Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

1. A flat mirror creates a virtual image of your face. Which of the following optical elements in
combination with the flat mirror can form a real image?

1) convex lens 2) concave lens 3) concave mirror 4) convex mirror

Sol. A plane mirror forms a virtual image. A virtual image is formed by extending diverging reflected
rays in backward direction.
Angle of incidence = angle of reflection (for plane mirror)
When a convex lens is used in front of the mirror, it forms a real image.

2. Consider the following circuit :

a) If the bulb A burns out, then bulb C stayed lighted, bulb B burns brightly
b) if the bulb B burns out, then bulb C goes off and D stays lighted
c) if the bulb C burns out, bulbs A and B go off
d) if the bulb D burns out, the event is unnoticeable, and bulbs A, B, C stay lighted

Sol. a) If A burns out, B goes off as it is in series with A

b) If B burns out, C stays lighted and D stays lighted
c) If C burns out, A and B continue to glow (parallel path)
d) If D burns out, A, B and C stay lighted as there is a parallel
path to D

3. A pendulum moves back and forth under the influence of gravity from x = - A to + A with time
period T as shown in fig. At time t = 0, it is at x = +A when t = 0.75 T, then

a) it is at x = 0 and travelling towards x = +A

b) it is at x = 0 and travelling towards x = - A
c) it is at x = +A and is at rest
d)it is between x = 0 and +A and is travelling towards x = - A

Sol. Initially the bob is at x = +A (positive extreme)

Time taken by the bob to go to negative extreme: 0.5T
Time taken by the bob to go to mean position from extreme position: 0.25 T
So, at t = 0.75 T, it is at x = 0 and travelling towards x = +A

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4. Let there be a rigid wheel rolling without sliding on a horizontal surface. The path of point A as
seen by an observer on the ground, when the wheel is moving along x axis is

1) 2)

3) 4)

Sol. The wheel is undergoing pure rolling. Any point on the circumference traces
cycloidal path. So, the correct option is ‘a’.
Let R be the radius of the wheel. Then the equation of the path is given by
√2𝑅𝑦−𝑦 2
R sin−1 ( 𝑅
) = √𝟐𝑹𝒚 − 𝒚𝟐 + x

5. Two identical balls (1 and 2) collide on a frictionless surface. Collision may or may not be elastic.
Which of the views physically impossible situation?

1) 2)

3) 4)

Sol. The two balls are identical: same mass: m1 = m2 = m

Given: the collision may be elastic or inelastic
Before collision, the balls are moving towards each other along the same straight line (head on)
So, after collision, it is not possible for them to move perpendicular to the initial direction of
motion.

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6. Four masses are located as shown in fig. Acceleration

due to gravity is same everywhere. What is the position
of the centre of gravity for the system?

1) 2 m 2) 2.5 m 3) 3 m 4) 2.7 m

Sol. As acceleration due to gravity is same everywhere, centre of mass coincides with Centre of gravity.
𝑚1 𝑥1 +𝑚2 𝑥2 +𝑚3 𝑥3 +𝑚4 𝑥4 1𝑥1+2𝑥2+3𝑥3+4𝑥4 30
Xcm = 𝑚1 +𝑚2 +𝑚3 +𝑚4
= 1+2+3+4
= 10 = 3 m

7. A large water tank is filled at a constant rate of 10 lit/min. It has an outlet of maximum flow of
10 lit/min at the bottom of the tank, but the output is proportional to the water present in the tank at
any given time. How will the V volume of water content in the tank, change with time?

1) 2)

3) 4)

Sol. Rate of filling of water tank: 10 lit/min

Maximum outflow rate of the tank: 10 lit/min
Given: outflow rate is proportional to water present in the tank.
Volume of water in the tank: V = (filling rate – outflow rate) t
V = (10 – kV) t  V = 10t – kVt  V + kVt = 10t  V (1 + kt) = 10t
10𝑡
V= ; So, the correct option is (a)
1+𝑘𝑡

8. When a ray of light enters a prism, it begins to spread out in rainbow colors. An inverted prism is
brought close to this prism as shown. Both the prisms are made of same material. If a ray of white
light is incident on surface A and d is made zero, then output from surface B will be

a) white light b) rainbow colors which are converging

c) rainbow colors which are spreading out d) no light comes out from surface B

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Sol. Dispersion of white light takes place due to different refractive index values offered by the prism
material for different wavelengths.
When another prism of same material is joined to the first prism (d is made zero), the combination
behaves like a glass slab. So, the emerging light will be white.

9. In dispersive materials

a) The angle of refraction for a light ray depends on the wavelength of light
b) The angle of refraction for a light ray does not depend on the wavelength of light
c) The angle of reflection from the surface of the material does not depend on wavelength of light
d) both (a) and (c) hold true

Sol. Reflection: the light ray gets into the same medium after reflection. There is no change in speed.
So, the angle of reflection is equal to angle of incidence.
Refraction: the light ray goes into another transparent medium. Its speed (wavelength) changes as it
goes into another medium. So, the angle of refraction changes.

10. There are two tracks A and B as shown in fig. The direction of gravity is also shown in fig. If two
similar balls begin to move at the same uniform velocity at the same time which of the two balls
will reach the end of the track faster?

a) ball on track A b) ball on track B

c) they will reach at the same time d) cannot decide by the data given

Sol. As track A is horizontal, the ball on it travels with constant speed: v

Track B has a downward incline due to which the ball travels with higher speed between C-D.
So, the ball travelling on track B will reach the end of the track faster.

11. A radioactive nuclide has a half-life of 8 hr. Half-life is the time in which 50 % of the nuclei
disintegrate. The fraction of the nuclide which will disintegrate in 32 hr is

1) 0.062 2) 0.75 3) 0.875 4) 0.938

Sol. N0: initial number of radioactive nuclei

N: number of radioactive nuclei available
N0 – N: number of radioactive nuclei disintegrated
𝑁 1 𝑡/𝑇 𝑁 1 32/8 1 4 1
Fraction of nuclei available : 𝑁 = (2)  𝑁 = (2) = (2) = 16
𝑜 𝑜
𝑁 1 15
Fraction of nuclei disintegrated: 1 - 𝑁 = 1 - 16 = 16 = 0.9375
𝑜

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12. In a room there are four objects – a wooden dish, steel dish, glass dish and copper dish. If a fire is
lit in the room so that it burns at 3000 C and is equidistant from all the four dishes, then after a long
time the dishes can be listed in the increasing order of temperature. Which is the correct order of
temperature of dishes?

a) wooden > steel > glass > copper b) steel > copper > glass > wood
c) copper > steel > glass > wood d) none of the above

Sol. After a long time, all the dishes will attain same temperature (thermal equilibrium) as that of the
flame (300 0C)

Specific heats of wood, steel, glass and copper: 2300, 490, 840, 385 (SI units)

13. Which of the following is correct? The focal length of the lens is f and point c is equal to 2f.

1) 2)

3) 4)

Sol. a) When the object is place at focal point, its image is formed at infinity
b) When the object is placed at c, its image is formed at c on the other side
(light rays should pass through F in order to travel parallel to principal axis
after passing through lens)
c) When the object is placed at c, its image is formed at c on the other side
(the light rays are going to infinity)
d) When the object is placed at c, its image is formed at c on the other side

14. If earth were to stop spinning, then your weight on equator will be

a) heavier by around 0.5 % b) heavier by around 5 %

c) less by around 0.5 % d) less by around 5 %

Sol. Weight of a person at equator: we = mge = m (g - R2)

Weight of a person when the earth stops spinning: w = mg
2𝜋 2𝜋
Angular velocity of the earth:  = = = 7.3 x 10-5 rad/s
𝑇 86400

Percentage change in weight:

𝑚𝑔 −𝑚(𝑔−𝑅𝜔2 ) 𝑅𝜔2 6400 𝑥 103 𝑥 (7.3 x 10−5)2
𝑚𝑔
x 100 = 𝑔
x 100 = 9.8
x 100 ≈ 0.5%

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15. A trolley runs from point P to Q along a track as shown in fig. At point Q, its potential energy is
50 kJ less than at point P. At point P, the trolley has kinetic energy 5 kJ. Between P and Q, the
work done against friction is 10 kJ. What is the kinetic energy at point Q?

1) 35 kJ 2) 45 kJ 3) 55 kJ 4) 65 kJ

Sol. Decrease in potential energy from P to Q: U = 50 kJ

Work done against friction between P to Q: wf = 10 kJ
Kinetic energy of the trolley at P: kp = 5 kJ
Work energy thm: wnet = k
wg + wf = k  50 – 10 = kf – 5  40 = kf – 5  kf = 45 kJ

16. Which of the following is not a simple harmonic motion?

a) earth moving around sun b) pendulum

c) oscillating mass attached to a spring d) vibrating string of guitar

Sol. a) Earth moving around sun is an example for periodic motion with a period of 365 days
𝑙
b) Oscillating simple pendulum is an example for SHM: T = 2 √𝑔
𝑚
c) Oscillating mass attached to spring is an example for SHM: T = 2𝜋 √
𝑘
1 𝑇
d) Vibrating guitar string is an example for SHM: T = 2𝑙 √𝜇

17. Which of the following statements is true regarding Kirchhoff’s law?

a) the junction rule is a statement of conservation of energy and the loop rule is a statement of
conservation of charge.
b) the junction rule as well as the loop rule are statements of conservation of charge
c) the junction rule as well as the loop rule are statements of conservation of energy
d) the junction rule is a statement of conservation of charge and the loop rule is a statement of
conservation of energy

Sol. Junction Rule: algebraic sum of currents (charge per unit time) meeting at a junction is zero.

Loop Rule: algebraic sum of potential drops and emfs (work done per unit charge) in a loop is
zero.

18. You have a large supply of light bulbs and a battery. You start with one light bulb connected to the
battery and notice its brightness. You then add one light bulb at a time, each new bulb being added
in series to the previous bulbs, then

a) brightness of the bulbs will increase b) current through the bulbs will increase
c) power transferred from the battery will decrease d) lifetime of the battery will decrease

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Sol. As the number of bulbs in series increases, the resistance of the circuit increases.
So, the current through the bulbs decreases thus reducing the brightness.
Power transferred by the battery: Pb = Ei (E is emf of the battery and i is current)
With increase in resistance, the current in the circuit decreases, thus the power transferred by the
battery decreases.

19. A ray of light is incident on the midpoint of a glass prism surface at an angle of 250 with the
normal. For the glass (n = 1.55) and the angle of prism is 300. What is the angle of incidence at the
glass to air surface on the side opposite, where the ray entered the prism?

1) 14.20 2) 9.80 3) 19.20 4) light will not come out of the surface

Sol. Apply Snell’s law at the first surface:

n1 sin i1 = n2 sin r1  1 x sin 25 = 1.55 x sin r1
sin r1 = 15.80
Angle of prism: A = r1 + r2  30 = 15.8 + r2  r2 = 14.20

20. A man of mass 100 kg stands on a wooden plank of area 4 m2. What is the pressure exerted on the
floor? Assume the area of a human foot to be 200 cm2

1) 500 N 2) 25 N 3) 50000 N 4) 250 N

Sol. Mass of the man: m = 100 kg

Area of human foot: A = 200 cm2 = 200 x 10-4 m2
Area of the wooden plank: a = 4 m2
𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑔 100 𝑥 10
Pressure exerted on the floor: 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝐴 = 4 = 250 N (DELETED)

21. A bus leaves a stop and accelerates at a constant rate for 5 sec. During this time the bus travels
25 m. After this, the bus travels at a constant speed for 15 sec. Then the driver notices a red light
18 m ahead and applies brakes with acceleration ab. Assume that the bus decelerates at a constant
rate and comes to a stop sometime later just at the light.

I. what was the initial acceleration of the bus

II. What was the velocity of the bus after 5 sec.
III. Calculate ab
IV. How long did the bus brake?

Sol. Distance travelled by bus in 5 sec: 25 m

1 1
Acceleration of the bus: s = ut + 2 at2  25 = 0 + 2 a (25)  a = 2 m/s2

Velocity of the bus at 5 sec: v = u + at = 0 + 2 x 5 = 10 m/s

Deceleration of the bus: v2 – u2 = 2as  0 – 100 = - 2 x ab x 18  ab = 2.78 m/s2
Time taken during deceleration: v = u + at  0 = 10 – 2.78 t  t = 3.6 sec

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22. Two athletes Usha and Shiney are playing games. Usha is running at a constant velocity towards
Shiney who is stationary. When Usha is 12 m away from Shiney, Shiney starts to accelerate at a
constant rate of 1.5 m/s2
I. what is the min. velocity with which Usha needs to run in order to just catch up with Shiney?
II. How long does Usha take to catch up with Shiney?

Sol. Let t be the time taken by Usha to catch up with Shiney

Velocity of Usha and Shiney is same at time t: vu = vs  vu = at = 1.5 t
1 1
Distance travelled by Shiney: ds = 2 a t2 = 2 x 1.5 t2
1
Distance to be covered by Usha: du = 12 + ds = 12 + 2 x 1.5 t2
1 1 1
vut = 12 + 2 x 1.5 t2  (1.5t) t = 12 + 2 x 1.5 t2  2 x 1.5 t2 = 12  t = 4 sec
Velocity of Usha: vu = 1.5 t = 1.5 x 4 = 6 m/s

23. There are two conducting plates A and B kept at a distance of 3 mm. Plate A is
at +2 V and plate B is grounded (0 V). An electron begins to move from plate A
with an initial velocity of v. Find velocity v such that the electron travels up to
plate B and when it reaches plate B its velocity is zero

Sol. Electric field intensity between the plates: E = ∆𝑉 = 2 2

= x 103 volt
𝑥 3 𝑥 10−3 3
2
Force on the electron: F = Ee = x 103 x 1.6 x 10-19 = 1.067 x 10-16 N
3
𝐹 1.067 x 10−16
Acceleration of the electron: a = 𝑚 = 9.11 𝑥 10−31
= 0.117 x 1015 m/s2

Velocity of electron: v2 – u2 = 2as

0 – v2 = - 2 x 0.117 x 1015 x 3 x 10-3  v2 = 0.702 x 1012  v = 8.4 x 105 m/s

24. A block of ice weighing 20 g at – 100 C is mixed with 100 g water at 100 C, in an insulated flask.
What is the amount of water in the flask, when equilibrium is reached?

Sol. The amount of heat liberated by water to go from 10 0C to 0 0C:

Q = mst = 100 x 1 x (10 – 0) = 100 x 10 = 1000 cal
The amount of ice that melts for 1000 cal: Q = mst + m1 L
1000 = 20 x 0.5 x (0 – (-10)) + m1 (80)
900
1000 = 100 + 80 m1  900 = 80 m1  m1 = = 11.25 g
80

The amount of water in the flask: 100 + 11.25 = 111.25 gm

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