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NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS
Higher 2

CANDIDATE
NAME

SUBJECT REGISTRATION
CLASS NUMBER

PHYSICS 9646/03
Paper 3 Longer Structured Questions 2 Sep 2010
Candidate answers on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required. 2 hours

Section A
READ THE INSTRUCTION FIRST For Examiner’s
Write your subject class, registration number and name on all the Use
work you hand in.
1
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough
working. 2
Do not use paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
Answers all questions.
3
You are advised to spend one hour on each section.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each 4

question or part question.
Total

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Data
8 -1
speed of light in free space, c = 3.00 x 10 ms

µ0 = 4π x 10 Hm
-7 -1
permeability of free space,

permittivity of free space, ε0 = 8.85 x 10-12 Fm-1

elementary charge, e = 1.60 x 10-19 C

the Planck constant, h = 6.63 x 10-34 Js

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

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

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

molar gas constant, R = 8.31 JK-1mol-1

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

-23 -1
the Boltzmann constant, k = 1.38 x 10 JK
-11 2 -2
gravitational constant, G = 6.67 x 10 Nm kg
-2
acceleration of free fall, g = 9.81 ms

Formulae
1 2
uniformly accelerated motion, s = ut + at
2
work done on/by a gas, W == p∆V+

hydrostatic pressure p = ρgh

Gm
gravitational potential, φ =−
r
displacement of particle in s.h.m., x = x0 sin ωt
v = v0 cos ωt and v = ±ω x0 − x 2
2
velocity of particle in s.h.m.,

resistors in series, R = R1 + R2 + …
1 1 1
resistors in parallel, = + + ...
R R1 R2
Q
electric potential, V=
4πε 0 r
alternating current/voltage, x = x0 sin ωt
T = ex p(-2kd) Where k = 8π m(U2 − E )
2
Transmission coefficient
h
radioactive decay, x = x0 exp (-λt)
0 . 693
λ =
decay constant, t1
2

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Section A
Answer all the questions in this section.

1 (a) Define the term angular velocity. [1]

(b)(i) A 10 kg baggage is left on a rotating baggage carousel at an airport. The baggage stays
at a fixed position on the slope of the carousel and rotates about in a circle
(r = 11.0 m) at a constant speed. The frictional force acting on the suitcase is 59.4 N.

Direction of rotation
r

θ = 36.0º

Side View

Use Newton’s Laws to explain why the baggage will experience a net force towards the
centre of the circle. [2]

(ii) Show on a fully labelled diagram the forces acting on the baggage. [2]

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(iii) Considering the forces acting on the baggage in the vertical direction, show that the
normal contact on the baggage is about 78.1 N. [2]

(iv) How much time is required for the suitcase to complete one full rotation? [3]

Time taken = ………………..

2 A monoatomic ideal gas is subject to a cycle of changes ABCA. Figure 2 shows a graph of
pressure p against volume V for one cycle of changes for the gas.

p /105 Pa

V /10 - 4 m3
Figure 2
(a)(i) Using data from the graph, verify that process BC is isothermal. Show your workings
clearly. State an assumption of the gas you must make to support your verification.
[2]

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(ii) Explain the term internal energy in relation to an ideal gas. [1]

(b) Temperature of the gas at point C is 385 K. Calculate the temperature of the gas
in oC at point A. [1]

Temperature of the gas = ………..………….oC

(c)(i) Calculate the change in the internal energy of the gas during the process AB. [2]

Change in the internal energy = ……………….. J

(ii) Work is done by the gas in the change AB. State what must be done to the
system for this change to occur. Explain using the first law of thermodynamics. [2]

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(d) Use the Kinetic Theory of gases to explain why the pressure of an ideal gas
increases in the change BC when it contracts at constant temperature. [2]

3 (a) Describe how an emission line spectrum can be produced in the laboratory. Describe
the appearance of the emission line spectrum when viewed through a grating
spectrometer. [3]

(b)(i) The experiment below confirms that electrons occupied only discrete, quantized energy
states.

Q R

Figure 3.1 Figure 3.2

Schematic diagram apparatus Graph of anode current Ia against V1

Electrons emitted at the cathode C are accelerated by a potential difference of V1

toward a positively charged grid G, in a glass tube filled with mercury vapor. Beyond
the grid is an anode A, held at a voltage of V2 of 1 V negative with respect to the grid.

A graph of anode current Ia against V1 is shown in Figure 3.2.

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The values of accelerating voltage where the current dropped gave a measure of the
energy necessary to force an electron to an excited state.

Account for the shape of the graph when

1. V1 is less than P. [1]

2. V1 is between P and Q. [1]

(ii) As shown in Figure 3.2, when the accelerating voltage reaches 4.9 V, the current
sharply drops, indicating the sharp onset of a new phenomenon. Suggest with
explanation what the new phenomenon is. [3]

(iii) 1. Using the values from the graph in Figure 3.2, find the wavelength of the radiation
emitted by the mercury atoms as they return to their ground state. [1]

Wavelength = ……………….. m

2. State the region of the EM radiation which the wavelength calculated in b(iii)(1) can
be found. [1]

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4 (a) Define the ohm. [2]

(b)(i) The figure below shows a potentiometer setup where the potentiometer wire, ab, is
uncalibrated. Es is a known standard cell. Describe how it is used to measure the emf of
the unknown source Ε x . [2]

a c b

switch
Ex
G

Es

(ii) Discuss one advantage of using the potentiometer setup to measure the emf Ex.
[1]

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(c) The potentiometer wire ab of length 1 metre has a resistance of 600 Ω . The rheostat,
R, has a resistance 400 Ω for the entire length of 50 cm. The previous circuit has been
altered as follows:
E = 5.0 V Rheostat, R = 400 Ω

0 cm 50 cm
midpoint

a c b

r = 10 Ω
G
Ex = 2.0 V

(i) Determine the balance length, ac. [2]

ac = ……………….. m

(ii) State the direction of the current flowing through the dry cell, Ex, when the rheostat R is
adjusted from the midpoint to the right at the 40 cm mark. [1]

(iii) Find the new balance length, ac’. [2]

ac’ = ……………….. m

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BLANK PAGE

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NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS
Higher 2

CANDIDATE
NAME

SUBJECT REGISTRATION
CLASS NUMBER

PHYSICS 9646/03
Paper 3 Longer Structured Questions 2 Sep 2010

Candidate answers on the Question Paper. 2 hours

No Additional Materials are required.

Section B For Examiner’s Use

Answer any two questions.
5
You are advised to spend one hour on each section.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of

each question or part question.
6
Circle the questions you attempted.

Submit Section A and B separately.

Total

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Section B
Answer two questions in this section.

5 (a) 226 222

88 Ra
is a stationary radioactive isotope which decays to 86 Rn with the release of
an alpha particle.

(Mass of 24 He = 4.00260 u, mass of proton = 1.00783 u,

mass of neutron = 1.00867 u, mass of 222
86 Rn = 222.018 u)
(i) Define binding energy of a nuclide and explain how this quantity could be a measure of
the stability of a nuclide. [2]

(ii) Given the binding energy per nucleon of 226

Ra is 7.66831 MeV, show that its mass is
88
226.025 u. [2]

(iii) Starting from first principles, show that

Mα
Q = Kα ( 1 + )
M Rn
where Q is the energy released in the decay reaction, Kα is the kinetic energy of the
alpha particle, Mα is the mass of the alpha particle and MRn is the mass of 222
86 Rn . [3]

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(iv) Hence, calculate Kα. [3]

Kα = ……………….. J

(v) Radon (Rn) decays by alpha emission to polonium and a tube containing an isotope of
radon is to be implanted in a patient. Suggest and explain two reasons why an alpha
emitter is preferred to the beta or gamma emitter for such purpose. [2]

(b) The graphs below show the activity of two samples of sodium nuclides, X and Y.

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(i) Define activity and half-life of a radioactive nuclide. [2]

(ii) number of undecayed X nuclei

Determine the ratio when the activities of the two
number of undecayed Y nuclei
samples are the same. [2]

Ratio =………………..

(iii) How would you tell from the graphs, as drawn, that the background radiation is
negligible? [2]

(iv) Explain clearly how you would show that the activity of the nuclides decay
exponentially. [2]

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6 (a) State what is meant by coherent waves. [1]

(b)(i) Two coherent sources of sound waves are located at position X and Y as shown in
Figure 6.1 below. The sources have zero phase difference. An observer stands at
position O. If the frequency of the sound wave is 660 Hz, with suitable calculations,
determine whether or not the observer experiences constructive or destructive
interference. (Take the speed of sound to be 330 ms-1) [3]

Sound source at X Sound source at Y

9m

12 m

Observer at O
Figure 6.1

(b)(ii) The source at position Y is slowly moved to the right until it eventually reaches
position Y’, as shown in Figure 6.2. Describe what is experienced by the observer at
O while the source is being moved. [2]

Sound source at X Sound source at Y’

9m 9m

12 m

Observer at O

Figure 6.2

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(b) Would you expect the observer to hear complete silence when there is destructive
(iii) interference? Explain. [1]

(c) The setup in (b)(i) has been changed by replacing one of the sound sources with a
reflecting plane (as shown in Fig 6.3). With suitable calculations, describe what is
experienced by observer at O. (Note that reflected wave from a hard surface
undergoes a phase change of π radian with respect to the incident wave.
[3]

Sound source at Y

8m

12 m
Reflecting
plane

Observer at O
Fig 6.3

(d) Explain what is meant by diffraction of a wave. [2]

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(e) A simplified model of the way the human eye responds to light of different
wavelengths incident normally on a diffraction grating of spacing d = 2.5 µm is as
follows:

Light: Perceived as:

Single wavelength between 0.40 µm and 0.50 µm Blue
Single wavelength between 0.50 µm and 0.60 µm Green
Single wavelength between 0.60 µm and 0.70 µm Red

Determine whether there is any overlapping between the first order and second order
spectra. [3]

(f) The spectrometer setup below shows how light from a collimator is made to fall
normally on a diffraction grating.

θ = θ 2 − θ1

The telescope can be used to locate the second order bright fringes of any particular
wavelength, λ at angular positions θ1 and θ 2 . Sodium vapour lamp of wavelength
589.3 nm is first used and the angle between θ 2 and θ1 , θ is shown in the table
below. The sodium vapour light is then replaced by a discharge tube containing a
mixture of gases and the θ values are recorded in table below for two pairs of
second order bright fringes.
Gas θ = θ 2 − θ1
Sodium 90.033°
Unknown 1 71.367°
Unknown 2 93.667°

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(i) State the purpose of placing a single slit before the light source. [1]

(ii) Identify the gases (unknown 1 and unknown 2) in the tube by using the data
in the table below which shows the wavelength of the spectral lines emitted
by various gases.
[4]
Gas Wavelength/ nm
Helium 668
Carbon dioxide 608
Hydrogen 486
Oxygen 441

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7 (a)(i) Define power. [1]

(ii) Derive an equation for power in terms of force and velocity. [2]

(b) Solar Impluse (see figure below), a plane powered by sunlight, ended its flight in
Switzerland on 8 Jul 2010 after remaining aloft for 26 hours. It was able to fly in the
darkness powered entirely by the energy its batteries had stored during the daytime
flight.
Solar cells
Electric Engine

Solar Impulse

(i) Describe qualitatively the energy transformation that takes place during the flight. [3]

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(ii) During the day, the average intensity of the sunlight received by the plane was 250
Wm-2. The solar panel covers an area of 200 m2. The average power achieved by the
plane’s four engines is 6.0 kW.

1. Show that the efficiency of the solar cells and its battery system is about 12%. [2]

2. The average flying speed of the aircraft is 70 kmh-1. Determine the magnitude of
the air resistance acting on the aircraft. [2]

Air resistance = ……………..….. N

3. For a daylight period of 14 hours, calculate the solar energy needed to be stored in
the battery so as to complete the entire flight. [2]

Energy required = ……………..… J

(c) The aircraft is powered by 12,000 solar cells. Solar cells use p-n junctions to convert
sunlight directly into electricity. With the aid of a diagram, discuss qualitatively the
origin of the depletion region in a p-n junction. [4]

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(d)(i) To provide a useful supply for the plane, a bank of solar cells consists of many cells
connected in a series and parallel array. The figure below shows the arrangement,
using a smaller number of cells than is used in practice.

Selection B

Selection A

Give one advantage for connecting the cells

1. in series as shown in selection A. [1]

2. in parallel as shown in selection B. [1]

(ii) Even if the arrangement of supplies as shown above are installed and in working order,
there may be still no power available. Explain why this could happen and what might
be done to provide suitable back-up power. [2]

End of Paper

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