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ZIMSEC O Level · 4023/2 · N2019

Physics Paper 2 November 2019

Questions
32
Total marks
120
Time allowed
120 min
Syllabus code
4023/2

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Questions
32
Pass mark
20
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Answer every question in the printed order, get marked at the end, then see the answers.

The questions

Question 101

[1 marks]Acceleration of a cyclist and factors affecting friction
A cyclist and bicycle have a total mass of 90 kg. The cyclist accelerates from rest with a driving force of 135 N, against a frictional force of 30 N. What is the acceleration of the cyclist?
  1. A1.5 m/s²
  2. B0.33 m/s²
  3. C1.83 m/s²
  4. D1.17 m/s²

Question 102

[1 marks]Acceleration of a cyclist and factors affecting friction
A cyclist's motion is opposed by friction between two surfaces in contact. State one factor that affects the size of a frictional force between two surfaces.

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Question 201

[1 marks]Displacement vs distance, and velocity of a stone in circular motion
Which physical quantity describes the distance moved by an object in a specified direction (unlike distance, which has no direction)?

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Question 202

[1 marks]Displacement vs distance, and velocity of a stone in circular motion
A stone attached to a string is whirled around in a horizontal circle at a constant speed of 10 m/s. What is the magnitude of the stone's velocity at any point on the circle?

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Question 203

[1 marks]Displacement vs distance, and velocity of a stone in circular motion
A stone attached to a string is whirled around in a horizontal circle at a constant speed of 10 m/s. Even though its speed does not change, why is the stone accelerating?
  1. AThe tension in the string is decreasing steadily as the stone continues moving around the circle.
  2. BThe stone slows down briefly every time it completes one full revolution of the circle.
  3. CIts speed is actually increasing steadily as it moves around each part of the circular path.
  4. DIts velocity is changing because its direction of motion is continuously changing.

Question 301

[1 marks]Arch-shaped dam walls and environmental hazards of dam construction
Which of the following is a correct reason why concrete dam walls are usually built in an arch shape?
  1. AConcrete is strong in compression, and the arch shape distributes the force of the water as compression.
  2. BAn arch shape makes the wall significantly lighter overall, reducing the amount of concrete needed to build it.
  3. CConcrete is strong in tension, and the arch shape helps it resist the stretching forces from the water.
  4. DAn arch shape reduces the total water pressure acting on the wall by spreading it over a larger area.

Question 302

[1 marks]Arch-shaped dam walls and environmental hazards of dam construction
Which of the following is NOT typically listed as an environmental hazard associated with dam construction?
  1. ADeath of animals living in the area of land that gets permanently flooded when the dam wall is completed
  2. BFlooding of land both upstream of the dam wall and downstream of it when water is released
  3. CDamage to the local ecosystem and surrounding vegetation caused by the rising water level behind the dam
  4. DReduced electricity bills for nearby residents, an economic benefit rather than an environmental hazard

Question 401

[1 marks]Convection currents in a heated liquid, and conduction
A liquid is heated in a beaker from below. Which of the following correctly describes how convection currents are produced?
  1. AThe heated liquid contracts and becomes denser, so it sinks to the bottom of the beaker.
  2. BThe colder liquid at the top expands and rises above the heated liquid at the bottom.
  3. CThe heated liquid expands, becomes less dense, and rises, while colder, denser liquid sinks to take its place, setting up a circulating current.
  4. DHeat energy passes directly from particle to neighbouring particle without any liquid moving.

Question 402

[1 marks]Convection currents in a heated liquid, and conduction
What name is given to the method of heat transfer in which particles close to a heat source vibrate more and pass energy on to neighbouring particles, without the particles changing position?

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Question 501

[1 marks]Specific latent heat of fusion of ice
Which of the following correctly defines specific latent heat?
  1. AThe amount of heat required to change the state of a substance, per unit mass, at constant temperature.
  2. BThe amount of heat released when a substance cools by one degree, per unit volume of the substance.
  3. CThe total heat energy contained in a substance at its melting point, regardless of mass.
  4. DThe amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree, per unit mass of the substance.

Question 502

[1 marks]Specific latent heat of fusion of ice
The specific latent heat of fusion of ice is 330 J/g. Calculate the amount of heat required to melt 80 g of ice at 0 °C.
  1. A26.4 J
  2. B3300 J
  3. C26 400 J
  4. D410 J

Question 503

[1 marks]Specific latent heat of fusion of ice
State the effect that impurities have on the melting point of ice: do they raise it, lower it, or have no effect?

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Question 601

[1 marks]Charging a plastic rod by friction, and attraction of paper
A plastic rod becomes negatively charged after being rubbed on a piece of cloth, because electrons transfer to the rod. What type of charge is left on the cloth?

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Question 602

[1 marks]Charging a plastic rod by friction, and attraction of paper
A plastic rod is rubbed on a piece of cloth and becomes negatively charged. Which of the following correctly describes how the rod became charged?
  1. AProtons move from the cloth to the rod, giving the rod extra positive charge.
  2. BProtons move from the rod to the cloth, leaving the rod negatively charged.
  3. CElectrons move from the cloth to the rod, leaving the rod with an excess of electrons.
  4. DElectrons move from the rod to the cloth, leaving the rod with a shortage of electrons.

Question 603

[1 marks]Charging a plastic rod by friction, and attraction of paper
A negatively charged rod is brought close to small pieces of paper, and the paper is attracted to the rod. Why does this attraction occur?
  1. AThe paper is magnetised by the rod's electric field, causing attraction.
  2. BElectrons in the paper are repelled to the far side, leaving a positive charge on the near side, and unlike charges attract.
  3. CThe paper becomes negatively charged by direct contact with the rod before being attracted.
  4. DThe rod's electric field pushes the paper away, and air pressure pushes it back toward the rod.

Question 701

[1 marks]Limitations of Ohm's law, I-V characteristic of a filament lamp, and resistor current
State one condition (relating to the physical state of a conductor) that must be kept constant for Ohm's law to apply.

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Question 702

[1 marks]Limitations of Ohm's law, I-V characteristic of a filament lamp, and resistor current
A 3 Ω resistor is connected to a 1.5 V supply. Calculate the current passing through the resistor.
  1. A0.5 A
  2. B4.5 A
  3. C0.2 A
  4. D2 A

Question 801

[1 marks]Isotopes, neutron count, and radioactive half-life decay
Two atoms have the same proton number (10) but different mass numbers (20 and 21). What name is given to atoms of the same element with different mass numbers?

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Question 802

[1 marks]Isotopes, neutron count, and radioactive half-life decay
An atom has a proton number of 10 and a mass number of 21. How many neutrons does this atom have?

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Question 803

[1 marks]Isotopes, neutron count, and radioactive half-life decay
A radioactive sample has a mass of 10 g and a half-life of 5 days. How many days does it take for the sample to decay to 1.25 g?
  1. A20 days
  2. B15 days
  3. C40 days
  4. D10 days

Question 901

[1 marks]Density of a regular object, why ice floats, a velocity-time graph, and terminal velocity in oil
What is the SI unit of density?

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Question 902

[1 marks]Density of a regular object, why ice floats, a velocity-time graph, and terminal velocity in oil
Which of the following correctly explains why ice floats on water?
  1. AIce floats because tiny air bubbles trapped inside the ice make it lighter in weight than the surrounding water.
  2. BWhen water freezes, its volume increases while its mass stays the same, so its density decreases below that of water.
  3. CWhen water freezes, its mass increases significantly while its volume stays exactly the same, so its density increases.
  4. DIce floats because it is slightly warmer than the surrounding water, which makes it less dense overall.

Question 903

[1 marks]Density of a regular object, why ice floats, a velocity-time graph, and terminal velocity in oil
A body moves at a constant velocity of 4 m/s from t = 0 to t = 4 s. Its velocity then increases uniformly from 4 m/s to 12 m/s between t = 4 s and t = 10 s. Calculate the total distance covered in the first 10 seconds.
  1. A40 m
  2. B64 m
  3. C48 m
  4. D80 m

Question 1001

[1 marks]A pulley system's mechanical advantage, gravitational PE of a waterfall, and welding methods
In a pulley system, pulley A is a fixed pulley attached to the support, not carrying the load directly. What is the purpose of a fixed pulley in a pulley system?

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Question 1002

[1 marks]A pulley system's mechanical advantage, gravitational PE of a waterfall, and welding methods
A pulley system is used to lift a load of mass 20 kg with an effort of 95 N. Using g = 10 m/s², calculate the mechanical advantage of the pulley system.
  1. A0.21
  2. B0.475
  3. C2.1
  4. D21

Question 1003

[1 marks]A pulley system's mechanical advantage, gravitational PE of a waterfall, and welding methods
Water in a river flows over a cliff 70 m high. Using g = 10 m/s², calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of each kilogram of the water as it falls.
  1. A1400 J
  2. B70 J
  3. C350 J
  4. D700 J

Question 1101

[1 marks]Electromagnetic waves changing medium, uses of visible light, wavefronts at a shallow/deep boundary, and thermometer fixed points
What term describes a line joining points on a wave that are in phase, such as a line joining successive wave crests?

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Question 1102

[1 marks]Electromagnetic waves changing medium, uses of visible light, wavefronts at a shallow/deep boundary, and thermometer fixed points
A water wave crosses a boundary at an angle, passing from a shallow region into a deep region. Which of the following properties of the wave stays the same as it crosses the boundary?
  1. ASpeed
  2. BWavelength
  3. CFrequency
  4. DDirection of travel (angle)

Question 1103

[1 marks]Electromagnetic waves changing medium, uses of visible light, wavefronts at a shallow/deep boundary, and thermometer fixed points
A mercury-in-glass thermometer has a mercury thread of length 10 mm at ice point (0 °C) and 110 mm at steam point (100 °C). Calculate the temperature corresponding to a thread length of 70 mm.
  1. A63.6 °C
  2. B54.5 °C
  3. C40 °C
  4. D60 °C

Question 1201

[1 marks]Making and demagnetising a magnet, separating iron from copper, iron vs steel, and household circuit safety
An electromagnet is used to separate a mixture of iron and copper scrap by switching on a current. Which of the two metals is attracted and removed by the electromagnet?

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Question 1202

[1 marks]Making and demagnetising a magnet, separating iron from copper, iron vs steel, and household circuit safety
An electrical appliance is rated 800 W, 240 V. Calculate the current drawn by the appliance and state a suitable fuse rating for it, from standard fuse ratings of 1 A, 3 A, 5 A, and 13 A.
  1. A5 A
  2. B13 A
  3. C1 A
  4. D3 A

Question 1203

[1 marks]Making and demagnetising a magnet, separating iron from copper, iron vs steel, and household circuit safety
In a household circuit, why must the fuse be connected to the live wire rather than the neutral wire?
  1. ASo that when the fuse blows, the live wire is disconnected and the appliance's casing cannot become live, protecting anyone who touches it.
  2. BBecause connecting the fuse to the neutral wire would prevent the appliance from switching on at all.
  3. CSo that when the fuse blows, the neutral wire is disconnected, stopping current from returning to the supply.
  4. DBecause the live wire carries less current than the neutral wire, so it is safer to interrupt.

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