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2010 H2 Prelim Physic Paper 3 Suggested Solution

Qn. Suggested Solutions

1 1a. Angular velocity is defined as the rate of change of angular displacement.

1bi.

An object moving with constant speed will continue in its uniform motion in a straight
line unless acted on by a net/resultant force according to Newton’s First Law. To
change its direction, there must be a net force acting on it. Since the baggage is
rotating at constant speed, this net force is acting perpendicular to its motion changing
it’s direction but not it’s speed. As the change in velocity is directed to the centre of
the rotation, by Newtion’s 2nd law the net force applied must also acts in the direction
of the change in velocity.

1bii. N, normal f, friction

contact force

w, weight of baggage

1biii. N, normal
contact force Taking upwards as positive:

θ Ncosθ +fsinθ - w = 0

θ N = (w-fsinθ)/cosθ
θ
= (10x9.81 – 59.4sin 36o)/( cos 36o)

θ = 78.1 N
w, weight of baggage

1biv. Consider forces horizontally,

f cos 36o - Nsin 36o = mrω2

59.4 x cos 36o – 78.1 sin 36o = 10 x 11.0 x (2π/T)2

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2π/T = 0.140

T = 44.9 s or 45 s

2 ai.

Show calculation to determine value of PV at C, B and one other point on the curve
BC

Conclude that since PV is constant for fixed mass of gas, the process BC is
isothermal.

Mass of ideal gas is fixed during the process.

ii.

Internal energy of an ideal gas is only made up of the sum of microscopic kinetic
energy due to random motion of its molecules

b.

Using Pc/Tc = PA/TA , TA = 192.5 K = 192.5 – 273.15 = - 80.7 oC

c.

Method 1

3 3
∆U AB = P(VB − V A ) = 1.7 x10 5 (9.8 − 5) x10 −4 = 122.4 = 122
2 2

Method 2

3 3
∆U AB = nR∆TAB = n(8.31)(385 − 192.5)
2 2

pcVc
But n = = 0.053136
8.31(Tc )

Hence ∆U AB = 127.5 = 128

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W is negative when the gas expands during the change AB.

At the same time, its internal energy has increased since its PV value increased
during the expansion.

Using the First Law of Thermodynamics, ∆U = q + W, this implies that more thermal
energy must be supplied to the gas than its work done (i.e. q is positive and > W).

(d)

Pressure of gas is due to collision of molecules with the container walls.

During contraction at constant temperature, the molecules move at and collide

with same speed. But due to contraction in volume, the frequency of

collision increases. Or more collisions per unit time increases.

This implies rate of change of momentum due to the collision of molecules

and hence pressure increases.

Note: A larger change in momentum from each collision (ie molecules move faster) or
higher frequency of collision (i.e. higher temperature or smaller volume) will

lead to larger pressure.

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3 (a) A high voltage is applied across the discharge tube which contained the hot gases
(for example, sodium vapour lamp or mercury vapour lamp). When the light emitted
by hot gases in discharge tubes is passed through a diffraction grating, distinctive
bright coloured lines against a dark background is observed. This is known as an
emission line spectrum.

discharge lamp
grating
High
voltage

spectrometer

(b)(i)(1) When V1 is less than P, the electrons reaching G do not have enough kinetic
energy to reach A. Since no electrons reach A, Ia is zero.

Note: When electron moves from G to A, the electric force (repulsive force) will
decelerate the speed of the electrons.

(i)(2) Electrons reaching G have enough kinetic energy to reach A. With increasing
V1, more electrons are able to reach A per unit time as they have higher kinetic
energy, thus Ia increases.

(ii) Kinetic energy from the accelerated electrons are passed to the mercury
atoms (though inelastic collision) where electrons in the ground state are
excited to a higher state. The sudden onset suggests that the mercury
electrons cannot accept energy until it reaches the threshold for elevating
them to an excited state.

(iii)(1) 4.9 x 1.6x10-19 = hc/λ

λ = 2.54 x 10-7 m or 254 nm

(iii)(2) It is found in the ultra violet light

4 a. One ohm is defined as the resistance of a conductor when a current of one amp
ere passes through it when the potential difference across it is one volt.

bi.

The wire of uniform cross-section and carries a constant current supplied by battery
E. To measure the unknown Ex, the contact c is moved until the galvanometer G
reads zero. The potential difference between ac is proportional to the length ac and is
equal to Ex. To calibrate a potentiometer, one switches from Ex to a standard cell Es

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and moves the slide to a point d on wire ab to obtain another zero galvanometer
reading. Then Ex can be easily computed from the known Es of the standard cell and
the measured lengths ac and ad from Ex / Es = ac / ad.

ii. The potentiometer can measure the terminal potential difference with high accuracy
without drawing any current from the unknown source.

c.i.

600
Vab = × 5V = 3.75V
600 + 200

Vac
Therefore lac = × 1.0m = 0.533m
Vab

ii. Left

iii.

600
Vab ' = × 5V = 3.26V
40
600 + × 400
50

Vac
Therefore lac ' = × 1.0m = 0.613m
Vab '

5 (a) (i) Refer to notes. The higher the B.E. per nucleon of a nuclide, the more stable
the nuclide is.

(ii) 7.66831x1.6x10-13 = (88x1.00783 u + 138 x 1.00867 u – M)c2

M = 226.025 u (shown)

(iii) By Conservation of linear momentum, 0 = pα + pRn

By Conseravtion of energy, Q = KEα + KERn (KE = p2/2m)

Mα
Hence, Q = Kα ( 1 + )
M Rn

(iv) Q = 6.336x10-13

Kα =6.22x10-13

(v) Alpha has low penetrating power and short range and thus able to be used on
localized area. It also has the highest ionization ability and thus effective in killing
harmful cells.

(b)(i) Refer to notes

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(ii) A = λN,

Ratio = 0.33(±5%)

(iii) Activity becomes half for each half life.

(iv) Either show 3 half-lives are constant or explain that when take the
natural log ln, the graph is a straight line.

6 6(a) Two waves are said to be coherent when there is a constant phase difference
between them.

6(b)(i) Wavelength = 330/660 = 0.5 m

Path of X to O = 15 m

Path Difference between the two sources = 15-12 = 3 m

Path Difference = 6λ which shows that the 2 waves are in phase at O.

Since the sources have zero phase difference and path difference shows that the
waves are in phase at O, hence constructive interference.

6(b)(ii) At Y’, the new path difference = 0m, thus there is constructive interference.

As source moved from initial position to Y’, path difference goes from 6λ to 0. Thus
observer at O experiences 6 soft sound (or 6 destructive interference) when path
difference are 5.5λ, 4.5λ, 3.5λ, 2.5λ, 1.5λ, 0.5λ and 7 loud sound (or 7 constructive
interference) when path difference 6λ, 5λ, 4λ, 3λ, 2λ, 1λ, 0)

6(b)(iii) No. Amplitude of the waves depends on the intensity of the wave which
depends on the distance travel from the source to the observer. Since the 2 waves
travel different distance from the source to the observer, the amplitudes of the two
waves will not be exactly the same, hence there will not be complete cancellation

Note: Do not accept background noise or the 2 sources did not have the same
amplitude.

6(c)Path of reflected wave = 10 m

Path difference = 20-12 = 8 m = 16λ which shows that the 2 waves are in phase at O.

Though the 2 waves are in phase at O due to π radians phase shift at reflection, there
will be destructive interference hence a soft sound.

(d) Diffraction is the spreading of waves when the waves pass through a gap or an
obstacle.

(e) In order to determine if there is overlap of the first and second spectra, we have to

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check the maximum angular deviation of the first spectra and the minimum angular
deviation of the second spectra.

In the first order spectra, red light with the longest wavelength will constitute the
largest angular deviation,

Using dsinθn = n λ , λ R = 0.7 µm , d= 2.5 µm

For red light, nR =1, θR,1 = 16.3˚

Therefore, the maximum angular deviation for the first spectra is 16.3˚.

In the second order spectra, blue light with the shortest wavelength will constitute
the smallest angular deviation,

Using dsinθn = n, λ B = 0.4 µm , d= 2.5 µm

For blue light, nB =2, θB,2 = 18.7˚

From the above calculation, angular deviation for 2rd order blue light > angular
spacing for 1st order red light. There is no overlapping of 2nd order blue light and 1st
order red light.

Therefore, there is no overlapping between the first order and second order spectra.

(f)(i) It is to produce a coherent light when it pass through the collimator.

(ii) dsinθ = n λ

λ' sin ϑ ' ϑ − ϑ1

= where ϑ = 2
λ sin ϑ 2

90.033°
For Na: ϑ = = 45.017°
2

 71.367° 
'

sin  
λ1  2 
For pair 1: = => λ1 = 486nm => H2
589.3 sin 45.017

 93.667° 
'

sin  
λ2  2 
For pair 2 = => λ 2 = 608nm => CO2
589.3 sin 45.017

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7 7ai.

Power is defined as the the rate of work done.

ii. Power , P = Work done (W)/ time taken (t)

Work is done when the point of application of force (F) on the object moves in the
direction of the displacement (S) of the object. Hence W = F.s

Power, P = F.s/ t where s/t is the rate of change of displacement which is velocity (v)
of the object.

Therefore P = F.v (shown)

7bi.

From solar energy, the energy is converted to electrical energy by the solar panel
which is then stored in the battery as chemical energy. To drive the plane’s engines,
the chemical energy is converted to electrical energy which is then coverted to
mechanical energy or kinetic energy of the propellers. Part of the kinetic enerygy is
used to do work against air resistance while the rest is used to change its velocity.

7bii.1.

Efficiency, η= (Power Output/ Power input) x 100

= (Mechanical Power/solar power (Ps) ) x100

Intensity, I = Power received by the solar panel (Ps)/Area of the solar panel

250 = Ps/ 200

Ps = 50,000 = 50 kW

Hence, η = ( 6.0x103/50 x103) x100 = 12.0 %

7bii.3.

Power output by the engines, Po = F.v where F is the force provided by the engines
and v is the velocity of the plane. F, forward force
provided by the engine
6.0 x103 = F. (70x103/3600) Air resistance,f

F = 308.6 N = 309 N

To maintain constant flight speed, the force (F) provided by the engines must be
equal to force due to the air resistance (f).

Hence the magnitude of the air resistance = 309 N

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7bii.3.

No. of hours of darkness = 24 -14 = 10 hours.

Mechanical energy required for 10 hours, E = Power by engines x time

= 6x103 x 10 x 3600

= 216 MJ

With efficiency of 12%, hence the solar energy required to be stored = 216x106/0.12

= 1.8 GJ

OR Solar energy required = Power received by the solar panel x time (10hrs)

= 50,000 x (3600 x 10 ) = 1.8 GJ

7c.

Depletion Region of a p-n Junction

(1) A p-n junction is obtained by joining a p-type semiconductor and an n-type

semiconductor as shown below:

(2) Origin of the depletion region.

In the narrow region near a p-n junction, electrons tend to diffuse from the n-type side
through the junction into the p-type side while holes tend to diffuse in the opposite
direction.

The mobile n-side donor electrons nearest the junction diffuse to the p-side and fill

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holes located there, leaving behind immobile positive ions (Gp V atoms) that are fixed
in the lattice. While this happens, we can model the holes that are being filled as
diffusing to the n-side, leaving behind a region of fixed negative ions (Gp III atoms).

The electrons and holes in the region tend to recombine and the region becomes
virtually depleted of mobile charge carriers. This region is commonly called the
depletion region. Other names include metallurgical region, transition region or
space charge region.

These immobile charge ions thereby create an electric field across the depletion
region. At equilibrium, the electric field set up in the depletion region will be strong
enough to prevent more electrons from diffusing across from the n-type to the p-type
semiconductor. The potential difference due to this electric field within the depletion
region can be thought of as a “potential energy barrier” that prevents the further
migration of electrons across the junction.

di.

1. Series connection enables the individual small emf of the solar cells to be added
up to a larger voltage that is useful for charging the plane’s battery.

2. Parallel connection enables the entire circuit to work even if though if 1 unit fails.

dii.

Cloud cover or flying in the night where there will be no adequate solar energy to be
captured and stored.

The plane must carry extra fully charged batteries or alternative fuel for the plane’s
propulsion.

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