Name

Class

Index Number

PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE

Promotional Examination
PHYSICS
Higher 2

9646/02

Paper 2 Structured Questions

7 October 2009
2 hours 15 minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required.
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
Write your name, class and index number on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
Answer all questions.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

For Examiners Use

1

/ 14

/ 10

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Total

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This document consists of 22 printed pages.

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2
Data
speed of light in free space,

c 3.00 10 8 m s1

permeability of free space,

0 4 10 7 H m1

permittivity of free space,

0 8.85 10 12 F m1
1 36 10 9 F m1

elementary charge,

e 1.60 10 19 C

the Planck constant,

h 6.63 10 34 J s

unified atomic mass constant,

u 1.66 10 27 kg

rest mass of electron,

me 9.11 10 31 kg

rest mass of proton,

m p 1.67 10 27 kg

molar gas constant,

R 8.31 J K1 mol1

the Avogadro constant,

N A 6.02 10 23 mol1

the Boltzmann constant,

k 1.38 10 23 J K1

gravitational constant,

G 6.67 10 11 N m2 kg2

acceleration of free fall,

g 9.81 m s2

Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion,

1 2
at
2
v 2 u 2 2as
s ut

work done on/by a gas,

W p V

hydrostatic pressure,

p gh

gravitational potential,

displacement of particle in s.h.m.,

x x 0 sin t

velocity of particle in s.h.m.,

v v 0 cos t

Gm
r

x 0 x 2
resistors in series,

R R1 R 2 ...

resistors in parallel,

1/ R 1/ R1 1/ R 2 ...

electric potential,

alternating current/voltage,

x x 0 sin t

transmission coefficient,

T exp 2kd where k

radioactive decay,

x x 0 exp( t )

decay constant,

Q
4 0 r

8 2 m U E
h2

0.693
t1
2

The volume of water V flowing through a pipe in time t is given by

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4
V
r 4 p

t
8l

where p is the change in pressure between the two ends of the pipe, r and l are the
radius and the length of the pipe respectively and is the viscosity of water.
(a) Use the equation to find the base units of .

base units of = ........................................ [2]

(b) In order to determine the viscosity of water, the following readings are taken.
V 10.0 0.1 cm3
r 0.43 0.01 cm
t 4.0 0.1 s
l 15.5 0.1 cm

p 1.15 0.01 10 5 Pa

(i) Calculate the magnitude of .

= ........................................ [2]
(ii) Calculate the uncertainty for the viscosity of water, and express the
magnitude of the viscosity of water together with its associated uncertainty.

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

tile
roof
2

A tile of mass 270 g, initially at rest, slides down a roof for a distance of 3.8 m before
falling off the roof. The tile experiences a resistive force of 0.40 N while sliding.
Theover
roof
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is inclined at an angle of 25 to the horizontal, and its edge is 12.3 m above the ground
as shown in Fig. 2.1.

25

12.3 m

ground

Fig. 2.1
(a) Calculate the acceleration of the tile as it slides down the roof.

acceleration = ........................................ m s2 [2]

(b) Determine the speed of the tile just as it leaves the roof.

speed = ........................................ m s1 [2]

(c) Determine the time taken for the tile to hit the ground after leaving the roof.

time taken = ........................................ s [2]

(d) Determine the horizontal distance from the edge of the roof at which the tile lands.

horizontal distance = ........................................ m [2]

(a) A cylinder with a piston contains 0.500 moles of an ideal gas at 4.00 10 5 Pa and
300 K. The gas undergoes 3 processes:
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(1) expanded at constant pressure to twice its original volume; and then
(2) compressed at constant temperature to its original volume; and finally
(3) cooled at constant volume to its original pressure.
(i) Calculate the original volume of ideal gas in the cylinder.

volume = ........................................ m3 [2]

(ii) On Fig. 3.1, sketch the series of processes (1), (2) and (3). Include appropriate
values for pressure, volume and temperature.
P / 105 Pa

V / m3
Fig. 3.1
[5]

(iii) Calculate the work done by the gas in pushing the piston in process (1).

work done by the gas = ........................................ J [2]

(b) (i) Define specific heat capacity.
.................................................................................................................................
.
.................................................................................................................................
.
........................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) In a heating experiment, energy is supplied at a constant rate to a liquid in a
beaker of negligible heat capacity. The temperature of the liquid rises at 4.0 K per
minute just before it begins to boil. After 40 minutes all the liquid has boiled away.
For this liquid, calculate the ratio of its specific heat capacity to its specific latent
heat of vaporization.

ratio = ........................................ K1 [3]

(a) Fig 4.1 shows five identical cargo boxes, each of mass m, spaced out in a straight
line on a frictionless horizontal surface. All five boxes are stationary initially.
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A

C
Fig. 4.1

10

Box A is given a push and it moves towards box B at a velocity v o . After colliding
with box B, box A and B continues to move forward until all five boxes are touching
one another and moving at a common velocity.
(i) State the principle of conservation of momentum.
.................................................................................................................................
.
.................................................................................................................................
.
........................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Express the common final velocity of the five boxes in terms of v o .

[2]
(iii)

Calculate the ratio of the kinetic energies of the five boxes before the collision
to that after the collision.

ratio = ........................................ [1]

(b) Fig 4.2 shows the five boxes at rest in a straight line on a smooth horizontal surface
with their adjacent faces in contact.

11
Fig. 4.2
If a constant horizontal force P is applied on box A as shown in Fig 4.2, express the
force that box D exerts on box E in terms of P.

[2]
(c) Fig. 4.3 shows the same five cargo boxes placed on a frictionless ramp PQ inclined
at an angle of . The adjacent faces of the boxes are in contact and are released
from rest together.
Q

Fig. 4.3

(i) Express the resultant force on the system of boxes in terms of m, g and .

[1]
(ii) Hence express the momentum of the system 3 s after being released from rest,
in terms of m, g and .
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12

[1]
(d) The cargo boxes contain breakable items and are to be brought onto a horizontal
surface without breaking the contents inside. A frictionless ramp XY is added onto
ramp PQ with an inclined angle , where is smaller than . This helps to
reduce the impact on the boxes as they move from ramp PQ to the horizontal surface, as
shown in Fig. 4.4.

P
Fig. 4.4

If the boxes are released from the same height as before, explain how the insertion
of ramp XY, which has a smaller gradient, helps to reduce the impact on the boxes.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................. [2]

13
5

(a) A helicopter travelling at a height of 3000 m above the ground drags along a 45.0 kg
mass A that is suspended from the helicopter at P with a light inextensible cord of
length 10.0 m. A horizontal drag force FH of 300 N is exerted on the mass as the
helicopter flies at constant speed. This causes the cord to be inclined at an angle of
from the vertical as shown in Fig. 5.1.

10.0 m

mass A
Fig. 5.1
(i) Draw a labelled free-body diagram of all the forces acting on mass A.

[1]
(ii) Express, in terms of ,
1. the clockwise moment due to the weight of mass A about point P.

[1]

2. the anti-clockwise moment due to FH about point P.

[1]

14

(iii) Hence or otherwise, determine the angle of inclination .

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= ........................................ [2]
(b) In the helicopter, a man detaches the cord at P and allows mass A to fall freely away
from the helicopter. At the same time, a similar mass B, weighing 75.0 kg, was
pushed off from the helicopter.
Mass A attains a vertical terminal velocity of 108 km h1 soon after leaving the
helicopter. Mass B also attains terminal velocity and continues to fall vertically
towards mass A. It may be assumed that the viscous drag force Fv experienced by
a falling mass is proportional to v 2 , where v is the speed of the mass. Upthrust due
to air may be ignored.
(i) Determine the terminal velocity that mass B would attain assuming that its
horizontal velocity is negligible.

terminal velocity = ........................................ m s1 [3]

15

(ii) Draw the path taken by mass A from the moment it was released till it reaches the
ground.

[2]

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16
6

A 1.30 kg block is released from point A as shown in Fig 6.1. The track is frictionless,
except for the rough surface between B and C, which has a length of 6.00 m. The block
travels down the track, hits a spring at D of force constant k = 140 N m1, and
compresses the spring 0.40 m from its equilibrium position before coming to rest
momentarily.

A
D

2.10 m
B

Fig. 6.1
6.00 m

(a) Calculate the speed of the block at B.

speed = ........................................ m s1 [2]

(b) Calculate the energy stored in the spring after the block has compressed the spring
fully.

energy stored = ........................................ J [2]

17
(c) On Fig. 6.2, sketch a labelled graph to show the variation of the force F exerted by
the block on the spring against the compression of the spring x.
F/N

x/m

0
Fig. 6.2

[2]

(d) Calculate the energy lost due to friction, assuming all other forms of energy losses
are negligible.

energy lost = ........................................ J [2]

(e) Hence, calculate the average frictional force acting against the block.

average frictional force = ........................................ N [2]

(f) If the block rebounds and moves leftwards past C after the spring decompresses
itself, calculate the distance from C at which the block will finally come to rest.

18

distance = ........................................ m [2]

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19
7

(a) The gravitational field strength of the Earth at its surface is 9.81 N kg1.
Show that
(i) the acceleration of free fall at the surface of the Earth is 9.81 m s2.

[2]
(ii) N kg1 is equivalent to m s2 in SI base units.

[2]
(b) A satellite of mass m orbits the Earth of mass M and radius r E . The radius of the
orbit is R. The satellite and the Earth may be considered to be point masses with
their masses concentrated at their centres. They may be assumed to be isolated in
space.
(i) Explain why the satellite does not move in the direction of the gravitational force.
.................................................................................................................................
.
.................................................................................................................................
.
........................................................................................................................... [1]

20

(ii) Derive an expression, in terms of r E , for the radius of the orbit R so that the
angular velocity of the satellite is equal to the angular velocity of the Earth.
Explain your working.

[4]
(iii) State two circumstances under which a satellite at this distance will be a
geostationary satellite.
1. ............................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.
2. ............................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................

[2]

(c) As a result of air resistance, the satellite loses energy as it orbits the Earth. Explain
the effect of this change on
(i) the radius of the orbit,
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................. [2]
(ii) the speed of the satellite.
.......................................................................................................................................

21
.......................................................................................................................................
8

................................................................................................................................. [2]
(a) Define simple harmonic motion.
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.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................. [2]
(b) A vertical spring supports a mass M of 0.80 kg as shown in Fig. 8.1. The mass is
displaced vertically upwards by 2.0 cm and then released. It reaches the lowest
position in 0.27 s and oscillates in simple harmonic motion.

M
Fig. 8.1
At the point when it is released,
(i) determine the acceleration of the mass M,

acceleration = ........................................ m s2 [3]

(ii) determine the magnitude of the net force acting on the mass, and its direction.

22
net force = ........................................ N [1]
direction = ........................................ [1]
(iii) deduce the tension in the spring.

tension = ........................................ N [2]

(c) The spring system in Fig 8.1 is now connected to a variable frequency vibrator as
shown in Fig. 8.2.

Variable frequency vibrator

Fig. 8.2
The vibrator itself has constant amplitude. As the frequency is varied, the amplitude
of oscillation of the mass M goes through some changes.
(i) On Fig. 8.3, sketch a well-labelled graph to show the variation of amplitude of
mass M with the frequency of the vibrator.

23

Fig. 8.3
[3]
(ii) The phenomenon which is illustrated in (c) can cause considerable engineering
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problems. State one such problem and suggest a way in which it can be
overcome.
.................................................................................................................................
.
.................................................................................................................................
.
.................................................................................................................................
.
........................................................................................................................... [2]

End of paper