ZIMSEC A Level Physics Paper 1 June 2010

Question 1

units

Which expression has the newton as its unit?

Apressure × volume
Bpressure × area
Cpressure + area
Dpressure ÷ volume

Question 2

scalars and vectors

Which of the following pairs has one scalar and one vector quantity?

Adisplacement, acceleration
Bkinetic energy, force
Cvelocity, momentum
Dmomentum, moment

Question 3

errors and uncertainties

The density ρ of a cube is given by

\rho = \frac{mass}{volume}

. If the mass

m = (12.4 \pm 0.1)

g, and cube side

l = (2.10 \pm 0.05)

cm, what is the maximum possible percentage error in density?

A2.4 %
B3.0 %
C8.0 %
D12.0 %

Question 4

energy conservation

Which statement is correct for a ball kicked vertically upwards if air resistance is assumed to be negligible?

AThe kinetic energy of the ball is greatest at the greatest height attained.
BThe potential energy of the ball increases uniformly with time during the ascent.
CBy the principle of conservation of energy, the total energy of the ball is constant throughout its motion.
DBy the principle of conservation of momentum, the momentum of the ball is constant throughout its motion.

Question 5

kinematics

A car passes two points A and B, 100 m apart, with speeds 10

ms^{-1}

and 30

ms^{-1}

respectively. What is the acceleration of the car?

A0.1 $ms^{-2}$
B1.5 $ms^{-2}$
C4.0 $ms^{-2}$
D8.0 $ms^{-2}$

Question 6

impulse

What does the area under a force time graph represent?

Amomentum
Bimpulse
Cwork done
Dpower

Question 7

moments and equilibrium

A uniform wooden bar LQ of weight 8 N is held horizontally by vertical forces. Two of the forces of 6 N each act at L and P. The points L, M, N, P and Q are at equal intervals along the bar. At which point must a vertical force of 8 N act to maintain horizontal equilibrium of the bar?

AM
BN
CP
Dnone of the above

Question 8

forces

Two forces 8 N and 12 N act on a body. Which of the following could not be the magnitude of the resultant force?

A4 N
B20 N
C80 N
D $\sqrt{208}$ N

Question 9

work and energy

The diagram shows a load of mass 20 kg being pushed along an inclined plane of length 3 m to a height of 1.5 m. What is the minimum work done?

A30.0 J
B60.0 J
C294.3 J
D588.6 J

Question 10

circular motion

What is the relationship between angular speed and linear speed?

Alinear speed = radius / angular speed
Blinear speed = angular speed / radius
Clinear speed = angular speed × radius
Dlinear speed = radius squared / angular speed

Question 11

gravitation

The gravitational potential on the surface of a spherical object of mass M and radius R is given by

A $+GM/R$
B $-GM/R$
C $+GM/R^2$
D $-GM/R^2$

Question 12

energy

A free falling object has a velocity, v after losing gravitational potential energy,

E_p

initially at rest. What is its mass?

A $\frac{2E_p}{v^2}$
B $\frac{v^2}{2E_p}$
C $\sqrt{\frac{v^2}{2E_p}}$
D $\sqrt{\frac{2E_p}{v^2}}$

Question 13

oscillations

Amplitude is

Athe closest displacement from the rest position.
Bthe furthest displacement from the rest position.
Cthe increase in the x - axis.
Dthe increase in the y - axis.

Question 14

simple harmonic motion

Which of the following graphs show the potential energy of an object undergoing s.h.m?

AGraph A
BGraph B
CGraph C
DGraph D

Question 15

waves

Sound waves are said to be longitudinal because

Asound can be reflected from a solid surface.
Bsound cannot be polarised.
Csound is diffracted around corners.
Dsound is refracted as it passes from hot air to cold air.

Question 16

interference

Which set of conditions gives bright fringes of a double-slit interference pattern that are furthest apart?

Adistance between slits: small, distance from slits to screen: large, wave length of source: long
Bdistance between slits: large, distance from slits to screen: small, wave length of source: long
Cdistance between slits: large, distance from slits to screen: large, wave length of source: short
Ddistance between slits: small, distance from slits to screen: small, wave length of source: short

Question 17

electric fields

The diagram shows an electric field pattern due to charges

Q_1

and

Q_2

near each other. Which is true about

Q_1

and

Q_2

AThey are negative charges of equal sizes.
BThey are positive charges of equal sizes.
CThey are unlike charges of different sizes.
DThey are unlike charges of equal sizes.

Question 18

resistance

Two uniform copper wires of equal lengths with diameters

d_1

and

d_2

have resistances 2 Ω and 4 Ω respectively. The ratio

\frac{d_1}{d_2}

A $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$
B $\frac{1}{2}$
C $\sqrt{2}$
D2

Question 19

resistor networks

The circuit diagram shows a network of five identical resistors of resistance R. What is the effective resistance between points M and N?

A $\frac{2}{7}R$
B $\frac{1}{2}R$
C $\frac{5}{8}R$
D $\frac{3}{4}R$

Question 20

electric fields

The diagram shows a small charge +Q coulombs stationary between two parallel plates R and S of separation 30 mm. A p.d of 150 V is maintained between the plates. The electric force on the charge in N is

A5Q upwards.
B5Q downwards.
C $5\times 10^3 Q$ downwards.
D $5\times 10^3 Q$ upwards.

Question 21

capacitors

Two capacitors A and B of magnitude 1 μF and 2 μF respectively are connected in series so that they are charged by a 3 kV d.c. source as shown in the diagram. What are the charges on A and B?

AA: 1 mC, B: 4 mC
BA: 2 mC, B: 2 mC
CA: 3 mC, B: 6 mC
DA: 9 mC, B: 9 mC

Question 22

electromagnetic induction

Which of the following does not affect the magnitude of the induced e.m.f?

Amagnetic flux density
Blength
Ccurrent
Dpotential difference

Question 23

electromagnetic induction

What quantities are conserved in Lenz's law and Faraday's law?

ALenz's law: energy, Faraday's law: charge
BLenz's law: energy, Faraday's law: energy
CLenz's law: charge, Faraday's law: charge
DLenz's law: charge, Faraday's law: energy

Question 24

rectification

Which graph shows the output voltage from a full wave rectifier?

AGraph A
BGraph B
CGraph C
DGraph D

Question 25

rectification

In the circuit below a CRO is connected across a resistor. Which of the traces appears on the screen of the CRO?

ATrace A
BTrace B
CTrace C
DTrace D

Question 26

operational amplifiers

What is the effect of negative feedback on the gain and stability of an opamp?

Again is increased and stability is increased
Bgain is increased and stability is reduced
Cgain is reduced and stability is reduced
Dgain is reduced and stability is increased

Question 27

logic gates

The diagram shows a logic combination (two NOT gates feeding a NOR gate producing output Z). Which alternative is correct?

AX=1, Y=0, Z=1
BX=0, Y=1, Z=0
CX=1, Y=1, Z=1
DX=0, Y=1, Z=1

Question 28

material properties

The diagram below shows stress-strain graphs of four industrial materials up to breaking point. Which material is steel?

Question 29

elasticity

The graph shows the variation of extension, e, of a wire with force, F, applied. If the original length of the wire is

l

, its cross-sectional area is A and its Young modulus is E, the gradient of the graph is

A $\frac{El}{A}$
B $\frac{EA}{l}$
C $\frac{A}{lE}$
D $\frac{El^2}{A}$

Question 30

thermometry

Which of the following is not true about a thermocouple?

AIt is good for varying temperatures.
BIt has a low heat capacity.
CIt has a slow response.
DIt is highly sensitive.

Question 31

resistance thermometry

A platinum wire has resistance of 3 Ω, 3.5 Ω and 4.0 Ω at the ice point, the steam point and a temperature t, respectively. What is the value of t?

A50 °C
B67 °C
C150 °C
D200 °C

Question 32

gas laws

For a gas of pressure p and volume V, the quantity pV is measured in

AJ.
BN/m.
CN/m².
DW.

Question 33

kinetic theory

What is the root mean square speed of gas molecules with speeds of 1

kms^{-1}

, 3

kms^{-1}

and 5

kms^{-1}

A $\sqrt{\frac{35}{3}}\ kms^{-1}$
B9 $kms^{-1}$
C $\sqrt{35}\ kms^{-1}$
D3 $kms^{-1}$

Question 34

electric potential

How much kinetic energy is acquired by a proton of charge q after being accelerated through a p.d. V in a distance of 5 mm?

AqV
B5qV
C $\frac{5q}{V}$
D $\frac{q}{V}$

Question 35

magnetic fields

A proton moving at

2.5\times10^5\ ms^{-1}

enters a magnetic field of flux density 0.2 T at right angles. What is the radius of its path?

A5.2 μm
B7.1 μm
C1.3 cm
D76.6 m

Question 36

photoelectric effect

Which is not a conclusion drawn from the photoelectric effect?

AThe number of electrons emitted per second is proportional to intensity.
BThe maximum velocity of emitted electrons depends on incident light frequency.
CLight has a dual nature, the particle and the wave nature.
DWork functions of metals depend on the temperature of a photocell.

Question 37

de Broglie wavelength

What is the wavelength of an electron moving with velocity

5.0\times10^6\ ms^{-1}

A $2.4\times10^{-37}$ m
B $1.5\times10^{-10}$ m
C $1.7\times10^{-8}$ m
D $6.8\times10^{9}$ m

Question 38

atomic structure

In an α-scattering experiment, α particles were deflected through angles ranging from 0° to 180°. This is explained as due to scattering from

Afree electrons.
Bbound electrons.
Csmall but heavy regions of positive charge.
Dlarge and heavy regions of negative charge.

Question 39

nuclear physics

Isotopes have the same

Acharge/mass ratio.
Bneutron number.
Cnucleon number.
Dproton number.

Question 40

radioactive decay

A radioactive nuclide emits an α-particle and two negative β-particles. Compared with the original nuclide, the resulting nuclide will be an isotope with

Athe same proton number.
Bthe same nucleon number.
Ca higher nucleon number.
Da lower proton number.