TEMASEK 

JUNIOR COLLEGE 
2021 JC1 END-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION 
Higher 2 

NAME

CG

PHYSICS 9749 
 
Section B Structured Questions 27 September 2021 
2 hours 40 minutes 
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.

No Additional Materials are required.

For Examiner’s Use

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST A
Write your civics group and name in the spaces at the top of this page. B1
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper. B2
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs. B3
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid. B4
The use of an approved scientific calculator is expected, where B5
appropriate.
Answer all questions B6

B7

B8

B9
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each s.f.
question or part question.
Total

This booklet consists of 19 printed pages

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Data
speed of light in free space c  3.00  108 m s1
permeability of free space 0  4   107 H m1
permittivity of free space 0  8.85  1012 F m1
 (1/(36))  109 F m1
elementary charge e  1.60  1019 C
the Planck constant h  6.63  1034 J s
unified atomic mass constant u  1.66  1027 kg
rest mass of electron me  9.11  1031 kg
rest mass of proton mp  1.67  1027 kg
molar gas constant R  8.31 J K1 mol1
the Avogadro constant NA  6.02  1023 mol1
the Boltzmann constant k  1.38  1023 J K1
gravitational constant G  6.67  1011 N m2 kg2
acceleration of free fall g  9.81 m s2

Formulae
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MARGIN uniformly accelerated motion MARGIN

work done on / by a gas W  pV

hydrostatic pressure p  gh
gravitational potential    Gm r
temperature T/K  T/C + 273.15

pressure of an ideal gas

mean translational kinetic energy of an ideal gas molecule

x  x0 sin t
displacement of particle in s.h.m.
v  v 0 cos t   x02  x 2
velocity of particle in s.h.m.
electric current I  Anvq
resistors in series R  R1 + R2 + . . . .
resistors in parallel 1/R  1/R1 + 1/R2 + . . . .
electric potential V  Q/(40r)
alternating current / voltage x  x0 sint
0 I
B
magnetic flux density due to a long straight wire 2 d
 NI
B 0
magnetic flux density due to a flat circular coil 2r
B  0 n I
magnetic flux density due to a long solenoid
radioactive decay x  x0 exp(t)
ln 2

t1
decay constant 2
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Section B
Answer all Questions

1 A 20 storey HDB flat with potted plants placed at every ledge is shown in Fig. 1.1. One day,
one of the pots tipped over and hit the flat soil patch at the bottom of the block. The mass of
the potted plant was estimated to be 4.0 kg, and made a depression of 0.24 m in the soil upon
impact.

Fourth storey

Third storey

Second storey
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First storey

Soil

Fig. 1.1 

  (a)  Given that the soil provides an average deceleration of 500 m s-2 when the pot enters it,

    (i)  Show that the velocity of the flower pot just before it hits the soil is 15.5 m s-1.
 
 
 

 [1]

    (ii)  Calculate the average force exerted by the potted plant on the soil. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
   
average force =   N [2]
 
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  (b)  Calculate the height from which the pot fell to the ground, and hence estimate the storey
from which it fell.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
          storey =      [3] 
       
  (c)  Sketch the velocity-time graph of the potted plant from the time it tips over, to the time it
hits the ground and come to a complete stop in Fig. 1.2 below. 
   [1]
v/ m s-1

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  t/ s

Fig. 1.2 
 
 

  (d)  With reference to part (b), explain how air resistance would affect your estimation of which
storey the potted plant fell from.

     

     

     

     

     
[2] 
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 2 A uniform rigid rod of mass 30 kg is attached to a vertical wall by a hinge as shown in

Fig. 2.1. The other end of the rod is held to the ceiling by a cable.

60o
hinge
30o cable

rod

 
  Fig. 2.1

(a) Draw the free body diagram of the forces acting on the rod in Fig. 2.1. Label and explain
all the forces clearly. [2]

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MARGIN (b) Show that the tension T in the cable is 127 N. MARGIN

      [1] 

(c) Determine the force acting on the rod by the hinge.

          force =    N
        
   direction =   [4] 
       
(d) The top end of the cable in Fig. 2.1 is shifted to the left such that it is
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vertical. State and explain the effect on the tension in the cable.

     

     
[2] 

3 A ball X moves along a horizontal frictionless surface and collides with another ball Y, as
illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

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Fig. 3.1 Fig. 3.2

Ball X has mass 0.300kg and initial velocity vx at an angle of 60.0° to line AB.
Ball Y has mass 0.200kg and initial velocity 6.00 m s–1 at an angle of 60.0° to line AB.
The balls stick together during the collision and then travel along line AB, as illustrated in Fig.
3.2.

   (a) State and explain whether momentum is conserved for the system of the two colliding
balls X and Y.
     

        
[2] 

   (b) (i) Calculate the component of the initial momentum of ball Y that is perpendicular to line
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AB.

   
component of momentum =   kg m s-1 [1] 

    (ii) By considering the component of the initial momentum of each ball perpendicular to
line AB, calculate vx.

   
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    (iii) Hence determine the speed of the two balls after the collision.

   
speed =   m s-1 [2] 

(c) The two balls continue moving together along the horizontal frictionless surface towards a
spring, as illustrated in Fig. 3.3.

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Fig. 3.3

The balls hit the spring and remain stuck together as they decelerate to rest. The spring
obeys Hooke’s law and has a spring constant of 72 N m–1.

    (i) Determine the maximum compression of the spring caused by the two balls.

   
maximum compression =   m [2] 
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(ii) On Fig. 3.4, sketch graphs to show the variation with compression x of the spring,
from zero to maximum compression, of:

1. the magnitude of the deceleration a of the balls

2. the kinetic energy Ek of the balls.

Numerical values are not required

[2]
Fig. 3.4

 4 A fixed mass of a non monoatomic ideal gas is subjected to a cycle of processes ABCA.
Fig. 4.1 shows a graph of pressure p against volume V of the gas for one cycle .
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MARGIN Fig. 4.1 MARGIN

  (a) (i) Use data from the graph to confirm that process BC is isothermal. [2]

    (ii) State and explain how the experiment could be carried out such that the process BC
is isothermal.

[1]

(b) The gas is taken around the cycle ABCA shown by the arrows on Fig 4.1. State and
explain qualitatively whether heat is absorbed or given out during the cycle.

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[3]

(c) (i) The temperature of the gas at point C is 112 oC. Show that the amount of gas is
0.053 moles. [1]

(ii) The molar heat capacity of the gas at constant volume is 20 J mol-1 K-1. Use part (i)
to determine U, the decrease in internal energy of the gas for the process CA.

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decrease in internal energy U = J [3]

 5 The Earth may be assumed to be a uniform sphere of radius 6400 km and mass 6.02 x 10 24
kg.
(a) A 50.0 kg boy is standing still on a flat ground located at latitude 35.6o north of the
Equator, somewhere in Japan, as shown in Fig 5.1.
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Fig. 5.1

    (i) 1. On Fig. 5.1, draw an arrow to indicate the direction of the centripetal force on
the boy. [1]

  2. Determine the centripetal force on the boy due to the rotation of the Earth.
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centripetal force =   N  [2] 

    (ii) Draw and label all the external forces acting on the boy on Fig. 5.2.

Fig. 5.2
   

[2] 
   (b) The boy now puts a weighing scale under him to read his weight from the scale.
State whether there is a difference in the readings on the weighing scale if the boy stands
on the same weighing scale at the North pole.
       

       
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[1] 

 6  (a) Derive an expression to show that for satellites in a circular orbit,

T2 ∝ r3

where T is the period of orbit and r is the radius of the orbit.

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[2]
 
   (b) Pluto is a dwarf planet. The mean orbital radius of Pluto around the Sun is 5.91 × 109 km
compared to a mean orbital radius of 1.50 × 108 km for the Earth.

Calculate the orbital period of Pluto.

   
orbital period =   years [2] 

   (c) A small mass released from rest just above the surface of Pluto has an acceleration of
0.617 m s−2. Assuming that Pluto has no atmosphere that could provide any resistance to
motion and given that the radius of Pluto is 1.19 × 106 m, calculate the mass of Pluto.
  
 
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mass =   kg [2] 
       
   (d) The gravitational potential at the surface of Pluto is 7.4 × 105 J kg-1. A meteorite hits Pluto
and ejects a lump of ice from the surface that travels vertically at an initial speed of
1400 m s−1. Determine whether this lump of ice can escape from Pluto.  
 

       
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[2] 

7 (a)  Define simple harmonic motion.

     

     
[2] 
 
(b)  State what is meant by a damped oscillation.
     

     
[1] 

(c) A car component of mass 0.0460 kg rattles at a resonant frequency of 35.5 Hz.
Fig. 7.1 shows how the amplitude of the oscillation varies with frequency.

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Fig. 7.1
   (i) Calculate the energy stored in the oscillation of the component when oscillating at the
  resonant frequency.

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energy =    [3] 

     (ii)  On Fig.7.1, draw a line to show the effect of supporting the component on a rubber
mounting.
[2]

8 A sound is created by blowing across the top of a tube which is open at one end. The sound is
recorded and displayed on a graph of amplitude against frequency as shown in Fig. 8.1.
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Fig. 8.1

  (a)  Fig. 8.2 shows the standing wave created at the fundamental frequency. The positions of
a node and an antinode are shown.

Fig. 8.2

     (i)  Explain how this standing wave is formed.

        
[2] 

     (i) With reference to the principle of superposition, explain the presence of the node at
the closed end of the tube.
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[1] 

   (iii) Sketch on Fig. 8.3 to show the standing wave pattern for an overtone and state its
  frequency.

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          frequency =    Hz [2] 

    Given that the length of the tube is 20.3 cm, determine the speed of sound in in the tube.

          speed =    m s-1 [3] 

 9 Two prominent commercial aeroplane manufacturers are Boeing and Airbus. Singapore
Airlines has a total of 18 Airbus and 76 Boeing aeroplanes in full flight operations. The
general specifications and flight information of a typical small size Airbus is given in Fig. 9.1.
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Mass of aeroplane, including crew and equipment 45000 kg

Maximum capacity of fuel tanks (including reserve fuel) 25000 kg
Maximum number of passengers 200
Average mass of a passenger with baggage 100 kg
Average use of fuel per kilometre 5 kg
Safety reserve of fuel at the end of journey 3000 kg
Number of engines 4
Maximum thrust per engine 63 kN
Cruising speed 900 km hr-1
Take-off speed 75 ms-1
Take-off distance 3000 m
Altitude of flight (height above mean sea level) 9000 m

Fig 9.1

Many factors are taken into consideration to ensure safety in air travel. Some factors include
maximum mass of load carried by the aeroplane, length of runway, airport design as well as
fuel capacity. It is a requirement that every commercial aeroplane maintain a certain amount of
reserve fuel at the end of each journey as a safety measure.

In level flight, lift is produced by pressure differences produced by airflow across the wings,
with lift depending on the speed and on the surface area of the wings. Cruising speeds of
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lift are likely to depend mainly on the surface area and shape of the wings.
(a) Assuming that it is carrying the maximum number of passengers and that its fuel tanks
are filled to full capacity,

  (i) calculate the total mass of the aeroplane before take-off;

total mass of the aeroplane = kg [1]

(ii) Show that, with maximum thrust provided by the engines, the initial acceleration of
the aeroplane is 2.8 m s-2.

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[1]
(iii) Hence, use (a)(ii) to calculate the distance required for the aeroplane to reach its
take-off speed.

distance required = m [2]

(iv) The distance calculated in (iii) is substantially less than the quoted take-off distance.
Suggest and explain a reason for this.

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[1]

   (b) (i) The range of an aeroplane refers to the maximum distance it can fly without utilising
the reserve fuel. Calculate the range for the aeroplane from the information given.

range for the aeroplane = m [2]

(ii) Calculate the time the plane takes to travel the range calculated in (i) with its
cruising speed.
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time to travel = hr [1]

(c) Calculate the minimum further distance the aeroplane can fly if the airport it is scheduled
to land is closed due to poor weather conditions.

minimum further distance = km [1]

(d) In level flight, the lift required is directly proportional to the mass of the aircraft. Explain
why
this is so.

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[2]

(e) Suggest one reason why Airbus is designed to fly at 9000 m above the mean sea level.

[1]

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