IFYPH001 Physics

THE NCUK INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION YEAR

IFYPH001 Physics
Examination

Examination Session Time Allowed

Semester Two 3 Hours 10 minutes
(including 10 minutes reading time)
1 INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
SECTION A Answer ALL questions. This section carries 40% of the exam
marks.
SECTION B Answer 3 questions. This section carries 60% of the exam
marks.

The marks for each question are indicated in square brackets [ ].

 Answers must not be written during the first 10 minutes.

 Write your Candidate Number clearly on the answer books in the space provided.

 Write the answers in the answer books provided. Additional sheets and Graph
Paper will be provided on request.

 Write the section letter, the question number and numbers to parts of questions
attempted clearly at the start of each answer.

 No written material is to be brought into the examination room.

 No mobile phones are allowed in the examination room.

 An approved calculator may be used in the examination.

 State the units where necessary

 Full marks will only be given for full and detailed answers. Include diagrams
where these will help to clarify your answers.

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Data, formulae and relationships

Data
–1
c = 3.00  10 m s
8
Speed of light in a vacuum
– 11 –2
G = 6.67  10
2
Gravitational constant N m kg
–2
Acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s (close to the Earth)
–1
Gravitational field strength g = 9.81 N kg (close to the Earth)
– 19
Electronic charge e = – 1.60  10 C
– 31
Electronic mass me = 9.11  10 kg
– 19
Electron-volt 1 eV = 1.60  10 J
– 34
Planck constant h = 6.63  10 Js
– 27
Unified atomic mass unit u = 1.66  10 kg
–1 –1
Molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K mol
– 23
k = 1.38  10
-1
Boltzmann constant JK
Permittivity of free space o = 8.85  10 – 12 F m – 1
k = 1 / ( 4  o ) = 8.99  10 N m C
9 2 –2
Coulomb Law constant
Permeability of free space  0 = 4   10 – 7 N A – 2
NA = 6.02  10
23 -1
Avogadro Constant mol

Rectilinear motion

For uniformly accelerated motion =u+at

2
s=ut+½at

2= u2+2as

Forces and moments

Hooke’s law for a spring F = -k x

Moment of F about O = F  (Perpendicular distance from line of action of F to O)

Dynamics

 p
Newton’s Law (for constant mass) F mam 
t t
Impulse F t = p
Power P=F

Radioactive decay and the nuclear atom

Activity A=N (Decay constant )

Half-life  t ½ = ln 2
Radioactive decay A  A0e t
N  N 0e   t

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Electric current and potential difference

Q
Electric current I
t
V
Resistance R
I
Work W  QV  IVt

I=nAQ
3
Electric current (number of electrons per m n ;
drift velocity  )
2
Electric power P=I R

Electrical circuits

Resistors in series R=R1+R2+R3

1 1 1 1
Resistors in parallel   
R R1 R2 R3

Terminal potential difference V=–Ir (E.m.f  ; Internal resistance r)

Heat

Change of state: energy transfer = L m (Specific latent heat or specific

enthalpy change L)

Heating and cooling: E  mc (Specific heat capacity c ;

temperature change θ )

Change of internal energy: U = Q + W (Energy added thermally Q;

Work done on body W )

Equation of State for ideal gas pV  nRT (n is the number of moles,

R is the molar gas constant)

pV  NkT (N is number of molecules,

k is the Boltzmann constant)

Circular motion and oscillations

 
Angular speed   (Radius of circular path r)
t r

2
Centripetal acceleration a
r

1 2
Period T 
f 

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Simple Harmonic Motion

a   2 x
x  Asin(t ) if x = 0 at time t = 0
v  A cos(t ) if x = 0 at time t = 0
l
For a simple pendulum T  2
g

m
For a mass on a spring T  2
k

Superposition of waves

For interference of light using two slits of slit separation, s

xs
Wavelength  (Fringe width x; Slits to screen distance D)
D

Gravitational fields
Mm
Universal Law of Gravitation F G
r2
Gravitational field strength g=F/m
2
For radial field g = G m / r , numerically

Electric fields
Qq
Coulomb’s law F
4 0 r 2
Electric field strength E=F/Q
where k = 1 / ( 4   0 )
2
For radial field E=kQ/r
(in free space or in air)
For uniform field E=V/d

Capacitance

2
Energy stored W=½CV
Capacitors in parallel C=C1+C2+C3

1 1 1 1
Capacitors in series   
C C1 C2 C3

Time constant for capacitor to charge or discharge τ=RC

Magnetic fields

Force on a wire F  ILB sin 

Field due to a long solenoid B   0 nI

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0 I
Field due to a long wire B
2 r

Magnetic flux   BA cos 

N
E.m.f. induced in a coil  =  (Number of turns N)
t
E.m.f. induced in conductor moving perpendicularly to magnetic field   BLv

Light

Snell’s Law n1 sin 1  n2 sin 2

c
Absolute refractive index n
v

Modern Physics

Photon energy E  hf
Photoelectric effect hf  Φ  KE

h
De Broglie 
mv

Mathematics
sin (90 – ) = cos 
o

n
ln (x ) = n ln x
kx
ln (e ) = k x

Equation of a straight line y = mx + c

Surface area of a cylinder = 2  r h + 2  r

2

Surface area of a sphere = 4  r

2

Volume of a cylinder =  r h
2

Volume of a sphere = 4  r / 3
3

For small angles sin   tan    (in radians)

cos   1

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Section A
Answer ALL questions. This section carries 40 marks.

Question A1

A basketball player releases the ball from a height of 1.65 m above the
ground. The ball has an initial velocity of 14.3 m s-1 at an angle of 40.0°
above horizontal.

a) i. Determine the time taken for the ball to hit the ground. [4]

ii. Determine the horizontal distance travelled by the ball. [2]

Question A2

a) i. Sketch a graph of force (y axis) against extension (x axis) to [2]

represent the behaviour of a typical ductile material such as a brass
wire as it is loaded to the breaking point.

ii. Label the elastic limit on the graph. [1]

ii. Label the region of plastic deformation on the graph. [1]

b) A load of 8.5 kg is hung from the end of a brass wire, 2.32 m long and of
cross-sectional area 0.76 x 10-6 m2. Young's modulus for brass is 1.01 x
1011 N m-2.

Determine the extension produced in the wire, assuming that the elastic [3]
limit has not been exceeded.

Question A3

An ideal gas occupies a volume of 7.25 x 10-3 m3 at a temperature of 20.4°C

and a pressure of 1.52 x 105 Pa.

Determine the volume occupied by the gas at a temperature of 48.7°C and a [3]
pressure of 1.37 x 105 Pa.

Question A4

An electrical heating element has a power rating of 2.50 kW. It is used to

heat a tank containing 3.18 kg of water, initially at a temperature of 18.4°C.
Assume that the efficiency is 100%.

a) i. Determine the electrical energy used in raising the temperature of [3]

the water to its boiling point of 100°C and turning 1.5 kg of this
water into steam at 100°C.

Specific heat capacity of water = 4.20 x 103 J kg-1 K-1

Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water = 2.26 x 10 6 J kg-1

ii. Determine the time taken for this to occur. [2]

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Question A5

Consider the circuit below.

6Ω

12.4 V

4Ω 5Ω

a) i. Determine the potential difference across the 6 Ω resistor. [2]

ii. Determine the current flowing through the 5 Ω resistor. [2]

iii. Determine the power consumption in the 4 Ω resistor. [1]

Question A6

A metal rod rests on two parallel, horizontal, bare wires, 0.04 m apart. A
magnetic field is perpendicular to the wires and rod as indicated in the
diagram below.

Indicates
field into
plane of
paper

a) i. Determine the direction of movement of the wire when the switch is [1]
closed.

ii. Determine the force acting on the rod if the current flowing through [2]
it is 4.4 A and the magnetic flux density is 0.863 T.

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Question A7

A radioactive isotope decays by β emission.

a) i. Describe the effect of β emission on the proton number. [1]

ii. Describe the effect of β emission on the nucleon number. [1]

b) The isotope has a half-life of 119 s. A sample of the isotope has an initial
activity of 500 kBq.

i. Determine the time taken for the activity to reduce to 125 kBq. [1]

ii. Determine the initial number of atoms of the isotope in the sample. [2]

iii. Determine the time taken for the activity of the sample to reduce to [2]
50 kBq.

Question A8

A current of 2.25 A flows through a rectangular coil of wire with sides of

length 15.4 x 10-2 m and 9.6 x 10-2 m. The total length of wire wound on the
coil is 45.5 m. The coil is free to rotate in a magnetic field of flux density
0.2 T.

a) i. Determine the torque on the coil when the magnetic flux density is [2]
parallel to the plane of the coil.

ii. Determine the magnetic flux linked with the coil when the normal to [2]
the plane of the coil makes an angle of 60° to the flux direction.

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Section B
Answer 3 questions. This section carries 60 marks.
Question B1

a) Define simple harmonic motion (SHM). [2]

b) A simple pendulum consists of a small spherical mass (the bob), attached

to the end of the length of string. The other end of the string is attached
to a fixed support. The bob is given a small displacement and released to
set the pendulum in motion. The bob can be considered to oscillate with
SHM.

i. What would happen to the time period of the pendulum if the bob [1]
was replaced by one of the same shape and size but made of a
material of twice the density?

ii. What would happen to the time period of the pendulum if the [1]
amplitude of the vibration was halved?

c) The pendulum has a length of 0.82 m and its vibration amplitude is

35 mm.

i. Determine the time period of the pendulum. [2]

ii. Determine the maximum velocity of the pendulum bob. [2]

iii. At which position in the motion will this occur? [1]

iv. Determine the maximum acceleration of the pendulum bob. [2]

v. At which position in the motion will this occur? [1]

vi. Sketch and label a graph of energy (y axis) against displacement (x [3]
axis) to show how the kinetic energy, potential energy and total
energy of the pendulum bob vary during one complete cycle of the
pendulum's motion.

vii. Determine the total energy of the bob if its mass is 45 x 10-3 kg. [2]

viii. Determine the new length of the pendulum when the frequency of [3]
the motion is 0.75 Hz.

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Question B2

a) A narrow beam of white light is passed through a clear glass vessel

containing cool hydrogen gas at a low pressure. A prism is used to
disperse the light leaving the vessel in order to produce a spectrum of
colours. Dark lines are seen to cross the white light spectrum.

Explain the origin of these dark lines. [3]

b) Some of the atomic energy levels of hydrogen are shown in the diagram
below.
Energy/eV
0
-0.85 n=4
-1.51 n=3

-3.39 n=2

-13.58 n=1

i. Determine the ionization energy of hydrogen and express this in [2]

joules.

ii. Determine the wavelength of the light emitted when an electron [3]
falls from the n = 3 level to the n = 1 energy level.

iii. A photon of energy 12.07 eV is in collision with a hydrogen atom. [2]

What would happen to this photon?

c) Light of wavelength 560 nm is incident on a clean metal surface which

has a work function of 2.1 eV.

i. Determine the maximum velocity of the electrons emitted from the [3]
metal surface.

ii. Determine the de Broglie wavelength of these electrons. [2]

iii. Explain why the emitted electrons can have a range of velocities [2]
from zero up to the maximum value.

iv. Determine the maximum wavelength of light that could emit [3]
photoelectrons from the surface.

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Question B3

A car of mass 980 kg starts from rest and readings of the car's velocity are
recorded every 5 seconds.

v/m s-1 0 4 8 12 12 12 6 0
t/s 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

a) i. Plot a graph of the car's velocity (y axis) against time(x axis). [4]

ii. Use the graph to calculate the acceleration of the car over the first [2]
15 s.

iii. Use the graph to determine the deceleration of the car over the final [2]
10 s.

iv. Use the graph to determine the total distance travelled by the car. [2]

v. Determine the maximum momentum of the car during the journey. [1]

b) A uniform plank of wood AB of mass 4 kg and 3 m long, is balanced so

that it rests in a horizontal position on two supports, C and D. The first
support is placed 1 m from end A and the distance between the supports
is 1.5 m.

An object of mass 8 kg is placed on the plank, with its centre of mass

1.6 m from end A.

3m

A B

1.6 m

C D
4 kg 8 kg

1m 1.5 m 0.5 m

i. Determine the upward force provided by support C. [4]

ii. Determine the upward force provided by support D. [2]

iii. The object is gradually pushed towards end A. Determine the [3]
distance of the object from A when the plank just begins to lose
contact with support D.

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Question B4

A child sitting on a sledge (total mass 50.6 kg) is held at position A, the top of
an icy slope. The sledge is released and moves down the slope with motion
that can be considered frictionless. Position B is the lowest point of the slope.

20.5 m

B 5.6 m

a) i. Determine the maximum kinetic energy of the child and sledge. [2]

ii. Determine the velocity of the child and sledge at point C. [3]

b) A communications satellite of mass 185 kg is in a geostationary orbit

around the Earth.

i. Define a geostationary orbit. [1]

ii. Determine the height of the satellite above the Earth's surface if the [4]
radius of the Earth is 6378 km.

iii. Determine the linear velocity of the satellite in its orbit. [2]

iv. Determine the average density of the Earth if its mass is [2]
5.974 x 1024 kg.

c) The satellite is in collision with a piece of space debris of mass 80 kg,

moving at the same speed in a direction exactly opposite to that of the
satellite. After the collision the two objects stick together.

i. Determine the combined velocity of the objects. [3]

ii. Determine the height above the Earth's surface for a satellite moving [3]
in a circular orbit with this velocity.

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Question B5

a) Explain the principle of superposition of waves. [2]

b) Two light waves being used to show interference effects, meet at a point
and this results in destructive interference.

i. Explain the conditions necessary for complete destructive [2]

interference.

ii. In practice, the two light waves will have come from a single source [2]
of light. Why is this necessary?

c) In a Young's double slit experiment, light of frequency 4.77 x 10 14 Hz

passes through a narrow single slit and is then incident on two very
narrow, closely spaced, parallel slits. A screen is placed 1.55 m from the
double slit arrangement and bright interference fringes are visible on the
screen. The distance across 20 fringe spacings is 80.5 mm.

i. Determine the spacing of the double slits. [3]

ii. If the distance between the double slits and screen is reduced to [3]
1.25 m, determine the spacing between adjacent dark fringes.

iii. If the monochromatic light source is replaced by an intense white [2]

light source, describe the appearance of the bright fringes closest to
the centre of the screen.

d) Two loud speakers are connected to the same frequency source and are
positioned facing each other on the opposite sides of a large room. They
are each emitting a sound wave of frequency 200 Hz.

A small microphone is connected to some headphones and is held

between the speakers. As the microphone is moved in a straight line
between the speakers, a gradual rise and fall in intensity is heard on the
headphones.

i. Explain why the intensity will rise and fall. [2]

ii. If the distance between the loudest sounds is 0.85 m, determine the [2]
wavelength of the sound waves.

iii. Determine the velocity of sound from these results. [2]

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Question B6

a) Define capacitance. [2]

b) A 8.5 µF capacitor is charged to a potential difference of 40 V.

i. Determine the charge stored on the capacitor. [2]

ii. Determine the energy stored on the capacitor. [2]

c) Consider the circuit below.

4 µF 8µF 6µF

2µF

10 V

i. Determine the total energy stored on the capacitors. [4]

d) A 50 µF capacitor has a charge of 350 µC stored on its plates. The

capacitor is then connected across a large resistor.

i. Determine the value of the resistor if the charge falls to 250 µC after [4]
2 minutes.

ii. Determine the time taken for the charge stored to fall to 150 µC. [3]

iii. Determine the potential difference across the capacitor 5 minutes [3]
after it is connected across the large resistor.

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