DOYEN ACADEMY, SCHOOL OF PRELIMININARY STUDIES

CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED LEVEL PROGRAMME

1ST PERIODIC EXAM (FEB, 2014) LEVEL: PRECAMBRIDGE
Subject: Physics TIME: 1 HOUR
PAPER 4 A2 STRUCTURED QUESTIONS

1. An alternating current supply is connected in series with a resistor R

The variation with time t (measured in seconds) of the current I (measured in amps) in the resistor is
given by the expression

I = 9.9 sin(380t).

(a) For the current in the resistor R, determine

(i) the frequency,
(ii) the r.m.s. current.
(b) To prevent over-heating, the mean power dissipated in resistor R must not exceed 400 W.
Calculate the minimum resistance of R.

2. A sinusoidal alternating voltage is to be rectified.

(a) Suggest one advantage of full-wave rectification as compared with half-wave rectification.
(b) The rectification is produced using the circuit of Fig. 2.1.

(c) (i) On Fig. 2.1, draw the symbol for a capacitor, connected into the circuit so as to provide
smoothing.
(ii) State how the amount of smoothing may be increased.
(d) Fig. 2.2 shows the variation with time t of the smoothed potential difference across
the resistor R in Fig. 2.1.

(i) On Fig. 2.2, draw the variation with time t of the potential difference across resistor R for
increased smoothing
(ii) State the interval of time during which the capacitor is being charged

(3) An ideal iron-cored transformer is illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

(a) Explain why
(i) the supply to the primary coil must be alternating current, not direct current,
(ii) for constant input power, the output current must decrease if the output voltage
increases.
(iii) Explain why the coils are wound on a core made of iron.
(iv) Suggest why thermal energy is generated in the core.

(b) A student is asked to design a circuit by which a direct voltage of peak value 9.0 V is obtained
from a 240 V alternating supply. The student uses a transformer that may be considered to be ideal
and a bridge rectifier incorporating four ideal diodes.

Calculate for the transformer used, the ratio of

(c) Electrical energy is usually transmitted using alternating current. Suggest why the transmission is
achieved using
(i) high voltages,
(ii) alternating current.

(4) A block diagram for an electronic sensor is shown in Fig. 4.1.

(a) Complete Fig. 4.1 by labelling the remaining boxes.

(b) State the name of an electrical sensing device that will respond to changes in
(i) length,
(ii) pressure.

(c) A potential divider circuit consists of two resistors of resistances P and Q, as shown in Fig. 4.2.

The battery has e.m.f. E and negligible internal resistance.

Deduce the potential difference V across the resistor of resistance P

(d) The resistances P and Q are 2000Ω and 5000Ω respectively. A voltmeter is connected in parallel
with the 2000Ω resistor and a thermistor is connected in parallel with the 5000Ω resistor, as shown
in Fig. 4.3.

The battery has e.m.f. 6.0 V. The voltmeter has infinite resistance.

(i) State and explain qualitatively the change in the reading of the voltmeter as the temperature of the
thermistor is raised.
(ii) The voltmeter reads 3.6 V when the temperature of the thermistor is 19 °C. Calculate the
resistance of the thermistor at 19 °C.