IFYPH002 Physics

THE NCUK INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION YEAR

IFYPH002 Physics
Examination
2016-2017

Examination Session Time Allowed

Semester Two 2 Hours 40 minutes
(including 10 minutes reading time)
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1

SECTION A Answer ALL questions. This section carries 40% of the exam
marks.

SECTION B Answer 3 questions ONLY. 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.

 Formulae are included in the front of the examination booklet.
 Graph paper will be provided.
 An approved calculator may be used in the examination.
 Show ALL workings in your answer booklet.
 Examination materials must not be removed from the examination room.
 State the units where necessary
 Where appropriate, working should be carried out to 4 significant figures and
answers given to 3 significant figures.

DO NOT OPEN THIS QUESTION PAPER UNTIL INSTRUCTED BY THE

INVIGILATOR

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Data, formulae and relationships

Data

Speed of light in a vacuum c = 3.00  10 8 m s – 1

Gravitational constant G = 6.67  10 – 11 N m 2 kg – 2
Acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s – 2 (close to the Earth)
Gravitational field strength g = 9.81 N kg – 1 (close to the Earth)

Electronic charge e = – 1.60  10 – 19 C

Electronic mass me = 9.11  10 – 31 kg
Electron-volt 1 eV = 1.60  10 – 19 J
Planck constant h = 6.63  10 – 34 J s

Unified atomic mass unit u = 1.66  10 – 27 kg

Molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K – 1 mol – 1
Boltzmann constant k = 1.38  10 – 23 J K-1
Permittivity of free space o = 8.85  10 – 12 F m – 1
Permeability of free space o = 4   10 – 7 N A – 2
Avogadro Constant NA = 6.02  10 23 mol-1

Rectilinear motion

For uniformly accelerated motion =u+at

s=ut+½at2

2= u2+2as

Elasticity
FL
Young's modulus E = σ/ε
Ae

For a spring F = -kx

Forces and moments

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

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 IFYPH002 Physics

Radioactive decay and the nuclear atom

Activity A=N

Half-life  t ½ = ln 2
Radioactive decay A  A0 e   t
N  N 0e   t

Electric current and potential difference

Q
Electric current I
t
V
Resistance R
I

Work W  QV  IVt

Electric power P=I2R = V2/R

Electrical circuits
RA
Resistivity 
L

Resistors in series R=R1+R2+R3

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

Terminal potential difference V=–Ir

Transformers

Vs N Ip
Relationships  s 
Vp N Is
p

Heat

Change of state: Q = L m

Heating and cooling: E  mc

Change of internal energy: U = Q + W

Equation of State for ideal gas pV  nRT

pV  NkT

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 IFYPH002 Physics

Circular motion and oscillations

 
Angular speed  
t r
2
Centripetal acceleration a = rω2
r

1 2
Period T 
f 

Simple Harmonic Motion

Displacement x  A sin(t )

Acceleration a = -ω2 x

Velocity v  A cos(t ) = ± ω √( A 2 - x 2)

l
For a simple pendulum T  2
g

m
For a mass on a spring T  2
k

Interference

ds
Young's slits 
D
Diffraction grating d sinθ = nλ

Gravitational fields
Mm
Universal Law of Gravitation F G
r2
Gravitational field strength g=F/m

Electric fields
Q1Q2
Coulomb’s law F
4 0 r 2

Electric field strength E = F/Q

1 Q
For radial field E (in free space or in air)
4 0 r 2

For uniform field E=V/d

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Capacitance

Energy stored W=½CV2

Capacitors in parallel C=C1+C2+C3

1 1 1 1
Capacitors in series   
C C1 C 2 C3

Time constant τ=RC

Magnetic fields

Force on a wire F  ILB sin 

Field due to a long solenoid B   0 nI

0 I
Field due to a long wire B
2 r
Torque on a coil T = BIAn

Magnetic flux   BA cos

N
E.m.f. induced in a coil = 
t
E.m.f. induced in a moving conductor   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

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 IFYPH002 Physics

Mathematics
sin (90 o – ) = cos 

ln (x n) = n ln x

ln (e kx) = k x

Equation of a straight line y = mx + c

Surface area of a cylinder =2rh+2r2

Surface area of a sphere =4r2

Volume of a cylinder =  r 2h
Volume of a sphere = 4  r 3/ 3

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

cos   1

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 IFYPH002 Physics

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

Question A1

A ball is thrown vertically upwards at a velocity of 18.6 m s-1 from a height of

0.785 m above ground level. If air resistance is ignored:

a) i. Determine the maximum velocity of the ball if it is allowed to fall and [2]
hit the ground.

ii. Determine the total time for the ball to reach the ground. [2]

Question A2

A uniform trapdoor of length 0.952 m and mass 5.64 kg is fixed to a hinge at [4]
one end and held in a horizontal position by a wire attached to the other end.

Q
wall 25°

hinge 5.64 kg trapdoor

0.952 m

Determine the tension, Q in the wire.

Question A3

A man is sitting on a sledge A, which is moving at a constant speed of

4.50 m s-1 on an icy, frictionless, horizontal surface. The total mass of the [5]
man and sledge is 95.8 kg. A young child, sitting on another sledge, B, is
moving directly towards A at a speed of 3.57 m s-1. The two sledges collide
and stick together. After the collision they move in the original direction of
sledge A at a speed of 2.64 m s-1.
Determine the total mass of the young child and sledge B.

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 IFYPH002 Physics

Question A4

A fixed mass of an ideal gas occupies a volume of 0.561 m3 at a temperature [3]

of 22.0 °C and 1.45 x 105 Pa pressure.
Determine the volume occupied by the gas at a temperature of -15.5 °C and a
pressure of 1.08 x 105 Pa

Question A5

In an investigation to determine the resistivity of the material of a uniform

wire, 1.60 m long, the p.d. across its ends and the current through it were
measured and the following readings were obtained.

V/V 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

I/A 0.072 0.160 0.240 0.301 0.425

i. Plot a graph of the current I/A, (y axis) against the p.d. V/V (x axis). [4]

ii. If the cross sectional area of the wire was 6.00 x 10-8 m2, determine [4]
a value for the resistivity of the wire.

Question A6

a) i. A diamond is placed in a tank of water. Determine the critical angle [2]

for a ray of sodium light inside the diamond when it reaches the
boundary between the diamond and water.
Refractive index for sodium light in diamond = 2.417
Refractive index for sodium light in water = 1.330

ii. Determine the wavelength of the sodium light in the diamond if its [2]
wavelength in air is 589.3 nm.

Question A7

Radon-220 has a half life of 52.0 s. Determine the time taken for the activity [3]
of a sample of radon-220 to fall to 1/3 of its initial activity.

Question A8

Mercury light is incident normally on a diffraction grating. The 3rd order [3]
spectral line of the yellow light of wavelength 577 nm has a diffraction angle
of 78.0°.
Determine the diffraction angle of the 2nd order green line of wavelength
546 nm.

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Question A9

Assuming the mass of the Sun is 2.00 x 1030 kg, calculate the time taken in [4]
years for the planet Uranus to make 1 orbit of the Sun if the radius of its orbit
is 2.87 x 109 km.

Question A10

A rectangular coil of wire measuring 30 mm x 20 mm and consisting of 50

turns is placed in a uniform magnetic field of 3.69 x 10-3 T. Determine the
torque on the coil when the plane of the coil is at an angle of 20° to the [2]
direction of the magnetic field and a current of 250 mA is flowing through the
coil.

Section B begins on the following page.

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 IFYPH002 Physics

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

a) i. Define the farad. [1]

ii. Determine the overall capacitance of the arrangement shown. [3]

6 μF 8 μF 3 μF
A B

4 μF

iii. A p.d. of 20.0 V is connected across AB in the diagram above. [2]

Determine the energy stored on this combination of capacitors after
they have had the time to become fully charged.

b) A 25.0 μF capacitor is charged to a p.d. of 50.0 V. The capacitor is then

allowed to discharge through a 760 kΩ resistor.

i. Determine the initial current flowing through the resistor. [1]

ii. Determine the p.d. across the capacitor after 30.0 s. [2]

iii. Determine the time taken for the p.d. across the capacitor to fall to [2]
5.0 V.

c) i. State Kirchhoff’s 1st law. [1]

ii. State Kirchhoff’s 2nd law. [1]

iii. Consider the circuit diagram.

1.8 V r
Cell A

I1

5Ω I2 = 0.5396 A
ε 1Ω
I2 Cell B
I3 = 0.4101 A
I3
6Ω

Using Kirchhoff’s laws:

I Determine current I1. [2]

II Determine the e.m.f. ε of cell B. [2]

III Determine the internal resistance r of cell A. [3]

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 IFYPH002 Physics

Question B2

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

b) A simple pendulum consists of a piece of light string with a small lead

bob attached to the lower end. The length of the pendulum is 0.760 m.
The bob is moved 35.0 mm to one side of the equilibrium position and
released so that it moves with SHM.

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

ii. Determine the frequency of the pendulum motion. [1]

iii. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the pendulum bob [2]
when it is 25.0 mm from the equilibrium position.

iv. Determine the speed of the pendulum bob as it passes through the [2]
equilibrium position.

v. Determine the time taken for the pendulum bob to move directly [5]
from a position 30.0 mm on one side of equilibrium to 30.0 mm on
the other side of equilibrium.

c) The pendulum as described in b) is now raised so the string is horizontal

and the bob is released.

i. Briefly explain why the motion of the pendulum is no longer SHM. [1]

ii. Determine the velocity of the bob as it passes through the [2]
equilibrium position.

iii. If the mass of the bob is 0.265 kg, determine the tension in the [3]
string as the bob passes through this equilibrium position.

Question B3

a) i. Describe the Rutherford α-particle scattering experiment. [4]

ii. Explain how the above experiment provides evidence for the [3]
existence, charge and small size of the nucleus.
X

b) i. A nuclide can be represented by the notation

A
Z

I What name is given to the symbol A and what does it [2]

represent?

II What name is given to the symbol Z and what does it [2]

represent?

III What is meant by isotopes of a particular element? [2]

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 IFYPH002 Physics

c) In a nuclear fission reaction uranium-235 can decay to isotopes of

barium and krypton.

i. Copy out and complete the decay equation to represent this [2]
reaction.

Q
U

B
a

K
r
3
n
?2

??

1
4?
1

?6

??
    
9

3
ii. Determine the energy released (in MeV) when an atom of U-235 [5]
decays in this way.
Atomic masses are as follows:
Mass of U-235 = 235.0439u
Mass of Ba-141 = 140.9136u
Mass of Krypton isotope = 91.8976u
Mass of neutron = 1.0087u

Use all of the significant figures shown in your calculations.

Section B continues on the following page.

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 IFYPH002 Physics

Question B4

a) i. The diagram below represents a section through the wires of a [2]

long, current carrying solenoid. Copy the diagram into your answer
book and then sketch the magnetic field lines produced by the
current in the solenoid.
Current out
of plane of
paper

Current into
plane of
paper

ii. Sketch the magnetic field lines for a current carrying long straight [2]
wire. Remember to indicate the direction of current flow in the
wire.

iii. Determine the magnitude of the force acting on a 2.0 m length of a [2]
long straight wire carrying a current of 3.50 A when the wire is
placed so as to make an angle of 30.0° with the direction of a
uniform magnetic field of 0.856 mT.

b) i. Define electric field strength. [2]

ii. Sketch a diagram to represent lines of electric field and lines of [2]
equipotential around a positive point charge.

iii. Determine the magnitude of the electric field strength at a distance [2]
of 50.0 mm from a small negatively charged, 20 μC point charge,
placed in a vacuum.

c) Point charges of +2 μC, +5 μC, +7μC and -6 μC are placed at the

corners of a square of side length 0.50 m. A point charge Q, of -4 μC is
placed at the centre of the square. Assume ε = εo.

+2 μC +5 μC
-4 μC
0.50 m

-6 μC +7 μC

0.50 m

i. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force on charge Q. [6]

ii. Determine the direction of the resultant force on charge Q. [2]

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Question B5

a) Define the term work function. [1]

b) A metal surface has a work function of 3.50 eV.

i. Determine the maximum wavelength of light that will liberate [2]

photoelectrons from the surface.

ii. Determine the frequency of the light, incident on the metal surface [4]
that causes photoelectrons with a maximum velocity of
3.74 x 105 m s-1 to be released from the surface.

iii. Determine the de Broglie wavelength of these photoelectrons. [2]

iv. Photoelectrons will be emitted with a range of velocities from zero [2]
up to this maximum value. Explain why this happens.

v. Explain why the maximum velocity of the photoelectrons is [2]

independent of the intensity of the light incident on the metal
surface.

c) i. Explain why line spectra can be used to identify the elements [2]
present in a gaseous source of light.

ii. Part of the line spectrum of the hydrogen atom is shown below.

Energy/
10-19 J 0
-1.36 n=4

-2.42 n=3

-5.42 n=2

-21.7 n=1

I What name is given to the n = 1 state. [1]

II A photon collides with a hydrogen atom. Its electron is in the [2]

n = 1 state. Determine the minimum frequency of this photon
if it ionizes the hydrogen atom.

III Determine the frequency of the photon emitted when an [2]

electron falls directly from the n = 4 to the n = 2 level.

This is the end of the examination.

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