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Professional Education Materials

2023 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Physics

General • Reading time – 5 minutes

Instructions • Working time – 2 hours
• Write using black pen
• Draw diagrams using pencil
• Calculators approved by NESA may be used
• A data sheet, formulae sheet and Periodic Table are provided at the
back of this paper

Total marks: Section I – 20 marks (pages 3–9)

75
• Attempt Questions 1–20
• Allow about 30 minutes for this section

Section II – 55 marks (pages 10–19)

• Attempt Questions 21–30
• Allow about 1 hour and 30 minutes for this section

Directions to School or College

To ensure integrity and security, examination papers must NOT be removed from the examination room. Examination papers may not
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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 in
accordance with the NESA requirements, recommendations and guidelines. No guarantee or warranty is made or implied that this
examination paper mirrors in every respect alternative Preliminary Examination papers written for this course.
BLANK PAGE

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Section I – 20 marks
Attempt Questions 1-20
Allow about 30 minutes for this part

Use the multiple-choice answer sheet for Questions 1-20

1 How does a wave transfer energy?

(A) By transferring matter from one place to another.
(B) By causing a net movement of particles in the direction of the wave.
(C) By causing particles to oscillate about their average position.
(D) By changing the temperature of the medium.

2 What is the relationship between force and the rate of change of momentum?
(A) Force is equal to the rate of change of momentum.
(B) Force is inversely proportional to the rate of change of momentum.
(C) Force is directly proportional to the square of the rate of change of momentum.
(D) There is no relationship between force and the rate of change of momentum.

3 Based on the force-displacement graph shown below, what statement is most likely correct.

(A) The force applied to the object is increasing.

(B) The force applied to the object is decreasing.
(C) The net force applied to the object is zero.
(D) The object is accelerating.

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4 What is the understanding developed about forces in the Dynamics module?

(A) Forces are always produced in pairs that act on the same object.
(B) Forces are always produced individually and act on different objects.
(C) Forces are always produced in pairs that act on different objects and add to zero.
(D) Forces are always produced in pairs that act on different objects and add to a non-
zero value.

5 A car is shown in the image below after it has been involved in a collision.

Based on the image what type of collision occurred?

(A) Elastic collision.

(B) Inelastic collision.
(C) Both elastic and inelastic collision.
(D) Neither elastic nor inelastic collision

6 How does temperature differ from heat?

(A) Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles, while heat is the
transfer of energy from a warmer object to a cooler one.
(B) Temperature is the transfer of energy from a warmer object to a cooler one, while
heat is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles.
(C) Temperature and heat are the same thing.
(D) Temperature is a measure of the total kinetic energy of particles, while heat is a
measure of the average kinetic energy of particles.

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7 Two waves shown below superimpose in the same medium.

Which of the following shows their resultant wave?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

8 How can sound waves be modelled?

(A) Using a pressure vs. distance graph
(B) Using a frequency vs. amplitude graph
(C) Using a wavelength vs. time graph
(D) Using a velocity vs. displacement graph

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9 What is the difference between a pulse wave and a periodic wave?
(A) A pulse wave is continuous, while a periodic wave is not.
(B) A pulse wave is created by a single disturbance, while a periodic wave is created by a
continuous vibration.
(C) A pulse wave is created by a continuous vibration, while a periodic wave is created
by a single disturbance.
(D) A pulse wave is created when the disturbance is parallel to the direction of energy
transfer and a periodic wave is created when the disturbance is perpendicular to the
direction of energy transfer

10 What happens when a force is applied to an object but the object does not move?
(A) Work is done on the object.
(B) No work is done on the object.
(C) The object gains energy.
(D) The object loses energy.

11 Based on the velocity time graph shown below, how could the motion of the object be
described?

(A) The car is speeding up.

(B) The car is turning.
(C) The car is slowing down.
(D) The car is moving in reverse.

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12 Which of the following sets of wave fronts will produce the greatest amount of diffraction as
they pass through the gap?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

13 What is the effect of friction on work and energy?

(A) Friction increases the work done and the energy transferred.
(B) Friction decreases the work done and the energy transferred.
(C) Friction converts some of the work done into heat and sound energy.
(D) Friction has no effect on the work done or the energy transferred.

14 What is the relationship between work and the angle between the force and displacement
vectors?

(A) Work is the product of the force, displacement, and the sine of the angle.
(B) Work is the product of the force, displacement, and the cosine of the angle.
(C) Work is the product of the force, displacement, and the tangent of the angle.
(D) Work is the product of the force, displacement, and the cotangent of the angle.

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15 A current carrying conductor as shown below has a current flowing into the page.

Which of the following correctly illustrates the direction of the induced magnetic field?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

16 What is the effect of inertia on a moving object?

(A) It makes it easier to stop the object.

(B) It makes it harder to change the object's direction of motion.
(C) It makes it easier to increase the object's speed.
(D) It has no effect on the object's motion.

17 What happens when a charged object is moved against the direction it would naturally move
in an electric field?

(A) Work is done on the field.

(B) The field does work on the particle.
(C) No work is done.
(D) The field and the particle do work on each other.

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18 A wave is passing through a rope fixed to a bolt on the wall as shown below.

How will the wave reflect from the wall?

(A) With a 180° phase change, meaning crests reflect as troughs and troughs reflect as
crests.
(B) With no phase change, meaning crests reflect as crests and troughs reflect as troughs.
(C) With a 90° phase change, meaning crests reflect as troughs and troughs reflect as
crests.
(D) With a 360° phase change, meaning crests reflect as crests and troughs reflect as
troughs.

19 What is the significance of the order of vectors in the formula for relative velocity?
(A) It determines the direction of motion.
(B) It determines the magnitude of the relative velocity.
(C) It determines the frame of reference.
(D) It has no significance.

20 What happens when a force is applied to an object on a horizonal surface at an angle to the
direction of displacement?

(A) Only the component of the force in the direction of displacement contributes to the
work done.
(B) Only the component of the force perpendicular to the displacement contributes to the
work done.
(C) Both components of the force contribute to the work done.
(D) Neither component of the force contributes to the work done.

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Section II – 55 marks
Attempt questions 21-30
Allow about 1 hour and 30 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 commercial airplane is travelling on a North bearing at 230 m s-1. It encounters a large cross wind
and finds itself on a bearing of N30.0˚W travelling at 195 m s-1. Calculate the change in velocity.

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Question 22 (7 marks)

Three friends, Paul, Tom and Nick are spending their afternoon playing in the local river that flows
to the East at 0.44 m s-1.

Nick is travelling 1.50 m s-1 S17˚E relative to Tom.

Paul is swimming 1.50 m s-1 N45˚W relative to Nick.

a) What velocity is Tom swimming relative to Paul? 4

b) If Tom is swimming to the north bank directly opposite from where he left the south bank 3
and Nick is maintaining his distance from the North bank how fast is Nick swimming
relative to the water?

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Question 23 (10 marks)

A student undertook a depth study to analyse the effectiveness of a crumple zone design at absorbing
kinetic energy.

The student fixed the 10 g crumple zone to the front of a 500 g dynamics trolley, as shown below.

The frictionless track was set to 5.0˚ and the distance between the front of the trolley/crumple zone
and the force meter was 80 cm, as shown in the student’s diagram below.

The force meter at the bottom of the track, measures the force applied to the trolley as a function of
time during the collision.

a) Determine the velocity at which the trolley hits the force meter. 3

Question 23 continues on the next page

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Question 23 (Continued)

b) The student’s partner repeated the experiment but made one change to the method. They 4
altered the angle of the ramp to 7.0˚. After doing so, the second student determined that
the trolley hit the force meter at a velocity of 1.4 m s-1.

After numerous trials, the average results as shown by the force meter, are shown below.

The student ensured that the mass of the trolley with and without the crumple zone
remained the same.

Calculate the amount of kinetic energy the crumple zone absorbs.

c) Explain why the impulse was not the same between the control and the crumple zone 3
runs.

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Question 24 (4 marks)

Two circular objects A and B are sitting stationary in a smooth trough as shown below.

Object A has a mass of 15.0 kg. Determine the force that B applies to A.

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Question 25 (7 marks)

A man stands somewhere between two cliffs that are separated by 1410 m. He makes a loud noise
and measures the time it takes to hear the echoes. He hears two distinct echoes separated by 1.5
seconds.

He then walks 133 m towards the closest cliff and repeats the process. The first echo is heard after
2.7 seconds.

a) Calculate the velocity of sound in the air. 4

b) If the speed of sound in air was 340 m s-1, determine his initial distance from the furthest 3
cliff.

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Question 26 (7 marks)

Ryan and Natasha undertook an investigation in class to determine the relationship between
frequency and harmonics. They used a large measuring cylinder filled with water and an open pipe
as shown below.

The pipe can be raised and lowered to change the active length of the pipe. A tone generating app
was used to play tones into the pipe at set frequencies.

a) Using a speed of sound of 340 m s-1, calculate at what lengths harmonics will be possible 4
with the length of pipe given and a frequency of 610 Hz.

Question 26 continues on the next page

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Question 26 (Continued)

b) Using a frequency of 500 Hz Ryan calculated that only one harmonic would occur. The 3
experimental results showed that two harmonics could be produced. Natasha argued that
Ryan’s method of calculation was invalid because he used a standardised value for the
speed of sound, which did not match the speed of sound in air during the test. Assess
Natasha’s statement.

Question 27 (5 marks)

A circuit diagram is shown below.

a) Calculate the resistance of resistor R. 3

b) Calculate the circuit voltage. 2

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Question 28 (3 marks)

Starting at Point A in the circuit shown below, plot the potential energy of the electrons as they pass
through the circuit on the graph beneath.

Question 29 (3 marks)

Explain why a voltmeter must be used in parallel.

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Question 30 (6 marks)

Below shows a solenoid from a front on view.

a) On the diagram above, draw the induced magnetic field caused by the current shown. 3

b) The solenoid has a cross sectional diameter or 5 cm and a length of 20 cm, with 25 turns. 3
Calculate the strength of the magnetic field in the middle of the solenoid if the current is
3 A.

End of Exam

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