Questions for Practice
1 Fig. 4.1 shows a small wind-turbine used to generate electricity.
Fig. 4.1
The wind-turbine drives an electric generator.
The wind blows with a velocity of 7.0 m / s at right angles to the plane of the turbine. The mass of
air passing per second through the turbine is 6.7 kg.
(a) (i) Calculate the kinetic energy of the air blown through the turbine per second.
kinetic energy = ................................................ [2]
(ii) Only 8% of this energy is converted to electrical energy.
Calculate the power output of the electric generator.
Questions for Practice
power output = ................................................ [2]
(b) The volume of air passing through the turbine each second is 5.6 m3 (flow rate is 5.6 m3 / s).
Calculate the density of the air.
density of air = ................................................ [2]
(c) The turbine turns a generator.
Describe the essential action within the generator that produces electricity.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................. [2]
[Total: 8]
Questions for Practice
2 Fig. 3.1 shows a long, plastic tube, sealed at both ends. The tube contains 0.15 kg of small metal
spheres.
small metal spheres
Fig. 3.1
A physics teacher turns the tube upside down very quickly and the small metal spheres then fall
through 1.8 m and hit the bottom of the tube.
(a) Calculate
(i) the decrease in gravitational potential energy as the spheres fall 1.8 m,
decrease in gravitational potential energy = ........................................................ [2]
(ii) the speed of the spheres as they hit the bottom of the tube.
speed =........................................................ [3]
Questions for Practice
3 Fig. 3.1 shows the descent of a sky-diver from a stationary balloon.
2000 m
sky-diver
parachute
500 m
Fig. 3.1 (not to scale)
The sky-diver steps from the balloon at a height of 2000 m and accelerates downwards.
His speed is 52 m / s at a height of 500 m.
He then opens his parachute. From 400 m to ground level, he falls at constant speed.
(a) The total mass of the sky-diver and his equipment is 92 kg.
(i) Calculate, for the sky-diver,
1. the loss of gravitational potential energy in the fall from 2000 m to 500 m,
loss of gravitational potential energy =.................................................. [2]
Questions for Practice
2. the kinetic energy at the height of 500 m.
kinetic energy = .................................................. [2]
(ii) The kinetic energy at 500 m is not equal to the loss of gravitational potential energy.
Explain why there is a difference in the values.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................. [1]
(b) State
(i) what happens to the air resistance acting on the sky-diver during the fall from
2000 m to 500 m,
.............................................................................................................................. [1]
(ii) the value of the air resistance during the fall from 400 m to ground.
air resistance = .................................................. [1]
[Total: 7]
Questions for Practice
4 Water is stored in a reservoir at an average vertical height of 350 m above the turbines of a
hydroelectric power station.
During a 7.0 hour period, 1.8 × 106 m3 of water flows down from the reservoir to the turbines.
(a) The density of water is 1000 kg / m3.
For this 7.0 hour period, calculate
(i) the mass of water that flows from the reservoir to the turbines,
mass = ................................................... [2]
(ii) the gravitational potential energy transformed as the water flows to the turbines,
energy = ................................................... [2]
(iii) the maximum possible average output power.
power = ................................................... [2]
Questions for Practice
(b) A hydroelectric power station generates electricity from a renewable energy source.
(i) Explain what is meant, in this context, by renewable.
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................. [1]
(ii) State two other renewable energy sources.
1. ..............................................................................................................................
2. ..............................................................................................................................
[2]
[Total: 9]
Questions for Practice
5 (a) State the energy changes that take place when
(i) a cyclist rides down a hill without pedalling,
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) a cyclist pedals up a hill at a constant speed.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[3]
(b) A car of mass 940 kg is travelling at 16 m / s.
(i) Calculate the kinetic energy of the car.
kinetic energy = ................................................... [2]
6 Fig. 3.1 shows a fork-lift truck lifting a crate on to a high shelf in a warehouse.
crate
fork-lift
truck
Fig. 3.1
The fork-lift truck lifts a crate of weight 640 N through a vertical distance of 3.5 m in 4.0 s.
(a) Calculate the useful work done in lifting the crate.
Questions for Practice
work done =...................................................[2]
(b) A motor drives a mechanism to lift the crate. The current in the motor is 25 A. The motor
is connected to a 75 V battery.
Calculate
(i) the energy supplied to the motor in 4.0 s,
energy =...................................................[2]
(ii) the overall efficiency of the fork-lift truck in lifting the crate.
efficiency = .................................................. [2]
(c) Not all of the energy supplied is used usefully in lifting the crate.
Suggest two mechanisms by which energy is wasted.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
2. ................................................................................................................................ [2]
[Total: 8]
