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MAY EXAMINATIONS 2024

SUBJECT: A2 Physics
Time allowed: 2 Hours Total Marks: 81

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.

Write in dark blue or black pen. You may use a pencil for any diagrams or graphs.

Answer all questions.

Electronic calculators may be used.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

This document consists of 23 pages including 2 blank pages

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1 A steel sphere of mass 0.29 kg is suspended in equilibrium from a vertical spring. The centre of
the sphere is 8.5 cm from the top of the spring, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

spring

8.5 cm

steel sphere,
mass 0.29 kg

Fig. 1.1

The sphere is now set in motion so that it is moving in a horizontal circle at constant speed, as
shown in Fig. 2.2. 1.2.

27°

10.8 cm
path of sphere

Fig. 1.2

The distance from the centre of the sphere to the top of the spring is now 10.8 cm.

(a) Explain, with reference to the forces acting on the sphere, why the length of the spring in
Fig. 1.2 is greater than in Fig. 1.1.

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

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

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

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

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

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(b) The angle between the linear axis of the spring and the vertical is 27°.

(i) Show that the radius r of the circle is 4.9 cm.

[1]

(ii) Show that the tension in the spring is 3.2 N.

[2]

(iii) The spring obeys Hooke’s law.

Calculate the spring constant, in N cm–1, of the spring.

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

(c) (i) Use the information in (b) to determine the centripetal acceleration of the sphere.

centripetal acceleration = ................................................ m s–2 [2]

(ii) Calculate the period of the circular motion of the sphere.

period = ...................................................... s [2]

[Total: 12]

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2 An object is suspended from a vertical spring as shown in Fig. 2.1.

spring

object
oscillation

Fig. 2.1
The object is displaced vertically and then released so that it oscillates, undergoing simple
harmonic motion.

Fig. 2.2 shows the variation with displacement x of the energy E of the oscillations.

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0
Q
E / mJ

3.0

2.0

1.0

0
–1.6 –1.2 –0.8 –0.4 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6
x / cm

Fig. 2.2
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The kinetic energy, the potential energy and the total energy of the oscillations are each
represented by one of the lines P, Q and R.

(a) State the energy that is represented by each of the lines P, Q and R.

P ...............................................................................................................................................

Q ...............................................................................................................................................

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

(b) The object has a mass of 130 g.

Determine the period of the oscillations.

period = ...................................................... s [4]

(c) (i) State the cause of damping.

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

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

(ii) A light card is attached to the object. The object is displaced with the same initial
amplitude and then released. During each complete oscillation the total energy of the
system decreases by 8.0% of the total energy at the start of that oscillation.

Determine the decrease in total energy, in mJ, of the system by the end of the first 6
complete oscillations.

energy lost = ................................................... mJ [2]

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(iii) State, with a reason, the type of damping that the card introduces into the system.

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

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

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

[Total: 10]

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a planet.

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

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

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

(b) The Earth and the Moon may be considered to be uniform spheres that are isolated in space.
The Earth has mass M, radius R and mean density ρ. The Moon, mass m, is in a circular
orbit about the Earth with radius nR, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

Earth
mass M
radius R

Moon
mass m
nR

Fig. 3.1

The Moon makes one complete orbit of the Earth in time T.

Show that the mean density ρ of the Earth is given by the expression

3r n 3
ρ=
GT 2

where G is the gravitational constant.

[4]

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(c) The radius R of the Earth is 6.38 × 106 m and the distance between the centre of the Earth
and the centre of the Moon is 3.84 × 108 m.
The period T of the orbit of the Moon about the Earth is 27.3 days.

Use the expression in (b) to calculate ρ.

ρ = ................................................ kg m–3 [3]

[Total: 9]

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4 (a) State Coulomb’s law.

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

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

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

(b) Two identical oil droplets are in a vacuum. The centres of the droplets are a distance of
3.8 × 10–6 m apart. The droplets have equal charge and exert an electric force on each other
of magnitude 6.3 × 10–17 N.

Determine the magnitude of the charge on each droplet.

charge = ...................................................... C [2]

(c) One of the oil droplets in (b) is now placed between two horizontal metal plates, as shown in
Fig. 4.1.

+ 1200 V

oil droplet

metal plates

5.2 cm

0V

Fig. 4.1 (not to scale)

A potential difference (p.d.) of 1200 V is applied between the plates, with the top plate at the
higher potential. The oil droplet is stationary and in equilibrium.

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(i) State the sign of the charge on the oil droplet.

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

(ii) On Fig. 4.1, draw four lines to represent the electric field between the plates. [3]

(iii) The distance between the plates is 5.2 cm.

Determine the mass of the oil droplet.

mass = ..................................................... kg [3]

[Total: 11]

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5 A capacitor C is charged so that the potential difference (p.d.) V across its terminals is 8.0 V.
The capacitor is connected into the circuit of Fig. 6.1. 5.1.

8.0 V

Fig. 5.1

The switch is initially open. The switch is closed at time t = 0.

(a) Fig. 5.2 shows the variation of V with the charge Q on the plates of capacitor C as the
capacitor discharges.

V/V

0
0 200 400 600
Q / μC

Fig. 5.2

(i) Show that the energy stored in capacitor C at time t = 0 is 1.8 mJ.

[2]

(ii) Determine the capacitance of capacitor C. Give a unit with your answer.

capacitance = ................................. unit ................ [2]

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(b) Fig. 5.3 shows the variation with t of –ln 8.0V V.
2.0

–ln 18.0V V2
1.0

0
0 2 4 6 8
t/s

Fig. 5.3

(i) Show that, when t is equal to one time constant, the value of –ln 8.0V V is equal to 1.0.

[2]

(ii) Determine the time constant τ of the circuit in Fig. 5.1.

τ = ....................................................... s [1]

(iii) Calculate the resistance of resistor R.

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

[Total: 9]

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6 (a) One of the assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases is that all collisions involving molecules
of the gas are elastic.

(i) State what is meant by an elastic collision.

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

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

(ii) State two other assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases.

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

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

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

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

(b) A molecule of an ideal gas has mass m and is contained in a cubic box of side length L. The
molecule is moving with velocity u towards the face of the box that is shaded in Fig. 12.1. 6.1.

molecule L

Fig. 6.1

The molecule collides elastically with the shaded face and the face opposite to it alternately.

Deduce expressions, in terms of m, u and L, for:

(i) the magnitude of the change in momentum of the molecule on colliding with a face

change in momentum = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) the time between consecutive collisions of the molecule with the shaded face

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

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(iii) the average force exerted by the molecule on the shaded face

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

(iv) the pressure on the shaded face if the force in (iii) is exerted over the whole area of the
face.

pressure = ......................................................... [1]

(c) When the model described in (b) is extended to three dimensions, and to a gas containing N
molecules, each of mass m, travelling with mean-square speed 〈c2〉, it can be shown that

1
pV = 3 Nm〈c2〉

where p is the pressure exerted by the gas and V is the volume of the gas.

Use this expression, together with the equation of state of an ideal gas, to show that the
average translational kinetic energy EK of a molecule of an ideal gas is given by

3
EK = 2 kT

where T is the thermodynamic temperature of the gas and k is the Boltzmann constant.

[2]

(d) The mass of a hydrogen molecule is 3.34 × 10–27 kg.

Use the expression for EK in (c) to determine the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed of a
molecule of hydrogen gas at 25 °C.

r.m.s. speed = ............................................... m s–1 [2]

[Total: 11]
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7 (a) State the first law of thermodynamics. Identify the meaning of any symbols that you use.

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

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

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

(b) The state of an ideal gas is continuously changed according to the cycle ABCDA shown in
Fig. 7.1.

C D
pressure

B A

volume

Fig. 7.1

(i) Complete Table 7.1 for the changes A to B and B to C by placing two ticks (3) in each
row.

Table 7.1

change in internal energy work done on gas

change
decrease no change increase negative zero positive

A to B

B to C

[4]

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(ii) Use the first law of thermodynamics to describe and explain the energy transfers
associated with one complete cycle ABCDA.

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

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

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

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

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

[Total: 9]

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8 (a) State what is meant by specific latent heat.

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

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

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

(b) A student determines the specific latent heat of vaporisation of a liquid using the apparatus
illustrated in Fig. 8.1.

+
V
liquid A –

heater

pan of balance

Fig. 8.1

The heater is switched on. When the liquid is boiling at a constant rate, the balance reading
is noted at 2.0 minute intervals.

After 10 minutes, the current in the heater is reduced and the balance readings are taken
for a further 12 minutes.

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The readings of the ammeter and of the voltmeter are given in Fig. 8.2.
ammeter reading voltmeter reading
/A /V
from time 0 to time 10 minutes 1.2 230
after time 10 minutes 1.0 190

Fig. 8.2

The variation with time of the balance reading is shown in Fig. 8.3.

500

480

balance reading / g

460

440

420

400

380
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
time / minutes

Fig. 8.3

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(i) From time 0 to time 10.0 minutes, the mass of liquid evaporated is 56 g.

Use Fig. 8.3 to determine the mass of liquid evaporated from time 12.0 minutes to time
22.0 minutes.

mass = ....................................................... g [1]

End of Examination
(ii) Explain why, although the power of the heater is changed, the rate of loss of thermal
energy to the surroundings may be assumed to be constant.

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

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

(iii) Determine a value for the specific latent heat of vaporisation L of the liquid.

L = ................................................. J g–1 [4]

(iv) Calculate the rate at which thermal energy is transferred to the surroundings.

rate = ..................................................... W [2]

[Total: 10]

End of Examination

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