\,\text{Hz}$. The wave speed is $1.5\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. A man who is standing by the pond’s edge notices that the waves arriving from the boat have a frequency of $3.0\,\text{Hz}$. The equation used for Doppler effect calculations for sound waves can also be applied to water waves. What is a possible value of $v$?
Doppler effect for sound waves
Two progressive waves with frequency $300\,\text{Hz}$ combine to form a stationary wave, and neighbouring nodes are separated by $1.5\,\text{m}$. What is the speed of the progressive waves?
Stationary waves
The diagrams illustrate water-wave diffraction in a ripple tank as they move through a gap between two barriers. Which diagram is the correct one?
Diffraction
An interference experiment using a double slit is arranged as illustrated. Fringes appear on the screen. The separation between neighbouring bright fringes is measured as $4\,\text{mm}$. Two alterations are then made to the setup. The double slit is swapped for a different double slit with half the slit spacing. The screen is also shifted so that its distance from the double slit is twice as large. What is the new separation between neighbouring bright fringes?
Interference
A particle moves with velocity $V$, making an angle $\theta$ with the horizontal. Its velocity components are $V_v$ vertically upwards and $V_h$ horizontally to the right, as illustrated. What expressions give the magnitude of $V$ and the angle $\theta$?
Scalars and vectors
The interference patterns produced by a diffraction grating and by a double slit are compared. With the diffraction grating, yellow light in the first order is observed at $30^{\circ}$ to the normal of the grating. The same light forms interference fringes on a screen $1.0\,\text{m}$ away from the double slit. The slit separation is $500$ times larger than the line spacing of the grating. What is the fringe separation on the screen?
The diffraction grating
Which diagram illustrates the arrangement of the electric field lines produced by a negative point charge?
Scalars and vectors
Within an electrolyte, electric current is transported by charged particles, called ions, in solution. Which value cannot be the charge on an ion in solution?
Electric current
A voltmeter joined across two points P and Q in an electrical circuit gives a reading of $1\,\text{V}$. Which statement is correct?
Potential difference and power
Which graph most accurately shows how potential difference $V$ varies with current $I$ in a filament lamp?
Resistance and resistivity
If a battery is joined to a resistor, the battery slowly warms up. As a result, the battery’s internal resistance increases while its electromotive force (e.m.f.) remains constant. When the internal resistance of the battery rises, what happens to the terminal potential difference and the output power, if anything?
Potential difference and power
A cell is joined to a resistor with resistance $3.00\,\Omega$. The current through the resistor is $1.00\,\text{A}$. An identical second resistor is then connected in parallel. The current rises to $1.93\,\text{A}$. Determine the e.m.f. $E$ and internal resistance $r$ of the cell.
Practical circuits
A battery with negligible internal resistance is connected to three resistors, as shown. The three resistors all have equal resistance. The current in the battery is $0.30\,\text{A}$. What is the current in resistor X?
Kirchhoff's laws
The diagram depicts a potentiometer and a fixed resistor linked across a $12\,\text{V}$ battery with negligible internal resistance. The fixed resistor and the potentiometer both have resistance $20\,\Omega$. The circuit is intended to give a variable output voltage. What is the range of output voltages?
Potential dividers
Which statement from the alpha-particle scattering experiment gives evidence that the nucleus exists?
Atoms, nuclei and radiation
A whale emits sound waves with frequency $5\,\text{Hz}$. The waves are picked up by a microphone and shown on an oscilloscope. What value should be chosen for the oscilloscope time-base?
Progressive waves
Some particles consist of three quarks. Which combination of quarks would not produce a particle with a charge of either $+1.6 \times 10^{-19}\,\text{C}$ or zero?
Fundamental particles
A car’s speedometer display is proportional to the tyre rotation rate. If the tyre diameter changes as the tyre wears, the speed reading on the speedometer becomes inaccurate. A car is fitted with new tyres that each have a diameter of $600\,\text{mm}$. The speedometer has been correctly set for this diameter. As the tyres wear, $6\,\text{mm}$ of material is removed from the outer surface, as shown. Determine the error in the speed indicated by the speedometer after this wear occurs.
Errors and uncertainties
A car moves along a straight horizontal road. The graph illustrates how the car’s velocity $v$ changes with time $t$ during $6.0\,\text{s}$ of its journey. The car’s brakes are applied during the interval from $t = 1.0\,\text{s}$ to $t = 4.0\,\text{s}$. How far is the car moved in the time when the brakes are applied?
Non-uniform motion
A stone is projected horizontally from the top of a cliff and lands in the sea after some time. Air resistance is negligible. Which graph shows how the vertical component $v_v$ of velocity of this stone changes with its horizontal component $v_h$ of velocity while it is moving through the air?
Equations of motion
A charge of $2.6 \times 10^{-8}\,\text{C}$, which is positive, lies in a uniform electric field with field strength $300\,000\,\text{V m}^{-1}$. How much work has to be done on the charge to shift it by a distance of $4.0\,\text{mm}$ in the direction opposite to that of the field?
Potential difference and power
Each diagram shows two forces with the same magnitude. Which diagram is an example of a pair of forces that Newton’s third law of motion describes?
Momentum and Newton's laws of motion
What has the same value as 2000 microvolts?
SI units
A car of mass $m$ is considered. A person must apply a force $F$ to the car so that it accelerates at $a$. To make the car accelerate at $3a$, the person must apply a force $2F$. Which expression represents the constant resistive force acting against the car's motion?
Momentum and Newton's laws of motion
Bar magnets P and Q are fixed on floats that can move along an air track with no friction. The two magnets move towards one another along the air track and interact, but do not touch. The relative speed at which the magnets approach is the same as their relative speed at which they move apart. Which statement about P and Q must be correct?
Linear momentum and its conservation
A submarine moves downward vertically at a steady velocity. The three forces acting on it are viscous drag, upthrust and weight. Which relationship between the sizes of these forces is correct?
Equilibrium of forces
A small positive charge may travel within a uniform electric field. It moves along various straight-line routes between points P, Q, R and S. Which row shows two routes that produce the same total work done on the charge?
Potential difference and power
A car with mass $m$ moves up a slope inclined at an angle $\theta$ to the horizontal at constant speed, as shown in the diagram. Air resistance and friction exert a resistive force $F$. The acceleration of free fall is $g$. What force is required to drive the car at this constant speed?
Equilibrium of forces
A volume of $1.5\,\text{m}^3$ of water is blended with $0.50\,\text{m}^3$ of alcohol. The density of water is $1000\,\text{kg m}^{-3}$ and the density of alcohol is $800\,\text{kg m}^{-3}$. The volume of the mixture is $2.0\,\text{m}^3$. What is the density of the mixture?
Density and pressure
A parachutist is descending at constant (terminal) velocity. Which statement is incorrect?
Equilibrium of forces
A combined heat and power (CHP) station produces electrical power and useful heat. The diagram illustrates the input power and the output powers of a CHP station. What is the efficiency of the CHP station in producing useful power?
Energy conservation
A bungee jumper steps off a high bridge while connected to it by a long elastic rope that obeys Hooke’s law. The jumper’s gravitational potential energy is taken relative to the lowest point reached by the jumper. Which graph shows how the jumper’s gravitational potential energy, and the elastic potential energy in the rope, vary with the vertical distance fallen from the top of the bridge?
Energy conservation
A train on a mountain railway is transporting $200$ people with an average mass of $70\,\text{kg}$ up a slope inclined at $30^\circ$ to the horizontal and moving at a speed of $6.0\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. The train itself has a mass of $80\,000\,\text{kg}$. The fraction of the engine’s power that is used to lift the passengers and the train is $40\%$. What is the power of the engine?
Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy
How many SI base units are needed to express electric field strength and power?
SI units
A force stretches wire X and gives it elastic potential energy $E$. The same force is then applied to wire Y, which is made of the same material and has the same starting length as wire X, but its diameter is twice that of wire X. Both wires follow Hooke’s law. What is the increase in elastic potential energy of wire Y?
Elastic and plastic behaviour
The diagram illustrates how the atoms are arranged in one crystal. Each atom is located at a corner of a cube. The mass of one atom is $3.5 \times 10^{-25}\,\text{kg}$. The density of the crystal is $9.2 \times 10^{3}\,\text{kg m}^{-3}$. What is the shortest distance between the centres of two neighbouring atoms?
Density and pressure
The stress-strain graphs for loading and unloading four different materials are displayed. Which material shows purely elastic behaviour?
Elastic and plastic behaviour
The diagram shows the arrangement of particles in a progressive sound wave at one particular moment. The wave travels with speed $v$. $P$ and $Q$ are two positions in the wave separated by a distance $L$. Which expression gives the wave’s frequency?
Progressive waves
A wave travels across the water surface. The diagram illustrates how displacement $s$ changes with distance along the wave at time $t = 0$. Which graph most accurately represents how the displacement $s$ of point $P$ on the wave varies with time $t$?
Progressive waves
In an experiment used to find the wavelength of sound in air, a stationary wave is formed in an air column. The separation between a node and the nearest antinode is $L$. What is the wavelength of the sound?
Stationary waves
In one of the earliest experiments used to show the Doppler effect, a train was packed with trumpeters, each of whom played a note of frequency $440\,\text{Hz}$. When the train moved directly towards a stationary observer, the change in the observed frequency of the note was $22\,\text{Hz}$. The speed of sound was $340\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. At which speed was the train moving?
Doppler effect for sound waves
The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of waves with varying wavelengths. Which row correctly names regions of the electromagnetic spectrum?
Electromagnetic spectrum
A cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) is employed to show the trace produced by a sound wave. The time-base is adjusted to $5\,\mu\text{s mm}^{-1}$. What is the frequency of the sound wave?
Progressive waves
Monochromatic light is aimed at a diffraction grating, as illustrated. Which diagram could represent every possible direction of the light after it has passed through the grating that produces maximum intensity?
The diffraction grating
The Planck constant $h$ is measured in SI units of $\text{J s}$. Which equation may be used to calculate the Planck constant?
Atoms, nuclei and radiation
Why is it impossible to obtain a visible interference pattern between two monochromatic light beams from different lamps?
Interference
A student arranges apparatus to observe double-slit interference using monochromatic light, as shown. Interference fringes appear on the screen. Which change would make the spacing between neighbouring fringes larger?
Interference
An electron is located in a vacuum between two charged plates, as shown. Which statement describes the electron’s motion caused by the uniform electric field?
Equations of motion
A wire is inserted into a circuit. At $R$, the wire has cross-sectional area $A$, whereas at $S$ it is $\frac{1}{2}A$. The current in the wire is constant. Charge $Q$ passes point $R$ in a time $t$. What charge passes point $S$ in the same time $t$?
Electric current
Four wires are all made from the same metal. Their cross-sectional areas, lengths and thermodynamic temperatures are shown. Which wire has the greatest resistance?
Resistance and resistivity
A cell that has internal resistance is joined to a variable resistor $R$ as shown. The resistance of $R$ is then reduced gradually. What happens to the current $I$ and to the terminal potential difference across the cell?
Practical circuits
Kirchhoff’s first law says that, at a junction in a circuit, the total current flowing in is the same as the total current flowing out. This law is founded on the conservation of a physical quantity. Which physical quantity is it?
Kirchhoff's laws
In a circuit with two batteries, both of negligible internal resistance, and two resistors arranged as shown, the galvanometer shows a current reading of zero. What is the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of battery $X$?
Potential dividers
A nucleus of francium-221 ($^{221}_{87}\text{Fr}$) changes into a nucleus of bismuth-209 ($^{209}_{83}\text{Bi}$) through a sequence of decays. Which particles might be given off?
Atoms, nuclei and radiation
Which equation shows the change in the quark composition of a nucleus and the emission of leptons during $\beta^{+}$ decay?
Atoms, nuclei and radiation
Two cables are fastened to a bracket and produce forces as shown. What are the magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical components of the resultant from the two forces?
Scalars and vectors
In the simple model of an atom, protons, neutrons and electrons are present. Which class (group) do these particles belong to: hadron or lepton?
Atoms, nuclei and radiation
A student wants to find the density $\rho$ of lead. She records the mass and diameter of a small lead sphere: mass $= (0.506 \pm 0.005)\,\text{g}$ diameter $= (2.20 \pm 0.02)\,\text{mm}$. What is the most suitable estimate of the percentage uncertainty in her calculated value of $\rho$?
Errors and uncertainties
The two quantities $p$ and $q$ are directly proportional. Experimental readings are collected and then plotted on a graph of $q$ against $p$. Which graph indicates that the measurements of $p$ and $q$ included random errors?
Errors and uncertainties
A man with a mass of $75.2\,\text{kg}$ uses a set of weighing scales to find his mass three times. The results are: reading 1: $80.2\,\text{kg}$ reading 2: $80.1\,\text{kg}$ reading 3: $80.2\,\text{kg}$. Which statement most suitably describes the precision and accuracy of the weighing scales?
Errors and uncertainties
The graph illustrates how a physical quantity changes over time. Which event would be most suitably shown by the graph?
Equations of motion
What term is used to describe the mass of an object?
Physical quantities
Which unit is an SI base unit?
SI units
Two parallel vertical plates produce a uniform electric field. A positively charged particle is located in the vacuum region between the plates, as shown. Which statement is correct?
Momentum and Newton's laws of motion
A picture is held up from a nail by one cord attached to two points $X$ and $Y$ on the picture. Friction between the cord and the nail is negligible, so the tension is the same on both sides of the cord. The picture is in a symmetrical position, as illustrated. The tension in the cord is $T$. On each side, the angle between the cord and the vertical is $\theta$. Which statement is correct?
Equilibrium of forces
A shop sign with a weight of $75\,\text{N}$ is suspended from a frame fixed to a vertical wall. The frame is made up of a horizontal rod $XY$ and a rod $YZ$ which makes an angle of $30^\circ$ with the horizontal. Rod $XY$ is joined to the wall at $X$ by a hinge and has a length of $0.50\,\text{m}$. The weights of the rods may be ignored. What horizontal force does the wall exert on rod $XY$?
Equilibrium of forces
What is the torque produced by the couple shown?
Turning effects of forces
Water has a density of $1.0\,\text{g cm}^{-3}$. Glycerine has a density of $1.3\,\text{g cm}^{-3}$. A student measures $40\,\text{cm}^3$ of glycerine into a container. The student then adds water so that the container contains a mixture of water and glycerine. Assume that the combined volume of the water and glycerine remains unchanged when the two liquids are mixed. What volume of water must be added to obtain a mixture with density $1.1\,\text{g cm}^{-3}$?
Density and pressure
Which statement about the principle of conservation of energy is correct?
Energy conservation
A student may either run or walk up the stairs to her classroom. Which statement explains how the power needed, and the gravitational potential energy gained, when she runs up the stairs compare with when she walks up them?
Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy
A lead pellet is fired straight upwards into a clay block. At the instant of collision, the block is at rest, although it can move upwards freely afterwards. The pellet has mass $5.0\,\text{g}$ and the clay block has mass $95\,\text{g}$. Just before impact, the pellet is travelling vertically at an initial speed of $200\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. It becomes lodged in the block and does not come out. To what height, measured from its starting position, does the block rise?
Linear momentum and its conservation
At the surface of a planet, lifting a $1.0\,\text{kg}$ mass through a vertical distance of $10\,\text{m}$ against gravity requires $30\,\text{J}$ of work. What amount of work is required on this planet to lift a $4.0\,\text{kg}$ mass through $5.0\,\text{m}$?
Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy
An object of weight $10\,\text{kN}$ is supported equally by four solid steel rods, each with length $2.0\,\text{m}$ and cross-sectional area $250\,\text{mm}^2$. As a result of the object's weight, the rods shorten by $0.10\,\text{mm}$. Assume the rods follow Hooke’s law. What is the Young modulus of steel?
Stress and strain
Osmium is a naturally occurring element, and its density is $23\,000\,\text{kg m}^{-3}$. What is another value for the density of osmium?
Density and pressure
One end of a wire is fastened to a fixed point. At the opposite end, a tensile force $F$ is applied, making the wire extend. The graph labels this stage as line OSP. The force $F$ is then reduced gradually to zero, after which the wire contracts. The graph labels this stage as line PQ. Which area on the graph represents the work done by the wire during contraction?
Elastic and plastic behaviour
The graph illustrates how displacement $y$ changes with distance $x$ along a progressive wave at a particular instant. What is the phase difference between points P and Q on the wave?
Progressive waves
Wave-power generators make use of the energy carried by waves moving across the ocean surface. A wave’s energy depends on its amplitude. What is the correct meaning of amplitude?
Progressive waves
A sound wave with frequency $270\,\text{Hz}$ is displayed on a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO). The CRO waveform is shown. What is the time-base setting on the CRO?
Progressive waves
A motor boat oscillates in the water and generates water waves with frequency $0.20\,\text{Hz}$. These waves travel through the water at $20\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. The motor boat is moving at $5.0\,\text{m s}^{-1}$ straight towards a sailing boat that is stationary. The Doppler effect equation for sound waves is also valid for water waves. What frequency do the waves arrive at the stationary sailing boat with?
Doppler effect for sound waves
Infrared laser light is employed to transmit data through optic fibres. What is a typical wavelength for infrared radiation?
Electromagnetic spectrum
An elastic string is fastened to an oscillator at one end and held by a clamp at the other end, with the string kept horizontal and under tension. The oscillator is then made to move vertically. Starting from zero, the oscillation frequency is increased gradually until a stationary wave forms in the string. The frequency is then raised again to frequency $f$ when a second stationary wave forms in the string. The frequency is increased once more. At which frequency does a third stationary wave occur?
Stationary waves
During an experiment, water waves in a ripple tank are directed at a gap, as shown. Some diffraction of the water waves is seen. Which change to the experiment would give a clearer demonstration of diffraction?
Diffraction
Light with wavelength $\lambda$ is produced by two point sources R and S and reaches a screen far away. At point P on the screen, the light intensity is zero. What might account for the zero intensity at P?
Interference
An apparatus setup is used to demonstrate double-slit interference with monochromatic light. The slit separation is $0.10\,\text{mm}$. The distance from the double slit to the screen on which the interference pattern is seen is $2.4\,\text{m}$, and the fringe width is $12\,\text{mm}$. The screen distance is then altered to $1.8\,\text{m}$ and the slit separation is doubled. What is the new fringe width?
Interference
As illustrated, two tugs are pulling an oil rig. The tensions in the towing cables are $4.0\,\text{kN}$ and $5.0\,\text{kN}$. What is the resultant force on the rig from the cables, measured in the eastward direction?
Scalars and vectors
A diffraction grating containing $300$ lines per $\text{mm}$ is illuminated by monochromatic light with wavelength $690\,\text{nm}$, creating a set of maxima (bright spots) on a screen. What is the largest number of maxima that can be seen?
The diffraction grating
Which diagram shows the electric field line pattern produced by a combination of two positive charges?
Electric current
Which two units are combined to define the volt?
SI units
The graph illustrates how the resistance of a uniform metal wire changes with length. The gradient of the graph is $G$. The wire has cross-sectional area $A$. Which expression could be used to find the resistivity of the metal in the wire?
Resistance and resistivity
Diagram 1 shows a lamp that is connected to a supply by means of two switches. While repairs are being carried out, an electrician accidentally swaps the connections $X_1$ and $Z_1$, so that $Z_1$ is joined to the supply and $X_1$ to the other switch $Z_2$, as shown in diagram 2. Which switch positions will now make the lamp light?
Practical circuits
A wire that supplies a shower heater with a current of $35\,\text{A}$ has a resistance of $25\,\text{m}\Omega$. What power is dissipated in the wire?
Potential difference and power
A student has a collection of identical cells and identical lamps. The cells have negligible internal resistance. When one lamp is connected to one cell, the lamp shines with normal brightness. What occurs when the student connects the lamps and the cells in the arrangement shown?
Practical circuits
A potential divider circuit is illustrated. What is the resistance of resistor $R$ in the potential divider circuit?
Potential dividers
The arrangement shown uses two cells of electromotive force (e.m.f.) $3.0\,\text{V}$ and $1.2\,\text{V}$, with internal resistance taken as negligible, connected to resistors with resistance $9.0\,\Omega$ and $18\,\Omega$. What is the current $I$ in the $9.0\,\Omega$ resistor?
Kirchhoff's laws
Which estimate gives the correct order of magnitude for the diameter of a typical atomic nucleus?
Atoms, nuclei and radiation
What is the approximate kinetic energy of an Olympic athlete while sprinting at top speed in a $100\,\text{m}$ race?
Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy
Which statement describes $\beta^-$ decay using a simple quark model?
Fundamental particles
The diagram shows the value indicated by an analogue ammeter. Which reading on the digital ammeter is equal to the reading on the analogue ammeter?
Practical circuits
A micrometer screw gauge is used to determine the diameter of a small uniform steel sphere. The micrometer reading is $5.00\,\text{mm} \pm 0.01\,\text{mm}$. What is the percentage uncertainty in a calculation of the volume of the sphere from these values?
Errors and uncertainties
The graph illustrates how the velocity $v$ of an object changes with time $t$. The object goes past a stationary point at time $t = 0$. What is the displacement of the object from the stationary point at time $t = 5.0\,\text{s}$, and what is the acceleration of the object?
Equations of motion
A skydiver leaves an aeroplane and drops straight down through the air. Which graph shows how the skydiver’s vertical velocity $v$ changes with time $t$?
Non-uniform motion
A nucleus strikes another nucleus that is initially at rest in a vacuum. The diagrams illustrate the motion of the nuclei before and after the collision. No other particles take part in the collision. Which diagram cannot be correct?
Linear momentum and its conservation