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Unit 5 Physics past paper questions

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Questions
Q1.

The first law of thermodynamics can be written as an equation, Q = ΔU + W.

A sealed cylinder contains helium gas.

The cylinder containing the helium gas is heated.

The cylinder has fixed dimensions.

(i) Which quantity increases for the helium atoms, when the cylinder is heated?
(1)
A average density of the atoms

B average kinetic energy of the atoms

C total number of atoms

D volume of each atom

(ii) The gas cylinder contains helium gas at a temperature of 283 K.

The pressure of the gas is 3.0 × 105 Pa.
The volume of the gas remains constant at 0.1 m 3.
The temperature of the helium gas increases to 333 K.
Calculate the new pressure of the gas at 333 K.
(3)

Use the equation:

Show your working.

pressure = ........................................................... Pa

(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q2.

(i) A boiler gives out 3.5 × 109 J of energy to heat a home each year.
To produce this amount of energy, the boiler takes in 2.9 × 1010 J.
(2)
 Calculate the efficiency of the boiler.

Use the equation:

Show your working.

efficiency of boiler = ...........................................................

(ii) Give a value for an amount of energy that the boiler should take in to increase its efficiency.
(1)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q3.

Steel bolts are used to hold the engine of a car in place.

One of the steel bolts is stress tested.

(i) The length of the bolt is 10.0 cm before testing.

During the test when the work done on the bolt is 100 J, its length is 10.4 cm.
Calculate the force applied to the bolt when its length is 10.4 cm.
Use the equation
work done in stretching = 1⁄ 2 F Δx
Show your working.
(4)

force applied = ........................................................... N

(ii) Figure 3 shows the data from the stress test of the steel bolt.
 Figure 3
Explain the behaviour of the steel between points:
- O to A
- B to C.
(6)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q4.

A refrigerator is a type of heat pump.

The contents of a refrigerator are kept at a temperature of 6°C.

The thermal energy taken out of the refrigerator is 4 680 000 J.

The refrigerator has an efficiency of 0.35.

Calculate the input energy to the refrigerator.

(4)

Use the equation:

Show your working.

 input energy = ........................................................... J

(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q5.

A power station boiler produces some steam.

A power station uses steam to turn a turbine.

The steam is then condensed.

(i) The steam loses 5.65 × 109 J of thermal energy when it is condensed into water.

The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is 2.26 × 106 J kg-1.

Calculate the mass of steam converted into water by the cooling tower.

Show your working.

(3)

mass ........................................................... kg

(ii) The power station has a maximum theoretical efficiency of 0.56.

The water leaving the power station cooling tower has a temperature of 298 K.

Calculate the temperature of the steam in the turbine.

Show your working.

(3)
 temperature of steam = ........................................................... K

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q6.

In an electricity power station, water is heated to produce high pressure steam at 400 °C.

The steam is condensed back to water at a temperature of 25 °C.

Calculate the maximum theoretical efficiency of the power station.

Show your working.

maximum theoretical efficiency = ...........................................................

(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q7.

A petrol engine is an example of a heat engine.

A mixture of petrol vapour and air enters the engine cylinders.

The fuel burns and work is done by the petrol engine.

Figure 5 shows the changes in pressure and volume in one of the engine cylinders.
A fuel-air mixture burns at a temperature of 2800 K.

The engine has a maximum theoretical efficiency of 0.4.

Calculate the output temperature, Tc , of the exhaust gases.

(3)

Use the equation:

Show your working.

output temperature, Tc ........................................................... K

(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q8.
Figure 3 is a diagram of a slinky spring being stretched.

Slotted masses are added to the end of the spring to increase the force stretching the spring.

Figure 3

Figure 4 shows a graph of the data collected.

Figure 4
(i) Calculate the spring constant, k, of the slinky spring.
Show your working.
(4)

spring constant k = ........................................................... Nm -1

(ii) A force of 0.5 N is hung from the slinky spring.

Calculate the work done by this force when stretching the spring.

Use the equation

Show your working.
(3)

work done = ........................................................... J

(Total for question = 7 marks)

Q9.

Figure 1 shows part of a car suspension system.

The coiled spring supports some of the weight of the car.

The coiled spring has an original length of 0.4 m.

When tested, the length of the spring changes by 0.008 m.

Calculate the strain on the spring.

(2)

Use the equation:

Show your working.

strain = ...........................................................

(Total for question = 2 marks)

Q10.

A gas is able to expand isothermally or adiabatically.

A gas cylinder is able to withstand a maximum pressure of 1.20 × 106 Pa.

The cylinder has a volume 3.00 × 10−4 m 3.

It contains 3.00 × 1022 molecules of gas.

Calculate, using the ideal gas equation, the temperature of the gas at maximum pressure.

The constant k = 1.38 × 10−23 J K−1

Show your working.

temperature = ........................................................... K

(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q11.

A block of iron has a mass of 1788 kg.

The density of iron is 7870 kg m −3.

Calculate the volume of the block of iron.

Show your working.

volume = ........................................................... m 3

(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q12.

Copper and glass are both used in the building industry.

Glass is a brittle material and copper is a ductile material.

The graph shows the stress – strain curves for glass and copper.
A steel wire is used to suspend a light fitting from a ceiling.

The tensile stress in the wire is 1 × 109 Pa.

The wire has a cross sectional area of 0.5 mm 2

Calculate the weight of the light fitting.

Show your working.

weight of light fitting = ........................................................... N

(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q13.
A refrigerator is a type of heat pump.

The contents of a refrigerator are kept at a temperature of 6°C.

Figure 4 is a diagram of the cooling system of a refrigerator.

The refrigerator cooling system consists of four parts:

· compressor
· condenser coils
· expansion device
· evaporator coils.

A refrigerator is an example of a heat pump.

Comment on how the four parts of the refrigerator affect its efficiency as a heat pump.
(6)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q14.
A technician takes some ice from a freezer at a temperature of –20 °C.

The technician heats the ice until it has melted and then boiled away.

The technician measures the temperature at regular intervals.

Figure 6 shows a temperature-time graph of the data the technician collected.

Compare the similarities and differences between the molecules at the points labelled P, Q, R, S and T in
Figure 6.

Your answer should include reference to:

· the energy of the molecules

· the intermolecular forces between the molecules.
(6)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q15.

Figure 8 shows a water pipe. The water pipe has been dented in the middle.

Figure 8

The water flow is streamlined before passing the dent.

The water flow is turbulent after passing the dent.

Compare the water flow and water viscosity before and after passing the dent in the water pipe.
(6)
You may draw diagrams to help your answer.

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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q16.

A steel bar must have strength to support heavy loads.

Complete Sentence 1 about the strength of the steel bar.

(1)

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q17.

Aeroplanes are designed to reduce the viscous drag of the air they fly through.

Figure 1 shows a prototype aeroplane designed to reduce viscous drag.

The aeroplane flies from a region of non-turbulent air flow into a region of turbulent air flow.

Complete the diagram in Figure 2 to show how the airflow changes from non-turbulent air flow to turbulent
air flow.
(2)
 (Total for question = 2 marks)

Q18.

Figure 7 shows a glass bottle of tomato ketchup.

Figure 7

Tomato ketchup is a non-Newtonian fluid.

Tomato ketchup can sometimes get stuck in the glass bottle.

The glass bottle needs to be shaken to make the ketchup flow quickly.

Describe how shaking the glass bottle makes the ketchup flow quickly.
(3)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q19.

A petrol engine is an example of a heat engine.

A mixture of petrol vapour and air enters the engine cylinders.

The fuel burns and work is done by the petrol engine.

Figure 5 shows the changes in pressure and volume in one of the engine cylinders.
Describe how the pressure in the engine cylinder changes in the four parts E, F, G and H in Figure 5.
(4)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q20.

The diagram shows a simplified model of a refrigerator.

The refrigerator is very well insulated.

Describe, using the diagram, how the refrigerator cools the inside of the refrigerator.

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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q21.

Steam at a high temperature is compressed in a cylinder by a piston.

A kettle of water is boiled next to a window.

Condensation forms on the window when the steam changes into water droplets.

The window is at room temperature.

Describe the behaviour of the water molecules as the steam condenses to form water droplets on the
window.
(4)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q22.

(i) A technician heats a metal plate made from cast iron. After a few minutes the temperature of the metal
plate is constant when it reaches thermal equilibrium.
Describe what is meant by the term thermal equilibrium.
 (2)
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(ii) The cast iron plate has a high thermal capacity.

Describe what is meant by the term thermal capacity.
(2)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q23.

Mild steel and cast iron have been used in the construction of tall buildings.

They are used as beams to support floors and walls.

The table gives some information about the properties of the two materials.

Discuss which is a more suitable material to use as beams to support floors and walls in a tall building.

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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q24.

A pipe is used to transport oil.

The pipe becomes partially obstructed as shown in the diagram.

The flow of oil is normally streamline.

The obstruction causes the flow of oil to become turbulent.

Draw a fluid flow pattern for the oil from point X to point Y on the diagram.

(Total for question = 2 marks)

Q25.

H2O exists as a solid (ice), a liquid (water) or a gas (steam).

The state of H2O depends on its temperature.

Ice is placed in a beaker of water in a refrigerator at 0° C.

The beaker containing water and ice is left in the fridge for 30 minutes.

(i) State what happens to the contents of the beaker during this time.
(1)
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The contents of the beaker are heated.

A graph is drawn to show the change in temperature against time.

(ii) Which section of the graph shows where the average kinetic energy of the molecules is greatest?
(1)
A W
B X
C Y
D Z

(iii) Identify and justify which section of the graph represents boiling.
(3)
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(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q26.

Mechanical and thermal systems can be controlled by an isothermal process.

A petrol engine is a heat engine.

A fuel and air mixture burn in the cylinders of a petrol engine to do work.

The graph shows how the pressure and volume of the gas in a cylinder changes during the heat engine
cycle.
Explain how a petrol engine is a form of heat engine.

Use the graph to support your answer.

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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q27.

Copper and glass are both used in the building industry.

Glass is a brittle material and copper is a ductile material.

The graph shows the stress – strain curves for glass and copper.

Roofing lead is used as a building material.

Explain how creep can cause roofing lead to become damaged.

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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q28.

A pipe is used to transport oil.

Explain how the velocity of the oil changes due to changes in the viscosity of the oil when the temperature
rises.

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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q29.

Aeroplanes are designed to reduce the viscous drag of the air they fly through.

Figure 1 shows a prototype aeroplane designed to reduce viscous drag.

Explain how the aeroplane reduces viscous drag.
(2)
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(Total for question = 2 marks)

Q30.

A force is applied to the end of an elastic band by adding weights.

The elastic band increases in length.

The increase in length is called the extension.

A learner measures the extension of the band.

This is repeated for a range of different weights.

The learner also measures the extension as the weights are removed.

They draw a graph of their results.

Explain how the graph shows that the elastic band does not obey Hooke's law.

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(Total for question = 2 marks)

Q31.

Aeroplane wings are tested in wind tunnels to check that they are aerodynamic.

Explain how the shape of the wing enables an aeroplane to fly.

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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q32.

Copper and lead are both used in electric circuits.

Copper is both malleable and ductile. Lead is malleable, but is not ductile.

Explain the difference between malleable and ductile.

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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q33.

Water flows along a pipe.

(i) Which factor will affect the viscosity of the water in the pipe?
(1)
A density

B pressure

C temperature

D velocity

(ii) Figure 3 shows a pipe that is wide and becomes narrower.

Water flows through the pipe.

The water in the pipe is moving with a streamline flow.

Complete Paragraph 1 to give a definition of streamline flow.
(3)

(iii) Explain the effect on the water pressure as the pipe narrows.
(2)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q34.

Figure 1 shows water flowing through part of a water pipe that narrows.

Figure 1

The pressure and velocity of the water flow are measured at point Y and point X.

Motor car engines use oil as a lubricant to reduce friction.

The oil needs to reach all parts of the engine to coat all the moving parts.

As the temperature of oil increases it becomes less viscous.

(i) Explain the effects of low temperature on how well the oil acts as a lubricant.
(2)
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(ii) Explain the effects of high temperature on how well the oil acts as a lubricant.
(2)
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 (Total for question = 4 marks)

Q35.

An electric heater is used to heat some water in a shower.

(i) The heater produces 5000 joules of energy every second.

Water enters the heater at a temperature of 289 K.
The mass of water flowing through the heater every second is 0.08 kg.
Calculate the temperature of the water leaving the shower.
(4)
Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg–1 K–1
Show your working.

temperature of water = ........................................................... K

(ii) The temperature of the water leaving the shower is measured to be different from the calculated
value.
Explain why the temperature is different.
(2)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q36.

Car electrical systems use copper.

Copper is described as being ductile.

Explain the term ductile.

(3)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q37.

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid that is made by mixing cornstarch and water.

Oobleck normally pours like a liquid.

Figure 4 shows a person jumping up and down in a tub containing Oobleck.

When the person jumps on the Oobleck from a height, it acts like a solid.

Explain why the Oobleck acts like a solid when jumped on.
(3)
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 (Total for question = 3 marks)

Q38.

A gas is able to expand isothermally or adiabatically.

Aerosol cans contain a gas under pressure.

When the gas is released, the aerosol can becomes cold.

Explain why the aerosol can becomes cold when the gas is released.

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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Mark Scheme
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.
Q6.
Q7.
Q8.
Q9.
Q10.
Q11.

Q12.
Q13.
Q14.
Q15.
Q16.
Q17.

Q18.
Q19.

Q20.
Q21.

Q22.
Q23.
Q24.
Q25.

Q26.
Q27.
Q28.
Q29.

Q30.
Q31.

Q32.
Q33.

Q34.
Q35.
Q36.

Q37.
Q38.