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NEW SENIOR SECONDARY PHYSICS AT WORK

Mock Examination 2013 Paper 1 and 2
Solutions
Paper 1 (60% of subject mark)
SECTION A (21% of subject mark)
Question No. Key Question No. Key

1 A 21 A
2 D 22 C
3 C 23 A
4 C 24 B
5 D 25 B

6 D 26 A
7 B 27 C
8 A 28 C
9 B 29 C
10 A 30 C

11 A 31 D
12 C 32 D
13 B 33 B
14 B 34 D
15 A 35 C

16 A 36 B
17 A
18 D
19 B
20 B

SECTION B (84 marks, 39% of subject mark)

1
(a) The vacuum reduces the energy loss from the liquid to the surroundings
by conduction. 1A
(b) Energy supplied E = VIt
= 50 × 2.0 × 1 1M
= 100 J 1A

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 (c) Energy absorbed by the liquid in one second = mc(T2 – T1) 1M
∴ mc(T2 – T1) = E
E
c=
m(T2  T1 )
100
= 1M
0.01(30  25)
= 2000 J kg1 oC1 1A
The specific heat capacity of the liquid is 2000 J kg1 oC1.
(d) By radiation 1A
(e) R should be adjusted to a larger value. 1A
2
(a) As the balloon moves up, its volume increases. 1A
(b) By the general gas law,
P1V1 P2V2

T1 T2
P2 P1V1

T2 T1V2
4
 350 1M
35
= 40 Pa K1 1A
From the graph, the maximum height is 18 000 m. 1A
1
(c) By PV  Nm c 2 ,
3
3PV
c2 
Nm
3V P
  T
Nm T
3  35
  40  ( 273  56) 1M
0.656
= 1180 m s1 1A
The root-mean-square speed of helium molecules is 1180 m s1.
3
(a) (i) Consider the stopping of the recoiling cannon by friction.
1
By s  (u  v )t , 1M
2
2s
u v
t
2  0.3
 0
0.4
= 1.5 m s–1
The initial recoil speed of the cannon is 1.5 m s–1. 1A
(ii) Take the direction towards the right as positive.
By conservation of momentum,
0 + 0 = mcvc + mbvb 1M
0 = 500 × (–1.5) + 5.5vb
vb = 136 m s–1
The horizontal speed of the cannonball is 136 m s–1. 1A

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 (b) (i) Take the upward direction as positive.
Vertical speed of the cannonball = 136 tan30°
= 78.7 m s–1 1A
(ii)

weight
(Correct force) 1A
(iii) Consider the vertical motion of the cannonball.
1
By s  ut  at 2 ,
2
1
 1.2  78.7t   ( 9.81)t 2 1M
2
4.905t  78.7t  1.2  0
2

t = 16.1 s 1M
Range = horizontal distance travelled by the cannonball
= 136 × 16.1
= 2.19 × 103 m (or 2.19 km) 1A
4
(a) T T
60° 60°

mg

The net force acting on the bucket is zero.

∴ 2T cos 60  mg 1M
mg
T
2cos 60
(1.2  15)  9.81

2 cos 60
= 159 N
The tension of each of the thin ropes is 159 N. 1A
(b) (i) By F = ma,
Let T' be the tension of the thick rope.
T' – mg = ma 1M
T' = m(g + a)
= (1.2 + 15) × (9.81 + 0.2)
= 162 N
The tension of the thick rope is 162 N. 1A

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 (ii)
–1
speed / m s

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

t/s
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
(Correct graph) 1A
(iii) By P = Fv,
P = mgv
= (1.2 + 15) × 9.81 × 0.3 1M
= 47.7 W
The power provided is 47.7 W. 1A
5
GM E
(a) Gravitational field strength g =
r2
6.67  1011  5.97  1024
= 1M
(6736 103 ) 2
= 8.78 N kg–1 1A
(b) Net force acting on the astronaut = mg
= 70 × 8.78
= 615 N 1A
GM E m
(c) 2
 mr 2
r
8.78
 1M
6736 103
= 0.001 141 rad s–1
2 2
T   1M
 0.001 141
= 5505 s
= 91.7 min 1A
The period of the space station is 91.7 minutes.
(d) No change 1A
By mr  mg , 2

g

r
Angular speed (and hence period) is independent of
the mass of the space station. 1M

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6
(a) (i)

image

(Two correct refracted rays) 1A

(Correct image  No marks for the image if solid lines are used
for the rays extending backwards) 1A
(ii) The image forms at a lower position under the liquid surface 1A
because refracted rays bend less away from normal. 1A
(b) (i) Convex lens 1A
This is because the image is inverted. 1A
(ii)

object

principal
F axis

F'

image

convex lens

(At least 2 correct light rays  No marks for dotted lines or with
wrong/no direction) 1A
(Correct position of the lens) 1A
(Correct positions of the two foci F and F') 1A
7
(a) (i) Constructive interferences occur at the centre of fringe P 1A
and at the centre of fringe Q. 1A
(ii) Path difference at the centre of fringe P = 0 (or 0) 1A
Path difference at the centre of fringe Q =  1A
v 3  108
(b) Wavelength    1M
f 4  1014
= 7.5 × 107 m 1A
(c) The fringe separation will decrease. 1A
(d) Any one of the following: 1A
The light source should be strong (or the laboratory should be dark).
All slits should be narrow.

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8
(a) Anticlockwise 1A
(b) Magnetic force acting on the wires
F = NBJl 1A
(c) (i) By   Fd ,
l
torque by the magnetic field about the axle = NBJl  2 1M
2
= NBJl2 1A
(ii) Any two of the following: 2  1A
Increase the number of turns in the coil
Use a stronger magnet
Increase the current
Increase the area of the coil within the magnetic field
(d) The torque by the motor is just offset by that by the weight of the object.
 0.12 
Torque by the motor about the axle = mg  = 0.5886m
 2 
0.5886m  NBJl 2 1M
4  0.2  10  0.12
m
0.5886
= 0.136 kg 1A
9
(a) Anticlockwise 1A
When the N-pole of the magnet approaches the coil, by Lenz’s law, the
induced current will flow in an anticlockwise direction to produce an
N-pole on top of the coil to oppose the approaching of the magnet. 1A
(b) For the first peak, current is induced in one direction to oppose the
increase in magnetic field due to the approaching magnet. 1A
For the second peak, current is induced in opposite direction to oppose
the decrease in magnetic field due to the leaving magnet. 1A
(c)
induced e.m.f. / V
0.06

0.04

0.02

0 time / s
0.1 0.2
–0.02

–0.04

–0.06

(Correct shape of graph with first peak of e.m.f. = –0.04 V at time = 0.1 s
and second peak of e.m.f. = 0.05 V at time = 0.12 s) 1A

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 (d) Maximum magnitude of the induced e.m.f.
N2
=  1 1M
N1
150
=  0.05 V
30
= 0.25 V 1A
10
(a)
A

220 V rice cooker

2 : 1 step-down transformer
(Correct circuit  Withhold 1 mark if ammeter is missing or
incorrectly connected) 2A
(Correct turns ratio) 1A
(b) (i) ‘Keep warm’ mode 1A
(ii) Any one of the following: 1A
The rice cooker in Peter’s circuit can operate at its rated voltage
in the two modes while that in Susan’s circuit cannot.
The power loss in Peter’s circuit is smaller than that in Susan’s.
11
(a) Isotopes are nuclides of an element with the same atomic number
but different mass number. 1A
(b) (i) Consider the mass numbers.
235 + 1 = 131 + x + 3 × 1
x = 102 1A
(ii) The equation represents a nuclear fission 1A
because the U-235 nucleus is split up into lighter nuclei. 1A
(c) I-131 emits β radiation which is ionizing. 1A
The radiation can destroy or damage living cells in the thyroid. 1A
ln 2 ln 2
(d) Decay constant k  =
t1 8  24  60  60 1M
2
= 1.003 × 10–6 s–1
 A
By ln    kt , 1M
 A0 
1  A
t    ln  
k  A0 
1  100 
 6
 ln  
1.003 10  4000
 3.678 106 s
= 42.6 days
At least 42.6 days are required. 1A

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Paper 2 (20% of subject mark)

SECTION A: Astronomy and Space Science (20 marks, 10% of subject mark)
Multiple-choice questions

1.1 C 1.25A
1.2 D 1.25A
1.3 D 1.25A
1.4 A 1.25A
1.5 A 1.25A
1.6 B 1.25A
1.7 C 1.25A
1.8 C 1.25A

Structured question
1
(a) d
4.5

1.3 AU
d
= tan 4.5 1M
1.3  1.50  1011
d = 1.535 × 1010 m
Length of tail = 2d
= 3.07 × 107 km 1A
OR:  
Length of tail = 1.3  1.50  1011   9 
 180 

 
 1M

= 3.06 × 1010 m = 3.06 × 107 km 1A

(b) No, 1A
because Halley is not fixed on the celestial sphere. 1A
(c) (i) The semimajor axis of an ellipse is half the length of the line that
passes through the two foci of the ellipse with its ends on the
ellipse. 1A
(ii) By Kepler’s third law,
3
a3 aEarth 13 (in AU)
  1M
T2 TEarth
2
12 (in Earth years)
3
∴ a 75.32 AU
= 17.8 AU 1A
The semimajor axis of Halley’s orbit is 17.8 AU.
(d) The speed of Halley is higher at point Q than that at point R. 1A
Since point Q is closer to the Sun than point R is, the potential energy of
Halley at point Q is smaller (more negative) than that at point R. 1A
By conservation of energy, the kinetic energy of Halley at point Q
is larger than that at point R. 1A
Thus, the speed of Halley at point Q is higher.
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SECTION B: Atomic World (20 marks, 10% of subject mark)

Multiple-choice questions

2.1 A 1.25A
2.2 B 1.25A
2.3 D 1.25A
2.4 C 1.25A
2.5 A 1.25A
2.6 D 1.25A
2.7 B 1.25A
2.8 D 1.25A

Structured question

2
(a) The energy levels of a hydrogen atom are discrete. 1A
hc  1 1 
(b) (i)  13.6   2  2  eV 1M
 n 2 
1 1 6.63  1034  3  108 1
  

n 2 4 656  10 9
 13.6  1.6  1019
n=3 1M
Light of wavelength 656 nm is emitted when the hydrogen atom
drops from the second excited state. 1A
h
(ii) Momentum of the photon p  1M

6.63  1034

656  109
= 1.01 × 10–27 kg m s–1 1A
(iii) The energy of a photon of wavelength 656 nm
hc
=

6.63  1034  3  108
 1M
656  109
= 3.03 × 10–19 J or 1.89 eV
The energy of the photon is smaller than the work function of
sodium. Therefore, photoelectric effect will not occur. 1A
(c) Any two of the following: 2  1A
The total energy of the orbiting electron in its orbit remains constant.
An electron can only occupy certain discrete orbits.
In each orbit, the angular momentum of the electron is quantized in
h
integral multiples of .
2

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SECTION C: Energy and Use of Energy (20 marks, 10% of subject mark)

Multiple-choice questions

3.1 B 1.25A
3.2 A 1.25A
3.3 B 1.25A
3.4 C 1.25A
3.5 D 1.25A
3.6 B 1.25A
3.7 C 1.25A
3.8 C 1.25A

Structured question

3
(a) Solar panels are portable, so they can be easily transported to
remote areas. 1A
(Or other reasonable answers)
(b) Maximum energy stored = Pt = 7 × 60 × 60 × 24 × 3 1M
= 1.81 × 106 J 1A
(c) 1000 × A × 18% = 45 1M
A = 0.25 m2
The area of the solar panel is 0.25 m2. 1A
(d) There is an extended period of rainy (or cloudy) weather. 1A
1
(e) (i) By P  Av3 , 1M
2
maximum power output
3
1  20  103 
=  1.2  (  0.82 )   
2  3600 
 
= 207 W 1A
(ii) Air does not stop after passing through the turbine. 1A
The generator in the turbine is not 100% efficient. 1A
(Or other reasonable answers)

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SECTION D: Medical Physics (20 marks, 10% of subject mark)

Multiple-choice questions

4.1 D 1.25A
4.2 A 1.25A
4.3 B 1.25A
4.4 C 1.25A
4.5 D 1.25A
4.6 B 1.25A
4.7 C 1.25A
4.8 A 1.25A

Structured question

4
(a) (i) The skull has a high attenuation coefficient for X-ray. 1A
Only a tiny amount of X-ray could pass through the skull to
hit the detector, so the skull appears white in colour. 1A
(ii) The X-ray source and the detector rotate around the patient’s head
in a circle. 1A
The detector measures the intensity of X-ray passing through
different parts of the head. 1A
The computer constructs an attenuation map of the head
according to the intensities measured. 1A
This gives Figure 4.1.
(iii) Stay behind barriers of lead or concrete when the CT machine
is working. 1A
(Or other reasonable answers)
(b) (i) Internal radiation sources are used in radionuclide imaging
while external sources are used in CT scans. 1A
The resolution of CT images is higher than that of
radionuclide images. 1A
(Or other reasonable answers)
(ii) The radionuclides should be non-toxic. 1A
They should produce gamma rays only. 1A
(Or other reasonable answers)

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