*B16*

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Pre-Leaving Certiϐicate Examination, 2024

PHYSICS ȃ ORDINARY LEVEL

TIME: 3 HOURS

Answer three questions from Section A and ϐive questions from Section B.

Relevant data are listed in the Formulae and Tables booklet, which is available from the
Superintendent.
 SĊĈęĎĔē A (120 ĒĆėĐĘ)

Answer three ques ons from this sec on.

Each ques on carries 40 marks.

_____________________________

1. A student carried out an experiment to verify the principle of conserva on of momentum.

During the experiment, the student took measurements to find mass and velocity.

(i) Draw a labelled diagram of the arrangement of the apparatus used in this experiment.
(12)
(ii) How was mass measured? (6)

(iii) What measurements were taken to calculate velocity?

(iv) How were these measurements used to calculate velocity? (9)

(v) How did the student determine the momentum? (6)

(vi) How did the student verify the principle of conserva on of momentum? (7)

2. An experiment was set up to determine the refrac ve index of a material.

(i) Draw a labelled diagram of the arrangement of the apparatus used in this experiment.
(12)
(ii) Indicate on your diagram the measurements that were taken. (9)

(iii) What instrument was used to take these measurements? (6)

(iv) How was the refrac ve index calculated? (7)

(v) Why should the experiment be repeated? (6)

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3. You carried out an experiment to establish the calibra on curve of a thermometer.

(i) Describe, with the aid of a diagram, the procedure you used in the experiment. (12)

(ii) Name the thermometric property of the thermometer you calibrated and describe
how the value of this property was measured. (10)

The following table shows the data obtained in an experiment to establish the calibra on
curve of a thermometer.

Temperature (°C) 0 20 40 60 80 100

Value of thermometric property 4.5 15 31.5 50 80 130.5

(iii) Using the data in the table, draw a graph on graph paper to establish the calibra on
curve. Put temperature on the horizontal axis. (12)

(iv) Use your calibra on curve to determine the temperature when the value of the
thermometric property is 60. (6)

4. In an experiment to verify Joule’s law, a constant current I was passed through a hea ng
coil immersed in water and the rise in temperature Δθ was recorded. This procedure was
repeated for a number of different currents. The mass of the water and the length of me for
which the current was flowing were both kept constant.

The student recorded the following results.

I (A) 1 1.2 2 2.5 3 3.5

I2 (A2)

Δθ (°C) 1.1 2.8 4.7 7.6 10.0 14.5

(i) Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used in this experiment.

(ii) Why were the mass and the me kept constant?

(iii) In your answer book, copy and complete the table above. (18)

(iv) Use all of the data to plot a graph of I2 against Δθ.

(v) Use your graph to find the current that caused a change in temperature of 6°C.

(vi) Explain how your graph verifies Joule’s law. (22)

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5. In an experiment to inves gate the varia on of current I with poten al difference V for
a copper sulfate solu on, the following apparatus was used.

X
Y

copper copper

copper sulfate
solution

(i) Name the instrument X. (6)

(ii) Name the apparatus Y and give its func on in the experiment. (6)

(iii) How was the poten al difference measured in the experiment? (6)

The following table shows the values recorded for the current I and the corresponding
poten al difference V during the experiment.

V (V) 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

I (A) 0 0.8 1.6 2.4 3.2 4.0 4.8

(iv) Using the data in the table, draw a graph on graph paper to show the varia on of
current with poten al difference. (12)

(v) Calculate the slope of your graph.

(vi) Use this value to determine the resistance of the copper sulfate solu on. (10)

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 SĊĈęĎĔē B (280 ĒĆėĐĘ)

Answer five ques ons from this sec on.

Each ques on carries 56 marks.

_____________________________

6. Answer any eight of the following parts (a), (b), (c), etc.

(a) State Boyle’s law.

(b) A concrete mixer delivered 75 m3 of concrete to a building site.

Calculate the mass of the concrete delivered.

( ρ = m/V ; density of concrete = 2400 kg m−3 )

(c) State Archimedes’ Principle.

(d) Which one of the following scien sts is associated with the refrac on of light?

Rutherford Snell Joule Einstein

(e) State two characteris cs of a musical note.

(f) Why is a lightning conductor made of copper?

(g) Why does a magnet that is free to rotate point north?

(h) A transformer is used to change the voltage of an electrical supply.

What is the principle of opera on of a transformer?

(i) The photo shows an LDR. Draw the electrical circuit

symbol for an LDR.

(j) What is the main source of energy in the sun?

(k) What is the photoelectric effect?

(l) What are alpha-par cles?

(8 × 7)

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7. (i) What is meant by the term ‘accelera on due to gravity’? (6)

A spacecra of mass 500 kg is on the surface of the moon,

where the accelera on due to gravity is 1.6 m s−2.

(ii) Compare the weight of the spacecra on the surface of

the moon with its weight on Earth, where the accelera on
due to gravity is 9.8 m s–2. (9)

The module of the spacecra has a mass of 300 kg, when it is launched ver cally from
the surface of the moon with its engine exer ng an upward force of 1000 N.

(iii) Draw a diagram showing the forces ac ng on the module at li -off. (6)

(iv) What is the resultant force on the module? (6)

(v) Calculate the accelera on of the module during li -off. (6)

(vi) Calculate the velocity of the module 20 seconds a er li -off. (6)

(vii) Would the module’s engine be able to li it off the Earth's surface?

Jus fy your answer in terms of the forces ac ng on the module. (9)

(viii) Why is the accelera on due to gravity on the Moon less than the accelera on due
to gravity on Earth? (5)

(ix) Suggest a reason why the module of the spacecra when launched from the Moon
does not need a streamlined shape like those that are launched from Earth. (3)

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8. Irish physicist G.J. Stoney named the electron in 1891.

(i) Where in the atom is the electron found?

(ii) Compare the mass of an electron to the mass of a proton. (6)

In an X-ray tube a beam of electrons is used to produce X-rays.

(iii) What are X-rays? (6)

(iv) Draw a labelled diagram showing the main parts of an X-ray tube. (12)

(v) How are electrons produced in an X-ray tube? (6)

(vi) What is the purpose of the high voltage in an X-ray tube? (6)

(vii) What happens when the electrons hit the target in an X-ray tube? (6)

(viii) Name a suitable material for use as the target. (4)

(ix) Give one safety precau on required when using X-rays. (4)

X-rays are used to diagnose and treat medical condi ons.

(x) State a property of X-rays that makes them suitable for medical use. (6)

9. (i) Draw a diagram showing a posi vely charged gold-leaf electroscope. (6)

(ii) How can an electroscope be given a posi ve charge? (6)

(iii) State one use of an electroscope. (3)

(iv) State Coulomb’s law of force between charges. (6)

(v) Coulomb’s law describes the force between sta c charges. It is an example of
an inverse-square law. State another example of an inverse-square law. (3)

(vi) What is observed when the cap of a charged electroscope is earthed? (4)

(vii) Explain this observa on. (6)

(viii) How could the cap of the electroscope be earthed? (4)

When two different materials are rubbed together, they become electrically charged.

(ix) Describe how a student would charge a plas c rod.

(x) How would the student use a gold-leaf electroscope to show that the rod is charged?

(xi) State the SI unit of electric charge. (18)

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10. (i) What is heat? (6)

(ii) Explain how heat is transferred in a solid. (9)

(iii) Describe an experiment to compare the rates of heat transfer through different solids.
(12)
(iv) Explain the term U-value. (6)

(v) How can the U-value of the walls of a house be reduced? (4)

The diagram shows a solar hea ng system.

Taps/shower/
washing machine etc...

Controller

Solar cylinder

Boiler

Pump
Cold Water Feed

(vi) How is the sun’s energy transferred to the solar collector? (3)

(vii) Why is a solar collector painted black? (3)

(viii) How is the heat transferred from the solar collector to the hot-water tank? (3)

(ix) The hea ng coil in the hot-water tank is near the bo om. Explain why. (4)

(x) Give an advantage and a disadvantage of a solar hea ng system. (6)

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11. The circuit below is used to demonstrate Ohm’s law.
Y

X
V

(i) Label the components X and Y.

(ii) Which of the graphs below shows Ohm’s law being obeyed? Explain your answer. (14)

Graph 1 Graph 2 Graph 3

Current (I)

Current (I)

Current (I)

Voltage (V) Voltage (V) Voltage (V)

(iii) Define voltage and resistance. (9)

(iv) Name an instrument used to measure each of these quan es. (6)

(v) Name a source of voltage. (6)

12 V

A
4Ω

4Ω

The diagram above shows a circuit with a 12 V d.c. power supply, an ammeter, and two 4 Ω
resistors connected in parallel.

Calculate:

(vi) The total resistance of the circuit.

(vii) The current flowing through the ammeter.

(viii) The current flowing through each resistor. (21)

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12. Radia on is released when radioac ve elements decay.

(i) Name three types of radia on. (9)

(ii) Which type of radia on has no charge? (3)

(iii) Which type of radia on is the least penetra ng? (3)

(iv) Which type of radia on is not deflected by magne c fields? (3)

(v) State one danger associated with nuclear radia on. (6)

(vi) State one precau on that should be taken when handling radioac ve substances. (3)

Radioac ve fuels are used to generate power in a nuclear fission reactor like the one
shown below.

Pressuriser
Control rods Steam
Steam
generator

Steel
pressure
vessel

Water

Fuel elements

Reinforced concrete
containment and shield

(vii) What is nuclear fission? (6)

(viii) Name a fuel used in nuclear reactors. (5)

(ix) State the func on of (a) the control rods and (b) the shielding in a reactor. (12)

(x) What is the purpose of the heat exchanger? (6)

10
13. Read the following passage and answer the quesƟons below.

Ocean Energy Technologies

Wave energy
Waves are formed by winds blowing over the surface
of the sea. The size of the waves generated will depend
upon the wind speed, its dura on, and the distance of
water over which it blows, the depth and shapes of the
seafloor (which can focus or disperse the energy of the
waves), and currents. The resultant movement of water
carries kine c energy which can be harnessed by wave
energy devices.

A detailed assessment of Ireland’s wave energy resource was performed in 2005. The study
indicated that a theore cal wave energy resource of up to 525 TWh exists within Irish waters.
For comparison, the Total Electricity Requirement for Ireland is approximately 35 TWh of
electricity.

Tidal energy
Tidal streams are created by the constantly changing gravita onal pull of the moon and sun
on the world’s oceans. Tides never stop, with water moving first one way, then the other.
Tidal stream technologies capture the kine c energy of the currents flowing in and out of the
dal areas. Since the rela ve posi ons of the Sun and Moon can be predicted with complete
accuracy, so can the resultant de. It is this predictability that makes dal energy such a
valuable resource. SEAI undertook a review of the dal resource in Ireland, a total development
poten al of 3000MW of dal energy was iden fied across these areas.

Offshore wind farms

Ireland has one of the best resources in Europe for harnessing offshore wind energy. According
to recent reports, Ireland has the poten al for up to 4.5GW installed capacity of offshore wind
by 2030. In general terms, this means that Ireland’s offshore wind industry alone could power
4.5 million homes per annum.
h ps://www.seai.ie/technologies/ocean-energy/ocean-energy-technologies/

(i) What are the main sources of ocean energy?

(ii) Define (a) poten al energy and (b) kine c energy.

(iii) State the principle of conserva on of energy.

(iv) The Total Electricity Requirement for Ireland is approximately 35 TWh of electricity.
What does the unit TWh represent?

The diagram shows a waveform: A

(v) What is length A called?

(vi) What is length B called?

B
(vii) What is meant by the frequency of a wave?

(viii) Which form of ocean energy has the greatest capacity?

(8 × 7)

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14. Answer any two of the following parts (a), (b), (c), (d).

(a) A bicycle can be steered by applying a pair of equal but opposite forces to
the handlebars, which act as a lever.

(i) What is meant by the term ‘lever’? (6)

(ii) What is the name given to the turning effect of a force? (6)

(iii) What is the name given to a pair of equal but opposite forces? (6)

A cyclist’s hands are placed 40 cm apart on the ends of the handlebars.

To turn the bicycle, he applies a force of 25 N through each hand.

(iv) Calculate the turning effect of the force. (10)

Vapour
(b) The heat pump in a fridge uses a fluid with a high specific latent heat.

(i) Explain the underlined terms. (12) Condenser

A fridge lowers the temperature of 1.5 kg of water from 30°C

to 5°C in 900 s. Calculate: Freezer
compartment Liquid

(ii) The energy removed from the water. (12)

Pump
(iii) The power of the fridge. (4)
(specific heat capacity of water = 4,200 J kg−1 K−1)

(c) The pitch of the sound emi ed by the siren of an ambulance appears to change as it
passes a sta onary observer.

(i) Name this phenomenon. (6)

(ii) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, how this phenomenon occurs. (12)

(iii) Will the crew in the ambulance no ce this phenomenon?

Give a reason for your answer. (4)

(iv) Give an applica on of this phenomenon. (6)

(d) A capacitor is connected to a switch, a ba ery and a bulb as shown in the diagram.
When the switch is changed from posi on A to posi on B, the bulb lights briefly.

(i) What happens to the capacitor when A B

the switch is in posi on A? (6)

(ii) Why does the bulb light when the switch 6V

is in posi on B? (6)

(iii) Why does the bulb light only briefly? (6)

(iv) The capacitor has a capacitance of 200 μF.

Calculate its charge when connected to a 10 V ba ery. (6)

(v) Give a use for a capacitor. (4)

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*B16*

Acknowledgements

Images
Image for ques on 5: State Examina ons Commission
Image for ques on 6: www.shu erstock.com/photoresistor
Image for ques on 7: www.spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-the-moon
Image for ques on 8: www.frogblog.ie/famous-irish-scien sts
Image for ques on 10: www.aei.ie
Image for ques on 11: State Examina ons Commission
Image for ques on 12: www.world-nuclear.org
Images for ques on 13: h ps://gobulk.com.au/ocean-energy/
State Examina ons Commission
Images for ques on 14: www. faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu
State Examina ons Commission

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