JAMES RUSE AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

Student No. .............................

Preliminary
Half-yearly Assessment Task

TERM 2, 2014

PHYSICS Theory Paper

General Instructions

Reading time 5 minutes

Working time 50 minutes
Write using black or blue pen

Draw diagrams using pencil

Write your Student Number on the Part A Answer Sheet and the Part B Question and Answer
book
Total marks for this paper 50

The Theory paper has two Parts: A and B

Part A:

Multiple Choice

Total marks 15

Attempt all questions

Allow about 15 minutes for this part

Part B:

Extended Response

Total marks 35

Attempt all questions

Allow about 35 minutes for this part

PART A:

Multiple Choice

15 Marks

1.

Which of the following physical quantities is a scalar quantity?

A
B
C
D

momentum
velocity
impulse
temperature

2.

In which of the following situations is a vehicle speeding up?

A
B
C
D

Velocity
, east
, east
, west
, west

Acceleration
, west

, west

3.

The airspeed of a plane is 600 km h-1. The wind velocity is 100 km h-1, west relative
to the ground. Determine the velocity of the plane relative to the ground if the pilot
keeps the plane pointing east.

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

500 km h-1, west

500 km h-1, east
700 km h-1, west
700 km h-1, east

4.

A car travelling at speed

its kinetic energy?

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

The kinetic energy increases to twice its initial value.

The kinetic energy increases to three times its initial value.
The kinetic energy increases to four times its initial value.
The kinetic energy increases to nine times its initial value.

5.

Mac and Tosh stand 8 m apart and demonstrate the motion of a transverse wave using
a slinky. The wave has a vertical distance of 32 cm from a trough to a crest, a
frequency of 2.4 Hz, and a horizontal distance of 48 cm from a crest to the nearest
trough.

suddenly trebles its speed. What effect does this have on

Determine the amplitude, wavelength and period of such a wave.

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Amplitude (cm)
32
16
32
16

Wavelength (cm)
48
96
48
96

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

Period (s)
2.4
0.42
0.42
2.4
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6.

The graph shows the variation of the displacement as a function of time of an

object moving in a straight line.

Which of the following graphs best represents the corresponding variation of velocity
with time ?
(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

7.

The graph below shows the variation of the force acting on a car with time, that is
moving in a straight line.

Not to scale

6
2

What is the resulting change in momentum of the car in kg m s-1 at the end of
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

48
36
24
12

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

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8.

Two racing boats go around a semicircular turn in a race course. The boats have the
same speed, but boat A is on the inside, while boat B is on the outside.

How does the acceleration of boat A compare with that of boat B?

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Boat A has a larger acceleration

Boat B has a larger acceleration
Boats A and B have zero acceleration
Boats A and B have the same non-zero acceleration

9.

A toy car rests on a rough board on a horizontal plane. The end of the board is then
raised until the car slides down the plane of the board at constant velocity.

Which row describes the forces acting on the car while it slides down the plane?

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Frictional force on car

down the plane
down the plane
up the plane
up the plane

Resultant force on car

down the plane
zero
down the plane
zero

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

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10.

The figure below shows two pucks on a frictionless table. Puck I is three times more
massive than puck II. Starting from rest, both pucks are simultaneously and
continuously pushed across the table by equal forces.
Finish

puck I

puck II

3m

How will the energy of the pucks compare at the instant the first puck reaches the
finish line?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

The energy of puck I will be greater than puck II.

The energy of puck I will be smaller than Puck II.
The energy of puck I and puck II will be the same.
The energies of pucks cannot be compared as their masses are different.

11.

Which of the following statements are true?

(I)
(II)
(III)

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Mechanical waves are always transverse in nature.

Mechanical waves require a medium for its transmission.
Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for its transmission.

(I) and (II)

(II) and (III)
(I) and (III)
(I), (II) and (III)

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

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12.

Two objects and on a perfectly horizontal surface are connected by a light,

inextensible string. The mass of is greater than that of . A horizontal force is
applied to the system, as shown below, accelerating the bodies to the right.
T

Which of the following about the magnitude of the tension force, , in the string is
correct?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

13.

is less that , but not zero.

is greater than

A toy car of mass

rolls down a curved track as shown.

I

II
III

IV

In which position is the normal reaction force acting on the toy car the smallest?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

I
II
III
IV

14.

Sound travels through air at about 330 m s-1 when the air temperature is 250C.
Assume there is a 0.5 % change in speed per degree change in temperature and the
frequency of the sound is 384 Hz.
What will be the approximate wavelength of the sound wave at 35 0C?

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

0.855 m
0.816 m
0.864 m
0.902 m

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

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15.

Two wave pulses approach each other at speeds of 1 m s-1.

How does the string appear at

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

End of Part A

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Student Number :

Part A:

Multiple Choice Answer Sheet

Total marks: 15

X
X

4
X

7
8

X
X

9
10

11

12

13

X
X

14
15

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

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PART B:

Extended Response

35 Marks

16.
(a)

Define average acceleration.

Average acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, i.e.

Question
16 (a)

(b)

Marks
1

Determine the final speed (in km h-1) a car attains from rest if it experiences a
constant acceleration of 2100 km h-2 for 2 minutes.

Question
16(b)

17.

Criteria
Correct definition either in words or eqaution

Criteria
Correct use of formula, correct substitution, correct conversion
and calculation (with correct units)
Correct use of formula correct substitution , but incorrect
conversion and calculation (with incorrect/no units)

Marks
2
1

Imagine a car with a leaky engine that drips oil at a regular rate. As the car travels
through town, it would leave a trace of oil on the street. That trace would reveal
information about the motion of the car. Rena owns such a car and it leaves a
signature of Rena's motion wherever she goes. The trace of Rena's journey is shown
below. Assume Rena is travelling from left to right.
Describe the motion of Renas car during each section of the diagram.

section I

section II

Section I:

The car is travelling at constant speed (or with zero acceleration)

Section II:

The car is speeding up (or accelerating)

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Question
17

18.

Criteria
Correct description for section I
Correct description for section II

Marks
1
1

The graph below describes the motion of a car during a 9 s time interval. The car was
travelling east initially.
Velocity ( m s-1 west)

10

10

Time (s)

-5

-10

Use the graph to answer the following questions:

(a)

How far did the car travel in 9 s?

2
|
(

Question
18(a)

|
)

Criteria
Correct use of area under graph for distance, and correct
calculation thereof
Correct use of area under graph for distance, with an incorrect area
computation or (vice versa)

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

( )(

Marks
2
1
1

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(b)

Calculate the cars displacement at 9 s.

Question
18(b)

(c)

Criteria
Correct use of signed area for displacement, with correct
calculation and direction
Any one of the above correct

Calculate the average speed of the car for the 9 s of its motion.

Question
18(c)

(d)

Criteria
Correctly calculates the average velocity with correct units
Correctly applies formula for average speed, but uses an incorrect
distance or time or omits units

Calculate the acceleration of the car between 7 s and 9 s.

Marks
2
1

Marks
2
1

(east)

Question
18(d)

(e)

Criteria
Correctly applies formula, substitutes correctly, computes the
acceleration, with correct direction
Any one of the above correct

On the graph below, draw the acceleration time graph for the car during
the 9 s of its motion.

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

Marks
2
1

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acceleration (m s-2)
sType equation here

10

10

Time (s)

-5

-10

Question
18(e)

19.

Criteria
Correctly depicts the acceleration for the first 5 seconds
Correctly depicts the acceleration for the next 4 seconds
Correctly labels the horizontal and vertical axes

A space probe of total mass 500 kg is travelling in a straight line through

empty space at 160 m s-1 when it ejects a capsule of mass 150 kg explosively,
releasing energy. Immediately after the explosion the probe, now of mass 350 kg,
continues to travel in the original straight line but now travels at 240 m s-1, as shown
below.
160 m s-1

before explosion
(a)

Marks
1
1
1

240 m s-1

after explosion

Discuss how the laws of conservation of momentum and conservation of

energy apply in this instance.

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The total momentum before the explosion is equal to the total momentum after the
explosion as momentum is conserved in all collisions and hence explosions.
Even though the kinetic energy of the probe before the explosion is less than the sum
of the kinetic energies of the capsule and probe after the explosion, the total energies
before and after are equal. This is due to the internal (chemical) energy provided by
the probe for the explosion. Thus the total energy of the system is conserved, while
the kinetic energies are not.
Question
19 (a)

(b)

Criteria
Correctly states that due to the explosion linear momentum is
always conserved as in all collisions/explosions momentum is
conserved
Correctly states that momentum is conserved in the explosion
Correctly states that the system gains kinetic energy and justifies
this by stating that the internal (chemical) energy is used to offset
the difference in kinetic energies.
Correctly states that total energy is conserved, without reference to
non-conservation of energy

Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of the capsule immediately after the
explosion and state its direction of movement.

Marks
2

1
2

right

Hence

(left)

Since the velocity is negative, the capsule moves off in the opposite direction to the
probe i.e. towards the left.
Question
19(b)

Criteria
Correctly applies formula, substitutes correctly, computes the
velocity and indicates correct direction
Any two of the above correct
Any one of the above correct

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

Marks
3
2
1

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(c)

Calculate the total kinetic energy transferred to the probe and capsule as a
result of the explosion.
(

)(

)(

)( )

Hence the kinetic energy transferred to the probe and capsule is

Question
19(c)

20.

Marks
1
1

Identify two safety features in a motor vehicle and evaluate the effectiveness
of these using the appropriate physics principles.
Airbags increases contact time during a collision and thus reduces the force of
impact as the change in momentum (impulse) is constant
Crumple zones
ABS
Seat belts
Side impact beams

Question
20

21.

Criteria
Correctly calculates the kinetic energy of the probe before the
explosion and that of the capsule and probe after explosion
Correctly finds the difference in these energies

Criteria
Correctly identifies two safety features
Correctly identifies the relevant physics principle and evaluates its
effectiveness

Explain how echoes can be used to estimate distances in remote locations.

Marks
2
1+1

Sound waves are bounced off the barrier at a point where the distance is to be
estimated. The time taken for the incident sound wave to return to the sender after
reflection is noted . This time is then halved to obtain the time for the echo to return.
Using the speed of sound at that particular temperature, and the time taken for the
echo to return, the distance to the barrier (remote location) is found by distance =
time/speed
Question
21

Criteria
Correctly divides the total time for the reflected sound wave by 2
to determine the time of return of the echo.
Correctly states that the speed of sound and this time is used in the

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

Marks
1
1
Page 14

formula d=t/v to find distance

22.

The graph below represents the transverse displacement, at time

along which a wave is travelling at 2 m s-1 to the right.

, of a string

+40

Displacement
(mm)
0

120

B
240

A/
360

B/
480

-40

Distance along the string (mm)

(a)

Indicate two points on the graph which represent positions on the string
where the string is vibrating with maximum speed at the instant shown.

Use letters A and B to indicate the chosen points.

Question
22 (a)

(b)

Criteria
Correctly identifies two points

Marks
2

Calculate the period of the wave motion.

For every 1 s the waves travels 2 m.

Hence it would take 0.24/2 = 0.12 s to cover 0.24 m for one complete oscillation.

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

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OR using

can be obtained by

, from

which the period can be found i.e.

Question
22(b)

(c)

Criteria
Correctly calculates the period with correct explanation
Correctly determines the period without any justification

In which direction is the particle at point F moving?

Marks
2
1

Up
END OF EXAM u

JRAHS 2014 Preliminary Physics Half-yearly Theory

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