Candidate

Centre Number Number

Candidate Name

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS SYNDICATE

Joint Examination for the School Certificate
and General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level
PHYSICS 5054/4
PAPER 4 Alternative to Practical
Thursday 2 NOVEMBER 2000 1 hour

Candidates answer on the question paper.

Additional materials:
Electronic calculator and/or Mathematical tables
Protractor
Ruler (300 mm)

TIME 1 hour

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your name, Centre number and candidate number in the spaces at the top of this page.
Answer all questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided on the question paper.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

FOR EXAMINER’S USE

TOTAL

This question paper consists of 8 printed pages and 4 blank pages.

MML LOC 2122 4/99 QK07965
© UCLES 2000 [Turn over
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Examiner’s
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1 Fig. 1.1 shows a micrometer screw gauge set to measure the diameter of a steel ball.

0
0 5
45

mm 40

sleeve

Fig. 1.1

(a) The micrometer measures to the nearest 1/100th of a millimetre.

Write down the value of 1 cm + 1/100th of a millimetre as a decimal, and using the
unit mm.

1 cm + 1/100th mm = ................................ mm [1]

(b) The upper scale is calibrated in millimetres.

The lower scale is marked so that its divisions are half-way between the millimetres on
the upper scale.

On the sleeve, there are 50 equally spaced divisions. When the sleeve turns once as
indicated on Fig. 1.1, the sleeve moves 0.5 mm to the right.

Explain how you know that the reading of the gauge in Fig. 1.1 is 7.94 mm.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [3]

(c) Explain how you would find out whether the gauge has a zero error.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]
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2 A ray of light passes through a glass prism. The path of the ray is located by using four
pins.

In Fig. 2.1, a ray is incident on the side of an equilateral prism. Two optical pins P1 and P2
are used to mark the path of this incident ray. Two more pins P3 and P4 are used to locate
the path of the emergent ray.

(a) On Fig. 2.1,

(i) draw neat and thin lines to show the path of the incident ray and the path of the
emergent ray (label both lines),
(ii) draw a line to show the path of the refracted ray through the glass (label this line).
[2]

P2

P3
P1

P4

Fig. 2.1

(b) (i) On Fig. 2.1, draw a normal at the point of incidence and also at the point of
emergence. Make your line for each normal at least 6 cm in length.
(ii) Measure
1. the angle of incidence,

angle of incidence = ....................

2. the angle of emergence, (this is the angle between the emergent ray and the
normal at the point of emergence).

angle of emergence = .................

(iii) Give a reason for making the length of each normal at least 6 cm.

..................................................................................................................................
[4]

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3 (a) (i) Explain what is meant by the mark “ °C ” at the upper end of a thermometer. Your
answer should refer to the two fixed points of the thermometer.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................
(ii) State one precaution, other than avoiding parallax error, that you should take
when using a school laboratory thermometer, to ensure accurate measurement of
temperature.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) Part of a thermometer is shown in Fig. 3.1. This is a full-scale diagram.

30 40 50 60

part of the thermometer

reading in °C

Fig. 3.1

Complete the following sentences about using the thermometer.

The smallest division on the scale represents a temperature change of .........................

The smallest change in temperature which could be estimated is ..................................

The position of the mercury meniscus may be estimated to be .......................................

[3]

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4 Fig. 4.1 shows a wooden metre rule suspended from a horizontal pivot that passes through
a small hole in the rule.

pivot
(through a hole)

centre of mass C

mark on metre rule

direction of swing
reference line

Fig. 4.1

The rule is displaced as shown and, when released, swings freely. The time t, for at least
10 oscillations, is measured. The time T, for one complete oscillation, is calculated using
the values for t and the number N of oscillations. The procedure is repeated and an
average value TAV for T is obtained.

The distance d, between the pivot and the centre of mass C, is measured. The experiment
is repeated for different values of d.

(a) Draw up a table in which you can record the experimental values for N, t, T, TAV and d.

[2]

(b) State the relation between t, N and T.

relation ............................ [1]

(c) At the bottom of the rule, a short mark is made along the centre line of the rule, as
shown in Fig. 4.1. Before swinging the rule, a vertical reference line is placed below
this short line on the rule.

Explain why the stopwatch is started and is stopped as the mark on the rule passes
the vertical reference line. In your answer, refer to the speed of the bottom of the rule.

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [1]
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(d) The graph of TAV / s against d / cm is a curved line, as shown in Fig. 4.2.

TAV / s
5

1.5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
d / cm

Fig. 4.2

(i) At what value of d does TAV have a minimum value?

d = ...........................
(ii) Estimate the value of d when TAV = 6.0 s.

estimate of d = ..........................................................................................................
[2]
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5 This experiment compares the resistance per metre of two wires labelled P and Q in Fig. 5.1.

P B Q

+ –
V

jockey
A
l C
slide wire
switch

Fig. 5.1

Both P and Q are made of the same material. The lengths LP of P and LQ of Q are
measured and found to be

LP = 500 mm,
LQ = 640 mm.

The jockey (sliding contact) is placed so that the length l of the slide wire AC is 900 mm.
The potential difference V between B and C is read from the voltmeter. A further three sets
of readings for l and V are taken. The values for l are between 800 mm and 400 mm.

The voltmeter connections are now reversed and the experiment repeated for three sets of
readings for l between 300 mm and 0 (zero). These readings are shown as negative
readings in the row of values for V.

The readings taken are given in the table.

l / mm 0 100 300 400 580 750 900

V / volts –0.71 –0.51 –0.11 0.10 0.47 0.80 1.09

(a) Plot the graph of V / V (y-axis) against l / mm (x-axis). Scale your graph so that the
V-axis starts at –0.80 V and ends at +1.4 V. Remember that the values will go from
–0.80 V to 0 and then up to +1.4 V. Also scale your graph so that the l-axis starts at 0
and ends at 1000 mm. Draw the most appropriate line through the plotted points. [4]

(b) From the graph, determine

(i) the value V0 for V at l = 0, V0 = ......................

(ii) the value V1 for V at l = 1.00 m (1000 mm). V1 = ......................

[1]
(c) Calculate a value for the ratio r of the resistance per metre of the wires P and Q using
the equation
V1 x 500
r = –––––––– .
–V0 x 640

r = .................. [1]
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