Candidate Name Centre Number Candidate Number

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ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

General Certificate of Education Advanced Level

PHYSICS 9188/2
PAPER 2

NOVEMBER 2015 SESSION 1 hour 15 minutes

Candidates answer on the question paper.

Additional materials:
Electronic calculator and/or Mathematical tables

TIME 1 hour 15 minutes

FOR EXAMINATION'S USE

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 1

FOR EXAMINER'S USE 2

Write your name, Centre number and candidate number in the 3

spaces·at the top of this page.
Answer all questions. ·4
( ~Vrite your answers in the spaces provided on the question paperl-------+-----~
'~ For numerical answers, all working should be shown. 5

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES 6

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each 7

question or part question.
8

TOTAL

!his question paper consists of 12 printed pages.

Copyright: Zimbabwe School Examinations Council, N2015.
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Answer all questions. Por

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(a) Distinguish between precision and accuracy.

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(b) The speed, V. of ocean waves is given by V- k.[i'X, where k is a
constant, A. is the wavelength and g is acceleration of free fall. .. \
Determine the base units for k.
1
(_ t1
.,

base units fork= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [2]

(c) In a simple pendulum experiment to determine the period, T, the equation

used is T - 2n: ~where Tis found to be (2.16 ± 0.0 I) s and the length,
I, of pendulum is (1.15 ± 0.005) m. (_
Calculate the value of g and its uncertainty.

g = ----------------~± _____________________
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2 (a) Define acceleration.

[1]

(b) A ball of mass 50.0 g is thrown vertically downwards with a velocity

of 3.25 ms- 1 • It hits the ground after 1.62 s.

(i) Assuming air resistance to be negligible, calculate the

1. speed of the ball when it hits the ground,

speed------------
2. distance travelled by the ball to the ground.

distance
------------
(ii) The ball makes contact with the ground for 15 ms and rebounds
with an upward velocity of 15.2 ms-1 •

Calculate the

1. average force acting on the ball on impact with the ground,

average f o r c e - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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2. maximum height the ball reaches after hitting the ground.

• 0

maximum height,_________
[8]

3 (i) Explain the origin of the upthrust acting on a body in a fluid.

[2]

(ii) Fig.3.1 shows a steel ball of diameter 8.2 mm falling through oil
at a steady speed.

Fig. 3.1

The ball moves from A to B in 0.60 s.

Assuming the density of steel and oil to be 7 800 kgm -J and 900 kgm·3
respectively , calculate the

1. weight of the ball,

0 •

weight _ _ _ _ _ _ _:..___ _ __

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918812 N20JS

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 2. upthrust on the ball, Por

upthrust _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

3. terminal velocity of the ball.

terminal velocity - - - - - - - - - - -
[5]

(a) Explain the term total internal reflection.

[2]

(b) Give four advantages of fibre optic cables over metal cables.
1. ________________________________________

2. _______________________________________

3. _______________________________________

4. _______________________________________

[4]

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5 (a) Define electric potential. u.

[2]
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(b) Equal and opposite 5 ~-tC charges are situated at the vertices X andY of
an equilateral triangle XYZ where XY 10 em. =
Calculate the

(i) magnitude of the electric field strength at Z,

.·

field stren g t h = - - - - - - -- - - -

(ii) electric potential at Z.

electric potential =
------------------ [4]

(c) Describe how dust can be extracted electrostatically from a chimney of a

factory .

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6 (a)
Describe the principle of operation of an ideal transformer.

[3]

(b) The Primary coil of an ideal transformer has 480 turns and is connected
to a 120 V (r.m.s), 60 Hz sinusoidal supply. The secondary coil ~as 40
turns and is connected to a resistor of resistance 4.0 Q as shown m
Fig. 6.1.

Vrms =120V

60Hz

480 40 turns
turns

Fig.6.1.

Calculate

(i) Vnns across the resistor,

Vnns =

918812 N20JS

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(ii) peak power.dissipated by the resistor.

peak power _____________________________ [4]

7 (a) Define a logic gate.

c
[1]

(b) Fig.7.1 shows a combination oflogic gates.

A --.----t
B .--t--+---i
c
r--p
D

Fig.7.1
c

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(i) Construct a truth table for the combination.

·-
(ti) State the logical function for the combination.

[4]
8 Different types of thermometers have different thermometric properties and
advantages.

.. Complete Table 8.1 to distinguish between the two types of

thermometers given.

Table 8.1

., type of thermometric advantages

n thermometer property
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liquid in
glass

thermocouple
.
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9 (a) Radioactive decay is random and spontaneous. u.
Define the terms in italics.

spontaneous ___________________________________________

random

(2]

(b) Radiwn-226 has a decay constant of 1.8 x 10-6 sand an initial decay
rate of 5.2xl010 s-1
(_
Calculate the

(i) initial nwnber of radioactive atoms present,

number of atoms = - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(ii) time taken for the activity to fall to a quarter of its initial ,
value.
'--·

time =
'•

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