IFYPH002 Physics

THE NCUK INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION YEAR

IFYPH002 Physics
Examination
2017-18

Examination Session Time Allowed

Semester Two 2 Hours 40 minutes
(including 10 minutes reading time)

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1

SECTION A Answer ALL questions. This section carries 40% of the exam
marks.

SECTION B Answer 3 questions ONLY. This section carries 60% of the

exam marks.

The marks for each question are indicated in square brackets [ ].

 Answers must not be written during the first 10 minutes.

 Formulae are included in the front of the examination booklet.
 Graph paper will be provided.
 An approved calculator may be used in the examination.
 Show ALL workings in your answer booklet.
 Examination materials must not be removed from the examination room.
 State the units where necessary
 Where appropriate, working should be carried out to 4 significant figures and
answers given to 3 significant figures.

DO NOT OPEN THIS QUESTION PAPER UNTIL INSTRUCTED BY THE

INVIGILATOR

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Data, formulae and relationships

Data

Speed of light in a vacuum c = 3.00  10 8 m s – 1

Gravitational constant G = 6.67  10 – 11 N m 2 kg – 2
Acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s – 2 (close to the Earth)
Gravitational field strength g = 9.81 N kg – 1 (close to the Earth)

Electronic charge e = – 1.60  10 – 19 C

Electronic mass me = 9.11  10 – 31 kg
Electron-volt 1 eV = 1.60  10 – 19 J
Planck constant h = 6.63  10 – 34 J s

Unified atomic mass unit u = 1.66  10 – 27 kg

Molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K – 1 mol – 1
Boltzmann constant k = 1.38  10 – 23 J K-1
Permittivity of free space o = 8.85  10 – 12 F m – 1
Coulomb Law constant k = 1 / ( 4  o ) = 8.99  10 9 N m 2 C – 2
Permeability of free space  0 = 4   10 – 7 N A – 2
Avogadro Constant NA = 6.02  10 23 mol-1

Rectilinear motion

For uniformly accelerated motion =u+at

s=ut+½at2

2= u2+2as

Forces and moments

Hooke’s law for a spring F = -k x

Moment of F about O = F  (Perpendicular distance from line of action of F to O)

Dynamics

 p
Newton’s Law (for constant mass) F mam 
t t
Impulse F t = p
Power P=F

Radioactive decay and the nuclear atom

Activity A=N (Decay constant )

Half-life  t ½ = ln 2
Radioactive decay A  A0e t
N  N0e t

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Electric current and potential difference

Q
Electric current I
t
V
Resistance R
I
Work W  QV  IVt

Electric current I=nAQ (number of electrons per m 3 n ;

drift velocity  )
Electric power P=I2R

Electrical circuits

Resistors in series R=R1+R2+R3

1 1 1 1
Resistors in parallel   
R R1 R2 R3

Terminal potential difference V=–Ir (E.m.f  ; Internal resistance r)

Heat

Change of state: energy transfer = L m (Specific latent heat or specific

enthalpy change L)

Heating and cooling: E  mc (Specific heat capacity c ;

temperature change θ )

Change of internal energy: U = Q + W (Energy added thermally Q;

Work done on body W )

Equation of State for ideal gas pV  nRT (n is the number of moles,

R is the molar gas constant)

pV  NkT (N is number of molecules,

k is the Boltzmann constant)

Circular motion and oscillations

 
Angular speed   (Radius of circular path r)
t r

2
Centripetal acceleration a
r

1 2
Period T 
f 

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Simple Harmonic Motion

a   2 x
x  A sin(  t ) if x = 0 at time t = 0
v  A  cos(  t ) if x = 0 at time t = 0
l
For a simple pendulum T  2
g

m
For a mass on a spring T  2
k

Superposition of waves

For interference of light using two slits of slit separation, s

xs x;
Wavelength  (Fringe width Slits to screen distance D)
D

Gravitational fields
Mm
Universal Law of Gravitation F G
r2
Gravitational field strength g=F/m
For radial field g = G m / r 2 , numerically

Electric fields
Qq
Coulomb’s law F
40r 2
Electric field strength E=F/Q
For radial field E=kQ/r2 where k = 1 / ( 4   0 )
(in free space or in air)
For uniform field E=V/d

Capacitance

Energy stored W=½CV2

Capacitors in parallel C=C1+C2+C3

1 1 1 1
Capacitors in series   
C C1 C 2 C3

Time constant for capacitor to charge or discharge τ = R C

Capacitor discharge Q = Qoe-t/ τ, I = Io e-t/ τ, V = Vo e-t/ τ

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Magnetic fields

Force on moving charge F  Bqv

Force on a wire F  ILBsin

Field due to a long solenoid B  0 nI
0 I
Field due to a long wire B
2 r

Magnetic flux   BAcos

N
E.m.f. induced in a coil  =  (Number of turns N)
t
E.m.f. induced in conductor moving perpendicularly to magnetic field   BLv

Light

Snell’s Law n1 sin  1  n 2 sin  2

c
Absolute refractive index n
v

Modern Physics

Photon energy E  hf
Photoelectric effect hf  Φ  KE

h
De Broglie 
mv

Mathematics
sin (90 o – ) = cos 

ln (x n) = n ln x

ln (e kx) = k x

Equation of a straight line y = mx + c

Surface area of a cylinder = 2  r h + 2  r 2

Surface area of a sphere = 4  r 2

Volume of a cylinder =  r 2 h
Volume of a sphere = 4  r 3 / 3

For small angles sin   tan    (in radians)

cos   1

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Section A
Answer ALL questions. This section carries 40 marks.

Question A1

a) State the difference between a scalar and a vector [1]

b) i. A ship is pointing due North, and has a speed relative to the water
of 20 m s-1. The water itself is moving from West to East at
4.0 m s-1 due to the tide. Sketch a vector addition diagram to
show the resultant velocity of the ship. [1]

ii. Determine the resultant velocity of the ship, giving the direction as
an angle relative to North. [2]

Question A2

When a nail is driven into a piece of wood, a force must be applied to the
nail by a hammer. The average force applied is 1100 N, and during one
strike the nail moves through a distance of 1.5 cm in the direction of the
force applied by the hammer.

a) State the principle of conservation of energy. [1]

b) Determine the work done by the hammer during one strike. [1]

c) An observer comments that once the objects are at rest, the kinetic
energy of the hammer has been ‘lost’ in the process. Give a correct
description of what has actually happened to the initial kinetic energy of
the hammer by the end of the process. [2]

Question A3

The graph shows the temperature of water against the thermal energy
transferred to it.

a) Copy the graph into your answer booklet. Label and name the
changes of state shown. [3]

b) Einstein used the observations of Brownian motion to confirm the

atomic theory. Explain how Brownian motion provides evidence for
the movement of molecules. [2]

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Question A4

Electric current can flow through the electrolyte of a battery, and also
through the copper wires attached to it.

a) i. Give one similarity and one difference between the flow of

electricity in each of these cases. [2]

ii. Determine the amount of charge which leaves or enters the

positive terminal of the battery when a current of 3.00 A flows
through the battery for 50 s. [1]

Question A5

a) Define electric field strength. [1]

b) i. In the region around a point charge of +4.0 mC, there is an electric

field. Determine the electric field strength at a distance of 20 cm
from the point charge. [2]

ii. Sketch the electric field lines and equipotentials around the point
charge. [3]

Question A6

a) Give one similarity and one difference between the properties of

Infra-red and Ultra-violet electromagnetic radiation. [2]

b) Experiments show that electromagnetic waves can be polarised –

explain what this means. [1]

Question A7

The three main types of ionising radiation are alpha, beta minus and
gamma.

a) i. Which of these is the most highly ionising? [1]

ii. Which of these is the most highly penetrating? [1]

b) Define the term ‘half life’ for a radioactive isotope. [1]

Question A8

A low pressure gas can produce an emission line spectrum. Explain how the
existence of this spectrum provides evidence about the structure of the gas
atoms. [3]

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Question A9

A suspended spring has an unstretched length of 0.23 m. When a mass of

0.35 kg is attached to the lower end it extends to a new total length of
0.34 m.

a) Determine the strain of the spring once the mass is attached. [2]

b) Determine the spring constant ‘k’ of the spring. [2]

c) When the mass is removed, the spring returns to its original length.
What is this behaviour known as? [1]

Question A10

A ray of light is incident on a glass block of refractive index 1.43, at an

angle of incidence of 200 to the normal.

a) Determine the speed of light in the glass block. [1]

b) Determine the angle of refraction of the ray as it enters the block. [2]

c) Determine the critical angle for a ray of light travelling inside the block
as it reaches the glass-air boundary. [1]

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Section B
Answer 3 questions. This section carries 60 marks.

Question B1

a) i. What is meant by a vector quantity? [1]

ii. Which of the following are vectors?

speed, force, acceleration, velocity [2]

b) A piece of string is used in conjunction with a peg to help hold up a tent

as shown below.

The tension in the string, T, is 100 N

i. Determine the horizontal force on the peg due to the string. [2]

ii. Determine the vertical force on the peg due to the string. [2]

iii. The angle the string makes to the horizontal is reduced whilst the
tension remains constant - state the effect of this on the vertical
and horizontal components of the force on the peg. [2]

c) A beam is attached to two narrow supports, X and Y, and a load of

2.5 x 104 N is placed as shown in the diagram. Assume the weight of
the beam is negligible.

i. State the principle of moments. [2]

i. Determine the magnitude and direction of the vertical force on the [3]
beam at support X.

Question B1 continues on the next page.

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ii. Determine the magnitude of the vertical support force on the

beam, SY, at support Y. [2]

For the following questions, assume the beam is uniform and now has a
mass of 5.0 x 103 kg.

iii. Determine the distance from support Y to the centre of mass of the
beam. [1]

iv. Determine the magnitude of the support force on the beam at Y. [2]

v. Determine the magnitude of the support force on the beam at X. [1]

Question B2

a) i. Define the Farad. [1]

ii. A capacitor is used to store the energy to light a flash bulb for a
camera. The capacitor is charged to 6.0 V, and must store 100 mJ.
Determine the capacitance of the required capacitor. [3]

b) The capacitor then discharges through a bulb of resistance 1.5 Ω.

(Assume the resistance is constant).

i. Determine the initial current through the bulb. [2]

ii. Determine the time taken for the voltage to fall from 6.0 V to [3]
2.0 V.

iii. Determine the time constant of the discharge circuit. [2]

c) i. Determine the charge stored by the capacitor when it is fully

charged. [2]

ii. If the charging process is carried out at a constant current of

5.0 mA, determine the time taken to charge the capacitor to 6.0 V. [2]

d) In other applications, capacitors are combined to give greater energy

storage capacity. Four capacitors of 2200 mF are connected in parallel,
and are charged from a 10.0 V power supply through a resistor.

i. Determine the total capacitance of the parallel arrangement of

capacitors. [2]

ii. Determine the total energy stored in the capacitors when the
arrangement is charged to 10.0 V. [1]

iii. The four capacitors are arranged in series. Determine the new
value of the total capacitance. [2]

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Question B3

A transformer is to be used to step down a voltage supply from 5.0 kV. The
transformer consists of a primary coil of 2100 turns around the iron core,
and 100 turns on the secondary coil.

a) i. If the voltage across the primary coil is 5.0 kV, determine the
voltage across the secondary coil. [2]

ii. A power of 2.0 kW is required from the secondary coil, determine

the current in the secondary coil. [2]

iii. If the efficiency of the transformer is 95%, show that the power
input required to the primary coil is approximately 2.1 kW. [2]

iv. Determine the current in the primary coil. [1]

v. It is suggested that the efficiency could be improved by

constructing one of the coils from a lower resistance material.
State, with a reason, which of the two coils should be chosen. [2]

vi. The transformer is kept inside an aluminium box. When in

operation, it is noticed that parts of the aluminium box become
warm. Suggest a reason for this heating effect and a way to reduce [3]
or eliminate it.

b) A ‘search coil’ is used to investigate magnetic fields. It consists of a

circular coil of diameter 3.0 cm, with 150 turns of wire.

i. In a constant magnetic field, the maximum flux linkage

experienced by the coil is 8.5 x10-5 Wb, determine the magnetic
field strength at this point. [2]

ii. The coil is rotated to an angle of 450 to this magnetic field.

Determine the flux linkage through the coil. [2]

iii. The coil is now used to investigate a changing magnetic field. The
maximum rate of change of the magnetic field through the coil is
2.0 mT s-1. Assuming the coil is perpendicular to this field,
determine the maximum e.m.f. induced in the coil. [2]

iv. Assuming all other factors remain constant, if the diameter of the
search coil was increased by a factor of 3, deduce the effect on the
maximum e.m.f. produced. [2]

Section B continues on the next page.

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Question B4

Two waves in a ripple tank meet at a point. One wave has an amplitude of
5.0 mm, the other wave has an amplitude of 3.0 mm.

a) i. Give the maximum possible amplitude of the wave at the point. [1]

ii. Give the minimum possible amplitude of the wave at the point. [1]

iii. Give the name of the process by which the waves are added. [1]

b) Two coherent sources of waves (X and Y) are arranged 15.0 cm apart in

a ripple tank, and the resulting fringe pattern is observed.

i. What is meant by ‘coherent’? [2]

ii. Maxima and minima are observed along the line shown. Sketch the
pattern of amplitude you might expect to see along this line. [3]

iii. Explain, using the concept of path difference, how maxima and
minima form. [4]

iv. The perpendicular distance from the line joining X and Y to the line
of observation is 80.0 cm. Determine the wavelength which would
produce a fringe width of 10.0 cm. [2]

v. Describe the effect on the fringe width of reducing the wavelength

by a factor of four. [1]

c) Light from a monochromatic source is incident normally onto a

diffraction grating with 1000 lines per mm. The light passes through
the grating and forms a pattern on a screen placed the other side.

i. Show that the spacing of the lines is 1.0 μm. [1]

ii. The first bright maximum visible occurs at 250 to the normal.

Determine the wavelength of the light. [1]

iii. How many maxima are visible in total from this arrangement? [3]

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Question B5

In Rutherford’s alpha particle scattering experiment, a thin beam of alpha

particles of identical kinetic energy is incident on thin gold foil, and the
resulting pattern is observed.

a)

i. Copy the diagram and show the continued paths of the 4 particles
as they approach and are deflected by the gold nucleus. [2]

ii. State one of the three conclusions about the nature of the atom
which were drawn from Rutherford’s experiment. [1]

iii. Give a reason why the gold foil was chosen to be thin. [1]

iv. Give a reason why it was important that the beam of alpha
particles was narrow. [3]

b) The isotope of Gold used in the foil was . The diameter of the
nucleus was found to be no more than 7.00 x 10 m.
-15

i. Use the data provided to determine the minimum density of the

gold nucleus. [4]

ii. Another nuclide has a nucleon number of 125. Determine the

maximum diameter of this nucleus. Assume its density is the same
as the gold nucleus. [3]

c) Complete the following decay equations:

i. ? [1]
Alpha decay: → ∝

ii. ? [2]
Beta minus decay: ? → ̅

iii. Beta plus decay: → [1]

?

iv. Name two quantities which are always conserved in nuclear [2]
reactions.

This is the end of the examination.

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