Oct/Nov 2021

Which physical quantity is a vector?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

If the atmosphere exerts a pressure of $0.10\,\text{MPa}$, the mercury column in a barometer has a height of $0.76\,\text{m}$. What atmospheric pressure is present when the mercury in the simple barometer stands at $0.57\,\text{m}$?

Pressure

The diagram depicts a block of mass $m$ being drawn in a straight line across a horizontal surface by a force $F$. Over a time $t$, the block travels a distance $d$. Its average speed is $v$. Which two quantities are needed to work out the work done?

Work

The diagram illustrates the interior of a refrigerator. As soon as the refrigerator is turned on, what happens to the air close to the cooling unit?

Convection

To increase the temperature of $1.0\,\text{kg}$ of copper by $1.0\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, less thermal energy is required than to increase the temperature of $1.0\,\text{kg}$ of water by $1.0\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. Which statement gives the explanation?

Specific heat capacity

The graph shows temperature against time for a wax sample being heated until it melts. The wax has a mass of $200\,\text{g}$. Thermal energy is delivered to the wax at a steady rate of $12000\,\text{J min}^{-1}$. What is the specific latent heat of fusion of the wax?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

A set quantity of gas is enclosed in a metal can. The gas temperature falls, but its volume stays constant. How does this alteration affect the kinetic energy of the gas molecules and the pressure in the metal can?

Kinetic particle model of matter

The diagram shows a liquid at room temperature in a beaker. Which change reduces the rate at which the liquid is lost by evaporation?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

A water wave in a pond moves into an area where it travels more slowly. It then moves back into an area where it travels at the original speed. Assume that the wave frequency remains constant. Which side-view of the wave is correct?

General properties of waves

What does the term amplitude of a wave mean?

General properties of waves

The diagram illustrates a single wavefront of a wave moving from deep water into shallow water in a ripple tank. What occurs as the wavefront enters the shallow water?

General properties of waves

Two forces, $X$ and $Y$, act on an object $O$. The arrows show the size and direction of the forces. Which arrow indicates the direction of the resultant force?

Balanced and unbalanced forces

A beam of light enters a glass block. It moves through the block and then leaves into the air. At the surface XY, which angle is the angle of refraction?

Refraction of light

Two light rays travel through a lens in region X. What kind of lens is located in region X, and what kind of image is produced?

Thin lenses

Which statement is true about a girl who is long-sighted?

Thin lenses

A prism makes light rays change direction. The angle of deviation $d$ is recorded for light rays of different frequency, including blue light and red light. Which graph of $d$ plotted against frequency is correct?

Dispersion of light

Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is used to operate a television remote control?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A student is positioned a distance $x$ from a large wall. He claps his hands at a steady rhythm so that every clap lines up with the echo from the one before it. During a time interval $t$, he claps his hands $N$ times. Which expression is used to calculate the speed of sound in air?

Sound

An ultrasound scanner creates an image of an unborn baby. What does the scanner use in order to form an image of the baby?

Sound

Object X is resting on an electronic balance. Object Y is positioned above object X, as illustrated. The balance reading rises when Y is brought nearer to X. Why does this occur?

Balanced and unbalanced forces

A teacher is trying to demagnetise a bar magnet and tests three different procedures. 1. Heat the bar magnet to a high temperature and allow it to cool. 2. Position the bar magnet east to west and strike it with a hammer. 3. Put the bar magnet inside a coil carrying a direct current and withdraw it slowly from the coil. Which methods demagnetise the bar magnet?

Simple magnetism and magnetic fields

A sheet ripped from an exercise book is displayed. “_____ is the amount of work done (measured in joules) on one unit of charge (measured in coulombs) as it travels round the circuit.” What quantity is being defined?

Electromotive force and potential difference

Two identical objects are released from rest. One object falls from $200\,\text{m}$ above the Earth’s surface, while the other falls from $200\,\text{m}$ above the Moon’s surface. After 1 second of falling, both objects are still accelerating. The Moon has no atmosphere, and the weight of each object stays constant. Which row shows the motion of both objects at this time?

Motion

Which circuit is set up to measure the current in the fixed resistor and the potential difference (p.d.) across that same resistor?

Circuit diagrams and circuit components

The diagram depicts a circuit that includes a $5.0\,\text{V}$ power supply, three resistors and four output terminals P, Q, R and S. Across which pair of terminals is the potential difference $1.5\,\text{V}$?

Electromotive force and potential difference

Two $100\,\text{W}$ lamps are arranged in parallel across the mains supply, as shown. What amount of electrical energy is delivered by the mains when the switch remains closed for $36$ minutes?

Power

Electricity costs $9.0$ cents/ $\text{kW h}$. Boiling the water in a kettle requires $0.060$ hours and uses $1.2$ cents of electricity. What is the power rating of the kettle?

Power

A transformer working at an efficiency of $100\%$ has a primary voltage input of $600\,\text{V}$ and a secondary voltage output of $240\,\text{V}$. A resistor with resistance $120\,\Omega$ is connected to the secondary coil. What is the power dissipated in the resistor and what is the current in the primary coil?

The transformer

The diagram illustrates an alarm system with switch S closed. The upper circuit is set up so that the electromagnet sits above the soft iron contact. What occurs when switch S is opened?

Magnetic effect of a current

A microphone picks up a musical sound, and the resulting signal is sent to an oscilloscope. The diagram shows the trace that is displayed on the screen. The spot of light on the oscilloscope screen takes $1.2\ \text{ms}$ to move from one side to the other. What is the frequency of the musical sound?

Sound

A student arranges two components with resistances that can vary, together with a fixed resistor, across a $6.0\ \text{V}$ supply. In which set of conditions is the voltage across the fixed resistor the highest?

Series and parallel circuits

Technetium-99m is a radioactive isotope that is used in medical scanning. It is introduced into the body by injection, and its emissions are detected from outside the body. Which characteristics of technetium-99m make it suitable for use in medical scanning?

Radioactivity

Which statement about electricity generation in a nuclear power station is correct?

Fission and fusion

The diagram illustrates a car moving around a circular track at constant speed. Which arrow indicates the direction of the resultant force acting on the car?

Circular motion

In the simplified model of an atom, X circles Y. What do X and Y represent?

The atom

An electron has mass. In what region does an electron at rest experience a force?

Electrical charge

A stone is put into a measuring cylinder containing water, as illustrated. Before the stone is added, the water volume in the cylinder is $15\,\text{cm}^3$ and the stone’s mass is $90\,\text{g}$. What is the stone’s density?

Density

The extension of a spring is measured for a range of loads. The limit of proportionality is not reached. Which graph shows the extension-load graph for the spring?

Elastic deformation

A diver underwater travels from the sea into a lake of fresh water. The density of the water in the lake is lower than that of the sea. At which position does the diver feel the least pressure from the water?

Pressure

Air is enclosed in a cylinder by means of a piston. The air has pressure $p$ and the air column has a length of $20\,\text{cm}$. The piston is pulled outwards. As a result, the length of the air column increases by $40\,\text{cm}$. The temperature of the air stays constant. What is the new air pressure?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A boy begins at P and walks $3.0\,\text{m}$ due north from P to Q, then goes $4.0\,\text{m}$ due east from Q to R. What is the shortest distance he must now travel to make his overall displacement zero?

Motion

Piston X is forced into a hydraulic cylinder. As a result, piston X creates a pressure $P_X$ in the liquid inside the cylinder. The diagram is a view of the cylinder from above. Two further pistons, Y and Z, are present in the cylinder. The pressures acting on piston Y and on piston Z are $P_Y$ and $P_Z$. What relationship links $P_X$, $P_Y$ and $P_Z$?

Pressure

Air is enclosed in a cylinder by a piston. The air pressure is $p$ and the air column has a length of $20\,\text{cm}$. The piston is pulled outwards. As a result, the length of the air column increases by $40\,\text{cm}$. The temperature of the air stays constant. What is the new air pressure?

Kinetic particle model of matter

An ice-skater of mass $60\,\text{kg}$, moving at first at $3.0\,\text{m s}^{-1}$, slides over a level icy surface. The skater applies the brakes and stops after covering $5.0\,\text{m}$. The work done against the braking force equals the change in the skater’s kinetic energy. What is the braking force?

Work

Which equation is used to calculate the efficiency of an energy transfer?

Efficiency

The diagram illustrates the interior of a refrigerator. When the refrigerator is turned on for the first time, what happens to the air close to the cooling unit?

Convection

What colour does a good absorber of infrared radiation have, and what texture does it possess?

Radiation

Which temperatures are taken as the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point for a mercury-in-glass thermometer?

Thermal properties and temperature

Two liquid-in-glass thermometers are made with the same dimensions. One is filled with ethanol and the other with an equal volume of mercury. For the same increase in temperature, ethanol expands more than mercury. In comparison with the mercury thermometer, what can be said about the sensitivity and range of the ethanol thermometer?

Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases

Solar panels are employed to heat a body of water with a mass of $500\,\text{kg}$. The combined area of the solar panels is $10\,\text{m}^2$, and the mean power output from each square metre of the panels is $300\,\text{W}$. The specific heat capacity of water is $4200\,\text{J kg}^{-1}\,\text{^{\circ}C}^{-1}$. Determine the rise in the water temperature after $8.0\,\text{hours}$. Assume that no heat is lost.

Specific heat capacity

The graph shown is a temperature-time graph for a wax sample that is being heated until it melts. The wax has a mass of $200\,\text{g}$. Thermal energy is delivered to the wax at a steady rate of $12\,000\,\text{J minute}^{-1}$. What is the specific latent heat of fusion of the wax?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

A student studies the motion of a ball as it falls through the air. Which quantity is a vector quantity?

Motion

The water in four beakers is at different temperatures, and the surface area of the water in each beaker is also different. In which beaker is the water evaporating at the fastest rate?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

The diagram illustrates one wavefront of a wave moving from deep water into shallow water in a ripple tank. What happens as the wavefront enters the shallow water?

General properties of waves

Which example shows a transverse wave undergoing refraction?

Refraction of light

Light is reflected from a plane mirror as illustrated. Which row is always right?

Reflection of light

A torn piece of paper from an exercise book is shown. It reads: "The object is farther from the lens than the focal point and the image is upside down." Which process is being described?

Thin lenses

A girl has long-sightedness. Which statement is correct?

Thin lenses

A prism causes light rays to change direction. The deviation angle $d$ is recorded for rays of several different frequencies, including blue light and red light. Which graph of $d$ plotted against frequency is correct?

Dispersion of light

A satellite moves in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of $300\,\text{km}$ above the surface. The speed of electromagnetic waves is $3.0 \times 10^8\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. What is the least time for a radio signal sent from the Earth to arrive at the satellite?

Electromagnetic spectrum

Which of the following is most closely linked to echoes?

Sound

An ultrasound scanner forms an image of an unborn baby. What does the scanner use to create the baby's image?

Sound

A skier moves down a slope. The diagram illustrates how his speed changes with time. What is his average acceleration over the $6.0\,\text{s}$?

Motion

As illustrated, a small plotting compass is positioned close to a bar magnet. Which diagram indicates the direction that the compass needle points?

Simple magnetism and magnetic fields

A positively charged plastic rod is brought close to, but kept away from, an insulated metal ball that was initially uncharged. No charge is transferred from the rod. What charges could be present on the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the ball?

Electrical charge

Which circuit is arranged to measure the current in the fixed resistor and the potential difference (p.d.) across that same resistor?

Action and use of circuit components

The quantities X and Y are measured in the same unit, Z. X is the energy dissipated by a battery when it drives unit charge around the whole circuit. Y is the work done in a component when it drives unit charge through the component. What are X, Y and Z?

Electromotive force and potential difference

A transformer with $100\%$ efficiency has a primary voltage input of $600\,\text{V}$ and a secondary voltage output of $240\,\text{V}$. The secondary coil is connected to a resistor with resistance $120\,\Omega$. What is the power dissipated in the resistor and what is the current in the primary coil?

The transformer

The diagram illustrates an alarm system with switch S shown in the closed position. The upper circuit is set up so that the electromagnet is located above the soft iron contact. What occurs when switch S is opened?

Magnetic effect of a current

The diagram depicts an LED in a circuit with a resistor and an a.c. power supply of frequency $2.0\,\text{Hz}$. Which statement is correct?

Action and use of circuit components

Which statement concerning the generation of electricity in a nuclear power station is correct?

Fission and fusion

A radioactive sample includes an isotope which gives off alpha particles. Which quantity remains unchanged?

The three types of emission

In the simple atomic model, X travels in an orbit around Y. Identify X and Y.

The atom

A solid object is submerged in water and is suspended by an elastic thread. Three forces act on the object: its weight $W$, the tension in the thread $T$, and an upward force $F$ exerted by the water. The force $F$ is directed upwards. Which equation is correct when the object is at rest?

Balanced and unbalanced forces

In two different isotopes of the same element, how do the proton numbers (atomic numbers) and the nucleon numbers (mass numbers) compare?

The atom

The diagram illustrates a car travelling around a circular track at constant speed. Which arrow indicates the direction of the resultant force acting on the car?

Circular motion

A laboratory object is being used to find the gravitational field strength $g$. Which physical quantity has the same value as $g$?

Mass and weight

A student makes measurements in order to determine the density of a regularly shaped block. Which formula is used to work out the block’s density?

Density

Four solid objects are made from the same material and each has the same volume. Which object is the most stable?

Centre of gravity

A metal wire is stretched by a force $F$ until it reaches the limit of proportionality. Which statement describes what occurs when $F$ is increased slightly?

Elastic deformation

Fig. 1.1 depicts a wooden bench with a weight of 2000 N.

Turning effect of forces

The isotope yttrium-90 ($^{90}_{39}\text{Y}$) undergoes radioactivity. It emits a beta particle and decays to form Q. Product Q is stable.

Radioactivity

Fig. 2.1 depicts a man with mass $80\,\text{kg}$ standing inside a lift (elevator). The gravitational field strength $g$ is $10\,\text{N kg}^{-1}$.

Balanced and unbalanced forces

A nuclear reaction occurs at the Sun’s centre and this releases thermal energy.

Fission and fusion

In a coal-fired power station, coal is burned and electrical energy is generated.

Energy

A plastic rod that begins neutral is rubbed with a woollen cloth. After the rubbing, the rod has a positive charge.

Electrical charge

Fig. 6.1 shows a circuit made up of a battery with electromotive force (e.m.f.) $4.5\,\text{V}$, a $28\,\Omega$ resistor, and a variable resistor.

Electromotive force and potential difference

EITHER: Fig. 7.1 depicts a solenoid joined to an ammeter. The S-pole of a permanent magnet is moved into the left-hand end of the solenoid. The ammeter shows that a small positive current flows in the circuit. OR: Fig. 7.2 gives the symbol for a logic gate and its truth table.

Electromagnetic induction

A loudspeaker has a coil of wire secured to a cardboard tube. That tube is fixed to a cardboard cone. Fig. 8.1 shows part of the loudspeaker arrangement.

Electromagnetic effects

Liquid-in-glass thermometers use the expansion of a liquid to indicate changes in temperature.

Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases

Fig. 1.1 presents a jug containing liquid and an empty measuring cylinder placed on an electronic balance.

Mass and weight

Force is classed as a vector quantity.

Balanced and unbalanced forces

In Fig. 3.1, a beam of light enters a transparent block. It makes an angle $\theta$ with the normal as it enters, then passes through the block until it reaches the lower face. The angle between the ray inside the block and the block’s vertical side is $\phi$.

Refraction of light

A washing machine is operating normally, with both the water heater and the motor switched on. It is connected to the mains supply through a cable.

Electrical safety

EITHER Fig. 5.1 presents a circuit that includes a direct current (d.c.) power supply, a light-dependent resistor (LDR), two fixed resistors, M and N, together with two ammeters. OR Fig. 5.2 gives the symbol for an electronic circuit component, and Fig. 5.3 displays a circuit containing this component, an LDR and a relay.

Electrical current

Isotope X is radioactive and undergoes alpha-particle emission to form a stable isotope.

Radioactivity

A hydraulic press is used at a recycling centre to compact waste material. Fig. 7.1 shows the press from the side.

Pressure

The moment of a force is the quantity used to describe its turning effect.

Turning effect of forces

A filament lamp is joined to a $240\,\text{V}$ alternating current (a.c.) mains supply.

Series and parallel circuits

A learner sets out to find how a pendulum’s period changes with its length. The learner: • sets up the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1.1. • secures the pendulum string in place with a clamp. The length of the pendulum is measured from the centre of the pendulum bob to the support point.

Motion

A student performs an investigation to determine the specific heat capacity $c$ of copper.

Specific heat capacity

A student is carrying out an investigation into the resistance of a thermistor. The student: • puts the thermistor into a beaker containing cold water • links the thermistor into the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 3.1.

Resistance

Fig. 4.1 illustrates a cardboard lamina with three small holes and a piece of string that has a small mass fixed to one end. Together, the string and mass are known as a plumb line.

Centre of gravity

A student employs a $30\,\text{cm}$ ruler marked in millimetres to estimate the thickness of a sheet of paper by two separate methods.

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A student uses pins to determine the image of an object created by a plane mirror.

Reflection of light

A student sets up a circuit using three identical lamps $P$, $Q$ and $R$, together with a cell and a switch. Lamp $P$ is arranged in series with lamp $R$, the switch and the cell. Lamp $Q$ is connected in parallel with both lamps $P$ and $R$.

Series and parallel circuits