Student Number

2021
TRIAL HIGHER SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATION

Physics

General Instructions Total marks – 100

• Reading time – 5 minutes

100 marks
• Working time – 3 hours
This exam has two parts, Part A and Part B
• Write using black or blue pen
Black pen is preferred Part A – 20 marks
• Attempt Questions 1-20
• Draw diagrams using pencil
• Allow about 35 minutes for this part
• Approved calculators may be
used Part B – 80 marks
• A data sheet, formulae sheets • Attempt Questions 21-36
and Periodic Table are provided • Allow about 2 hour and 25 minutes for this part
at the back of this paper
• Write your student number in the
space provided

Directions to School or College

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All care has been taken to ensure that this examination paper is error free and that it follows the style, format and material content of
the High School Certificate Examination in accordance with the NESA requirements. No guarantee or warranty is made or implied that
this examination paper mirrors in every respect the actual HSC Examination paper for this course.
Part A – 20 marks
Attempt Questions 1-20
Allow about 35 minutes for this part

Use the multiple choice answer sheet for Questions 1-20

1 What is the S.I. unit for gravitational field strength.

(A) m s-2
(B) J

(C) N

(D) kg

2 Which of the following equations would determine the current flowing in two identical
parallel current carrying conductors?

(A) 𝐹
𝑙𝐵

(B) 𝐹2𝜋𝑟
√ 𝑙𝜇
0

(C) 𝐹
𝜇0 2𝜋 𝑟2

(D) 𝐹𝑟2𝜋
𝐼2 𝜇0

3 A charged particle in a conductor experiences a force when moving through a magnetic

field. The right-hand palm rule can be used to determine the direction in which the particle
moves. What principle explains the direction in which it flows.
(A) Motor effect

(B) Faradays law

(C) Lenz’s law

(D) Back EMF

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4 In the 1940’s Louis Essen & A C Gordon Smith measured the speed of light by producing
standing waves with microwaves of known frequencies inside resonance cavities.

What further measurement would be required to determine the speed of light?

(A) The oscillation rate of the circuit that produced the wave

(B) The amplitude of the wave

(C) The period of the wave

(D) The length of the cavity

5 Which of the following was not a major contribution of James Clerk Maxwell?

(A) Proved that EMR exists beyond the visible spectrum.

(B) Unified the fields of Electricity, magnetism and light.

(C) Calculated the speed of light.

(D) Explained how EMR propagates.

6 A Beta minus b- decay usually occurs under what conditions?

(A) When a nucleus has too many neutrons.

(B) When a nucleus is unstable.

(C) Extreme heat and gravitational pressure.

(D) When a nucleus has too many protons

7 The electron-volt is used because:

(A) it is a convenient unit for quantities of energy that are extremely small

(B) it can quantify the potential difference between electrons

(C) It can accurately determine the amount of electrons in 1 V

(D) It allows large values to simplified

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8 Which of the following is not a fundamental particle of the standard model of matter?

(A) Electron
(B) Muon
(C) Meson
(D) Strange

9 A generator shown below is made with multiple coils set at regular angles on the armature.

The desired result of this modification would be:

(A) A smoother output of voltage

(B) A more efficient generator

(C) Larger power output

(D) Multi-phase AC power output

10 A light bulb produces unpolarised light and has an intensity of 120 lumens at 0.5 m.
Determine the intensity of the light from the bulb after it has passed through a polarising
filter that is placed 3.0 m from the bulb.

(A) 6.9 lumens

(B) 12 lumens

(C) 1.7 lumens

(D) 3.3 lumens

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11 A dog is tethered to the ground on a 2.0 m leash. With the leash pulled taught, the dog runs
around in circles chasing its tail. The dog runs 8.0 m along its circular path in 2.0 s.
Calculate its angular velocity.

(A) 1.0 rad s-1

(B) 2.0 rad s-1

(C) 3.5 rad s-1

(D) 4.0 rad s-1

12 Einstein proposed a thought experiment in which a light emitting device was used on a
moving train. An illustration of part of this experiment is shown below.

This thought experiment was used to demonstrate which feature of special relativity:

(A) Length contraction

(B) Time dilation

(C) Mass dilation

(D) Energy / mass equivalency

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13 A man is holding a weight of 140 N as shown below. The 30 N force is the weight of the
forearm acting at its centre of mass.

Determine the force required by the bicep to the hold the weight at the height shown.

(A) 502 N

(B) 754 N

(C) 784 N

(D) 924 N

14 Calculate the force acting on the current carrying conductor shown below.

(A) 6.2 N m-1

(B) 8.1 N m-1

(C) 14 N m-1

(D) 16 N m-1

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15 Two moons of Jupiter, Io and Europa, have respective orbital periods of 1.77 days and 3.55
days. Calculate the orbital radius of Io if Europa has an orbital radius of 671 000 km.

(A) 334 555 km

(B) 421 909 km
(C) 643 618 km
(D) 751 030 km

16 A newly produced radioactive medical isotope takes 16 hrs to reach the hospital. What
percentage of the isotope has decayed by the time it reaches the medical technicians if the
isotope has a half-life of 2.2 days.

(A) 7 %

(B) 13 %

(C) 15 %
(D) 19 %

17 The following HR diagram has a star indicated with an X

What is the most likely dominant nucleosynthesis reactions occurring in the core of star X.

(A) Proton-proton with a small amount of CNO

(B) CNO and a small amount of Proton-proton

(C) Proton-proton with a small amount of Triple Alpha

(D) CNO with a small amount of Triple Alpha

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18 Calculate the escape velocity of an 80 kg object on the surface of the Earth.

(A) 11209 m s-1

(B) 7926 m s-1

(C) 13478 m s-1

(D) 10112 m s-1

19 The diagram below shows an incomplete CNO cycle

Which of the following correctly identifies the particles labelled i, ii, and iii?

i ii iii

(A) 1H 𝛾 15 N

(B) 𝛾 1H 15 C

(C) 4 He 𝑒+ 13 C

(D) 𝑒+ 𝑒+ 13 N

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20 A conductor is suspended by a string so that it can rotate between two sets of magnets as shown
in the image below. The magnets are placed at 0˚ and 90˚ in the rotation.

A multi-meter is attached at point A to measure the EMF in the coil. Which of the following
graphs correctly shows the EMF in the conductor during the rotation?

(A) (C)

(B) (D)

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Part B – 80 marks
Attempt questions 21-36
Allow about 2 hour and 25 minutes for this part

Answer the questions in the spaces provided. These spaces provide guidance for the expected
length of response.

Show all relevant working in questions involving calculations.

Question 21 (3 marks)

A 1100 kg car with an 85 kg driver are attempting a loop de loop at a stunt car rally. If
the diameter of the loop is 12 m as shown in the diagram, what speed must the car
travel so that the driver feels a normal force, at the peak of the loop, equivalent to his
weight force.

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Question 22 (9 marks)

(a) A student performed a depth study to assess the accuracy of a projectile launcher. 3

The student measured the projectiles launched to have an average initial velocity
of 6.5 m s-1 .

Calculate the maximum horizontal distance the projectile would reach if launched
from a height of 1.1 m and landing on the floor.

(b) The student’s results for the projectile launched at an angle of 45˚ are shown
below.
Launch Horizontal Displacement (m)
angle (˚) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
45 5.18 5.11 5.37

(i) Assess the accuracy of the given results. 2

(ii) Assess the reliability of the given results. 2

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 (iii) Suggest plausible explanations for the evident accuracy and reliability 2

Question 23 (4 marks)

A baby is sitting on the edge of a playground merry-go-round as shown below. The

merry go round has a radius of 1 m.

A toddler comes over and begins to run around the merry-go-round whilst spinning it.
The toddler quickly reaches his maximum running speed, completing one rotation every
4 s. Assuming the baby does not hold onto the railing, what is the least coefficient of
static friction between the baby and the merry-go-round that will allow the baby to stay
in place, without sliding.

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Question 24 (4 marks)

A velodrome is an arena for track cycling that features steeply banked oval tracks.

A rider who has just entered the velodrome rides with their bike and posture almost
vertical. However, after they have increased their speed the bike and posture become
perpendicular to the track.

The two positions are shown below.

Explain why both positions are necessary.

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Question 25 (4 marks)

Compare Back emf to the current produced in a generator.

Question 26 (4 marks)

Describe how a transformer works and explain how the iron core increases efficiency.

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Question 27 (3 marks)

Using Newton’s laws of motion, explain why electric motors have maximum operating
speeds.

Question 28 (4 marks)

A transformer is supplied with 20 000 V and 100 A. The voltage output of the
transformer is 12 400 V. If the transformer has an efficiency of 90%, determine the
output current.

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Question 29 (5 marks)

Three conductors are set up so that their cross sections are shown below. Conductor A and B are
fixed, and conductor C is fixed to the surface of a tarred scales. All three conductors run parallel to
each other for 10 cm.

A current of 120 A is run through conductor A into the page whilst a current of 80 A is
run through conductor B and C out of the page.

Determine the reading on the scale.

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Question 30 (4 marks)

Explain how a star’s translational velocity can be deduced.

Question 31 (5 marks)

Describe how a star’s absorption spectra is produced in the laboratory and explain the
observed results.

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Question 32 (5 marks)

How was Planck able to account for the shape of the graph below and describe why this
was not an accepted explanation.

Radiance of radiation from a black body

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Question 33 (6 marks)

How did Einstein’s model of light account for the observed results of the photoelectric
effect?

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Question 34 (9 marks)

Discuss how historical experiments that probed the atom were made possible by known
scientific principles and ideas.

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Question 35 (5 marks)

(a) Explain the origins of the Sun’s energy and how it is able to travel the vast 3
distance between the Sun and the Earth.

(b) Account for the suns production of a full range of EMR. 2

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Question 36 (6 marks)

(a) A cyclotron is a particle accelerator with two D shaped chambers as shown below. 4

The D shaped chambers are supplied with a high frequency alternating current
with each chamber supplied an opposite charge. A 7.0 x 10-4 T magnetic field is
produced through the chambers so that the field is perpendicular to the path of the
protons causing them to undergo circular motion whilst in the chamber. A proton
on a spiralling path enters a chamber at 33 500 m s-1 . It re-enters the same
chamber 1.0 cm from its last entry point. Calculate the voltage between the
chambers if they are separated by 2.0 cm.

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Question 36 (Continued)

(b) Describe the evidence that could be collected from a particle accelerator that can 2
confirm elements of the standard model of matter.

END OF EXAM

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