Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

1. Two wires made of same material have length 𝑙 and 2𝑙. If the masses of the wires are same, the
ratio of the resistance of shorter wire to that of longer wire is

a) 1 b) 2 c) 𝟏 d) 4
2 𝟒

Sol. The wires are made of same material : specific resistance () is same
Mass of the wires is same : m1 = m2  V1d1 = V2d2  A1l1d1 = A2l2d2 (d1 = d2)
𝜌𝑙 𝜌𝑙1 𝜌𝑙2
Resistance of a wire : R = 𝐴
 R1 = 𝐴1
and R2 = 𝐴2
𝜌𝑙1 𝑙1
𝑅1 𝐴1 𝐴1 𝑙1 𝐴2 𝑙1 𝑙1 𝑙 𝑙 𝟏
= 𝜌𝑙2 = 𝑙2 = = = =
𝑅2 𝑙2 𝐴1 𝑙2 𝑙2 2𝑙 2𝑙 𝟒
𝐴2 𝐴2

2. Current passing through a wire increases by 20 %. Due to joule heating, the resistance increases by
20 %. The percentage increase in power is

a) 72.8 % b) 44 % c) 33 % d) 40 %

Sol. Power dissipated in a resistor due to Joule heating : P = i2 R

Current is increased by 20 % : i2 = i1 + 20 % i1 = 1.2 i1
Resistance is increased by 20 % : R2 = R1 + 20 % R1 = 1.2 R1
Initial power dissipation : P1 = i12 R1
Final power dissipation : P2 = i22 R2 = (1.2 i1)2 (1.2 R1) = 1.44 i12 x 1.2 R1 = 1.728 i12 R1 = 1.728 P1
𝑷𝟐 −𝑷𝟏
Percentage increase in power : 𝑷𝟏
= 0.728 X 100 = 72.8 %

3. A radioactive element R90232 emits one alpha particle and two beta particles. The daughter element
will have

a) Z = 90, A = 228 b) Z = 90, A = 232 c) Z = 88, A = 228 d) Z = 88, A = 232

Sol. Alpha particle () : 2He4 (atomic number : z = 2 and mass number : A = 4)
Beta particle () : -1e0 (unit –ve charge : zero mass)
With emission of  particle : z decreases by 2 units, A reduces by 4 units
With emission of  particle : z increases by 1 unit, A remains same
90R
232
→ 2He4 + 2 -1e0 + 90x228

4. A bar magnet is placed on a table. There is n number of field lines connecting North pole to South
pole of the magnet. Another identical magnet is placed on the first magnet with North pole on
North and South pole on South. The number of field lines are now

a) n b) n2 c) n/2 d) 2n

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Sol. Magnetic field lines are in fact loops. They travel from N pole to
south pole outside and from S pole to N pole inside, completing
the path. No. of field lines is related to magnetic field strength
When the second magnet is place on the first one with like poles
touching each other, the magnetic strength is doubles.
So, the number of magnetic field lines is also doubled.

5. A conducting wire shown in the figure carries current I. Segments

AB, BC and CD are of same length. The direction of the magnetic
field at point P is given by

a) into the plane of the paper b) out of the plane of the paper
c) towards right d) towards left

Sol. The direction of magnetic field created by current carrying conductor is given by right hand thumb
rule.
When the conductor is held in right hand with thumb in the direction of current, fingers give
direction of field.
Applying the above principle, the magnetic field due to all the three segments is
out of the plane of the paper

6. In a nuclear reactor, the fission of each U235 atom gives out energy of 200 MeV. According to
Einstein’s equation the amount of mass getting converted to energy in the process is

a) 3.55 x 10-30 kg b) 3.55 x 10-38 kg c) 3.55 x 10-28kg d) 3.55 x 10-27 kg

Sol. Energy released in each fission : 200 MeV = 200 x 106 x 1.6 x 10-19 J = 3.2 x 10-11 J
Einstein’s mass energy equation : E = mc2
3.2 x 10-11 = m (3 x 108)2 = m x 9 x 1016
3.2 x 10−11
m= 9 x 1016
= 3.55 x 10-28 kg

7. A ball is projected at an angle 450 with horizontal. In the absence of air resistance, the ball follows

a) elliptical orbit b) sinusoidal path c) parabolic path d) linear path

Sol. Angle of projection : 450

𝑔 𝒈
Equation of the path: y = x tan  - x2 = x - x2
2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃 𝒖𝟐
𝑔
y = Ax – Bx2 (here A = 1 and B = 𝑢2) Equation of parabola

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8. 60 g of ice at 0 0C is added to 20 g of water at 40 0C. The final temperature attained by the mixture
is (Latent heat = 80 cal/gm, specific heat of water : 1 cal/g 0C)

a) 0 0C b) 20 0C c) 10 0C d) 5 0C

Sol. Heat energy to be removed to cool 20 g of water at 400 C to 00 C :

Q = ms t = 20 x 1 x 40 = 800 cal
When this heat is added to ice at 00 C : amount of ice that melts :
Q = mL  800 = m x 80  m = 10 g
Only 10 g of ice melts leaving 50 g of ice in solid state.
So, the final temperature of the mixture remains as 0 0C.

9. Wavelength is

I) The distance travelled by the wave in one period of oscillation of particles in the medium
II) the distance between two particles, which are in same phase
III) half of the distance between two particles, which are in same phase

the correct definitions are

a) I & III b) I & II c) I, II & III d) II & III

Sol. I) The distance travelled by the wave in one period of oscillation of particles in the medium
II) the distance between two particles, which are in same phase
Transverse wave : distance between two successive crests or troughs
Longitudinal wave : distance between two successive compression or rarefactions

10. An ideal cell of emf 10 V is connected across the network of resistors

as shown in figure. The value of resistance R for which the power
dissipated by the parallel combination is same as that in 10 
resistance is

a) 20  b) 30  c) 22.22  d) 11.11 

Sol. Total resistance of the circuit : 10 + 100 𝑅 = 1000+120 𝑅

100+𝑅 100+𝑅
𝑉 10
Current through the circuit : I = 𝑅 = 1000+120 𝑅
100+𝑅
2
10
Power dissipated in 10  resistor : i2 R = ( 1000+120 𝑅 ) 10
100+𝑅
2
10 100 𝑅
Power dissipated in parallel combination : i2 R = ( 1000+120 𝑅 ) x 100+𝑅
100+𝑅
100 𝑅
The two powers are equal: 10 = 100+𝑅  100 + R = 10 R  9R = 100  R = 100 / 9 = 11.11 

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11. Three particles each of mass m are placed at the vertices of a triangle of side r. The force
experienced by each mass is

a)
√𝟑
𝑮𝒎𝟐 b) √2 𝐺𝑚2 c) 𝐺𝑚2 d) 𝐺𝑚2
𝒓𝟐 𝑟2 2
𝑟2 𝑟2

Sol. Gravitational force between two particles : F = 𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2

𝑟2
𝐺𝑚2
Gravitational force between A and C : FAC =
𝑟2
𝐺𝑚2
Gravitational force between B and C : FBC =
𝑟2
𝐺𝑚2 √3 𝑮𝒎𝟐
Resultant gravitational force on C : 2 FAC cos 30 = 2 = √𝟑
𝑟2 2 𝒓𝟐

12. When a car turns on a curved road, you are pushed against one of the doors of the car because of

a) inertia b) centripetal force c) centrifugal force d) friction

Sol. A passenger will have the tendency, due to inertia, to resist change in the initial state of motion.
When the car turns on a curved road (let us say toward left), the passenger feels as if he is going to
right because the passenger maintains his original direction of motion while the direction of motion
of car is changing.

13. The distance between two spots A and B on the same bank of the river is 75 km. speed of the boat
in still water is twice as much as that of the speed of the water current of the river. The boat travels
in the river from A to B and returns to the spot in 16 hours. What is speed of the boat in still water?

a) 12.5 kmph b) 15 kmph c) 16 kmph d) 18 kmph

Sol. Speed of water current: v and Speed of boat in still water: 2v

Speed of the boat downstream : v + 2v = 3v (in the direction of river flow)
Speed of the boat upstream : 2v – v = v (opposite to direction of river flow)
75 75
Time taken down stream: t1 = 3𝑣 and Time taken up stream: t2 = 𝑣
75 75 25
Total time : t1 + t2 = 3𝑣 + 𝑣
= 16  𝑣 = 4
kmph

Speed of the boat in still water: 2v = 25/2 = 12.5 kmph

14. Michael Faraday a book binder got an opportunity to work with a scientist and later succeeded him.
Name of the scientist is

a) Hans Christian Oersted b) Humphrey Davy

c) Heinrich Lenz d) James Clerk Maxwell

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Sol. Michael Faraday : 22 – 09 – 1791 to 25 – 08 – 1867

Known for : electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, electrolysis, etc.,
Early life : worked as apprentice to a book binder for seven years
Work with Humphrey Davy: when Davy damaged his eyesight due to an accident with
nitrogen tri chloride, he decided to employ Faraday as an assistant.

15. A boy is standing on a truck which is moving with constant speed along a straight road. On a day
when wind is negligible, the boy throws a ball vertically up with some velocity. The ball comes
back and falls

a) into boy’s hand b) behind the boy

c) in front of the boy d) behind or in front, based on speed of the truck & ball

Sol. The truck is moving with constant speed along a straight line.
The boy throws the ball vertically up.
The ball has two velocities perpendicular to each other. Effectively it is a particle projected at an
angle to the horizontal (projectile). It follows parabolic path.
At the end of time of flight, the ball comes to the boy’s hand. Because, the distance travelled by
the ball in horizontal direction is equal to the distance travelled by the truck on the road.
Horizontal velocity of th ball = velocity of the truck

16. The pressure at the bottom of the four vessels filled with water to the same level is P1, P2, P3 and P4
respectively. Then which of the following conclusions is correct?

a) P1 > P2 > P3 > P4 b) P1 < P2 < P3 < P4 c) P1 = P2 = P3 > P4 d) P1 = P2 = P3 = P4

Sol.
Water is filled to the same height in all the four vessels.
Hydrostatic pressure : P = hg
h – height of liquid column,  - density of liquid, g – acceleration due to gravity
So hydrostatic pressure is independent of area of cross section (shape) of the vessel.
As long as the liquid is same and height is equal, the pressure is same in all the vessels.

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17. A ball is thrown up vertically in still air with a velocity of 20 m/s. If comes back to ground. The
velocity – time graph is (g = 10 m/s2)

a) b)

c) d)

Sol. Initial velocity of the ball : 20 m/s (the graph starts with 20 m/s)
𝑢 20
At the highest point, the ball comes to rest. ta = = = 2 sec
𝑔 10

So the graph touches the time axis at t = 2 sec.

At the highest point the ball reverses its direction. (velocity becomes negative)
As the ball comes down, its speed increases and reaches 20 m/s after 2 sec.
So, the second graph correctly represents variation of velocity with time.

18. Sound waves travelling in air enter water at an angle i with the normal. It gets refracted at angle r

a) i>r b) r > i c) i=r d) sound waves do not refract

Sol. Speed (approximate) of sound in air : 330 m/s

Speed (approximate) of sound in water : 1500 m/s

Density of a medium for a wave is decided by the speed of the wave in that medium. From the

above values, we can see that water is rarer medium for sound waves.

In rarer medium, the wave bends away from normal. (r > i)

19. A particle of mass 0.5 kg travelling with a velocity of 2 m/s experiences acceleration of 2 m/s2 for
9 sec. The work done by the force on the particle during this period is

a) 99 J b) 101 J c) 190 J d) 396 J

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Sol. work done = change in kinetic energy

1 1
Initial kinetic energy : ki = 2 m u2 = 2 x 0.5 x 4 = 1 J

Velocity of the particle after 9 sec : v = u + at = 2 + 2 x 9 = 20 m/s

1 1
final kinetic energy : kf = 2 m v2 = 2 x 0.5 x 400 = 100 J

Change in kinetic energy : kf – ki = 100 – 1 = 99 J

Work done by the force on the particle : w = k = 99 J

20. What is the reading of the spring balance shown in figure below?

a) 0N b) 2 N c) 4N d) 6 N

Sol. When equal forces are applied on either end of spring balance, its reading is equal to one of the
applied forces.
When un equal forces are applied on either end of spring balance, its reading is equal to the
difference in forces applied.

21. The real image of an extended object placed in front of a concave mirror is formed at a distance of
40 cm from the object. If the image is 3 times bigger than the object, the magnitude of focal length
of the mirror is

a) 15 cm b) 10 cm c) 20 cm d) 5 cm

Sol. Magnification : m = ℎ𝑖 = 𝑣 = 3  𝑣 = 3𝑢
ℎ 𝑢 𝑜

Let the object distance : u = x

Image distance : v = (x+40)
Given : v = 3u  x + 40 = 3x  2x = 40  x = 20 cm
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Mirror formula: 𝑣 + 𝑢 = 𝑓  60 + 20 = 𝑓  15 = 𝑓  f = 15 cm

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