National University of Singapore

PC1222 Fundamentals of Physics II

(AY2018/19, Semester 2)

Term Test
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes

22 March 2019

Instructions to Students:

1. This test paper consists of 30 multiple choice questions with different grading.
2. Please shade all your answers with a full dark circle on the optical answer sheet provided.
3. This is a closed book test. However, you are allowed to bring in an A4-sized double-sided
helpsheet.
4. A list of physical constants is provided on page 2.
5. Please submit both question paper and answer sheet at the end of the test.
 List of Physical Constants

Base of natural logarithm:

e = 2.71828

Gravitational acceleration:
g = 9.80 m/s2

Coulomb’s constant:
k = 8.99 x 109 N·m2/C2

Permittivity of vacuum:
ε0 = 8.85 x 10-12 C2/(N·m2)

Permeability of vacuum:
0  4 x 10-7 T  m/A

Mass of electron:
me = 9.1094 x 10-31 kg

Mass of proton:
mp = 1.6726 x 10-27 kg

Magnitude of the charge of an electron:

e = 1.6022 x 10-19 C

Electron volt:
1 eV = 1.6022 x 10-19 J

Speed of light:
c = 2.9979 x 108 m/s

Planck’s constant:
h = 6.63 x 10-34 J·s

peta P 1015 1 000 000 000 000 000

tera T 1012 1 000 000 000 000
giga G 109 1 000 000 000
mega M 106 1 000 000
kilo k 103 1 000
hecto h 102 100
deka da 101 10
base unit 100 1
deci d 10-1 1/10 0.1
centi c 10-2 1/100 0.01
milli m 10-3 1/1 000 0.001
micro μ 10-6 1/1 000 000 0.000 001
nano n 10-9 1/1 000 000 000 0.000 000 001
Angström Å 10-10 1/10 000 000 000 0.000 000 000 1
pico p 10-12 1/1 000 000 000 000 0.000 000 000 001

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 Answer all questions

Questions 1 to 15 carry one mark each.

1. Four lightweight plastic spheres labelled A, B, C and D are suspended from threads in various
combinations as shown below. Given that the spheres have equal masses, which of the following
statements is correct?

(a) A and D carry same sign of charges.

(b) B and D carry opposite sign of charges.
(c) A and C carry opposite sign of charges.
(d) C could be neutral.
(e) None of the above statements is correct.

2. A negative charge –q is placed at three different positions (A, B and

C as shown) in the vicinity of two positive charges +q of the same
magnitude. Note that B is the midpoint of the line joining the two
positive charges and the line AC through B is perpendicular to it.
Comparing the magnitude of the force F the negative charge –q
experiences at these three locations,
(a) FA < FB < FC
(b) FB < FA < FC
(c) FB < FC < FA
(d) FC < FA < FB
(e) FC < FB < FA

3. The figure shows a series of equipotentials

in a particular region of space, and five
different paths along which an electron is
moved. Rank the paths in order of
increasing amount of work done on the
electron by the electric field.
(a) A<D<E<C<B
(b) B<C<A<D<E
(c) B<C<E<D<A
(d) D<E<A<C=B
(e) E<D<A<C<B

4. As a crude model for lightning, consider the ground to be one plate of a parallel-plate capacitor
and a cloud at an altitude of 550 m to be the other plate. Assume the surface area of the cloud
to be the same as the area of a square of side 0.50 km. How much charge can the cloud hold
before the dielectric strength of air is exceeded and a lightning results? (Take the dielectric
strength of air to be 3 x 106 V/m)
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(a) 6.64 C
(b) 13.3 C
(c) 18.3 C
(d) 26.6 C
(e) 36.5 C

5. Two capacitors are connected in parallel across a

battery as shown. If the total energy stored in the
two capacitors is 0.0105 J, find the capacitance C.
(a) 10.6 μF
(b) 12.3 μF
(c) 17.9 μF
(d) 21.2 μF
(e) 24.5 μF

6. A battery that produces a potential difference V is connected to a 5-W lightbulb. Later, the 5-W
lightbulb is replaced with a 10-W lightbulb. How do the current and resistance compare in the
two lightbulbs?
(a) I5W = 0.5I10W ; R5W = 0.5R10W
(b) I5W = 0.5I10W ; R5W = 2R10W
(c) I5W = I10W ; R5W = R10W
(d) I5W = 2I10W ; R5W = 0.5R10W
(e) I5W = 2I10W ; R5W = 2R10W

7. Four conducting cylinders as shown below are all made of the same material though they differ
in length and/or diameter. They are connected to four different batteries, which supply the
necessary voltages to give the circuits the same current. Rank the four voltages in order of
increasing value. (r denotes the radius of the surface area on both sides of the cylinder.)

(a) V4 < V3 < V1 < V2

(b) V4 < V3 < V2 < V1
(c) V3 < V4 < V1 < V2
(d) V2 < V4 < V1 < V3
(e) V1 < V2 < V3 < V4

8. How many 60-W lightbulbs can be connected in parallel across a potential difference of 120 V
before the total current out of the voltage source exceeds 13 A?
(a) 26
(b) 24
(c) 22
(d) 18
(e) 16

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9. ⃗ in a
A 12.2-μC particle with a mass of 1.80 x 10-5 kg moves perpendicularly to a magnetic field 𝐵
circular path of radius 20.5 m. If the particle is moving with a speed of 14.6 m/s, find the
magnitude of 𝐵⃗.
(a) 0.442 T
(b) 0.657 T
(c) 0.860 T
(d) 1.05 T
(e) 1.56 T

10. Particles A, B and C which have identical

masses and charges of the same magnitude
are projected into a region of magnetic field
and follow the paths as shown. Rank the
particles in order of increasing speed.
(a) vA < vB < vC
(b) vA < vC < vB
(c) vB < vC < vA
(d) vC < vA < vB
(e) vC < vB < vA

11. It is desired that a solenoid 42 cm long with 500 turns produce a magnetic field within it equal
to the earth’s magnetic field of 5.0 x 10-5 T. What is the required current?
(a) 33 mA
(b) 47 mA
(c) 54 mA
(d) 67 mA
(e) 82 mA

12. A loop of wire is dropped and allowed to fall between the poles of a
horseshoe magnet (along the dotted vertical line as shown). What is
the direction of the induced current (as viewed from the side of the
loop as shown) on the loop as it approaches the magnet from above
and when it falls away from the magnet from below?
Above Below
(a) Clockwise Clockwise
(b) Clockwise Anticlockwise
(c) Anticlockwise Clockwise
(d) Anticlockwise Anticlockwise
(e) No current No current

13. Three loops of wire are hung in a region of magnetic field as

shown. Loop 1 swings back and forth like a bob on a
pendulum. Loop 2 rotates about a vertical axis. Loop 3
oscillates vertically on the end of a spring. Which loop or
loops have a magnetic flux that changes with time?
(a) Loop 1 only
(b) Loop 2 only
(c) Loops 1 and 3
(d) Loops 2 and 3
(e) Loops 1, 2 and 3
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14. An AM radio station’s antenna is constructed to be λ/4 tall, where λ is the wavelength of the
radio waves. How tall will the antenna be for a station broadcasting at a frequency of 820 kHz?
(a) 30.5 m
(b) 45.7 m
(c) 91.4 m
(d) 122 m
(e) 183 m

15. Find the maximum value of the electric field in an electromagnetic wave whose average intensity
is 5.00 W/m2.
(a) 20.5 V/m
(b) 21.7 V/m
(c) 30.7 V/m
(d) 43.4 V/m
(e) 61.4 V/m

Questions 16 to 25 carry two marks each.

16. Two charges, q1 and q2, are placed such that the net electric field at P
due to them points vertically downward and to the right. What can
you say about q1 and q2? (P lies on a line that is midway between the
two charges.)
(i) They have the same magnitude.
(ii) |q1| > |q2|
(iii) |q1| < |q2|
(iv) q1 is positive and q2 is negative
(v) q1 is negative and q2 is positive

(a) Statements (i) and (v) are correct.

(b) Statements (ii) and (iv) are correct.
(c) Statements (ii) and (v) are correct.
(d) Statements (iii) and (iv) are correct.
(e) Statements (iii) and (v) are correct.

17. The space between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is filled with a dielectric with dielectric
constant κ. When the capacitor is connected to a battery, each of the plates has a charge of
magnitude 3.62 x 10-8 C. When the dielectric is replaced with one with dielectric constant κ’ with
𝜅
the battery still connected, the charges decrease to 1.89 x 10-8 C. Find 𝜅’. Will this ratio increase
or decrease if the separation between the plates increases and the battery is still connected?
(a) 1.92; increases
(b) 1.92; decreases
(c) 1.92; there is no change to the ratio
(d) 0.522; increases
(e) 0.522; decreases

18. Three charges are positioned at the three corners of a

rectangle as shown. What is the work done by the
electric field to move the –6.3 μC charge to infinity?
(a) +0.34 J
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(b) +0.57 J
(c) ̶ 0.57 J
(d) +0.79 J
(e) ̶ 0.79 J

19. A digital thermometer which employs a thermistor as the temperature-sensing element is used
to take the temperature of a patient. A thermistor is a kind of semiconductor and has a large
negative temperature coefficient of resistivity α. If the resistance of the thermistor decreases to
85% of its value at the normal body temperature of 37.0⁰C, what is the patient’s temperature?
[Take α = ̶ 0.060 (⁰C )-1]
(a) 36.5⁰C
(b) 37.5⁰C
(c) 38.7⁰C
(d) 39.5⁰C
(e) 40.3⁰C

20. The circuit as shown has an internal resistance r = 0.5

Ω. What is the terminal voltage of the battery?
(a) 10.8 V
(b) 11.0 V
(c) 11.4 V
(d) 11.7 V
(e) 11.9 V

21. A high-voltage power line carries a current of 110 A at a location where the Earth’s magnetic
field has a magnitude of 62 μT and points to the north, 72⁰ below the horizontal. Find the
direction and magnitude of the magnetic force exerted on a 250-m length of the power line if
the current in it flows horizontally toward the west.
(a) 0.53 N, points to the north 18⁰ above the horizontal
(b) 1.6 N, points to the north 18⁰ above the horizontal
(c) 1.6 N, points to the south 18⁰ below the horizontal
(d) 1.7 N, points to the north 18⁰ above the horizontal
(e) 1.7 N, points to the south 18⁰ below the horizontal

22. Three long and straight wires oriented parallel to each

other at the three corners of a square of side d carry a
current of the same magnitude I as shown. What are
the magnetic force per unit length experienced by the
wire at position 2 and its direction?
Force per unit length Direction
𝜇0 𝐼2
(a) 45⁰ below the +x axis
√2𝜋𝑑
𝜇0 𝐼2
(b) 45⁰ above the +x axis
√2𝜋𝑑
𝜇0 𝐼2
(c) 45⁰ below the +x axis
2𝜋𝑑
𝜇0 𝐼2
(d) 2𝜋𝑑
45⁰ above the –x axis
𝜇0 𝐼2
(e) 2𝜋𝑑
45⁰ below the –x axis

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23. A long thin wire is placed in a region of magnetic field directed
rightward as shown. The wire carries a current of 5.8 A and
experiences a magnetic force of 0.069 N per meter when
oriented at an angle of 22⁰ to the magnetic field. At what
angle will the magnetic force exerted on the wire per meter
be equal to 0.025 N?
(a) 5.6⁰
(b) 6.4⁰
(c) 7.8⁰
(d) 8.3⁰
(e) 9.1⁰

24. An emf is induced in a conducting loop of wire 1.45 m long as its shape is changed from a square
to a circle. Find the average magnitude of the induced emf if the change in shape occurs in
3.82 s and the magnetic field is perpendicular to the plane of the loop and has a magnitude of
0.125 T.
(a) 3.92 x 10-4 V
(b) 5.87 x 10-4 V
(c) 1.17 x 10-3 V
(d) 2.35 x 10-3 V
(e) 3.52 x 10-3 V

25. Supposing sunlight reflected by the water in a lake is polarised parallel to the surface of the
water. A person riding a boat in the lake wears a pair of Polaroid sunglasses with the polarization
axis vertical. If she leans at an angle of 22.5⁰ with respect to the vertical, what fraction of the
reflected light intensity will pass through the sunglasses?
(a) 0.073
(b) 0.146
(c) 0.383
(d) 0.427
(e) 0.854

Questions 26 to 30 carry three marks each.

26. Two oppositely charged particles q1 and q2 of different masses are placed in a uniform electric
field. They are located on the same electric field line but separated from each other by a distance
d. When released, they move in the same direction but always remain at this same distance d
from each other. What signs do q1 and q2 carry? If at some point in time, the force experienced
by q1 due to the electric field is the same as that it experiences due to q2, find d. (Take |q1| =
7.0 μC; |q2| = 18 μC; E = 2500 N/C)

Sign of q1 Sign of q2 Distance d

(a) + ̶ 5.0 m
(b) ̶ + 5.0 m
(c) + ̶ 8.0 m
(d) ̶ + 8.0 m
(e) + ̶ 9.2 m
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27. A square of side a has charges alternating from one corner to
the next as shown. Find the electric potential energy for this
system of charges.
√2 𝑘𝑄 2
(a) (4 + )( )
2 𝑎
√2 𝑘𝑄 2
(b) (4 − 2 )( 𝑎 )
√2 𝑘𝑄 2
(c) ( 2 − 4)( 𝑎 )
𝑘𝑄 2
(d) (4 + √2)( 𝑎 )
𝑘𝑄 2
(e) (√2 − 4)( 𝑎 )

28. In the circuit as shown, if the current that flows

through the middle branch is three times in
magnitude compared to I1, find V.
(a) 6V
(b) 12 V
(c) 18 V
(d) 24 V
(e) 30 V

29. The figure shows a simplified circuit of a flash unit. Initially

the capacitor is uncharged and the two switches are open.
If it takes 4.85 s to charge the capacitor to one half its full
value upon closing switch S1, find R. After a long time,
switch S1 is open and switch S2 is closed. How long does it
take to discharge the capacitor to one half its full value?
(a) 50.0 kΩ; 1.94 ms
(b) 50.0 kΩ; 2.48 ms
(c) 20.0 kΩ; 1.94 ms
(d) 20.0 kΩ; 2.48 ms
(e) 10.2 kΩ; 1.94 ms

30. The lightbulb as shown in the circuit has a resistance of 10 Ω and consumes 5.0 W of power. The
rod length is 1.50 m and moves to the right with a constant speed of 3.2 m/s. In which direction
will the rod experience a magnetic force? What external force is required to maintain the rod’s
constant speed?

(a) Rightward; 0.71 N

(b) Leftward; 1.2 N
(c) Rightward; 1.2 N
(d) Leftward; 1.6 N
(e) Rightward; 1.6 N

-------------------End of test paper-----------------------

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Answers
1. (d) 11. (a) 21. (e)
2. (b) 12. (b) 22. (a)
3. (e) 13. (b) 23. (c)
4. (a) 14. (c) 24. (c)
5. (e) 15. (e) 25. (b)
6. (b) 16. (b) 26. (d)
7. (c) 17. (c) 27. (e)
8. (a) 18. (c) 28. (c)
9. (d) 19. (d) 29. (a)
10. (a) 20. (c) 30. (d)

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