UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

General Certificate of Education

Advanced Subsidiary Level and Advanced Level
*1679530626*

PHYSICS 9702/23
Paper 2 AS Structured Questions October/November 2010
1 hour
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.
For Examiner’s Use
Answer all questions.
You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use
1
appropriate units.

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. 2
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part
question. 3

Total

This document consists of 16 printed pages.

DC (NF/CGW) 25489/3
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Data

speed of light in free space, c = 3.00 × 10 8 m s –1

permeability of free space, μ0 = 4π × 10 –7 H m–1

permittivity of free space, ε0 = 8.85 × 10 –12 F m–1

elementary charge, e = 1.60 × 10 –19 C

the Planck constant, h = 6.63 × 10 –34 J s

unified atomic mass constant, u = 1.66 × 10 –27 kg

rest mass of electron, me = 9.11 × 10 –31 kg

rest mass of proton, mp = 1.67 × 10 –27 kg

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

the Avogadro constant, NA = 6.02 × 10 23 mol –1

the Boltzmann constant, k = 1.38 × 10 –23 J K –1

gravitational constant, G = 6.67 × 10 –11 N m 2 kg –2

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

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Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion, s = ut +  at 2

v 2 = u 2 + 2as

work done on/by a gas, W = p ⌬V

Gm
gravitational potential, φ =–
r
hydrostatic pressure, p = ρgh

Nm 2
pressure of an ideal gas, p =  V
<c >

simple harmonic motion, a = – ω 2x

velocity of particle in s.h.m., v = v0 cos ωt

v = ± ω √⎯(x⎯ 0⎯ 2 ⎯ –⎯ x⎯ ⎯ 2⎯ )

Q
electric potential, V =
4πε0r
capacitors in series, 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + . . .

capacitors in parallel, C = C1 + C2 + . . .

energy of charged capacitor, W =  QV

resistors in series, R = R1 + R 2 + . . .

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

alternating current/voltage, x = x0 sin ω t

radioactive decay, x = x0 exp(– λt )

0.693
decay constant, λ =
t 

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Answer all the questions in the spaces provided. For

Examiner’s
Use

1 Make estimates of the following quantities.

(a) the thickness of a sheet of paper

thickness = ....................................... mm [1]

(b) the time for sound to travel 100 m in air

time = ........................................... s [1]

(c) the weight of 1000 cm3 of water

weight = .......................................... N [1]

2 Briefly describe the structures of crystalline solids, polymers and amorphous materials.

crystalline solids ......................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

polymers ..................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

amorphous materials ..............................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................
[5]

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3 A loudspeaker produces a sound wave of constant frequency. For

Examiner’s
Outline how a cathode-ray oscilloscope (c.r.o.) may be used to determine this frequency. Use

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [4]

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4 A student takes measurements to determine a value for the acceleration of free fall. Some of For
the apparatus used is illustrated in Fig. 4.1. Examiner’s
Use

electromagnet

iron
ball
d

bench

Fig. 4.1

The student measures the vertical distance d between the base of the electromagnet and
the bench. The time t for an iron ball to fall from the electromagnet to the bench is also
measured.
Corresponding values of t 2 and d are shown in Fig. 4.2.

60

50

d /cm

40

30

20

10

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14
t 2 / s2

Fig. 4.2

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(a) On Fig. 4.2, draw the line of best fit for the points. [1] For
Examiner’s
(b) State and explain why there is a non-zero intercept on the graph of Fig. 4.2. Use

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Determine the student’s value for

(i) the diameter of the ball,

diameter = ........................................ cm [1]

(ii) the acceleration of free fall.

acceleration = ..................................... m s–2 [3]

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5 A spring hangs vertically from a fixed point and a mass of 94 g is suspended from the spring, For
stretching the spring as shown in Fig. 5.1. Examiner’s
Use

mass
94 g 2.6 cm

Fig. 5.1 Fig. 5.2 Fig. 5.3

The mass is raised vertically so that the length of the spring is its unextended length. This is
illustrated in Fig. 5.2.

The mass is then released. The mass moves through a vertical distance of 2.6 cm before
temporarily coming to rest. This position is illustrated in Fig. 5.3.

(a) State which diagram, Fig. 5.1, Fig. 5.2 or Fig. 5.3, illustrates the position of the mass
such that

(i) the mass has maximum gravitational potential energy,

............................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) the spring has maximum strain energy.

............................................................................................................................ [1]

(b) Briefly describe the variation of the kinetic energy of the mass as the mass falls from its
highest position (Fig. 5.2) to its lowest position (Fig. 5.3).

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(c) The strain energy E stored in the spring is given by the expression For
Examiner’s
E = 1 kx 2 Use
2

where k is the spring constant and x is the extension of the spring.

For the mass moving between the positions shown in Fig. 5.2 and Fig. 5.3,

(i) calculate the change in the gravitational potential energy of the mass,

change = ........................................... J [2]

(ii) determine the extension of the spring at which the strain energy is half its maximum
value.

extension = ........................................ cm [3]

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6 (a) State the principle of superposition. For

Examiner’s
.......................................................................................................................................... Use

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) Coherent light of wavelength 590 nm is incident normally on a double slit, as shown in
Fig. 6.1.

double
slit screen

A
coherent light
1.4 mm P
wavelength 590 nm
B

2.6 m

Fig. 6.1 (not to scale)

The separation of the slits A and B is 1.4 mm.

Interference fringes are observed on a screen placed parallel to the plane of the double slit.
The distance between the screen and the double slit is 2.6 m.

At point P on the screen, the path difference is zero for light arriving at P from the slits A
and B.

(i) Determine the separation of bright fringes on the screen near to point P.

separation = ....................................... mm [3]

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(ii) The variation with time of the displacement x of the light wave arriving at point P on the For
screen from slit A and from slit B is shown in Fig. 6.2a and Fig. 6.2b respectively. Examiner’s
Use

x/ 3
arbitrary
units 2

0
0 time
–1

–2
wave from slit A
–3

Fig. 6.2a

x/ 2
arbitrary
units 1

0
0 time
–1
wave from slit B
–2

Fig. 6.2b

1. State the phase difference between waves forming the dark fringe on the
screen that is next to point P.

phase difference = ............................................ ° [1]

2. Determine the ratio

intensity of light at a bright fringe

.
intensity of light at a dark fringe

ratio = ............................................... [3]

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7 Two oppositely-charged parallel metal plates are situated in a vacuum, as shown in Fig. 7.1. For
Examiner’s
Use
negatively-charged
metal plate –

particle, mass m

charge + q
speed v

positively-charged
metal plate +
L

Fig. 7.1

The plates have length L.

The uniform electric field between the plates has magnitude E. The electric field outside the
plates is zero.

A positively-charged particle has mass m and charge +q. Before the particle reaches the
region between the plates, it is travelling with speed v parallel to the plates.
The particle passes between the plates and into the region beyond them.

(a) (i) On Fig. 7.1, draw the path of the particle between the plates and beyond them. [2]
(ii) For the particle in the region between the plates, state expressions, in terms of E,
m, q, v and L, as appropriate, for

1. the force F on the particle,

............................................................................................................................ [1]

2. the time t for the particle to cross the region between the plates.

............................................................................................................................ [1]

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(b) (i) State the law of conservation of linear momentum. For

Examiner’s
.................................................................................................................................. Use

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................ [2]

(ii) Use your answers in (a)(ii) to state an expression for the change in momentum of
the particle.

............................................................................................................................ [1]

(iii) Suggest and explain whether the law of conservation of linear momentum applies
to the particle moving between the plates.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................ [2]

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8 An electric heater has a constant resistance and is rated as 1.20 kW, 230 V. For
Examiner’s
The heater is connected to a 230 V supply by means of a cable that is 9.20 m long, as Use

illustrated in Fig. 8.1.

copper wires
in cable
heater,
rated
230 V 1.20 kW
230 V
9.20 m

Fig. 8.1

The two copper wires that make up the cable each have a circular cross-section of diameter
0.900 mm. The resistivity of copper is 1.70 × 10–8 Ω m.

(a) Show that

(i) the resistance of the heater is 44.1 Ω,

[2]

(ii) the total resistance of the cable is 0.492 Ω.

[2]

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(b) The current in the cable and heater is switched on. Determine, to three significant For
figures, the power dissipated in the heater. Examiner’s
Use

power = .......................................... W [3]

(c) Suggest two disadvantages of connecting the heater to the 230 V supply using a cable
consisting of two thinner copper wires.

1. ....................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

2. ....................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
[2]

Please turn over for Question 9.

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9 (a) Explain what is meant by radioactive decay. For

Examiner’s
.......................................................................................................................................... Use

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) (i) State how the random nature of radioactive decay may be inferred from observations
of the count rate.

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) A radioactive source has a long half-life so that, over a period of several days, its
rate of decay remains constant.
State the effect, if any, of a rise in temperature on this decay rate.

............................................................................................................................ [1]

(iii) Suggest why some radioactive sources are found to contain traces of helium gas.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................ [2]

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