Kalyan’s Physics Challenge

1. Two bodies A and B are charged with equal magnitude of charge but A with positive charge and B
with negative. If MA and MB are masses before charging and MA1 and MB1 are the masses after
charging, then (mo is some constant mass)

a) MA1 = MA + mo and MB1 = MB – mo b) MA1 = MA - mo and MB1 = MB + mo

c) MA1 = MB1 d) MA1 = MA – mo /2 and MB1 = MB + mo

Sol. A body attains positive charge by losing electrons

A body attains negative charge by gaining electrons
Mass of electron (9.11 x 10-31 kg) is negligibly small.
Object A is positively charged, so its mass decreases. (MA1 = MA - mo)
Object B is negatively charged, so its mass increases. (MB1 = MB + mo)

2. A conductor of length L has a varying cross section with area 2A at P

and A at Q as shown in figure. If it carries a steady current I, then

a) net charge per unit volume near P is more than net charge per unit volume near Q
b) net charge per unit volume near Q is less than net charge per unit volume
c) current per unit area near P is more than current per unit area near Q
d) current per unit area P is less than current per unit area near Q

Sol. The current flowing through a conductor : I = n a e vd (I/a = nevd) where

n no. of charge carriers per unit volume / a area of cross section of the conductor
e charge on the electron / vd drift velocity of the electrons
Drift velocity is inversely proportional to area of cross section.
So, current per unit area P is less than current per unit area near Q

3. Vessels A and B are made of conducting material. Both contain water. Vessel A floats in B. Vessel
B is now heated at a uniform rate, then

a) water in A boils first

b) water in A boils sometime after water in B starts boiling
c) water in both A and B start boiling simultaneously
d) water in A does not boil

Sol. As heat is supplied to vessel B, the water present in B takes the heat from which it is transferred to
water in vessel A.
The boiling point of water is 100 0C after which its temperature remains constant.
As the water in vessel in B starts boiling, it stops transferring heat to water in vessel A.
So, water in vessel A reaches 100 0C temperature, but doesn’t boil.

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4. A body thrown vertically up reaches maximum height and returns. Its acceleration is

a) downward during both ascent and descent

b) downward at all positions except at the highest point, where it is zero
c) upward during both ascent and descent
d) downward during ascent and upward during descent

Sol. Acceleration due to gravity acts always towards the centre of the earth.
For smaller heights (h<<R – radius of the earth), it can be taken to be vertically down.
It does not depend on the direction of motion of the body. Whether the body is moving vertically
down or up, acceleration due to gravity always acts downwards

5. Velocity of a particle moving along a straight line varies with time as shown in figure. Net forces
acting on the particle are F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 in the intervals OA, AB, BC, CD and DE
respectively. Identify the correct statement.

a) F1 increases with time b) F5 is initially positive and then becomes negative

c) F1 and F2 are in opposite directions d) F3 is negative

Sol. OA – F1 (+ve and constant) / AB – F2 (- ve and constant)

BC – F3 ( zero )
CD – F4 (+ve and constant)
DE – F5 (- ve and constant)
Slope of velocity – time graph : acceleration
Force = mass x acceleration
F1 and F2 are in opposite directions

6. A wooden block (W) is suspended by a cord from a heavy steel ball (B). The entire system is
dropped from certain height. Neglecting air resistance, the tension in the cord

a) zero b) the difference in mass of B and W

c) the difference in weight of B and W d) the weight of B

Sol. Acceleration due to gravity is same for every freely falling body
The wooden block and the steel ball are falling under gravity with same acceleration (g).
So the tension in the cord connecting them is zero.

7. A circus performer of weight W is standing on a wire as shown in figure. The tension in the wire is

a) approximately w/4 b) approximately w/2

c) much more than w/2 d) much less than w/2

Sol. As seen in the diagram, tension in the string can be resolved into two rectangular components.
T cos  components on either side cancel each other.

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T sin  components on either side act in upward direction to support the weight (W) of the person.
𝑊 𝑊/2
2T sin  = W  T = 2 sin 𝜃 = sin 𝜃

As  is small, sin  is very small, the tension in the wire is much greater than W/2.

8. In the following diagram, O is a point object and I is the image formed by a concave mirror.
Identify the diagram in which, position of image I is nearly correct.

a) b)

c) d)

Sol. In the options, the object is represented with black dot and the image with circle
The object is placed between focal point (F) and pole of the mirror.
So, it’s image should be formed behind the mirror and it should be magnified.

9. Following diagram shows refraction of parallel beam of light through a spherical surface. Identify
the correct ray diagram.

a) b)

c) d)

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Sol. As light travels from denser medium to rarer medium, it bends away from normal
As light travels from rarer medium to denser medium, it bends towards normal
In the second diagram, as the light rays are entering the denser medium, they are bending away
from normal. So, second one is the correct diagram.

10. In the diagram, M1 and M2 are two plane mirrors at right angles to each other. O is a luminous point
object. Consider two images formed due to first reflection at M1 and M2. The area of the triangle
formed by the object and two images is

a) 4 cm2 b) 2 cm2 c) 8 cm2 d) 16 cm2

Sol. Image distance = object distance for plane mirror

The object and the two images formed by both mirrors M1 and M2 form isosceles triangle.
1
Area of the triangle : 2 x base x height
1
Area = 2 x 4 x 4 = 8 cm2

11. A fisherman of height h is standing on the bank of a lake. A fish in the water perceives his height as
h1 , then

a) h1 > h b) h1 < h c) h1 = h d) a or b depending on position of fist

Sol. A fisher man of height h is standing in rarer medium (air).

The fish is looking at him from denser medium (water).
As the light ray travels from rarer medium to denser medium, it
bends towards the normal as shown in figure.
So, the height of the fisher man as perceived by the fish h1 is
greater than h.

12. Object A is completely immersed in water. True weight of object A is WA. Weight of water with
beaker is WB. Let B be the buoyant force. W1 and W2 are scale readings of spring balance and
weighing scale respectively

a) W1 = W A b) W1 = WA + B c) W2 = W B d) W2 = WB + B

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Sol. True weight of object A = weight in air : WA

Weight of water with beaker : WB
Reading of the spring balance :
W1 = apparent weight = true weight – buoyancy = WA – B
Reading of the weighing scale :
W2 = weight of water with beaker + buoyancy = WB + B

13. A point object O is kept at origin. When a concave mirror M1 is placed at x = 6 cm, image is
formed at infinity. When M1 is replaced by another concave mirror M2 at same position, image is
formed at x = 30 cm, then ratio of the focal length of M1 to that of M2 is

a) 3/4 b) 4/3 c) 5 d) 1/5

Sol. Image is formed at infinity for the first mirror : so focal length f1 = 6 cm
Image distance for second mirror : v = 24 cm (behind the mirror : virtual image)
Object distance for the second mirror : u = 6 cm
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Mirror formula : 𝑣 + 𝑢 = 𝑓  24 - 6 = − 𝑓  𝑓 = − 24 + 6 = 8  𝑓 = 8 𝑐𝑚
𝟑
Ratio of focal lengths: f1 / f = 6/8 =
𝟒

14. Melting point of a substance is 100 C. when does this mean?

a) the substance is a liquid at 100 C

b) the substance is a solid at 100 C
c) there is an equilibrium between solid and liquid phase at 100 C
d) the substance is 50 % solid and 50 % liquid at 100 C

Sol. Melting point is defined as the constant temperature at which the solid phase of a substance gets
converted into liquid phase.
During melting, the solid and liquid phases remain in equilibrium till the complete solid turns into
liquid.
The heat energy supplied to the substance during melting is converted into increased potential
energy of the molecules of the substance known as latent heat.

15. U tube contains some amount of mercury. Immiscible liquid X is poured in left arm and immiscible
liquid Y is poured in the right arm. Length of liquid X is 8 cm; length of liquid Y is 10 cm and
upper levels of X and Y are equal. If density of Y is 3.36 g/cc and density of mercury is13.6 g/cc,
then the density of X is

a) 0.8 g/cc b) 1.2 g/cc c) 1.4 g/cc d) 1.6 g/cc

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Sol. Length of liquid column x : 8 cm

Length of liquid column y : 10 cm
Since the upper levels of x and y are same, length of mercury
column at the common horizontal level : 2 cm
Pressure at same horizontal level is same : PA = PB
x g hx + m g hm = y g hy  x hx + m hm = y hy
8 x + 13.6 x 2 = 3.36 x 10
x = (33.6 – 27.2) / 8 = 6.4 / 8 = 0.8 g/cc

16. The effective resistance between A and D in the circuit shown in the adjacent figure is

a) 5 b) 10  c) 15  d) 20 

Sol. Imagine a battery connected between A and D

The current entering A divides at A1.
One part takes the path A1B1D1D. So, the resistor in this path (10 , 10 ) are in series.
Another part takes the path A1C1D1D. So the resistors in this path (10 , 10 ) are in series
Effective circuit is shown in figure.
20𝑥20
So RAD = 5 + 20+20 + 5 = 5 + 10 + 5 = 20 

17. Three bulbs B1, B2 and B3 having rated powers 100 W, 60 W and 60 W at 250 V are connected in a
circuit as shown in figure. If W1, W2 and W3 are the output powers of the bulbs B1, B2 and B3
respectively, then

a) W1 > W 2 = W3 b) W1 > W2 > W3 c) W1 < W 2 = W3 d) W1 < W2 < W3

Sol. Output power of the bulb = power consumed

𝑣 2
Consumed power = ( 𝑠 ) rated power
𝑣𝑟
250 2
Output power of B3 = W3 = ( ) 60 = 60 W
250
𝑣2 250 𝑥 250
Resistance of B1 = 𝑃
= 100
= 625 
𝑣2 250 𝑥 250 6250
Resistance of B2 = = 𝑃 60
= 6 
As same I flows through B1 and B2 the power consumed by B2 is more

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18. Rod AB of radius 2r is joined with rod BC of radius r. They are of same material and are of same
length. The combination carries a current I. choose the correct statement.

a) VAB = 4 VBC
b) current per unit area in AB and BC is equal
c) RAB is greater than RBC
d) VBC = 4 VAB

Sol. Both the rods are same material and same length. The rods are connected in series
(same current flows)
𝜌𝑙 𝜌𝑙 1 𝜌𝑙
Resistance of AB : RAB = = =
𝐴 𝜋 4𝑟 2 4 𝜋 𝑟2
𝜌𝑙 𝜌𝑙 𝜌𝑙
Resistance of BC : RBC = 𝐴
= 𝜋 𝑟2 = 𝜋 𝑟2 = 4 RAB

As same current is flowing through both the rods, V = I R : VAB = I RAB / VBC = I RBC
𝑉𝐴𝐵 1
𝑉𝐵𝐶
= 4  VBC = 4 VAB

19. In the figure shown, the current carrying loop is fixed whereas current carrying straight conductor
is free to move. Then straight wire will (ignore gravity)

a) remain stationary b) move towards the loop

c) move away from the loop d) rotate about the axis perpendicular to plane of paper

Sol. The magnetic field created by the loop is as shown.

x represents magnetic field into the plane of paper
. represents magnetic field out of the plane of the paper
Apply Fleming’s Left Hand rule for the straight current carrying conductor
placed in magnetic field.
The force is acting on the straight conductor towards right (towards the loop)

20. A convex mirror of focal length f produces an image of size equal to 1/n times the size of the
object. Then the object distance is

a) nf b) f/n c) (n+1) f d) (n – 1) f

Sol. Focal length of the convex mirror : f

1 𝑢
Size of the image = 1/n times the size of the object ( hi = 𝑛 ho  v = 𝑛 )
1 1 1
Mirror formula : 𝑣 + 𝑢 = 𝑓 (sign convention : u – ve, v +ve and f +ve)
1 1 1 𝑛 1 1 𝑛−1 1
𝑣
-𝑢=𝑓𝑢-𝑢=𝑓 𝑢
= 𝑓  u = (n – 1) f

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