Name: ________________________ Class: 09S ___________

VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE

2010 JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

PHYSICS 9646/3
Higher 2
Paper 3

21/9/2010 0800h – 1000h

TUESDAY (2 Hours)

This paper consists of two sections: For marker’s use

Section A
Section A (40 marks) consists of 4 short structured
questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided Q1
for each question.
Q2
Section B (40 marks) consists of 3 long structured Q3
questions. Answer any two questions. Write your
answers in the spaces provided for each of the chosen Q4
questions.

The intended marks for each question or part question in Section B

sections A and B are given in brackets [ ].
Q5
N.B. You will hand in the whole question set issued to Q6
you at the end of the examination. Do not separate the
question set into parts. Q7
s.f.
unit
Total (80)

This question set consists of a total of 16 printed pages.

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Data

speed of light in free space, c = 3.00 x 108 m s-1

permeability of free space, µo = 4π x 10-7 H m-1

permittivity of free space, εo = 8.85 x 10-12 F m-1

(1/(36π)) x 10-9 F m-1

elementary charge, e = 1.60 x 10-19 C

the Planck constant, h = 6.63 x 10-34 J s

unified atomic mass constant, u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg

rest mass of electron, me = 9.11 10-31 kg

rest mass of proton, mp = 1.67 x 10-27 kg

molar gas constant, R = 8.31 J mol-1 K-1

the Avogadro constant, NA = 6.02 x 1023 mol-1

the Boltzmann constant, k = 1.38 x 10-23 J K-1

gravitational constant, G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2

acceleration of free fall, g = 9.81 m s-2

 3

Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion, s = ut + ½ at 2

v2 = u2 + 2as

work done on/by a gas, W = p∆V

hydrostatic pressure, p = hρg

gravitational potential, GM
φ=−
r

displacement of particle in s.h.m., x = xo sin ωt

velocity of particle in s.h.m., v = vo cos ωt

= ±ω ( x o2 − x 2 )

resistors in series, R = R1 + R2 + …

resistors in parallel, 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2+ …

electric potential, V = Q/4πεor

alternating current/voltage, x = xo sin ωt

transmission coefficient, T = exp(-2kd)

8π 2 m(U − E )
where k =
h2

radioactive decay, x = xoexp(-λt)

decay constant, 0.693

λ=
t1
2
 4

Section A (40 marks)

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

1 (a) Distinguish between a random error and a systematic error in the

measurement of a physical quantity. [2]

(b) A student set up the apparatus shown in Fig 1 in order to determine the
spring constant k of a spring by finding the extension of the spring when
additional mass is loaded.

metre rule

Fig 1
scale reading

mass

The following readings with their errors were recorded in a particular

experiment:

mass added initial scale reading final scale reading

(20 ± 1) g (32.00 ± 0.05) cm (36.30 ± 0.05) cm

Using the readings above, calculate the spring constant k with its
associated uncertainty and present your answer in SI units of N m-1. [4]
 5

(c) A second student repeated the experiment in (b) with the same spring. In
this new experiment, the additional masses were loaded and the
corresponding extension readings were tabulated. A graph showing the
variation of the extension and loaded masses was then plotted. Discuss
three advantages of this procedure for the determination of the spring
constant as compared to that used in (b). [3]

2 (a) The figure below shows a thin taut wire held horizontally by two supports
placed 0.40 m apart.
0.40 m

Fixed Movable
support

weights
When the wire is plucked at its centre, a standing wave is formed and the
wire vibrates in its fundamental mode of frequency 50 Hz.
(i) Explain why a standing wave is formed between the supports. [2]

(ii) Determine the speed of the wave in the wire. [1]

 6

(iii) Sketch the next 2 higher modes which the string can vibrate in and
[3]
hence determine their corresponding frequencies.

(b) The wire is then connected to an a.c. source in a closed circuit and a
magnet is brought near to the wire as shown in the next figure below. This
causes the wire to vibrate in its fundamental mode with a large amplitude.
When the movable support is shifted from its position, the amplitude of
vibration decreases abruptly.

0.40 m B-field due to magnet

Fixed Movable support

a.c. supply weights

(i) Explain the change in amplitude of the wire’s vibration when the
movable support is shifted. Hence, deduce the frequency of the a.c.
source. [3]
 7

(ii) Suggest two ways that the same wire can be made to resonate with
a fundamental frequency of 100 Hz.
[2]

3 (a) State the Law of Conservation of Momentum. [1]

(b) Explain what is meant by an elastic collision. [1]

(c) A 200g rubber ball is tied to a 1.0 m long string and released from rest at
angle θ. It swings down and at the very bottom has a elastic collision with
a 1.0 kg block. The block is resting on a frictionless surface and is
connected to a 20 cm long spring of spring constant 2.0 kN m-1. After
collision, the spring compressed a maximum distance of 2.0 cm.

1.0 m θ

1.0 kg spring

200 g

20 cm
(i) Determine the strain energy stored in the spring. [2]
 8

(ii) Determine the speed of the block after collision with the ball. [2]

(iii) Given that the collision is elastic, determine the speed of the ball
before collision with the block. [2]

(iv) Hence, determine from what angle was the rubber ball released. [2]

4 (a) Define resistance and the ohm. [2]

(b) A wire with a resistance of 6.0 Ω is stretched so that its new length is three
times its original length. Assuming that the resistivity and density of the
material are not changed during the stretching process, calculate the
resistance of the longer wire. [3]
 9

(c) The circuit shown in Fig. 4 is constructed of resistors, each of which has a
maximum safe power rating of 0.40 W.

160Ω

Fig.4

1000Ω 1000Ω

(i) Find the maximum potential difference that can be applied between
X and Y without damage to any of the resistors. [3]

(ii) If this potential difference were exceeded, explain which resistor

would be most likely to fail. [2]
 10

Section B [40 marks]

Answer any two questions for this section. Each question carries 20 marks. Write your
answers to each part of the questions in the spaces provided.

5 (a) (i) Define magnetic flux density and state its SI unit. [2]

(ii) Express the unit of magnetic flux density in terms of its base units. [2]

(b) Fig 5 shows the arrangement of a mass spectrometer, which is an

instrument to measure the masses of ions. An ion of mass m and charge
+q is produced at rest in an ion source S. The ion is accelerated through a
pair of parallel plates P1 and P2 of potential difference V. The ion is then
allowed to enter a region of uniform magnetic field of flux density B, which
is directed perpendicularly to the plane of the paper. In the field it moves
in a semicircle, striking a photographic plate at a distance x from the entry
slit.

Region of
magnetic field
directed
vertically to
plane of paper

v x photographic
q+ plate
P2 -V
P1 0
V
S
Fig 5
 11

(i) Show that the ion exit from plate P2 and enter the magnetic field with
2qV [1]
a velocity v = .
m

(ii) Describe and explain the effects of the magnetic field on the velocity
of the ion upon its entry into the magnetic field. [2]

(iii) If the ion is positively-charged, state the direction of the magnetic

field. [1]

(iv) For an ion that enters the magnetic field with velocity v, show that
mv
the radius r of its semicircular path is r = . [2]
Bq

(v) Hence find an expression for x in terms of m, B, q and the potential

difference V of the parallel plates. [2]
 12

12 14
(c) (i) C and C are isotopes of carbon. Ions of these two isotopes
were introduced into the mass spectrometer described in (b) and two
spots were observed on the photographic plate. Explain why there
would be two spots. [2]

(ii) The singly and positively charged ions from the two isotopes were
accelerated through a potential difference V of 4.0 kV and enter the
magnetic field of flux density B of 0.50 T. If the masses of the ions
are 12u and 14u respectively, calculate the distance ∆x between the
spots on the photographic plate. [3]

(d) If an electron were to be introduced into the mass spectrometer, describe

and explain what would be observed if the accelerating potential and the
magnetic field remained unchanged. [3]
 13

6 (a) (i) Define the term binding energy. [1]

(ii) Use the data below to calculate the binding energy in MeV of a
nucleus of 168 O .
Data: mass of proton = 1.007 276 u
mass of neutron = 1.008 665 u
[3]
mass of oxygen nucleus = 15.990 527 u

(iv) The binding energy of 178 O is 126.43 MeV.

State which of these two isotopes of oxygen would be more stable.
[4]
Explain your answer.

(b) Scientists have worked out the age of the Moon by dating rocks brought
back by the Apollo missions. They use the decay of potassium 40 19 K to

argon 40
18 Ar , which is stable. The decay constant of potassium-40 is
5.3 × 10–10 per year.
(i) Write a full nuclear equation for this decay. [2]

(ii) Explain what is meant by the decay constant of potassium-40 being

5.3 × 10–10 per year. [1]
 14

(iii) Sketch a labelled graph to show how the activity of 40

K changes with
19

time. Mark on your graph the half life of 40

19 K. [2]

(iv) In one rock sample the scientists found 0.84 µg of argon-40 and
0.10 µg of potassium-40. Calculate the age of the rock sample in
years. [3]

(v) State any assumption that you have made for the calculation in (iv). [1]

(vi) Calculate the activity of the potassium-40 in the rock sample. Hence,
explain if it is necessary for the scientists who handled the rock
sample to take special safety precautions. [3]
 15

7 (a) The photoelectric equation may be written in the form

.
Explain the physical meaning of the three terms in this equation. [3]

(b) Light of wavelength 540 nm is incident normally on a metal surface having

a work function of 3.38 eV. The light energy is totally absorbed by the
surface. Calculate the threshold wavelength for this metallic material and
discuss whether the photoelectric emission of electrons occurs. [3]

(c) The light has intensity 1.2 mW m-2 and the area of the metal surface is
1.4 cm2. Calculate
(i) the momentum of a photon of the incident light, [1]

(ii) the rate at which photons are incident on the metal surface, [3]
 16

(iii) the force exerted by the light on the surface, assuming that all the
light is absorbed. [2]

(iv) Suppose that the light is now incident on a piece of thin metal foil.
Suggest whether the force calculated in (c)(iii) is a practicable
means of moving the piece of foil. [2]

(d) Although electrons, protons and neutrons are usually treated as particles,
they also possess “wave” characteristics, which can be exploited by
Transmission Microscopes to obtain high-resolution images of extremely
small objects. For instance, electrons with a de Broglie wavelength of
5.0 nm can be used by such microscopes to image the structure of viruses.
(i) Determine the kinetic energy of an electron which has a de Broglie
wavelength of 5.0 nm.

(ii) The resolution of an image can be improved by using particles with

shorter de Broglie wavelengths. Suggest two ways to decrease the de
Broglie wavelength further, and explain your answer. [6]