MUCHINGA REGION

SENIOR PHYSICS OLYMPIADS

Question 1
The diagram below shows a galvanometer of resistance 100Ω and with a full - scale deflection
of 1m A.

a. What do you understand by the term full scale deflection? [2]

b. This galvanometer is to be converted into an ammeter by connecting a resistor to it. What do
we call this resistor and using a diagram, draw how this resistor is connected. [2]
c. If this galvanometer is to be converted to a voltmeter, a resistor is connected to it. What name
is given to such a resistor and draw a circuit to show how it is connected. [2]
d. If this ammeter (in b above) is to measure a maximum current of 5A, calculate the resistance
of the resistor connected to it. [2]
e. The voltmeter is to measure up to 1 V. what resistor can be connected to the galvanometer?
[3]
f. What physical quantity is measured in Farads? [1]
Total [12]

Question 2
As shown in the figure below, a ray enters the flat and of a long rectangular block of glass that has
a refractive index of n2. Show that all entering rays can be totally internally reflected only if n2 >
1.414 . [3]

Q4
Q3
N2
Q2
--------------------------------------------
Q1

b. The figure below shows an optical fibre. XY is a ray of light passing along the fibre.

Y Fibre

X
 i. On the figure above, continue the ray XY until it passes Z. [2]
ii. Explain why the ray does not leave the fibre at Y [2]
c.the light in the optical fibre has a wavelength of 3.2 x 10-7 and is travelling at a speed
of 1.9 x 108 m/s.
i. Calculate the frequency of the light. [2]
8
ii. The speed of light in air is 3.0 x 10 m/s. Calculate the refractive index of the material
from which the fibre is made. [2]
Total [ 11]
Question 3
3. (a)The neutrons and protons in a stable nucleus are held together by nuclear forces and energy is
needed to break them apart. What name is given to this energy? [2]

(b) Consider the following reaction.

235 1 148 85
92 U+ 0 n 57 La + 35 Br + 2 0 1n + energy.

(i) What type of reaction is shown by the reaction above? Give a reason for your answer [2]
(ii) What is the mass defect of this reaction? [2]
(iii) What energy in joules is released by the above reaction. Given that:
1u = 931M eV.
1 M eV = 1.9 x 10-19j.
Mass of La =148.0 u.
Mass of Br = 85.0 u.
Mass of U = 235.1 u.
Mass of 1 neutron = 1.009 u. [3]

(c) Calculate the binding energy in MeV of a helium nucleus if the mass of the proton and netron have
masses of 1.0073 u and 1.0087 respectively. [Mass of helium nucleus = 4.0015 u, 1u = 193MeV] [3]

(d) Define chain reaction. [2]

Total [14]
 Question 4
4. A student was investigating kinetic and static friction of a surface using a wooden block. They
placed the block at one end which is slowly turned until the block just started sliding. This happened
at the angle of 400 as illustrated by the diagram below.

50cm

400
Pivot.

(a)(i) Distinguish between static and kinetic friction. [2]

(ii) How can you demonstrate that static friction is greater than kinetic friction? [2]

(b) Calculate the static friction of the experiment. [2]

(c)(i) State the force which works to slide the block. [1]

(ii) Calculate the work done by the force in c (i) above. [2]

(d) If the static friction is 10% greater than the kinetic friction, determine the final velocity of the
block [2]

Total [11]

Question 5
Two bodies are travelling in opposite direction. A 0.4kg is travelling to the right at 8m/s while a 0.2kg
is travelling at 12m/s to the left. The two bodies collide head on, stick to each other and start to move
together in one direction.

8m/s 12m/s

0.4kg 0.2kg

(a) In what direction will the bodies move after sticking together. Explain [2]

(b) Calculate the speed with which the bodies will move after sticking to each other [2]
 (c) By means of calculation, show that the collision is inelastic [2]

Total [6]

Question 6
a. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝐶𝑜𝑠(2𝑥 − 𝜋), 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2𝜋
i. Find the amplitude of f(x) [1]
ii. Find the phase displacement of f(x) [2]
iii. Find the period of f(x) [2]

b. A pendulum can be used to measure time t of an event.

(i) Briefly describe how a pendulum can be used to measure the time an event lasts. [1]

(ii) Consider the pendulum below of length 30cm and mass 600g. The pendulum is displaced by 600
or 3cm above rest position.

600

---------------------- C
3cm
----------------------
B

(i)Draw a force diagram for the bob of the pendulum at position A. [1]

(ii) Calculate the tension T in the string at position A. [2]

(iii)When the pendulum is set free, it swings from A. calculate the acceleration in the direction of the
swing of the bob at A. [2]

(iv)Calculate the distance s the bob travels between A and B. [2]

 (iv) Using the distance of displacement from A to B, calculate the time the bob will take from
A to B. [2]

Total [15]

Question 7
The diagram below shows an object being pulled by three forces of magnitude 60N, 40N and 80N.

60N

1050

1200 80N

40N

a. Find the resultant force and the direction in which the object moves. Show all your working. [3]

b. an army squad ties a bomb at an angle of 600 to the horizontal ground. If the bomb is released with
an initial velocity of 400m/s and its flight time is 20 minutes, find the range of the bomb. Show your
working. [2]

400m/s.

600
Total [5]

Question 8
8. (a)You are supplied with converging lenses of focal length 50cm,5cm and 0.5cm. which one would
you use as:

(i) The objective compound microscope?

(ii) The eyepiece of the compound microscope?
(iii) The objective of a telescope? [3]

(b) A slide 7.5cm x 7.5cm is used in a projectile lantern to produce a picture `80cm2 on a screen in a
lecture hall. The slide is 30cm from the lens.
(i) What kind of lens is used? [1]

(ii) What can you say about its focal length and the size of the hall? [2]

(c)(i) A narrow beam of light is incident on a glass prism. Explain the difference between dispersion
and deviation produced. [2]

(ii) Name the primary colors. What color is complimentary to blue? Give a reason for your answer.[1]

(d) The image of a converging lens is upright and magnified 4 times. Calculate the object distance if
the focal length of the lens is 20cm. [2]

Total [11]

QUESTION 9

a. A block of metal of mass 0.5kg initially at a temperature of 100oc is gently lowered

into an insulated copper containers of mass 0.05kg containing 0.9kg of water at 20 oc. if
the final temperature of the mixture is 25oc. calculate the specific heat capacity C of
the metal block. ( assume no loss of heat and no water is vapourized) [2]

b. A double walled flask containing water is heated with a 16W heater and it is found that
it takes 30 minutes for the temperature to rise from 20oc to 100oc.
i. estimate an upper limit for the value of specific heat capacity of the inner flask and its content. [2]
ii. Calculate the mass of water that could be vaporized after 30 minutes of steady heating when
power is supplied at a rate of 60 W. take the specific latent heat of vaporization of water to be
2.26 x 106 Jkg-1. [2]
Specific heat capacity of (i) water 4200J (ii ) copper/container -385J
Total [6]

Question 10
Figure 1.11 below shows two boxes A and B each of mass 900g joined by an elastic string
which passes over a smooth fixed pulley. The system is held at rest with A hanging freely
while B is on a rough horizontal surface .The coefficient of friction between B and the
surface is 0.2. ( take g= 10 m/s2 )
Find the magnitude of the;

i. Acceleration of each box

[2]
ii. tension in the string when the system is released.
[2]
Total [4]

Question 11

The figure below shows the battery has an emf of 12.0 V, the inductance is 2.81 x 10 -3 H,
and the capacitance is 9.00 p F. The switch has been set to position a for a long time so that
the capacitor is charged. The switch is then thrown to position b, removing the battery from
the circuit and connecting the capacitor directly across the inductor.
(a) Convert 9.00pF to Faradays [1]

(b) Find the frequency of oscillation of the circuit [2]

(c) Find the initial charge which is equal to maximum charge [2]

Total [5]
SOLUTIONS

Answers

a. The current needed to deflect the pointer to the end of the scale.

b. The resistor is called a shunt. It is connected in parallel, across the terminals of the
galvanometer as shown in the digram.

Shunt

Galvanometer

c. the resistor is called a multiplier. It is connected in series connection with the

galvanometer as shown below.

multipier Galvanometer

d. Using Ohms Law: R= V

In the galvanometer; V = IR

= 0.001 x 100

= 0. 1v

Since the shunt is connected in parallel with the ammeter, the voltage across the shunt is also 0.1
v.

since the current that should flow is 5A, and only 0.001 should flow through the ammeter, it
means the rest of the current should flow through the shunt.

Current through the shunt = 5.000A – 0.001A

= 4.999A

For the shunt, VI = IR

= 4.999 x R

= 0.1v
 R = 0.1

4.999

= 0.02Ω

e. Same current of 0.001A flows through the galvanometer and the multiplier

Total resistance = R + 100Ω

From Ohms Law; V = IR

I = 0.001 x ( R + 100)

R = 900Ω

f. Capacitance

Answers 2
a. The larger Q1 is, the smaller Q3 will be. Therefore, the ray is mostly likely to escape if Q1 =
900
So, n1sin Q1 = n2sinQ2 because (1)(1) = n2sinQ2
For the ray to just escape, Q4 = 900, then
N2sinQ3 = n1sinQ4 becomes n2sinQ3 = (1)(1)
Therefore, we have two conditions to satisfy;
n2sinQ2 = 1 and n2sinQ3 = 1

their ration gives sin Q2 = 1

sin Q3
But we see from the figure that sin Q3 = Cos Q2, and so
this becomes tan Q2 = 1 or Q2 = 450
then, because n2sinQ2 = 1 , we have
n2 = 1
sin 450
= 1.414 hence, shown.
b. i. Expect two internal reflections at sensible angles.
ii.Angle of incidence at Y is greater than critical angle
Total internal reflection occurs.
c. i. F = 1.9 x 108
3.2 x 10-7
= 5.9 x 1014 Hz
ii.Refractive index = 3 or 1.9
1.9 3
= 1.58
 ANSWER 3.
(a) The energy is called binding energy. [2]

(b) (i)Fission reaction. Because the nucleus is being split into smaller nuclei.

(ii)mass defect = mass of reactants – mass of products.

=235.1 u – (148u+85u+1.009u+1.009u)
= 235.1u – 235.018u
=0.982u
(iii)energy = loss in mass
Energy = 0.982 u [1]

Since 1u = 931eV
0.982u = x
X = 0.982u x 931 eV
X =914.242 eV [1]

Energy in J = 914.242 eV x 1.9 x 10-19 J

Energy =

c. Binding energy = mass of nucleons – mass of nucleus

= 4.032u – 4. 0015u
= 0.0305u
Therefore: energy = 0.0305u x 931 mev
Energy = 28.395 mev
Energy = 28.4 mev

d. A chain reaction is a self perpetuating rapid reaction that occurs during nuclear fission.
[2]

Answers 4
a. i. static friction operates between the surfaces of an object at rest; kinetic friction
operates in an object in motion.
Ii. When an object just starts moving , the operating force can be reduced to maintain
a constant speed.
b. force diagram, if static friction is Us
Us = Wx, Wx is the weight component that just covered Us

Wy Wx = W sin 300
400
Us = W sin 300 ; W = m x g
Wx
= 2kg x 10N /kg
W
=20N

Us = 20N x Sin 300

= 20N x 0.5
= 10N
c. i. the pull of gravity on the block
ii W = F x S ; F = Wx; S = 0.5m
Wx = Wsin300
= 20N x 0.5
= 10N
W = 10N x 0.5m
= 5J
d. let kinetic friction be Uk; then Uk = 0.9 Us = ( 1 – 0.1) Us
the resultant F, F = Wx – Uk = m x a
Us = 10N; Uk = 0.9 x 10N = 9N
F = Wx - Uk
= 10N – 9N
= 1N
Therefore, 1N = 2kg x a
A= 0.5m/s2
But V2 = U2 + 2as
U = 0;
A= 0.5m/s2
S = 0.5m
V2 = 02 + 2 x 0.5 x 0.5
V2 = 0.50m2/s4
V=
QUESTION 5

(a) the bodies move to the right because the body moving to the right has greater
momentum (3.2 kgm/s) than the body moving to the left (2.4kgm/s)
(b) M1V1+M2V2=M3V3
0.4X8+(-0.2X12)=(0.4+0.2)V3
V3=0.8/0.6
V3=1.3m/s

(c) ∑energy before collision ∑energy after collision

1/2m1v12+ 1/2m2v2 2 1/2m3v32

27.8j 0.57j

Collision is inelastic because 27.8j> 0.57j

 Answers 6
a. i. 𝑨 = 𝟑𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝟐𝒙 − 𝝅)
=𝟑×𝟏=𝟑
𝒊𝒊. 𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝝅
= 𝟑𝒄𝒐𝒔[𝟐 (𝒙 − )]
𝟐
−𝝅
The phase displacement is
𝟐
𝒊𝒊𝒊. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒅 𝑻 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒚

𝟑𝒄𝒐𝒔[(𝟐𝒙 + 𝝅) − 𝝅]

𝝅
𝟑𝒄𝒐𝒔[𝟐 (𝒙 + ) − 𝝅]
𝟐
𝝅
The period is
𝟐
b. The time an event lasts is equal to the number of oscillation. E.g. if an event takes 2
oscillations, time taken is 2 osc.

ii.
T

W
iii. split W into its components,

iv. T = Wy, Wy = Wcos 600; W = m x g

M = 600g ; g= 10n/kg
T
W = 0.6 kg x 10N /kg
600
Wy = 6N

Therefore, Wy = 6n x cos 600

Wx = 6N x 0.5
w
y 3N
y
Therefore, T = Wy = 3N
y
y

v. calculate inatatenous force, F = m xa, responsible for swing at point A;

 Wy balances T; Wx swings bob.
Thus, F = Wx = W sinQ = 6N x sin 600 5.2N
Making a subject, a= F = 5.2N = 8.67 m/s2
M 0.6kg

vi. Consider that 600 is subtenede by arc; arc length is distance

between A and B.

S = θ x 2πr
360
= 600 x 2π x 0.3
360
= 0.314m
= 31.4 cm

vii. We can consider the pendulum as falling from A to B, and

equations q free fall/motion.

S = ½gt2

T2 = 2s/g
= 2 x 0.03 m
10m/s2
T= √0.006s2
= 0.0777s

Answers 7
a. Resolving vectors

X cos θ Y sin θ

80N 80 0

60N -15.529143 57.955595

40N -28.2842712 -28.2842712

Total: 36.18658575 29.6712783

Hence,
29.67

F2

θ
36.19

Resultant force FR = 29. 672 + 36.192

= 880.3089 + 1309.7161

= √ 2190.025

= 46. 798N

Direction:

Tan θ = opp
Adj
Θ = Tan-1 29.67
36.19

Θ = Tan-1 0.81995241289
θ =39.350
therefore, the resultant force is 46.798N and the object moves 39.350 from the positive

Answers. 8
1.a.(i)0.5cm.

(ii) 5 cm.

(iii)50cm.

(b) (i) converging lens.

(ii) 28.8cm, 7.5m atleast.

(c) (i)deviation is the angle through which any colour is turned from its original path after
refraction by a prism.

Dispersion is the separation of the colours themselves after refraction through a prism.

(ii) primary colours are red,green and blue. The colour complimentary to blue is yellow. This is
because the two colours produce white light when they mix.
 Answers 9

QUESTION 10
(i) F1 - T = m1 a ………………………………i

T - F2 = m2 a ………………………………..ii but F = mg = R= 9 N

9 - T = 0.9a……………………………iii

F2 = µR = 0.2 X 9 N = 1. 8 N

T - 1.8 = 0.9a Rearranging this becomes,

T = 0.9a + 1.8 ………………………………….iv

Solving equation (iii) and (iv)

9 - ( 0.9a + 1.8) = 0.9 a

1.8a = 7.2 a = 4m/s2

(ii) Replace the value of a in either equation (iii) or (iv)

T = 0.9(4) + 1.8

T = 5.4 N

Question 11
). 1pF = 1.0 x10-12 F
9.00pF = y

y = 9.00x10-12F

𝜔 1
(b). f=
2𝜋
=
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶

1
f= = 1.000 x 10-6
2𝜋√2.81𝑥10exp−3x 9.00exp−12
(c). Q = CV
Q = 9.00 x 10-12x 12V
Q = 1.08 x10 -10C