Revision Chapter 1: Introduction to physics

1. Figure 1 shows the structure of a laboratory thermometer.

(a) (i) What is the temperature shown in the thermometer? (1m)

(ii) Mark on the diagram the best position to get the reading. (1m)
(iii) Explain why the position is considered the best for getting the reading. (1m)
(b) State three features of mercury that makes it suitable to be used as the liquid in
thermometer. (3m)
(c) How would the sensitivity of the thermometer he affected if:
(i) a capillary tube of smaller bore is used (1m)
(ii) the wall of the bulb is thinner?(1m)
(iii) the wall of the glass tube is thinner ? (1m)
(d) Explain why space mark X must be a vacuum? (1m)
(e) Suggest two ways to increase the accuracy of this instrument (2m)

2.

A student was asked to do an experiment to investigate the relationship between the

length, l, and the oscillation period, T, of a simple pendulum. Figure 2 shows the
experimental setup while figure 3 shows the graph of T2 against l.
a) State the relationship between the period, T and the length of the string used, l.
(1m)
b) An old clock operating on a pendulum system is found to be running slow. Suggest
a practical method to make it operate correctly. (1m)
c) Based on the graph T2 against l, determine the following
i) the value of l when T = 2.0s (2m)
ii) the value of T when l=50cm (2m)
 iii) the gradient of the graph, c, in s2cm-1 (2m)
iv) the acceleration of gravity, g, in ms-2, by using the formula, (2m)
d) State the change in the oscillation period of a simple pendulum, T if:
i) the mass of the pendulum bob is doubled (1m)
ii) the acceleration of gravity is increased fourfold. (1m)

3. A student carries out an experiment to investigate the relationship between the

length, l, of a string and period of oscillation, T of the pendulum. Table below shows
the reading obtained

a) Why is the time for 20 oscillation taken twice? (1m)

b) In this experiment, state the: (3m)
i) Manipulated variable:
ii) Responding variable:
iii) Fixed variable:
c) Form a hypothesis for this experiment. (1m)
d) Plot a graph T2 against l. (5m)
e) Form the graph plotted, state the relationship between the period and the length of
the pendulum. (1m)
f) Find the gradient of the graph. (3m)
g) Given that T2 = 4π2l/g. Using your answer from f), determine a value for the
gravitational acceleration. (2m)

4.a) Figure 5 and 6 below show how two students, P and Q take the reading from a
measuring cylinder.

i) What is meant by parallax error? (1m)

ii) Using figure 5 and 6, compare the position of the eye relative to the scale when
taking the measurement by two students and the effect on measurement. (3m)
iii) In a moving coil meter used to measure current or voltage, there is a mirror below
the pointer. Explain the use of the mirror. (2m)
b) In a gunshot competition between two contestants, each contestant is allowed 10
shots on a target aiming at the bull’s eye. Figure below shows the result of
distribution of gunshots on a target by two contestants.

i)What is meant by consistency? (1m)

ii)Based on the figures, compare the consistency of the two results. (2m)
iii)Using the figures, compare the accuracy of the results. (2m)
c) Explain what is meant by
i) vector quantity (1m)
ii) derived quantity (1m)
d) Table below shows physical quantities.
Physical quantities Basic or derived Vector and scalar
Mass
Pressure
Velocity
Density
Force
State whether each of the quantities is basic or derived/ scalar or vector. (5m)
The diagram shows a strip of ticker-tape before and after the collision of the trolley A
and B which was initially at rest. Trolley A and B sticks together after collision.

a) Calculate
i. velocity of trolley A before collision
ii. velocity of trolley A and B after collision
b) The momentum of the trolleys after collision is 12kgms-1. What is the total mass
of the trolleys?
c) Find the mass of
i. Trolley A
ii. Trolley B

16. A trolley of mass 250g is moving with a velocity of 5ms -1. It collides inelastically
with another trolley of mass 300g which is moving with a velocity 8 ms -1 in the
opposite direction.
a) What is meant by the term inelastic collision?
b) Calculate the velocity of the trolleys after collision.
c) What is the difference between the total momentum of the system before and after
the collision?
d) State the principle of conservation of momentum.

17. Diagram below shows a 2 kg gun moves backward at a velocity, v ms -1, when
0.05kg bullet is fired from it at a velocity of 50 ms-1.

a) Calculate the momentum of the bullet.

b) Calculate the momentum of the gun.
c) What is the value of v?
d) What is the total momentum of the gun and the bullet before firing?
e) What is the total momentum of the gun and the bullet after firing?

18. Diagram shows a man standing on a stationary boat. He then jumps out of the boat
onto the jetty. The boat moves away from the jetty as he jumps.
a) State the physics principle that is involved in the movement of the boat as the man
jumps onto the jetty.
b) Explain why the boat moves away from the jetty when the man jumps.
c) The mass of the man is 50kg and he jumps at a velocity of 2 ms -1. The mass of the
boat is 20kg. Calculate the velocity of the boat as the man jumps.
d) Name one application of the physics principle stated in a) in the exploration of
outer space.

19. As shown in the diagram, a bullet of mass 50g is fired horizontally from a gun of
mass 2kg.

a) i. What happen to the gun as the bullet is fired?

ii. If the gun move backwards at a velocity of 5ms -1 after the bullet is fired, find the
velocity of the bullet.
b) The bullet then travels horizontally into a target of mass 4 kg. It sticks in the target
and moves together with a velocity v. Find the magnitude of velocity v.

20. Diagram shows a lorry of mass 1200kg moving at the speed of 30ms -1 collides
with a car of mass 1000kg which is traveling in the opposite direction at 20ms -1.
After the collision, the two vehicles move together.

a) State the type of collision involved.

b) Calculate the velocity, v of both vehicles immediately after collision.
c) The driver of the car is thrown forward during the collision. State the physics
 concept involved.
d) The speed limit and load limit of a truck is shown. Explain why speed limit and
the load limit must be imposed on the truck.