AS Level review exercise

1 A bullet of mass 2.0 g is fired horizontally into a block of wood of mass 600 g.
AS Level review exercise

The block is suspended from strings so that it is free to move in a vertical plane.
The bullet buries itself in the block. The block and bullet rise together through a
vertical distance of 8.6 cm, as shown in Figure 1.

bullet

8.6 cm
wood block
▲ Figure 1

a i Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the block and bullet.
 [2]
ii Show that the initial speed of the block and the bullet, after they began to
move off together, was 1.3 m s –1. [1]
b Using the information in aii and the principle of conservation of momentum,
determine the speed of the bullet before the impact with the block.  [2]
c i Calculate the kinetic energy of the bullet just before impact. [2]
ii State and explain what can be deduced from your answers to ci and ai about
the type of collision between the bullet and the block. [2]
[Total: 9]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 02 Q3 May/June 2005

2 A potential divider circuit consists of two resistors of resistances P and Q, as shown

in Figure 2. The battery has e.m.f. E and negligible internal resistance.

P Q

▲ Figure 2

a Deduce that the potential difference V across the resistor of resistance P is given
P
by the expression V = P + Q E. [2]

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 b The resistances P and Q are 2000 Ω and 5000 Ω respectively. A voltmeter is


connected in parallel with the 2000 Ω resistor and a thermistor is connected in
parallel with the 5000 Ω resistor, as shown in Figure 3. The battery has e.m.f.
6.0 V. The voltmeter has infinite resistance.

6.0 V

AS Level review exercise

2000 Ω 5000 Ω

▲ Figure 3

i State and explain qualitatively the change in the reading of the voltmeter
as the temperature of the thermistor is raised. [3]
ii The voltmeter reads 3.6 V when the temperature of the thermistor is 19°C.
Calculate the resistance of the thermistor at 19°C. [4]
[Total: 9]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 02 Q7 Oct/Nov 2008

3 A spring is placed on a flat surface and different weights are placed on it, as shown in
Figure 4.

weights

spring

▲ Figure 4

The variation with weight of the compression of the spring is shown in Figure 5.
4
compression/cm

0
10 20 30 40
weight/N
▲ Figure 5
The elastic limit of the spring has not been exceeded.
a i Determine the spring constant k of the spring. [2]
ii Deduce that the strain energy stored in the spring is 0.49 J for a compression
of 3.5 cm. [2]
b Two trolleys of masses 800 g and 2400 g are free to move on a horizontal table.
The spring in a is placed between the trolleys and the trolleys are tied together
using thread so that the compression of the spring is 3.5 cm, as shown in

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 Figure 6. Initially, the trolleys are not moving. The thread is then cut and the


trolleys move apart.
thread
trolley trolley
mass 800 g mass 2400 g

spring
AS Level review exercise

▲ Figure 6
i Deduce that the ratio
speed of trolley of mass 800 g
speed of trolley of mass 2400 g
is equal to 3.0. [2]
ii Use the answers in a ii and b i to calculate the speed of the trolley
of mass 800 g. [3]
[Total: 9]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 02 Q2 May/June 2008

4 A shopping trolley and its contents have a total mass of 42 kg. The trolley is being
pushed along a horizontal surface at a speed of 1.2 m s –1. When the trolley is
released, it travels a distance of 1.9 m before coming to rest.
a Assuming that the total force opposing the motion of the trolley is constant:
i calculate the deceleration of the trolley, [2]
ii show that the total force opposing the motion of the trolley is 16 N. [1]
b Using the answer to a ii, calculate the power required to overcome the total
force opposing the motion of the trolley at a speed of 1.2 m s –1. [2]
c The trolley now moves down a straight slope that is inclined at an angle of
2.8° to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 7.

2.8°

▲ Figure 7
The constant force that opposes the motion of the trolley is 16 N. Calculate, for
the trolley moving down the slope:
i the component down the slope of the trolley’s weight,  [2]
ii the time for the trolley to travel from rest a distance of 3.5 m along the
length of the slope. [4]
d Use you answer to c ii to explain why, for safety reasons, the slope is not made
any steeper. [1]
[Total: 12]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 02 Q3 May/June 2008

5 A car battery has an internal resistance of 0.060 Ω. It is recharged using a battery

charger having an e.m.f. of 14 V and an internal resistance of 0.10 Ω, as shown in
Figure 8.

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 0.10 Ω 0.060 Ω

battery + car
charger battery
14 V E
−

AS Level review exercise

▲ Figure 8
a At the beginning of the recharging process, the current in the circuit is 42 A and
the e.m.f. of the battery is E (measured in volts).
i For the circuit in Figure 8, state:
1 the magnitude of the total resistance,
2 the total e.m.f. in the circuit. Give your answer in terms of E. [2]
ii Use your answers to i and data from the question to determine the
e.m.f. of the car battery at the beginning of the recharging process. [2]
b For the majority of the charging time of the car battery, the e.m.f. of the car
battery is 12 V and the charging current is 12.5 A. The battery is charged at this
current for 4 hours. Calculate, for this charging time:
i the charge that passes through the battery, [2]
ii the energy supplied from the battery charger, [2]
iii the total energy dissipated in the internal resistance of the battery
charger and the car battery. [2]
c Use your answers to b to calculate the percentage efficiency of transfer
of energy from the battery charger to stored energy in the car battery. [2]
[Total: 12]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 02 Q6 May/June 2007
6 A ball is thrown against a vertical wall. The path of the ball is shown in Figure 9.
The ball is thrown from S with an initial velocity of 15.0 m s –1 at 60.0° to the
horizontal. Assume that air resistance is negligible.

15.0 m s–1

wall
S 60.0° F

6.15 m
9.95 m
▲ Figure 9 (not to scale)
a For the ball at S, calculate:
i its horizontal component of velocity, [1]
ii its vertical component of velocity. [1]
b The horizontal distance from S to the wall is 9.95 m. The ball hits the wall at
P with a velocity that is at right angles to the wall. The ball rebounds to a point
F that is 6.15 m from the wall.
Using your answers to a:
i calculate the vertical height gained by the ball when it travels from S to P, [1]
ii show that the time taken for the ball to travel from S to P is 1.33 s, [1]
iii show that the velocity of the ball immediately after rebounding from the
wall is about 4.6 m s –1. [1]
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 c The mass of the ball is 60 × 10 –3 kg.


i Calculate the change in momentum of the ball as it rebounds from the wall. [2]
ii State and explain whether the collision is elastic or inelastic. [1]
[Total: 8]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 21 Q3 Oct/Nov 2011
7 The variation with time t of the displacement y of a wave X, as it passes a point P, is
shown in Figure 10. The intensity of wave X is I.

4.0

y/cm
AS Level review exercise

3.0
wave X
2.0
1.0
0
1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
–1.0 t/m s
–2.0
–3.0
–4.0

▲ Figure 10
a Use Figure 10 to determine the frequency of wave X. [2]
b A second wave Z with the same frequency as wave X also passes point P. Wave Z
has intensity 2I. The phase difference between the two waves is 90°. On a copy
of Figure 10, sketch the variation with time t of the displacement y of wave Z.
Show your working. [3]
c A double-slit interference experiment is used to determine the wavelength of light
emitted from a laser, as shown in Figure 11.

laser light 0.45 mm

D
double screen
slit
▲ Figure 11 (not to scale)
The separation of the slits is 0.45 mm. The fringes are viewed on a screen at a
distance D from the double slit. The fringe width x is measured for different
distances D. The variation with D of x is shown in Figure 12.
5.0
x/mm

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0
1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
D/m
▲ Figure 12

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 i Use the gradient of the line in Figure 12 to determine the wavelength, in nm,


of the laser light. [4]
ii The separation of the slits is increased. State and explain the effects, if any, on
the graph of Figure 12. [2]
[Total: 11]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 21 Q5 May/June 2016

metal ball 8 A metal ball of mass 40 g falls vertically onto a spring, as shown in Figure 13.
The spring is supported and stands vertically. The ball has a speed of 2.8 m s−1

AS Level review exercise

as it makes contact with the spring. The ball is brought to rest as the spring is
compressed.
spring spring
support a Show that the kinetic energy of the ball as it makes contact with the spring
is 0.16 J. [2]
b The variation of the force F acting on the spring with the compression x of the
▲ Figure 13 (not to scale) spring is shown in Figure 14.
20
The ball produces a maximum compression XB when it comes to rest. The spring has
F/N

a spring constant of 800 N m−1. Use Figure 14 to:

i calculate the compression XB, [2]
ii show that not all the kinetic energy in a is converted into elastic potential
10 energy in the spring. [2]
[Total: 6]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 21 Q4 May/June 2014
0
XB
x 9 a Determine the SI base units of power. [3]
▲ Figure 14 b Figure 15 shows a turbine that is used to generate electrical power from the wind.
The power P available from the wind is given by
P = CL 2ρv3
where L is the length of each blade of the turbine, ρ is the density of air, v is the
wind speed and C is a constant.

L
wind
speed v turbine

▲ Figure 15
i Show that C has no units. [3]
ii The length L of each blade of the turbine is 25.0 m and the density ρ of
air is 1.30 in SI units. The constant C is 0.931. The efficiency of the
turbine is 55% and the electric power output P is 3.50 × 105 W.
Calculate the wind speed. [3]
iii Suggest two reasons why the electrical power output of the turbine is
less than the power available from the wind.  [2]
[Total: 11]
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics (9702) Paper 22 Q1 May/June 2013

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 8.0 A 24 V 10 a Define potential difference.


A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 24 V and negligible internal
resistance is connected to a network of resistors A, B, C and D, as
A B
X shown in Figure 16.
3.0 A
The resistors A and B in the circuit have equal resistances. The two
C
Y
D resistors C and D have resistances R and 2.8 Ω. The resistors A and B
R 2.8 Ω are connected at junction X and the resistors C and D are connected
▲ Figure 16 at junction Y. The current in the battery is 8.0 A and the current in
the resistors A and B is 3.0 A.
AS Level review exercise

b Calculate:
i the resistance of resistor A,
ii resistance R.
c Determine the potential difference between points X and Y.
d Calculate:
i the total power dissipated in the resistors A and B,
ii the total power produced by the battery.
e The resistor of resistance R is replaced with a resistor of greater resistance. State
and explain the effect, if any, of this change on:
i the total power dissipated by the two resistors A and B,
ii the total power produced by the battery.
11 a Define power.
b A chair lift and passengers have a total weight of 3.5 kN. The lift is attached to a
cable that is connected to a motor, as shown in Figure 17.
return path motor
of cable
cable moving up

chair lift attached

to cable

ground level

20° horizontal

▲ Figure 17
The cable is supported so that the lift is above ground level as it is pulled up a
mountain by the motor. The cable is at an angle of 20° to the horizontal. The
variation with time t of the speed v of the lift is shown in Figure 18. A constant
frictional force of 0.40 kN acts against the lift when it is moving at constant speed
between time t = 8.0 s and t = 108 s.
6 i Use Figure 18:
v/m s–1

1 to determine the acceleration of the lift between time t = 0

5 and t = 8.0 s,
2  to show that the tension in the cable is 1.6 kN between time
4
t = 8.0 s and t = 108 s,
3  to calculate the work done by the motor to raise the lift
between time t = 8.0 s and t = 108 s.
3
ii The motor has an efficiency of 75%. The tension in the cable is
1.7 kN at time t = 6.0 s.
2 Determine the input power to the motor at this time.
iii State and explain whether the increase in gravitational potential
1 energy of the lift between t = 8.0 and t = 108 s is less than,
the same as, or greater than the work done by the motor. A
calculation is not required.
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
t/s
▲ Figure 18
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