Cambridge O Level

* 8 9 6 3 5 5 5 6 4 4 *

PHYSICS 5054/22
Paper 2 Theory May/June 2024

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.
● Take the weight of 1.0 kg to be 9.8 N (acceleration of free fall = 9.8 m / s2).

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 80.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 16 pages.

DC (DE/SW) 336607/4
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 2

1 Fig. 1.1 shows two trolleys. On the front of trolley A, there is a wooden rod. Trolley B is initially at
rest.

As trolley A moves towards the right, the rod enters the modelling clay. Trolley A slows down and
trolley B starts moving.

The trolleys then stick together and continue moving towards the right.

wooden modelling
rod clay
trolley A trolley B

Fig. 1.1

Fig. 1.2 shows the speed−time graph for the two trolleys.

0.8
speed 0 7 .

m / s 0.6 trolley A
4-0 7
0
trolley A and B
.
.

0.4
&

0 .
2

I -

%
Y
S 0.2 trolley B
= 1 . 5
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
t/s
:
Fig. 1.2

The trolleys start to collide at time t = 0.30 s. At t = 0.50 s, the trolleys are moving at the same
speed.

(a) (i) State how Fig. 1.2 shows that, during the collision, trolley B has a uniform acceleration.
Gradient of graph = acceleration
...........................................................................................................................................
uniform/constant gradient
.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe how the graph in Fig. 1.2 shows that the magnitude (size) of the acceleration of
trolley B is larger than the magnitude of the deceleration of trolley A.
For the same time 0 2 change in speed for is 10 4 m/s)
.
.

...........................................................................................................................................
than change Speed
in for ·
A (0 3 M/s)
is
greater
.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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 3

(iii) Calculate the acceleration of trolley B when t = 0.40 s.

a
v = m
= 20
=

2
0 m/j2
acceleration = ................................................ m / s2 [2]
.

(b) The mass of trolley A = 0.80 kg. The mass of trolley B = 0.60 kg.

Show that momentum is conserved in the collision.

sum of momentum Sum of momentum
collisio
begone collisio after
MaYa + Mis Yi (ma +
mi) v

60 x 0
0. S0x0 70 .
+ 0 .

(0 . 20 + 0 .
60)x0 . 40
0. 56 + 0
= (1 4) X0 40
.
.

0 50 kg m 5
. . = 0 56 kg m 5
.
.
.

Since, collision
before and after collision
Hence [2]
are
equal momentum is conserved
.

(c) In another collision between the same trolleys, the rod and modelling clay are not present.
Trolley A hits trolley B with the same initial speed.

Explain why the force between the trolleys is larger in this collision.
some of energy is used to
penetrate
rod into
modelling
...................................................................................................................................................
clay .
More work is done by Toolley - A
...................................................................................................................................................
F =
XP/ Without modeling day &God less time of contact
+ ,
...................................................................................................................................................
,

during collision
so
,
more
force is acting .
............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 8]

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 4

2 Fig. 2.1 shows a small swimming pool containing water.

4.0 m
2.1 m

Fig. 2.1

The depth of water in the pool is 0.80 m. The density of water is 1000 kg / m3.

(a) (i) Show that the mass of water in the pool is approximately 6700 kg.

density =

sume
Ma
mass =
1000 x 4 . 0x2 .
1x0 .
80 = 672014
= 6700K .
Hence shown
. [2]

(ii) Define ‘pressure’.

Force
acting per
unit area
.
...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Calculate the pressure on the base of the pool due to the water.
P= Igh
= 1000x9 81 x . 0 .
So

=
7848 Pa

7850
pressure = .................................................... Pa [2]

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 5

(iv) The water in the pool is initially at a temperature of 10 °C.

The temperature rises when 5.1 × 108 J of energy is transferred to the water.

The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the final temperature of the water.

↓T = Find Temperature -
Critical Temperatu
Q = mc DT =
mc(f -
Ti) xT =
Ty -
Ti
.1 x
5 108 = 6720x4200 x
(Ty -10)
10 + 18 0697
T7
.
-

=
28 0697
.

= 2S
28
temperature = ..................................................... °C [3]

(b) (i) Explain, in terms of the movement of particles, how evaporation causes cooling.
molecules
from the Liquid Surface gain energy
...........................................................................................................................................

from sourroundings and from neighbouring layer atom

...........................................................................................................................................
and
escape to the
sourrounding leaving behind
...........................................................................................................................................
less energetic molecules .Thus cooling effect is resulted .
..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Changes to factors in the environment of the swimming pool can cause an increase or
decrease in the amount of evaporation from the surface of the water.

State two changes to environmental factors that increase the amount of evaporation
from the surface of the water.
Sucrease the temperatura
1 ........................................................................................................................................
use Wind
(draught
2 ........................................................................................................................................
[1]

[Total: 11]

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 6

3 Fig. 3.1 shows a solar-powered charger connected to a cell phone (mobile phone).

cell phone
solar-powered
charger

Fig. 3.1

The battery inside the cell phone is charged by the solar-powered charger.

(a) (i) Complete Fig. 3.2 to show the useful transfer of energy from the Sun to the battery.

Nuclear electric field chemical

...................... ...........................
energy in Sun in charger energy in battery
light from electrical
Sun current

Fig. 3.2
[2]

(ii) Explain why the battery takes a long time to charge on a cloudy day.
Less light reache solar powered charger thus less
...........................................................................................................................................
current is produced .
..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) After use, the outside surface of the cell phone is warm. When switched off, the cell phone
cools down.

Name and describe the three processes by which thermal energy is transferred as the cell
phone cools down.
& the form of Infre red (IR) Radiation emitted from
1 ................................................................................................................................................
the surface of battery .
...................................................................................................................................................
Air Surrounding the
battery after gaining energy moves upwaw
2 ................................................................................................................................................
hence a convection current is produced
.
...................................................................................................................................................

Transfer of energy from one atom to another

3 ................................................................................................................................................
atom of outside surface of battery results conduction .
...................................................................................................................................................
[3]

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 7

(c) It takes 4.5 hours to charge the battery with an average current of 300 mA.

Calculate the quantity of charge that enters the battery. Give the unit of your answer.

Q = It

=
300 x 15
x 4 5x60x60
.

= 4860L
4900 C
= 4900 charge = ................................... unit .............. [3]

[Total: 9]

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 8

4 (a) Fig. 4.1 shows light passing through a triangular glass prism.

Q
" R

Li = angle of incidence

Fig. 4.1

(i) State the value of the angle of incidence at point P.

po
angle of incidence = ....................................................... ° [1]

(ii) Draw the normal and the angle of incidence at point R.

Label the angle of incidence. [2]

(iii) State two conditions needed so that no light refracts from the glass into the air at point Q.

Angle of incidence > Critical angle

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
to
Light must travel
from optically denser medium
2 ........................................................................................................................................

optically less denser medium .

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Information is sent across the internet using pulses of visible light through long, thin glass
fibres and electrical signals through copper wires.

(i) State the name of one other type of electromagnetic radiation used to transmit information
through long, thin glass fibres.
IR (1IFRA RED)
..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Suggest two advantages of using glass fibres rather than copper wires to transmit
information from the internet.

Longer transmission distance

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

Highly secure Less

possibility of hacking .
2 ........................................................................................................................................
.

...........................................................................................................................................
3 less noise .
[2]

[Total: 8]

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5 An initially uncharged rubber balloon is rubbed with a woollen cloth as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Rubbing the balloon causes the balloon to have a negative charge.

balloon gains
Electrons
................................

and now has a negative charge

woollen cloth loses

electrons
................................
and now has a
positive charge
.........................

Fig. 5.1

(a) (i) On Fig. 5.1, complete the labels on the diagram. [2]

(ii) Explain why the balloon stays negatively charged for a long time.
bound to nucleu
.
Electrons in an insulator are tightly Electrons
...........................................................................................................................................
will not freely more in insulator Balloon is an insulator thus
...........................................................................................................................................
.

Thus balloon remains

it's electrons will not be
moving around
.
...........................................................................................................................................
charged for longer time .

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) Rubbing the balloon causes the temperature of the air inside it to rise.

Explain, in terms of the particles of air, why the volume of the balloon increases when the
temperature of the air rises.
As
Temperature = Average K :I possessed by storms of a substance
...................................................................................................................................................
,
.

the
with the increase in temperature randomly moving
...................................................................................................................................................
,

gas
mosales trapped inside the balloon start colliding with
...................................................................................................................................................
walls As KE molecules increases
more energetically . .
of .
...................................................................................................................................................
.

modules takes
more collision per second for gas would
...................................................................................................................................................
Which results expansion of balloon .
place
.............................................................................................................................................
.
[3]

[Total: 7]

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 10

6 Fig. 6.1 shows a circuit diagram containing a battery, a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a fixed
resistor of resistance 240 Ω connected in series.

Light
240 Ω LDR
Reord

Fig. 6.1

There is a lamp near the circuit. Light from the lamp is incident on the LDR when the lamp is
switched on.

Fig. 6.2 shows the current−voltage graph for the LDR with the lamp switched on and with the lamp
switched off.

with lamp
0.10
switched on
current / A
0.08

0.06 with lamp

switched off
0.04

0.02

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
voltage / V

Fig. 6.2

(a) State Ohm’s law.

For constant physical conditions and Temperature
...................................................................................................................................................
to Potential difference (P d)
directly proportional
.

Electric Current is
...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Explain how the graph lines in Fig. 6.2 show that Ohm’s law applies to the LDR.
Graph is a
straight line which passes through
...................................................................................................................................................
origin . (IV)
.
...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

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 11

(c) Use values from Fig. 6.2 to explain the effect of light on the resistance of the LDR.
When Lamp is on P d . = & . 00
,
F = 0 . 10 A From given graph /her R= V/ =
, .

...................................................................................................................................................
From
>= 50 P d
off For Same 1
When Lamp is . .
V = G . or = 0. 06A -+
- .
, ,
graph
...................................................................................................................................................
with the .
R
= 1332 Hence R deviceses
=
, ,
Light intensity
increase in

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(d) With the lamp switched on, the current in the LDR is 0.050 A.

(i) Determine the current in the fixed resistor.

0 050 A
current in fixed resistor = ......................................................
.

A [1]

(ii) Calculate the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the cell.

Pd across LDR 4 01
graph
=
For the F 050A From . .

= 0 . -+ . .

P 12 0 050 x 240 = 12
.d . = v = = .

connected in Series
As both are
,

V = V + Vz
,

= 12 + 4 .
0

16v
= 16V e.m.f. = ...................................................... V [3]

[Total: 9]

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 12

7 (a) A plotting compass contains a needle. The needle is a small magnet that can rotate about its
centre.

Fig. 7.1 shows the plotting compass placed close to a bar magnet.

needle compass
bar magnet

NS N S

Fig. 7.1 (not to scale)

D &
2

(i) On Fig. 7.1 mark the magnetic poles on the bar magnet. [1]

(ii) There is a piece of paper underneath the magnet.

Describe how the compass is used to plot the magnetic field line that passes from one
pole to the other and through P.
Place a magnetic compass at P .
mark dof 1 and 2 .
...........................................................................................................................................
move the compass
so that the S-pole of the compass is on
...........................................................................................................................................
dotz and mark dots against
the K-pole of the compas
...........................................................................................................................................
method to plot other lines of force on either
Repeat the above
...........................................................................................................................................
Side of magnet to Obtain a magnetic fidd pattern around

...........................................................................................................................................
the magnet
..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(iii) Describe how to use the compass in Fig. 7.1 to determine the direction of the magnetic
field at P.
Place the compass at P the direction in which I-pole of
...........................................................................................................................................
.

compass points is the direction of magnetic field .

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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 13

(b) Fig. 7.2 shows the apparatus a student uses to produce an alternating current (a.c.).

magnet coil

A
centre-zero
ammeter

Fig. 7.2

The magnet is moved into and out of the coil.

(i) Explain why a current is produced when the magnet moves.

Stationary coil Cuts the magnetic flux of moving magnet According

...........................................................................................................................................
,

the sell which results an

To
Faradays, law an emery is induced in
...........................................................................................................................................
induced current in the -
coil
..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Describe the movement of the magnet that produces an a.c. of frequency 0.50 Hz.
& Number of in and out in one second
= .
...........................................................................................................................................
5 times
0 50Hz means 0 .

magnet in and out in one second .

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Describe how the centre-zero ammeter shows the current is a.c. rather than d.c. (direct
current).
Centre-zew both Side zew due to in and out
Reading On
are on of
...........................................................................................................................................
.

motion of magnet .

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) Explain why increasing the frequency of the a.c. produced also increases the magnitude
(size) of the a.c produced.
to rate of change of magnetic flux Thus
EMF induced is directly proportional .
...........................................................................................................................................
increase in frequary results more change in magnetic flux
Hace magnitude
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
of EMF induced increases

[Total: 10]

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 14

8 Fig. 8.1 is a picture of a nebula formed from a supernova.

Fig. 8.1

(a) State what is meant by ‘a supernova’.

At the end of life cycle of massive Star (Red giant
...................................................................................................................................................
a
explosion takes place which is called Supernova.
............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Describe how a protostar forms inside a nebula.

The force of gravity within nebul pulls the particles of dust
...................................................................................................................................................
and closer together untill it forms a hot bell of ge
gas
...................................................................................................................................................
This results more frequent collisions between the
known as
protostar .

............................................................................................................................................. [2]
Particles temperature
which causes increase

(c) Our Sun is in a circular orbit around a black hole at the centre of our galaxy.

(i) State the name of the galaxy that contains our Sun.

Milky Way
..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State what is meant by a light-year.

Distance travelled by Light in one year-
..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) The time taken for one complete orbit of our Sun around the black hole is 7.3 × 1015 s.
Sun--T
The distance from our Sun to the black hole is 26 000 light-years.

:
1 year = 3.2 × 107 s speed of light = 3.0 × 108 m / s black T
hote
j
>O
Calculate the speed of our Sun as it orbits the black hole. -
v= orb : t
Show your working and give your answer in m / s. redim .

3 = U += 3 0x108 3 2x107 x
1
Light year =
.
.

V = 3 .
0x100x3 2x107x26000
.

0x108 x 3 . 2x107 1x105

Speech 26000x3 2
214832 3 mys
.

= .

= = .

T 7 3x. 1015
= .
2 1 x 105
speed = .................................................. m / s [3]

[Total: 9]
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 15

9 Alpha particles are sometimes emitted from the nuclei of radioactive elements.

This emission is both random and spontaneous.

(a) Describe what is meant by ‘spontaneous’ emission.

The emission is NOT
affected by external conditions (factors)
...................................................................................................................................................
Like pressure , Temperature
.............................................................................................................................................
, [1]

(b) Describe the composition of an alpha particle.

Two
protons
...................................................................................................................................................
Two neutrons
.
............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) Alpha particles are detected using the tracks shown in a cloud chamber or by the sparks
produced in a spark counter.

(i) Describe the structure of either a cloud chamber or a spark counter. Include a labelled
drawing of the apparatus.
cloud
chamber observe =
&&
-

Plastic
↓Transparent
kid .

Alcohol-

/
wick
#
-
&
-
radioactive Source
&

F
=
'I
- - Lead container
A
Light the alcohol
vapour

C
ine-To cool
Sourc
-
dry
I
to support
Foam
black
dry ice
.

sheet
to enhance
contrast
track observed
.
Thick straight
are
and
...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii) Describe how the emission of alpha particles is shown as random in the apparatus you
described in (c)(i).
is
Number of tracks produced and direction of tracks produced NOT
...........................................................................................................................................

predictable .
..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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 16

(iii) A radioactive source produces 120 tracks in one minute in a cloud chamber.
&

[
6.0 hours later, the same source produces 15 tracks in one minute.
- &

Without the source present, no tracks are produced.

Calculate the half-life of the radioactive isotope in the source.

t 6 hours
15
0
t =? 60 30 +
. .
=
120 - -

-
t = nxt1/2 |x +
+,
2x +
123x +y2
6
n = 3
n= 3 ,
t =
.
0

hours
6
2 0
:
.

=
.
2 0
half-life = ............................................... hours [2]
.

[Total: 9]

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