The Science School

AS Physics
5-9 Feb,2024
Name:___________

Cambridge International AS & A Level

PHYSICS 9702/11
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2023
1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*8516742668*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB23 06_9702_11/RP
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
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Data

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

speed of light in free space c = 3.00  108 m s–1

elementary charge e = 1.60  10–19 C

unified atomic mass unit 1 u = 1.66  10–27 kg

rest mass of proton mp = 1.67  10–27 kg

rest mass of electron me = 9.11  10–31 kg

Avogadro constant NA = 6.02  1023 mol–1

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

Boltzmann constant k = 1.38  10–23 J K–1

gravitational constant G = 6.67  10–11 N m2 kg–2

permittivity of free space 0 = 8.85  10–12 F m–1

1
( = 8.99  109 m F–1)
4 0

Planck constant h = 6.63  10–34 J s

Stefan–Boltzmann constant  = 5.67  10–8 W m–2 K–4

Formulae
1
uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 2
at 2
v 2 = u 2 + 2as

hydrostatic pressure p =  gh

upthrust F =  gV
fsv
Doppler effect for sound waves fo =
v  vs

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + ...

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

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1 Which unit is not an SI base unit?

A A B kg C C D s

2 What is the best estimate of the number of atoms in a piece of metal of volume 50 cm3?

A 5  1015 B 5  1025 C 5  1029 D 5  1031

3 A copper pipe has a true diameter of 42.03 mm.

A builder measures the diameter of the pipe five times using digital calipers. The measurements
are shown.

diameter / mm

48.01
47.99
48.01
48.00
47.99

What describes the builder’s measurements?

A accurate and precise

B accurate but not precise
C not precise and not accurate
D precise but not accurate

4 Two forces, each of 10 N, act at a point P, as shown. The angle between the directions of the
forces is 120.

10 N

120°
10 N
P

What is the magnitude of the resultant force?

A 5N B 10 N C 17 N D 20 N

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5 One object moves directly from P to R.

In a shorter time, a second object moves from P to Q to R.

Which statement about the two objects is correct for the journey from P to R?

A They have the same average speed.

B They have the same average velocity.
C They have the same displacement.
D They travel the same distance.

6 A ball is kicked so that it has an initial velocity of 12 m s–1 at an angle of 50 to horizontal ground.

Assume that air resistance is negligible.

12 m s–1

50

What is the maximum height above the ground that is reached by the ball?

A 0.47 m B 3.0 m C 4.3 m D 7.3 m

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7 A camera drone of mass 1.20 kg hovers at a fixed point above the ground. The drone has four
propellers.

propeller

camera

In a time of 1.00 s, each propeller pushes a mass of 0.400 kg of air vertically downwards.

Assume that the air above the propellers is stationary.

What is the speed of the air leaving each propeller?

A 0.750 m s–1 B 3.00 m s–1 C 7.36 m s–1 D 29.4 m s–1

8 A box rests on the Earth, as shown.

Newton’s third law describes how forces of the same type act in pairs. One of the forces of a pair
is the weight W of the box.

Which arrow represents the other force of this pair?

box
D
NOT TO
W SCALE
C
A
Earth

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9 A small ball is held at the surface of liquid oil in a container. The ball is released from rest and
falls through the oil. The ball has velocity v. A viscous (drag) force F acts on the ball.

Which graph could show the variation with v of F?

A B C D

F F F F

0 0 0 0
0 v 0 v 0 v 0 v

10 An object of mass m, moving at speed u along a frictionless horizontal surface, collides head-on
with a stationary object of mass 4m.

u
m 4m

before the collision

1
After the collision, the object of mass m rebounds along its initial path with of its kinetic energy
4
before the collision.

What is the speed of the object of mass 4m after the collision?

u 3u 5u 3u
A B C D
8 16 16 8

11 The driver of a car applies two parallel forces to a steering wheel, as shown.

centre of
steering wheel
15 N

65°

65°

15 N

0.40 m

Each force has a magnitude of 15 N and acts in the direction shown. The steering wheel has a
diameter of 0.40 m.

What is the torque exerted on the steering wheel?

A 1.3 N m B 2.5 N m C 2.7 N m D 5.4 N m

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12 A farmer is trying to lift the corner of a large water tank. She uses a metal rod as a lever.

force
from farmer
metal rod
water tank

pivot

The vertical force from the farmer is constant and is always applied to the end of the rod.

Which change must increase the upward force on the water tank?

A using a longer rod and moving the pivot closer to the tank
B using a longer rod and moving the pivot further away from the tank
C using a shorter rod and moving the pivot closer to the tank
D using a shorter rod and moving the pivot further away from the tank

13 The diagram shows a ball of weight W hanging in equilibrium from a string.


T
string

ball
P

rod

The string is at an angle  to the vertical. The tension in the string is T. The ball is held away from
the wall by a horizontal force P from a metal rod.

Which relationship between the magnitudes of T, P and W is correct?

A P = T cos and W = T sin

B T=P+W
C T2 = P2 + W2

D W = P tan and W = T cos

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14 Which expression for pressure is correct?

A force per unit area

B force per unit volume
C mass per unit area
D mass per unit volume

15 A ball has a mass of 0.50 kg and a volume of 1.3  10–3 m3. The ball is floating in equilibrium on
still water. The two forces that act on the ball are its weight and the upthrust due to the water.

The density of the water is 1.0  103 kg m–3.

What is the percentage of the volume of the ball above the surface of the water?

A 3.9% B 38% C 62% D 96%

16 A man sits on a buggy that is pulled along by a wire attached to a kite. The wire is at an angle of
40 to the horizontal and has a constant tension of 200 N. The man and buggy travel a distance of
20 m along a straight horizontal path. The wire and the path of the buggy are in the same vertical
plane.

kite

200 N
wire

40

buggy

What is the work done by the tension force on the man and buggy?

A 2.6 kJ B 3.1 kJ C 3.4 kJ D 4.0 kJ

17 A ball is thrown vertically upwards from the surface of the Earth.

Which statement describes the energy of the ball as it rises through the air?

A The kinetic energy of the ball decreases as the gravitational potential energy decreases.
B The kinetic energy of the ball decreases as the gravitational potential energy increases.
C The kinetic energy of the ball increases as the gravitational potential energy decreases.
D The total energy of the ball increases.

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18 A lamp is suspended in equilibrium from a fixed support by three long identical wires.

wires fixed support

lamp

The weight of the lamp causes each wire to have an extension of 0.40 cm. The height h of the
lamp above the floor is measured.

The middle wire suddenly breaks and the lamp falls a small distance as the extensions of the
remaining two wires increase. The wires obey Hooke’s law.

When the lamp is in equilibrium, the height h of the lamp above the floor is measured again.

What is the difference between the two values of h?

A 0.20 cm B 0.27 cm C 0.40 cm D 0.60 cm

19 The force–extension graph for a spring is shown.

force

0
0 extension

What represents the work done to extend the spring?

A the area under the graph

B the gradient of the graph
C the reciprocal of the gradient of the graph
D twice the area under the graph

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20 In an experiment, a student uses a microphone and a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) to analyse

a sound wave. The diagram shows the trace on the screen of the CRO.

The student is expecting a sinusoidal waveform to be shown on the screen.

Which changes should the student make to the time-base and the y-gain of the CRO so that the
screen shows a continuous trace for one complete cycle of the waveform?

time-base y-gain

A decrease decrease
B decrease increase
C increase decrease
D increase increase

21 The graph shows the variation with time of the displacement of a particle in a progressive wave.

displacement
x y
0
0 time

Two measurements, x and y, are labelled on the graph.

What do x and y represent?

x y

A amplitude period
B frequency period
C amplitude wavelength
D frequency wavelength

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22 A car travels at a constant speed along a straight line PQ.

A loudspeaker attached to the car emits sound of constant frequency f. A stationary observer is
at point O.

P Q

What does the observer hear as the car moves from P towards Q?

A a frequency less than f that decreases as the car moves from P towards Q
B a frequency less than f that increases as the car moves from P towards Q
C a frequency more than f that decreases as the car moves from P towards Q
D a frequency more than f that increases as the car moves from P towards Q

23 Some sources of electromagnetic waves in free space are listed.

1 a radio wave transmitter

2 a source of X-rays
3 a 30 mm wavelength radar transmitter
4 a light-emitting diode that emits red light

Which list gives the sources in order of increasing wavelength, from left to right, of the waves
emitted by the sources?

A 1342

B 2413

C 2431

D 3142

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24 A vertically polarised beam of light is incident normally on a polarising filter. The transmission axis
of the filter is at an angle of 40 to the horizontal.

beam of vertically
polarised light

transmission axis
of polarising filter

polarising filter
40

horizontal beam of
transmitted light

amplitude of transmitte d beam

What is the ratio ?
amplitude of incident beam

A 0.41 B 0.59 C 0.64 D 0.77

25 Two progressive waves meet at a point.

Which condition must be met for superposition of the waves to occur?

A The waves must be coherent.

B The waves must be of the same type.
C The waves must be travelling in opposite directions.
D The waves must meet in phase.

26 A string is stretched between a vibration generator and a fixed point.

When the vibration generator is vibrating at a frequency f, a stationary wave with five nodes is
created on the stretched string, as shown. There is a node at the end of the string that is attached
to the vibration generator.

fixed point

vibration
generator

The frequency of vibration of the vibration generator is slowly increased.

What is the next frequency that produces a stationary wave on the string?

A 1.25f B 1.50f C 1.75f D 2.00f

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27 A ripple tank and a barrier with a single gap are used to demonstrate the diffraction of surface
ripples on water. Initially, the wavelength of the ripples is five times smaller than the gap in the
barrier.

barrier

gap

ripples

Which change increases the amount of diffraction observed?

A double the amplitude of the ripples

B double the width of the gap
C halve the frequency of the ripples
D halve the wavelength of the ripples

28 A laser produces a beam of light of wavelength 650 nm. The beam is incident normally on two
slits that are a distance of 0.12 mm apart.

A screen is placed parallel to the slits. The bright interference fringes on the screen have a
separation of 7.5 cm.

What is the distance between the screen and the two slits?

A 1.4 m B 2.8 m C 7.0 m D 14 m

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29 A beam of light from a laser is incident normally on a diffraction grating.

light beam

110

diffraction grating

The diagram shows only the second-order maxima that are produced.

The grating has a line spacing of 1.0  10–6 m. The angle between the two second-order maxima
is 110.

What is the wavelength of the light?

A 4.1  10–7 m

B 4.7  10–7 m

C 8.2  10–7 m

D 9.4  10–7 m

30 The electric current in a metal wire is 4.0 mA.

How many electrons pass a fixed point in the wire in a time of 10 hours?

A 2.5  1017 B 2.5  1020 C 9.0  1020 D 9.0  1023

31 What is the definition of the potential difference across an electrical component?

A the charge per unit time passing through the component

B the energy transferred per unit charge
C the force per unit charge
D the resistance per unit current

32 Which graph shows the I–V characteristic of a filament lamp?

A B C D

I I I I

0 0 0 0
0 V 0 V 0 V 0 V

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33 A metal wire has a length of 2.50 m and a cross-sectional area of 4.50  10–6 m2. The resistivity of
the metal is 3.50  10–7  m.

The wire is stretched so that its length increases to 2.65 m. The wire remains cylindrical and the
volume of the wire remains constant.

What is the change in the resistance of the wire?

A 0.012  B 0.024  C 0.19  D 0.22 

34 Which circuit symbol represents a microphone?

A B C D

35 A battery with internal resistance is connected to a fixed resistor, an ammeter and a voltmeter, as
shown.

The battery is replaced by a different battery that has the same electromotive force (e.m.f.) but a
greater internal resistance.

What happens to the readings on the ammeter and voltmeter?

ammeter reading voltmeter reading

A decreases decreases
B decreases stays the same
C stays the same decreases
D stays the same stays the same

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36 Four potential divider circuits each consist of a battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 9 V and
negligible internal resistance connected to a combination of resistors. Each of the resistors in the
circuits has a resistance of X or 2X.

Which circuit has the largest output voltage V ?

A B

X X

9V 9V

X V 2X V

C D

X X 2X

9V 9V

X 2X V X V

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37 A voltmeter is connected into a circuit with the polarity shown.

+ –
3V V

3V
P

The sliding contact is moved to end P of the potentiometer and then to end Q.

What are the two readings of the voltmeter?

sliding contact sliding contact

at end P at end Q

A 0V 3V
B 0V 6V
C 3V 3V
D 3V 6V

38 A proton has mass mp and charge +e.

What are the mass and charge of an antiproton?

mass charge

A –mp +e
B –mp –e
C mp +e
D mp –e

39 A uranium nucleus has 92 protons and 143 neutrons.

The nucleus emits a total of 3 -particles and 4 – particles to form nucleus X.

How can nucleus X be represented?

131 219 223 223
A 90 X B 87 X C 82 X D 90 X

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40 Which statement about a proton is correct?

A A proton is a baryon but not a meson.

B A proton is a meson but not a hadron.
C A proton is both a hadron and a meson.
D A proton is both a meson and a baryon.

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BLANK PAGE

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BLANK PAGE

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 9702/11/M/J/23

 Cambridge International AS & A Level

PHYSICS 9702/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2023
1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*1196329450*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB23 06_9702_12/2RP
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
 2

Data

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

speed of light in free space c = 3.00  108 m s–1

elementary charge e = 1.60  10–19 C

unified atomic mass unit 1 u = 1.66  10–27 kg

rest mass of proton mp = 1.67  10–27 kg

rest mass of electron me = 9.11  10–31 kg

Avogadro constant NA = 6.02  1023 mol–1

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

Boltzmann constant k = 1.38  10–23 J K–1

gravitational constant G = 6.67  10–11 N m2 kg–2

permittivity of free space 0 = 8.85  10–12 F m–1

1
( = 8.99  109 m F–1)
4 0

Planck constant h = 6.63  10–34 J s

Stefan–Boltzmann constant  = 5.67  10–8 W m–2 K–4

Formulae
1
uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 2
at 2
v 2 = u 2 + 2as

hydrostatic pressure p =  gh

upthrust F =  gV
fsv
Doppler effect for sound waves fo =
v  vs

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + ...

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

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1 A stone sinks in water.

What is a possible value for the density of the stone?

A 8  102 kg m–3

B 2  103 kg m–3

C 8  103 N m–3

D 2  104 N m–3

2 Gm, Tm, m and pm are all units of length.

Which unit is the largest and which unit is the smallest?

largest smallest
unit unit

A Gm m
B Gm pm
C Tm m
D Tm pm

3 Two measurements for a solid sphere are shown.

mass = (32.5 ± 0.1) g

diameter = (1.87 ± 0.04) cm

These values are used to determine the density of the sphere.

What is the percentage uncertainty in the density?

A 2.4% B 4.6% C 6.1% D 6.7%

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4 An aircraft travels along a horizontal path. Two of the forces that act horizontally on the aircraft
are the thrust force of the engines and the force due to the wind. The vector diagram for these
forces is shown.

force due
to the wind

thrust force
of the engines

Which vector represents the resultant horizontal force acting on the aircraft due to these two
forces?

A B C D

5 A ball travels from point X to point Y around a semicircular track of radius 1.0 m, as shown.

north ball

west east

south 1.0 m

What is the displacement of the ball from X to Y?

A 2.0 m
B 2.0 m due south
C 3.1 m
D 3.1 m due south

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6 A rock is launched vertically upwards from the surface of the Earth and an identical rock is
launched vertically upwards from the surface of Mars. Each rock is launched with an initial
velocity of 12 m s–1.

Each rock then reaches its maximum height above the surface before returning back down to the
surface. The velocity–time graph for each rock is shown. In both cases, air resistance is
negligible.

15
velocity
/ m s–1 10

0 time / s
0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0
–5
Earth Mars
–10

–15

What is the difference in the maximum heights of the two rocks?

A 12 m B 15 m C 19 m D 24 m

7 Which statement describes the mass of an object?

A the force the object experiences due to gravity

B the momentum of the object before a collision
C the resistance of the object to changes in motion
D the weight of the object as measured by a balance

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8 A submarine of total mass 3200 kg is at rest underwater.

water surface

submarine
at rest

sea bed

The total mass of the submarine is suddenly decreased by 200 kg by pumping water out of the
submarine horizontally in a negligible time. The upthrust acting on the submarine is unchanged.

The change in the total weight of the submarine causes it to accelerate vertically upwards.

What is the initial upwards acceleration of the submarine?

A 0.613 m s–2 B 0.654 m s–2 C 9.81 m s–2 D 10.5 m s–2

9 A box in air slides with increasing speed down a rough slope from point P to point Q.

P box

The slope surface exerts a constant frictional force on the box.

As the box moves from P to Q, there are changes to the magnitudes of its acceleration and the
total resistive force acting on it.

Which row describes the changes?

magnitude of
magnitude of
total resistive
acceleration
force

A increases decreases
B decreases decreases
C increases increases
D decreases increases

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10 Two balls, X and Y, approach each other along the same straight line and collide. The collision is
perfectly elastic.

Their initial speeds are uX and uY respectively. After the collision they move apart with speeds vX
and vY respectively. Their directions are shown.

uX uY
before X Y

vX vY
after X Y

Which equation is correct?

A uX + uY = vX + vY
B uX + uY = vX – vY
C uX – uY = vX + vY
D uX – uY = vX – vY

11 A rod is pivoted at point O.

A force F is applied to the rod at point W, as shown.

rod
W

What is the moment of the force F about O?

A F  distance OX

B F  distance OY

C F  distance WO

D F  distance WX

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12 A uniform rod XY of weight 10.0 N is freely hinged to a wall at X. It is held horizontal by a force F
acting from Y at an angle of 30 to the horizontal, as shown.

wall

60q 30q
X Y

10.0 N

What is the value of F ?

A 5.0 N B 8.7 N C 10 N D 20 N

13 Two solid cubes X and Y are made of material of the same density. Cube X has twice the mass
of cube Y.

Cube X has sides of length x. Cube Y has sides of length y.

x
What is the ratio ?
y
A 1.26 B 1.41 C 2.00 D 8.00

14 A U-shaped glass tube contains liquid of density 2000 kg m–3, as shown.

tube

P liquid,
density 2000 kg m–3

Q
10.0 cm

6.0 cm

What is the difference in pressure due to the liquid between levels P and Q?

A 780 Pa B 1200 Pa C 1600 Pa D 2000 Pa

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15 A steam turbine is used to drive a generator. The input power to the turbine is PI and the output
power is PO. The power loss in the turbine is PL, as shown.

input power PI output power PO

turbine generator

power loss PL

What is the efficiency of the turbine?

PL PI PL PO
A B C D
PO PO PI PI

16 A variable force is applied to ensure that a constant power is supplied to a train.

Which graph best shows the variation of the force F applied with the velocity v of the train?

A B C D
F F F F

0 0 0 0
0 v 0 v 0 v 0 v

17 A block is released from rest and slides a distance x down a straight slope.

The slope is at an angle  to the horizontal.

block

slope
x
T

The slope is frictionless and air resistance is negligible.

The acceleration of free fall is g.

Which expression gives the final speed of the block?

gx sin 
A B 2gx sin  C 2gx D 2gx sin 
2

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18 What is meant by the spring constant of a spring?

A extension per unit force

B 1
2  force  extension

C force  extension
D force per unit extension

19 A child holds a thin metal wire that is attached to a kite. The graph shows how the extension of
the wire varies with its tension.

150
tension / N
wire kite 100

50

0
0 0.15 0.30 0.45
extension / mm

A gust of wind increases the tension from 100 N to 150 N.

What is the change in the elastic potential energy of the wire caused by the gust of wind?

A 3.8 mJ B 19 mJ C 34 mJ D 38 mJ

20 A microphone detects a sound wave. The microphone is connected to a cathode-ray oscilloscope

(CRO).

The shape of the trace on the screen of the CRO is shown.

Which property of the sound wave can be determined by using only the measurement of a
horizontal distance on the screen and the value of a control setting of the CRO?

A amplitude
B frequency
C speed
D wavelength

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21 A longitudinal wave is travelling from left to right. The graph shows the variation of the
displacement of the particles with distance along the wave at one instant in time.

Displacements to the right are positive; displacements to the left are negative.

Which labelled point represents a compression?

A
displacement

B D
0
0 distance

22 A source X emits a sound wave of constant frequency f.

The wave is subsequently received at a stationary detector Y.

The frequency of the wave that is detected by Y is less than f.

What could be the reason for this?

A Between X and Y, the wave undergoes diffraction.

B Between X and Y, the wave undergoes reflection.
C X is moving away from Y.
D X is moving towards Y.

23 A beam of visible light is in a vacuum.

What could be the frequency of the light?

A 5.0  105 Hz B 5.0  108 Hz C 5.0  1011 Hz D 5.0  1014 Hz

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24 A vertically polarised beam of light of intensity I0 is incident normally on a polarising filter.

The transmission axis of the filter is at 45 to the vertical. The beam of light transmitted by this
filter is then incident normally on a second filter. The transmission axis of the second filter is
horizontal.

transmission axis
vertically 45q of second filter
polarised I0
light

transmission axis
of first filter

What is the intensity of the beam of light after transmission through the second filter?

A 0 B 1
4 I0 C 1
2 I0 D I0

25 A stationary wave is formed by two progressive waves travelling in opposite directions along the
same line of travel.

Which statement about the two progressive waves is not correct?

A They must have a constant phase difference.

B They must have the same frequency.
C They must have the same wavelength.
D They must travel at the same speed.

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26 The sound from a loudspeaker placed above a tube causes resonance of the air in the tube.

A stationary wave is formed with two nodes and two antinodes, as shown.

loudspeaker

60 cm

The tube has height 60 cm.

The speed of sound in the air is 340 m s–1.

What is the frequency of the sound?

A 430 Hz B 570 Hz C 850 Hz D 1700 Hz

27 A continuous progressive water wave in a ripple tank passes through a gap in a barrier and
diffracts.

The width of the gap is greater than the wavelength of the wave.

Which change causes the wave to spread over a larger angle as it passes through the gap?

A a small decrease in the wavelength of the wave

B a small decrease in the width of the gap
C a small increase in the frequency of the wave
D a small increase in the height of the barrier

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28 The diagram shows a view from above of a double-slit interference demonstration.

L is a monochromatic light source with a vertical filament. B is a barrier with two narrow vertical
slits and S is a screen upon which interference fringes form.

NOT TO
SCALE

B S

The intensity is I at the point on the screen where the centre of the fringe pattern forms.

When one of the slits is covered, what is the intensity at the same point on the screen?

A I B I C I D I
2 2 2 2 4

29 Green light of wavelength 550 nm is incident normally on a diffraction grating and produces a
diffraction pattern on a screen placed 3.5 m from the diffraction grating.

The third-order maximum on the screen is a distance of 0.75 m from the zeroth-order (central)
maximum.

screen
NOT TO
SCALE zeroth-order
3.5 m (central) maximum
green light

0.75 m
diffraction grating

third-order
maximum

What is the distance between two adjacent slits in the diffraction grating?

A 2.6  10–6 m

B 7.7  10–6 m

C 7.9  10–6 m

D 1.0  10–5 m

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30 Which charge can be carried by a charge carrier?

A 1.1  10–19 C

B 4.0  10–19 C

C 4.8  10–19 C

D 9.1  10–19 C

31 A resistor of resistance R is connected across a cell of electromotive force (e.m.f.) E and

negligible internal resistance.

Which single change to the circuit would lead to the largest increase in the power dissipated in
the resistor?

A doubling the value of E

B doubling the value of R
C halving the value of E
D halving the value of R

32 An electrical cable is made up of one thick strand of copper wire that is surrounded by eight thin
strands of copper wire. All nine strands of wire are connected in parallel with each other.

A cross-section of the cable is shown.

thick strand,
cross-sectional
thin strand, area 4A
cross-sectional
area A

Each thin strand of wire has cross-sectional area A and length L.

The thick strand of wire has cross-sectional area 4A and length L.

The cable has total resistance R.

Which expression gives the resistivity of copper?

4A 12 A 4 AR 12 AR
A B C D
33RL RL L L

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33 A car has sensors for detecting the light intensity and temperature of its environment.

The sensors make use of a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a thermistor.

The car moves from a warm and dark environment into a cold and bright environment.

What are the changes to the resistances of the LDR and thermistor?

resistance resistance of
of LDR thermistor

A increases increases
B increases decreases
C decreases increases
D decreases decreases

34 A student assembles the circuit shown.

lamp 1 lamp 2

Which row describes the state of the two lamps?

lamp 1 lamp 2

A off off
B on off
C off on
D on on

35 Kirchhoff’s first law is a consequence of the conservation of which quantity?

A charge
B energy
C momentum
D potential difference

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36 Three identical cells each have electromotive force (e.m.f.) E and negligible internal resistance.
The cells are connected to three identical resistors, each of resistance R, as shown.

E
R

E
R
R
E

What is the potential difference across one of the resistors?

E 2E
A 0 B C D E
3 3

37 In the potentiometer circuit shown, the reading on the ammeter is zero.

power
supply

sliding contact

uniform metal wire

The light-dependent resistor (LDR) is then covered and the ammeter gives a non-zero reading.

Which change could return the ammeter reading to zero?

A decreasing the supply voltage

B increasing the supply voltage
C moving the sliding contact to the left
D moving the sliding contact to the right

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38 What are isotopes?

A nuclei of different elements with the same number of neutrons

B nuclei of different elements with the same number of nucleons
C nuclei of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
D nuclei of the same element with different numbers of protons

39 A neutron 10 n is fired at a 235

92 U nucleus. The neutron is absorbed by the nucleus which then splits
141 92
to form nuclei of 56 Ba and 36 Kr.

235
What is the number of free neutrons emitted when the 92 U nucleus splits?

A 0 B 1 C 2 D 3

40 A + meson has a charge of +e, where e is the elementary charge. It consists of an up quark and
one other quark.

What could be the other quark in the + meson?

A anti-down
B anti-up
C bottom
D charm

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© UCLES 2023 9702/12/M/J/23

 20

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Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 9702/12/M/J/23

 Cambridge International AS & A Level

PHYSICS 9702/13
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2023
1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*3539121654*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB23 06_9702_13/2RP
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
 2

Data

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

speed of light in free space c = 3.00  108 m s–1

elementary charge e = 1.60  10–19 C

unified atomic mass unit 1 u = 1.66  10–27 kg

rest mass of proton mp = 1.67  10–27 kg

rest mass of electron me = 9.11  10–31 kg

Avogadro constant NA = 6.02  1023 mol–1

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

Boltzmann constant k = 1.38  10–23 J K–1

gravitational constant G = 6.67  10–11 N m2 kg–2

permittivity of free space 0 = 8.85  10–12 F m–1

1
( = 8.99  109 m F–1)
4 0

Planck constant h = 6.63  10–34 J s

Stefan–Boltzmann constant  = 5.67  10–8 W m–2 K–4

Formulae
1
uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 2
at 2
v 2 = u 2 + 2as

hydrostatic pressure p =  gh

upthrust F =  gV
fsv
Doppler effect for sound waves fo =
v  vs

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + ...

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

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1 What must be included in a record of a physical quantity?

A an integer value for the quantity

B an SI unit
C a numerical value for the quantity
D a unit expressed in base units

2 What is the ohm expressed in SI base units?

A kg m2 s–3 A–2 B kg–1 m–2 s3 A2 C J C–1 A–1 D W A–2

3 A desk has a true width of 50.0 cm.

Two students, X and Y, measure the width of the desk.

Student X uses a tape measure and records a width of (49.5  0.5) cm.

Student Y uses a metre rule and records a width of (51.4  0.1) cm.

Which statement about the measurement of student X is correct?

A It is less accurate and less precise than the measurement of student Y.

B It is less accurate but more precise than the measurement of student Y.
C It is more accurate and more precise than the measurement of student Y.
D It is more accurate but less precise than the measurement of student Y.

4 The diagram shows two vectors, X and Y, drawn to scale.

Y
X

If X = Y – Z, which diagram represents the vector Z?

A B C D

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5 Which equation, representing uniformly accelerated motion in a straight line, can be determined
using only the definition of acceleration?
1
A s = ut + 2 at 2
1
B s= 2
(u + v )t

C v = u + at
D v 2 = u 2 + 2as

6 An object moves from rest with uniform velocity horizontally and uniform acceleration vertically.

Which graph showing the variation with time of the displacement of the object from its initial
position is correct?

A B
horizontal vertical
displacement displacement

0 0
0 time 0 time

C D
horizontal vertical
displacement displacement

0 0
0 time 0 time

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7 A device for spraying paint consists of a box with its faces horizontal and vertical. One of its
vertical faces contains small holes. Paint is fed into the box under pressure via a vertical tube and
exits through the holes as fine streams moving horizontally.

paint in

paint out through holes

(only a few holes are shown)

The paint is ejected at a speed of 2.5 m s–1 through 400 holes, each of area 0.4 mm2. The density
of the paint is 900 kg m–3.

What is the horizontal force required to hold the device stationary as it ejects the paint?

A 0.36 N B 0.90 N C 2.3 N D 900 N

8 Each diagram illustrates a pair of forces of equal magnitude.

Which diagram gives an example of a pair of forces that is described by Newton’s third law of
motion?

A B

total gravitational
resistive driving Earth force
forces force

gravitational
Moon
force

C D

support force lift

weight

weight

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9 Two balls of identical shape and size but different masses are falling through the same liquid.

The sum of the drag force and upthrust acting on each ball is equal to its weight.

Which statement about the two balls is correct?

A The heavier ball has a larger acceleration than the lighter ball.
B The heavier ball has a smaller deceleration than the lighter ball.
C The heavier ball is falling at the same speed as the lighter ball.
D The heavier ball is falling at a larger speed than the lighter ball.

10 A perfectly elastic collision occurs between two objects X and Y. The mass of X is m and the
3v
mass of Y is 4m. Object X travels at speed v before the collision and speed in the opposite
5
direction after the collision. Object Y is stationary before the collision.

3v
v 5

X Y X Y
m 4m m 4m

before after

What is the kinetic energy of Y after the collision?

8 34 16 1
A mv 2 B mv 2 C mv 2 D mv 2
10 50 50 5

11 What is not a requirement for two forces to act as a couple?

A The two forces act in opposite directions.

B The two forces act through the same point.
C The two forces combine to produce zero resultant force.
D The two forces have equal magnitude.

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12 A uniform metre rule is pivoted at the 34.0 cm mark, as shown.

metre rule
4.0 cm
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

34.0 cm

64 g

The rule balances when a 64 g mass is hung from the 4.0 cm mark.

What is the mass of the metre rule?

A 38 g B 44 g C 120 g D 136 g

13 A volume of 1.5 m3 of water is mixed with 0.50 m3 of alcohol. The density of water is 1000 kg m–3
and the density of alcohol is 800 kg m–3.

The volume of the mixture is 2.0 m3.

What is the density of the mixture?

A 850 kg m–3 B 900 kg m–3 C 940 kg m–3 D 950 kg m–3

14 An object is falling at a constant speed through a viscous liquid. FU is the upthrust on the object
due to the liquid. WL is the weight of the liquid displaced by the object. WO is the weight of the
object.

Which equation must be correct?

A FU = W L
B FU = W O – W L
C FU = W O
D FU = W O + W L

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15 An airport has a mechanical system for moving luggage. The system uses a horizontal conveyor
belt, a sloping conveyor belt, a lift and a frictionless slide. A suitcase is moved around the airport
using this system.

12 m

10 m

8m

16 m

Resistive forces opposing the motion of the suitcase are negligible.

For which movement of the suitcase is the net work done on the suitcase greatest?

A moving the suitcase a distance of 8 m at a constant speed up the sloping conveyor belt
B moving the suitcase a distance of 16 m at a constant speed along the horizontal conveyor
belt
C moving the suitcase a distance of 10 m at a constant speed vertically upwards on the lift
D moving the suitcase a distance of 12 m at increasing speed downwards on the slide

16 A car moves along a horizontal road with a constant velocity v against a resistive force F.

The engine of the car has an efficiency of 25%.

What is the input power to the engine?

Fv 4.0 4.0F
A B C 4.0Fv D
4.0 Fv v

17 An object of mass 0.40 kg is projected into the air and follows a curved path above horizontal
ground.

path of object
object,
mass 0.40 kg

ground

18 m

The object takes a time of 1.5 s to move along its path. The object lands a horizontal distance of
18 m from its initial position. Air resistance is negligible.

What is the kinetic energy of the object at its maximum height?

A 0J B 2.4 J C 11 J D 29 J

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18 A metal wire has length 5.2 m and diameter 1.0 mm. The metal has Young modulus 360 GPa.

The wire is fixed at one end and a force is applied to the other end. The force extends the wire by
7.2 mm. The wire obeys Hooke’s law.

What is the force applied to the wire?

A 1.2  102 N

B 3.9  102 N

C 5.0  102 N

D 1.6  103 N

19 The graph shows how the length of a spring varies with the force applied to it.

force
F

0
0 L0 L1
length

The spring has unstretched length L0. When a force F is applied, the spring has length L1.

What is the work done in stretching the spring to length L1?

1 1
A FL1 B F(L1 – L0) C FL1 D F(L1 – L0)
2 2

20 A progressive wave of frequency 1.5 kHz travels in a medium at a speed of 340 m s–1.

What is the minimum distance between two points on the wave that have a phase difference of
70?

A 4.4 cm B 8.8 cm C 18 cm D 23 cm

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21 Graph 1 shows the variation with time of displacement at a fixed distance along a progressive
wave.

Graph 2 represents the same wave and shows the variation with distance of displacement at an
instant in time.

graph 1
2.0
displacement / cm
1.0
0 time / s
0 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40
–1.0
–2.0

graph 2
2.0
displacement / cm
1.0
0 distance / cm
0 30 60 90 120
–1.0
–2.0

What is the speed of the wave?

A 5.0 cm s–1 B 48 cm s–1 C 150 cm s–1 D 300 cm s–1

22 A vehicle moves with constant velocity along a road directly towards an observer. The observed
frequency of the sound from the vehicle changes as the vehicle moves past the observer.

Which phenomenon explains the change in frequency?

A diffraction
B interference
C polarisation
D the Doppler effect

23 An electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of 2.1 cm in a vacuum.

Which region of the electromagnetic spectrum contains this wave?

A infrared
B microwave
C radio wave
D visible light

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24 A source of plane polarised light is observed through two polarising filters.

rotated
anticlockwise
rotated
clockwise
source of
polarised light

polarising filters
observer

The filters are positioned so that the source appears at its brightest. One of the filters is then
rotated clockwise and the other filter is rotated anticlockwise through the same angle.

How does the source appear when both filters have been rotated 90 and 180 from their initial
positions?

90 180

A brightest brightest
B brightest darkest
C darkest brightest
D darkest darkest

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25 The diagram shows a string stretched between fixed points X and Y. There is a stationary wave
on the string.

Q R
X Y
P

The solid curve shows the string at a position of maximum displacement at time t0. The dashed
curve shows the other position of maximum displacement. The straight central dashed line shows
the mean position of the string.

Point S on the string is directly above point P. Point T on the string is directly below point Q.

Which statement is correct?

A A short time after t0, point R on the string will be displaced.

B A short time after t0, points S and T on the string move in opposite directions.
C The distance between P and Q is one wavelength.
D Two moving points on the string that are equal distances from point R vibrate in phase.

26 The variation with distance x of the intensity I along a stationary sound wave in air is shown.

0
0 5.0 10.0 15.0
x / cm

The speed of sound in air is 340 m s–1.

What is the frequency of the sound wave?

A 1700 Hz B 2300 Hz C 3400 Hz D 6800 Hz

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27 An experiment is set up to demonstrate the diffraction of water waves in a ripple tank.

The waves pass through a gap of width w and some diffraction of the waves is observed.

The wavelength of the waves is now doubled.

What is the new gap width needed to cause the same amount of diffraction as before?

A 0.5w B w C 2w D 4w

28 Two coherent electromagnetic waves are travelling in a vacuum. The two waves meet at a point.
At this point, the two waves have different intensities.

Which statement about the waves is not correct?

A They have a constant phase difference at the point.

B They have the same amplitude at the point.
C They have the same frequency.
D They travel at the same speed.

29 A parallel beam of light of wavelength 600 nm is incident normally on a diffraction grating.

The distance between adjacent slits in the grating is 2.0  10–6 m. A screen is placed parallel to
the grating, at a distance of 1.50 m from the grating. Third-order diffraction maxima are observed
at the two ends of the screen, as shown.

screen
NOT TO
diffraction SCALE
grating

third-order maxima

beam of light of
wavelength 600 nm

1.50 m

What is the distance between the two ends of the screen?

A 1.4 m B 2.7 m C 3.1 m D 6.2 m

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30 A metal wire is connected between the terminals of a cell so that there is a current in the wire.

Which statement is correct?

A Negatively charged electrons in the wire move from the negative terminal to the positive
terminal.
B Negatively charged nuclei in the wire move from the negative terminal to the positive
terminal.
C Positively charged electrons in the wire move from the positive terminal to the negative
terminal.
D Positively charged nuclei in the wire move from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.

31 Two resistors of resistances R and 2R are connected in parallel with a battery of electromotive
force (e.m.f.) 12 V and negligible internal resistance.

12 V

2R

The total power dissipated by the two resistors is 36 W.

What is the value of R?

A 0.50  B 2.7  C 4.0  D 6.0 

32 A wire has a length of 3.0 m and is made of metal of resistivity 4.9  10–7  m.

A potential difference (p.d.) of 12 V is applied across the wire so that it has a current of 1.4 A.

What is the cross-sectional area of the wire?

A 1.2  10–7 m2

B 1.7  10–7 m2

C 1.1  10–6 m2

D 1.3  10–5 m2

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33 A cell of negligible internal resistance is connected in series with a thermistor, a fixed resistor and
an ammeter.

The thermistor is placed in a beaker of water and the temperature of the water is slowly
increased.

A graph of current I against the temperature T of the thermistor is plotted.

Which graph could show the variation of I with T ?

A B C D

I I I I

T T T T

34 A battery with internal resistance is connected to a parallel arrangement of two resistors and a
switch S, as shown.

A V

switch
S

Initially, switch S is open.

What happens to the voltmeter and ammeter readings when switch S is closed?

voltmeter ammeter
reading reading

A decreases increases
B decreases decreases
C increases increases
D increases decreases

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35 Kirchhoff’s first law states that the sum of the currents entering a junction in a circuit is equal to
the sum of the currents leaving it.

The law is based on the conservation of a physical quantity.

What is this physical quantity?

A charge
B energy
C mass
D momentum

36 Two resistors have a combined resistance of 34  when connected in series. The same resistors
have a combined resistance of 7.4  when connected in parallel.

What is the resistance of one of the resistors?

A 15  B 17  C 23  D 27 

37 A potentiometer circuit is used to investigate the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell X.

driver cell
2.0 V

Q P R

sliding contact
X resistance wire

The e.m.f. of cell X is known to be approximately 0.50 V.

The driver cell has negligible internal resistance and an e.m.f. of 2.0 V. The sliding contact is
moved along the uniform resistance wire between ends Q and R to a point P where the reading
on the galvanometer is zero.

What is an expression for the approximate length QP?

QR QR 2QR 3QR
A B C D
4 3 3 4

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 17

38 The table contains data for four different nuclei P, Q, R and S.

number nucleon
nucleus
of neutrons number

P 5 10
Q 6 10
R 6 14
S 8 16

Which two nuclei are isotopes of the same element?

A P and Q B P and S C Q and R D R and S

39 Which statement about – decay is correct?

A A neutron changes to a proton in the nucleus and an electron and an antineutrino are
emitted.
B A neutron changes to a proton in the nucleus and an electron and a neutrino are emitted.
C A proton changes to a neutron in the nucleus and an electron and an antineutrino are
emitted.
D A proton changes to a neutron in the nucleus and an electron and a neutrino are emitted.

40 What is the quark composition of a hydrogen-3 nucleus, 31H?

number of quarks
up down

A 4 5
B 5 4
C 5 7
D 7 5

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 18

BLANK PAGE

© UCLES 2023 9702/13/M/J/23

 19

BLANK PAGE

© UCLES 2023 9702/13/M/J/23

 20

BLANK PAGE

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 9702/13/M/J/23

 Cambridge International AS & A Level
* 3 0 8 6 0 4 6 2 3 4 *

PHYSICS 9702/21
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions May/June 2023

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (RW/FC) 313464/2
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
 2

Data

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

speed of light in free space c = 3.00 × 108 m s–1

elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10–19 C

unified atomic mass unit 1u = 1.66 × 10–27 kg

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

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

Avogadro constant NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol–1

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

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

gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2

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

1
( = 8.99 × 109 m F–1)
4rf0

Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10–34 J s

Stefan–Boltzmann constant σ = 5.67 × 10–8 W m–2 K–4

Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 12 at 2

v2 = u 2 + 2as

hydrostatic pressure ∆p = ρg∆h

upthrust F = ρgV

fs v
Doppler effect for sound waves fo = v!v
s

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + ...

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

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 3

1 (a) (i) Define power.

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

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

(ii) Use the definition of power to show that the SI base units of power are kg m2 s–3.

[1]

(b) The intensity I of a sound wave moving through a gas is given by

I = f 2A2vk

where f is the frequency of the wave,

A is the amplitude of the wave,
v is the speed of the wave
and k is a constant that depends on the gas.

Determine the SI base units of k.

SI base units ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 5]

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2 A rigid uniform beam of weight W is connected to a fixed support by a hinge, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

0.50 m 0.10 m 0.20 m 0.40 m

hinge

horizontal
fixed 30°
beam
support
W 0.30 N 4.8 N string
spring
ground

Fig. 2.1 (not to scale)

A compressed spring exerts a total force of 8.2 N vertically upwards on the horizontal beam. A block
of weight 0.30 N rests on the beam. The right‑hand end of the beam is connected to the ground by
a string at an angle of 30° to the horizontal. The tension in the string is 4.8 N. The distances along
the beam are shown in Fig. 2.1.

The beam is in equilibrium. Assume that the hinge is frictionless.

(a) (i) Show that the vertical component of the tension in the string is 2.4 N.

[1]

(ii) By taking moments about the hinge, determine the weight W of the beam.

W = ...................................................... N [3]

(iii) Calculate the horizontal component of the force exerted on the beam by the hinge.

force = ...................................................... N [1]

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(b) The spring obeys Hooke’s law and has an elastic potential energy of 0.32 J.

Calculate the compression of the spring.

compression = ...................................................... m [2]

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(c) The string is cut so that the spring extends upwards. This causes the beam to rotate and
launch the block into the air. The block reaches its maximum height and then falls back to the
ground.

Fig. 2.2 shows part of the path of the block in the air shortly before it hits the horizontal
ground.

path of
block
0.090 m

B horizontal ground

Fig. 2.2 (not to scale)

The block is at a height of 0.090 m above the ground when it passes through point A. The
block has a kinetic energy of 0.044 J when it hits the ground at point B.
Air resistance is negligible.

(i) Calculate the decrease in the gravitational potential energy of the block for its movement
from A to B.

decrease in gravitational potential energy = ....................................................... J [2]

(ii) Use your answer in (c)(i) and conservation of energy to determine the speed of the block
at point A.

speed = ................................................ m s–1 [3]

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(iii) By reference to the force on the block, explain why the horizontal component of the
velocity of the block remains constant as it moves from A to B.

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

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

(iv) The block passes through point A at time tA and arrives at point B at time tB.

On Fig. 2.3, sketch a graph to show the variation of the magnitude of the vertical
component vY of the velocity of the block with time t from t = tA to t = tB.
Numerical values of vY are not required.

vY

0
tA tB
t

Fig. 2.3
[1]

[Total: 14]

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3 A block is pulled in a straight line along a rough horizontal surface by a varying force X, as shown
in Fig. 3.1.

momentum p
block
force X rough horizontal
surface

Fig. 3.1

Air resistance is negligible. Assume that the frictional force exerted on the block by the surface is
constant and has magnitude 2.0 N.

The variation with time t of the momentum p of the block is shown in Fig. 3.2.

6
p / kg m s–1
5

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t/s

Fig. 3.2

(a) State Newton’s second law of motion.

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

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

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(b) Use Fig. 3.2 to determine, for the block at time t = 2.0 s, the magnitude of:

(i) the resultant force on the block

resultant force = ...................................................... N [1]

(ii) the force X.

X = ...................................................... N [1]

(c) On Fig. 3.3, sketch a graph to show the variation of force X with time t from t = 0 to t = 6.0 s.

4.0

3.5

3.0
X/N
2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t/s

Fig. 3.3
[3]

[Total: 6]

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4 A beaker in air contains a liquid. The base of the beaker is in contact with the liquid and has
area A, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

beaker

liquid
h
base area A

Fig. 4.1

The liquid has density ρ and fills the beaker to a depth h.

(a) By using the definitions of pressure and density, show that

p = ρ gh

where p is the pressure due to the liquid that is exerted on the base of the beaker and g is the
acceleration of free fall.

[3]

(b) Suggest why the equation in (a) does not give the total pressure on the base of the beaker.

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

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

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(c) Fig. 4.2 shows the variation of the total pressure inside the liquid with depth x below the
surface.

9.66

9.65
pressure / 104 Pa
9.64

9.63

9.62

9.61

9.60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
x / cm

Fig. 4.2

Determine the density of the liquid.

density = .............................................. kg m–3 [2]

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(d) A solid cylinder is held stationary by a wire so that the base of the cylinder is level with the
surface of the liquid, as shown in Fig. 4.3.

wire 0.53 N
cross-sectional area
3.7 × 10– 4 m2

cylinder
4.0 × 10–2 m
surface of liquid

Fig. 4.3 (not to scale)

The cylinder has length 4.0 × 10–2 m and cross‑sectional area 3.7 × 10–4 m2. The tension in
the wire is 0.53 N.

The cylinder is now lowered and then held stationary by the wire so that the top of the cylinder
is level with the surface of the liquid.

Calculate the new tension in the wire.

tension = ...................................................... N [2]

[Total: 8]

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5 (a) An electromagnetic wave in a vacuum has a wavelength of 8.4 × 10–6 m.

(i) State the name of the principal region of the electromagnetic spectrum for the wave.

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

(ii) Calculate the frequency, in THz, of the wave.

frequency = .................................................. THz [2]

(b) An arrangement that uses a double slit to demonstrate the interference of light from a laser is
shown in Fig. 5.1.

screen
double
slit

light,
wavelength
6.2 × 10–7 m a

2.8 m

Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

The light from the laser has a wavelength of 6.2 × 10–7 m and is incident normally on the
slits. The separation of the two slits is a. The slits and screen are parallel and separated by a
distance of 2.8 m.

An interference pattern of bright fringes and dark fringes is formed on the screen. The distance
on the screen across 8 bright fringes is 22 mm, as illustrated in Fig. 5.2.

P Q R

dark 22 mm
fringe bright
fringe

Fig. 5.2

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(i) The light waves emerging from the two slits are coherent.

State what is meant by coherent.

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

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

(ii) Calculate the separation a of the slits.

a = ...................................................... m [3]

(c) Fringe P is the central bright fringe of the interference pattern in (b). Fringe Q and fringe R
are the nearest dark fringe and the nearest bright fringe respectively to the right of fringe P, as
shown in Fig. 5.2.

(i) Calculate the difference in the distances (the path difference) from each slit to the centre
of fringe Q.

difference in the distances = ...................................................... m [1]

(ii) State the phase difference between the light waves meeting at the centre of fringe R.

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

[Total: 9]

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6 A metal wire in a circuit has a length of 1.8 m and a cross‑sectional area of 1.5 × 10–6 m2.
The total number of free electrons (charge carriers) in the wire is 2.3 × 1023.

There is a current in the wire so that a charge of 172 C moves past a fixed point in the wire in a
time of 2.5 minutes.

(a) Show that the number density of the free electrons in the wire is 8.5 × 1028 m–3.

[1]

(b) Calculate the average drift speed of the free electrons.

average drift speed = ................................................ m s–1 [3]

[Total: 4]

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7 A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 9.6 V and negligible internal resistance is connected in
series with two fixed resistors and a thermistor, as shown in Fig. 7.1.

9.6 V

5800 Ω

3400 Ω

Fig. 7.1

The fixed resistors have resistances of 3400 Ω and 5800 Ω. The reading on the voltmeter in the
circuit is 6.0 V.

(a) Calculate the current in the resistor of resistance 5800 Ω.

current = ....................................................... A [2]

(b) Calculate the resistance of the thermistor.

resistance = ...................................................... Ω [2]

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(c) The initial energy stored in the battery is 2.6 × 104 J.

Assume that the e.m.f. of the battery is constant.

Determine the final energy stored in the battery after a charge of 330 C has moved through it.

final stored energy = ....................................................... J [2]

(d) The environmental conditions change causing an increase in the resistance of the thermistor.

State whether there is a decrease, increase or no change to:

(i) the temperature of the thermistor

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

(ii) the current in the thermistor

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

(iii) the potential difference across the thermistor.

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

[Total: 9]

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8 An isolated stationary nucleus X decays by emitting an α‑particle to form a nucleus Y.

Nucleus Y and nucleus Z are isotopes of the same element.

(a) By comparing the number of protons in each nucleus, state and explain whether the charge
of nucleus Y is less than, greater than or the same as the charge of:

(i) nucleus Z

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

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

(ii) nucleus X.

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

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

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

(b) Use the principle of conservation of momentum to explain why nucleus Y cannot be stationary
immediately after the decay of nucleus X.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 5]

Permission to reproduce items where third‑party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer‑related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 9702/21/M/J/23

 Cambridge International AS & A Level
* 1 3 1 4 2 4 8 6 1 5 *

PHYSICS 9702/22
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions May/June 2023

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (EF/SG) 313465/2
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
 2

Data

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

speed of light in free space c = 3.00 × 108 m s–1

elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10–19 C

unified atomic mass unit 1u = 1.66 × 10–27 kg

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

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

Avogadro constant NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol–1

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

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

gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2

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

1
( = 8.99 × 109 m F–1)
4rf0

Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10–34 J s

Stefan–Boltzmann constant σ = 5.67 × 10–8 W m–2 K–4

Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 12 at 2

v2 = u 2 + 2as

hydrostatic pressure ∆p = ρg∆h

upthrust F = ρgV

fs v
Doppler effect for sound waves fo = v!v
s

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + ...

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

© UCLES 2023 9702/22/M/J/23

 3

1 (a) (i) Define pressure.

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

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

(ii) Use the answer to (a)(i) to show that the SI base units of pressure are kg m–1 s–2.

[1]

(b) A horizontal pipe has length L and a circular cross‑section of radius R. A liquid of density ρ
flows through the pipe. The mass m of liquid flowing through the pipe in time t is given by

π(p2 – p1)R 4ρt

m=
8kL
where p1 and p2 are the pressures at the ends of the pipe and k is a constant.

Determine the SI base units of k.

SI base units .......................................................... [3]

(c) An experiment is performed to determine the value of k by measuring the values of the other
quantities in the equation in (b).

The values of L and R each have a percentage uncertainty of 2%.

State and explain, quantitatively, which of these two quantities contributes more to the
percentage uncertainty in the calculated value of k.

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

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

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

[Total: 6]

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2 (a) State what is meant by the centre of gravity of an object.

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

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

(b) Two blocks are on a horizontal beam that is pivoted at its centre of gravity, as shown in
Fig. 2.1.

0.45 m 0.95 m 0.35 m

horizontal
30°
beam pivot
54 N support 2.4 N T string
ground

Fig. 2.1 (not to scale)

A large block of weight 54 N is a distance of 0.45 m from the pivot. A small block of weight
2.4 N is a distance of 0.95 m from the pivot and a distance of 0.35 m from the right‑hand end
of the beam.

The right‑hand end of the beam is connected to the ground by a string that is at an angle of
30° to the horizontal. The beam is in equilibrium.

(i) By taking moments about the pivot, calculate the tension T in the string.

T = ...................................................... N [3]

(ii) The string is cut so that the beam is no longer in equilibrium.

Calculate the magnitude of the resultant moment about the pivot acting on the beam
immediately after the string is cut.

resultant moment = ................................................... N m [1]

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(c) The beam in (b) rotates when the string is cut and the small block of weight 2.4 N is projected
through the air. Fig. 2.2 shows the last part of the path of the block before it hits the ground at
point Y.

path of X
block

1.8 m
horizontal ground
Y

Fig. 2.2 (not to scale)

At point X on the path, the block has a speed of 3.4 m s–1 and is at a height of 1.8 m above the
horizontal ground. Air resistance is negligible.

(i) Calculate the decrease in the gravitational potential energy of the block for its movement
from X to Y.

decrease in gravitational potential energy = ....................................................... J [2]

(ii) Use your answer to (c)(i) and conservation of energy to determine the kinetic energy of
the block at Y.

kinetic energy = ....................................................... J [3]

(iii) State the variation, if any, in the direction of the acceleration of the block as it moves
from X to Y.

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

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(iv) The block passes point X at time tX and arrives at point Y at time tY.

On Fig. 2.3, sketch a graph to show the variation of the magnitude of the horizontal
component of the velocity of the block with time from tX to tY.
Numerical values are not required.

horizontal
component
of velocity

0
tX tY
time

Fig. 2.3
[1]

[Total: 12]

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3 A block is pulled by a force X in a straight line along a rough horizontal surface, as shown in
Fig. 3.1.

velocity
total resistive
force 0.80 N X horizontal surface

Fig. 3.1

Assume that the total resistive force opposing the motion of the block is 0.80 N at all speeds of the
block.

The variation with time t of the magnitude of the force X is shown in Fig. 3.2.

2.0
X/N
1.5

1.0

0.5

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t/s

Fig. 3.2

(a) (i) Define force.

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

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

(ii) Determine the change in momentum of the block from time t = 0 to time t = 3.0 s.

change in momentum = ............................................ kg m s–1 [2]

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(b) (i) Describe and explain the motion of the block between time t = 3.0 s and time t = 6.0 s.

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

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

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

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

(ii) Force X produces a total power of 2.0 W when moving the block between time t = 3.0 s
and time t = 6.0 s.

Calculate the distance moved by the block during this time interval.

distance = ...................................................... m [3]

(c) The block is at rest at time t = 0.

On Fig. 3.3, sketch a graph to show the variation of the momentum of the block with time t
from t = 0 to t = 6.0 s.
Numerical values of momentum are not required.

momentum

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t/s

Fig. 3.3
[2]

[Total: 10]

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4 A spring is suspended from a fixed point at one end. The spring is extended by a vertical force
applied to the other end. The variation of the applied force F with the length L of the spring is
shown in Fig. 4.1.

12

10
F/N
8

0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
L / cm

Fig. 4.1

For the spring:

(a) state the name of the law that gives the relationship between the force and the extension

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

(b) determine the spring constant, in N m–1

spring constant = ................................................ N m–1 [2]

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(c) determine the elastic potential energy when F = 6.0 N.

elastic potential energy = ....................................................... J [2]

[Total: 5]

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5 (a) A progressive wave travels through a medium. The wave causes a particle of the medium to
vibrate along a line P. The energy of the wave propagates along a line Q.

Compare the directions of lines P and Q if the wave is:

(i) a transverse wave

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

(ii) a longitudinal wave.

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

(b) A tube is closed at one end. A loudspeaker is placed near the other end of the tube, as shown
in Fig. 5.1.

tube

A A

loudspeaker
L

Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

The loudspeaker emits sound of frequency 1.7 kHz. The speed of sound in the air in the tube
is 340 m s–1. A stationary wave is formed with an antinode A at the open end of the tube.
There is only one other antinode A inside the tube, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Determine:

(i) the wavelength of the sound

wavelength = ...................................................... m [2]

(ii) the length L of the tube

L = ...................................................... m [1]

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(iii) the maximum wavelength of the sound from the loudspeaker that can produce a
stationary wave in the tube.

maximum wavelength = ...................................................... m [1]

(c) Two polarising filters are arranged so that their planes are vertical and parallel. The first
filter has its transmission axis at an angle of 35° to the vertical and the second filter has its
transmission axis at angle α to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 5.2.

35°
α
incident light beam,
intensity 8.5 W m–2 intensity 5.2 W m–2

transmission
first filter axis of filter second filter

Fig. 5.2

Angle α is greater than 35° and less than 90°. A beam of vertically polarised light of intensity
8.5 W m–2 is incident normally on the first filter.

(i) Show that the intensity of the light transmitted by the first filter is 5.7 W m–2.

[1]

(ii) The intensity of the light transmitted by the second filter is 5.2 W m–2.

Calculate angle α.

α = ........................................................° [2]

[Total: 9]

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BLANK PAGE

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6 (a) The current in a filament lamp decreases.

State and explain how the resistance of the lamp changes.

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

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

(b) A cylindrical wire has length L and resistance R. The total number of free electrons (charge
carriers) contained in the volume of the wire is N. Each free electron has charge e. The
potential difference between the ends of the wire is V.

Determine expressions, in terms of some or all of the symbols e, L, N, R and V for:

(i) the current in the wire

current = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) the average drift speed of the free electrons

average drift speed = ......................................................... [2]

(iii) the average time taken for a free electron to move along the full length of the wire.

time taken = ......................................................... [1]

[Total: 5]

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7 (a) A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 9.0 V and negligible internal resistance is connected
to a light‑dependent resistor (LDR) and a fixed resistor, as shown in Fig. 7.1.

9.0 V

1800 Ω 1200 Ω

Fig. 7.1

The LDR and fixed resistor have resistances of 1800 Ω and 1200 Ω respectively.

Calculate the potential difference across the LDR.

potential difference = ...................................................... V [2]

(b) The circuit in (a) is now modified by adding a uniform resistance wire XY and a galvanometer,
as shown in Fig. 7.2.

9.0 V

Z
X Y

1800 Ω 1200 Ω

Fig. 7.2 (not to scale)

The length of the wire XY is 1.2 m. The movable connection Z is positioned on the wire XY so
that the galvanometer reading is zero.

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(i) Calculate the length XZ along the resistance wire.

length XZ = ...................................................... m [2]

(ii) The environmental conditions change causing a decrease in the resistance of the LDR.
The temperature of the LDR remains constant.

State whether there is a decrease, increase or no change to:

• the intensity of the light illuminating the LDR

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

• the total power produced by the battery

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

• the length XZ so that the galvanometer reads zero.

...........................................................................................................................................
[3]

[Total: 7]

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8 (a) Nucleus P and nucleus Q are isotopes of the same element.

Nucleus Q is unstable and emits a β– particle to form nucleus R.

(i) For nuclei P and Q, compare:

• the number of protons

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

• the number of neutrons.

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

(ii) When nucleus Q decays to form nucleus R, the quark composition of a nucleon changes.

State the change to the quark composition of the nucleon.

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

(iii) State the name of another particle that must be emitted from nucleus Q in addition to the
β– particle.

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

(b) A hadron consists of two charm quarks and one bottom quark.

Determine, in terms of the elementary charge e, the charge of the hadron.

charge = ....................................................... e [2]

[Total: 6]

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Permission to reproduce items where third‑party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer‑related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 9702/22/M/J/23

 Cambridge International AS & A Level
* 9 0 3 5 6 3 4 8 9 6 *

PHYSICS 9702/23
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions May/June 2023

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (KN/SG) 313468/3
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
 2

Data

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

speed of light in free space c = 3.00 × 108 m s–1

elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10–19 C

unified atomic mass unit 1u = 1.66 × 10–27 kg

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

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

Avogadro constant NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol–1

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

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

gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2

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

1
( = 8.99 × 109 m F–1)
4rf0

Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10–34 J s

Stefan–Boltzmann constant σ = 5.67 × 10–8 W m–2 K–4

Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 12 at 2

v2 = u 2 + 2as

hydrostatic pressure ∆p = ρg∆h

upthrust F = ρgV

fs v
Doppler effect for sound waves fo = v!v
s

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + ...

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

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1 A well has a depth of 36 m from ground level to the surface of the water in the well, as shown in
Fig. 1.1.

ground

36 m
well

surface of water

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

A student wishes to find the depth of the well. The student plans to drop a stone down the well
and record the time taken from releasing the stone to hearing the splash made by the stone as it
enters the water.

(a) Assume that air resistance is negligible and that the stone is released from rest.

Calculate the time taken for the stone to fall from ground level to the surface of the water.

time = ...................................................... s [2]

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(b) The time recorded by the student using a stop-watch is not equal to the time in (a).

Suggest three possible reasons, other than the effect of air resistance, for this difference.

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

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

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

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

3 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[3]

(c) The student repeats the experiment three times and uses the results to calculate the depth of
the well. The values are shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

1st experiment 2nd experiment 3rd experiment

depth / m 54.4 53.9 54.1

The true depth of the well is 36.0 m. Explain why these results may be described as precise
but not accurate.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 7]

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2 A sphere floats in equilibrium on the surface of sea water of density 1050 kg m−3, as shown in
Fig. 2.1.

sphere

sea water, density 1050 kg m–3

Fig. 2.1

(a) 21% of the volume of the sphere is below the surface of the water.

Calculate the density of the sphere.

density = .............................................. kg m−3 [2]

(b) The sphere is now held so that its entire volume is below the surface of the water. The sphere
is then released.

(i) Calculate the initial acceleration of the sphere.

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

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(ii) The sphere accelerates upwards but remains entirely below the surface of the water.
State and explain what happens to the acceleration of the sphere as its velocity begins
to increase.

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

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

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

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 8]

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3 (a) State the principle of conservation of momentum.

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

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

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

(b) A firework is initially stationary. It explodes into three fragments A, B and C that move in a
horizontal plane, as shown in the view from above in Fig. 3.1.

6.0 m s–1
fragment B

2m

fragment C 4.0 m s–1

3m

m θ fragment A

Fig. 3.1

Fragment A has a mass of 3m and moves away from the explosion at a speed of 4.0 m s–1.

Fragment B has a mass of 2m and moves away from the explosion at a speed of 6.0 m s−1 at
right angles to the direction of A.

Fragment C has a mass of m and moves away from the explosion at a speed v and at an
angle θ as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Calculate:

(i) the angle θ

θ = ........................................................° [3]

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 9

(ii) the speed v.

v = ................................................ m s−1 [2]

(c) The firework in (b) contains a chemical that has mass 5.0 g and has chemical energy per unit
mass 700 J kg−1. When the firework explodes, all of the chemical energy is transferred to the
kinetic energy of fragments A, B and C.

(i) Show that the total chemical energy in the firework is 3.5 J.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the mass m.

m = .................................................... kg [3]

[Total: 11]

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4 (a) For a progressive wave, state what is meant by the frequency.

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

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

(b) A loudspeaker, microphone and cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) are arranged as shown in
Fig. 4.1.

microphone

loudspeaker

CRO

Fig. 4.1

The loudspeaker is emitting a sound wave which is detected by the microphone and displayed
on the screen of the CRO as shown in Fig. 4.2.

1.0 cm

1.0 cm

Fig. 4.2

The time-base on the CRO is set to 0.50 ms cm−1 and the y-gain is set to 0.20 V cm−1.

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Calculate:

(i) the frequency of the sound wave

frequency = .................................................... Hz [2]

(ii) the amplitude of the signal received by the CRO.

amplitude = ...................................................... V [1]

(c) The intensity of the sound wave in (b) is reduced to a quarter of its original intensity without
a change in frequency. Assume that the amplitude of the signal received by the CRO is
proportional to the amplitude of the sound wave.

On Fig. 4.2, sketch the trace that is now seen on the screen of the CRO. [3]

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(d) A metal sheet is now placed in front of the loudspeaker in (b), as shown in Fig. 4.3.

microphone
metal sheet

loudspeaker

CRO

Fig. 4.3

A stationary wave is formed between the loudspeaker and the metal sheet.

(i) State the principle of superposition.

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

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

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

(ii) The initial position of the microphone is such that the trace on the CRO has an amplitude
minimum. It is now moved a distance of 1.05 m away from the loudspeaker along the line
joining the loudspeaker and metal sheet.

As the microphone moves, it passes through three positions where the trace has an
amplitude maximum before ending at a position where the trace has an amplitude
minimum.

Determine the wavelength of the sound wave.

wavelength = ..................................................... m [2]

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(iii) Use your answers in (b)(i) and (d)(ii) to determine the speed of the sound in the air.

speed = ................................................ m s−1 [2]

[Total: 13]

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5 A student sets up a circuit with a battery, an ammeter, a heater and a light-dependent resistor
(LDR) all in series.

The battery has negligible internal resistance.

A voltmeter is connected across (in parallel with) the heater.

(a) On Fig. 5.1, complete the circuit diagram of this arrangement.

Fig. 5.1

[3]

(b) The heater is a wire made of metal of resistivity 1.1 × 10−6 Ω m. The wire has length 2.0 m and
cross-sectional area 3.8 × 10−7 m2.

The reading on the voltmeter is 4.8 V.

Calculate:

(i) the resistance of the heater

resistance = ...................................................... Ω [2]

(ii) the reading on the ammeter.

reading on ammeter = ...................................................... A [1]

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(c) The heater is replaced by a new wire. The new wire is made of the same metal as the wire in
(b) and has the same length but a larger diameter.

The resistance of the LDR remains constant.

(i) State and explain whether the new wire has a resistance that is greater than, less than or
the same as that of the wire in (b).

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

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

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

(ii) State and explain whether the new reading on the voltmeter is greater than, less than or
equal to 4.8 V.

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

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

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

[Total: 10]

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6 (a) Define the Young modulus.

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

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

(b) A uniform wire is suspended from a fixed support. Masses are added to the other end of the
wire, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

fixed support

wire

masses

Fig. 6.1 (not to scale)

The variation of the length l of the wire with the force F applied to the wire by the masses is
shown in Fig. 6.2.

2.003
l/m
2.002

2.001

2.000

1.999

1.998
0 10 20 30
F/N

Fig. 6.2

The cross-sectional area of the wire is 0.95 mm2.

(i) Determine the unstretched length of the wire.

unstretched length = ..................................................... m [1]

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(ii) For an applied force F of 30 N, determine:

● the stress in the wire

stress = ......................................................... Pa

● the strain of the wire.

strain = ...............................................................
[3]

[Total: 5]

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7 (a) Table 7.1 shows incomplete data for three flavours (types) of quark. The elementary charge
is e.

Table 7.1

quark antiquark
flavour
symbol charge / e symbol charge / e
2
up u +3 u

down d d

charm c c

Complete Table 7.1 by inserting the missing charges. [2]

(b) Using the symbols given in Table 7.1, state a possible quark combination for the following
hadrons:

(i) a neutral baryon

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

(ii) a meson with a charge of +e.

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

(c) Quarks are fundamental particles.

Electrons are in another group (class) of fundamental particle.

(i) State the name of this group.

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

(ii) State the name of another particle in this group.

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

[Total: 6]

© UCLES 2023 9702/23/M/J/23

 20

BLANK PAGE

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 9702/23/M/J/23