Questions and Answers of Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics Coursebook

One of the spectral lines from a hydrogen discharge lamp has wavelength 656 nm. This light is incident normally at a diffraction grating with 5000 lines cm−1.Calculate the angles for the first- and
Use the equation λ = ax/D to explain the following observations:a. With the slits closer together, the fringes are further apart.b. Interference fringes for blue light are closer together than
a. Explain what is meant by the term superposition.b. In a double-slit experiment, yellow light of wavelength 590 nm from a sodium discharge tube is used. A student sets up a screen 1.8 m from the
Yellow light from a sodium source is used in the double-slit experiment. This yellow light has wavelength 589 nm. The slit separation is 0.20 mm, and the screen is placed 1.20 m from the slits.
a. A laser light is described as producing light that is both highly coherent and highly monochromatic. Explain what is meant by the terms coherent and monochromatic.b. This diagram shows the
In a double-slit experiment, filters were placed in front of a white light source to investigate the effect of changing the wavelength of the light. At first, a red filter was used instead (λ = 600
Explain how the second-order maximum arises in terms of path difference.
a. Explain what is meant by the diffraction of a wave.b. This diagram shows waves, in a ripple tank, spreading out from two slits.Copy this diagram. On your diagram, sketch:i. A line showing points
a. For the case described in Worked example 2, with λ = 580 nm, calculate the angle θ for the second-order maximum.b. Repeat the calculation of θ for n = 3, 4, and so on. Determine how many maxima
Consider the equation d sin θ = nλ. State and explain how the interference pattern would change when:a. The wavelength of the incident light is increased for the same gratingb. The grating is
A student is trying to make an accurate measurement of the wavelength of green light from a mercury lamp. The wavelength λ of this light is 546 nm. Using a double-slit of separation 0.50 mm, the
White light is incident normally on a diffraction grating with a slit-separation d of 2.00 × 10−6 m. The visible spectrum has wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm.a. Calculate the angle
A lamp is operated for 20 s. The current in the lamp is 10 A. In this time, it transfers 400 J of energy to the lamp. Calculate:a. How much charge flows through the lampb. How much energy each
A 12 V car battery can supply a current of 10 A for 5.0 hours. Calculate how many joules of energy the battery transfers in this time.
Calculate the resistance of a 100 W light bulb that draws a current of 0.43 A from a power supply.
An energy-efficient light bulb is labelled ‘230 V, 15 W’. This means that when connected to the 230 V mains supply it is fully lit and changes electrical energy to heat and light at the rate of
A calculator is powered by a 3.0 V battery. The calculator’s resistance is 20 kΩ. Calculate the power transferred to the calculator.
A power station supplies electrical energy to the grid at a voltage of 25 kV. Calculate the output power of the station when the current it supplies is 40 kA.
Calculate the current in a 60 W light bulb when it is connected to a 230 V power supply.
A student is measuring the resistance per unit length of a resistance wire. He takes the following measurements.a. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the measurement of the current.b. Calculate
Calculate the resistance of a lamp carrying a current of 0.40 A when connected to a 230 V supply. Figure 8.13: Both of these lamps work from the 230 V mains supply, but one has a higher resistance
Some electricity-generating companies use a unit called the kilowatt-hour (kWh) to calculate energy bills. 1 kWh is the energy a kilowatt appliance transfers in 1 hour.a. Show that 1 kWh is equal to
a. Calculate the potential difference across a motor carrying a current of 1.0 A and having a resistance of 50 Ω.b. Calculate the potential difference across the same motor when the current is
a. Explain the difference between potential difference and e.m.f.b. A battery has negligible internal resistance, an e.m.f. of 12.0 V and a capacity of 100 A h (ampere-hours). Calculate:i. The total
A length of copper track on a printed circuit board has a cross-sectional area of 5.0 × 10−8 m2. The current in the track is 3.5 mA. You are provided with some useful information about copper:1 m3
A car headlamp bulb has a resistance of 36 Ω. Calculate the current in the lamp when connected to a ‘12 V’ battery.
This diagram shows an electron tube. Electrons moving from the cathode to the anode constitute a current. The current in the ammeter is 4.5 mA.a. Calculate the charge passing through the ammeter in 3
A length of copper wire is joined in series to a length of silver wire of the same diameter. Both wires have a current in them when connected to a battery. Explain how the mean drift velocity of the
This diagram shows the electrolysis of copper chloride.a i. On a copy of the diagram, mark the direction of the conventional current in the electrolyte. Label it conventional current.ii. Mark the
Calculate the mean drift velocity of electrons in a copper wire of diameter 1.0 mm with a current of 5.0 A. The electron number density for copper is 8.5 × 1028 m−3.
A woman has available 1 A, 3 A, 5 A, 10 A and 13 A fuses. Explain which fuse she should use for a 120 V, 450 W hairdryer.
Calculate the current in a gold wire of cross-sectional area 2.0 mm2 when the mean drift velocity of the electrons in the wire is 0.10 mm s−1. The electron number density for gold is 5.9 × 1028
Calculate the energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated through a potential difference of 50 kV. (Charge on the electron = −1.6 × 10−19 C.)
Which of the following quantities of electric charge is possible? Explain how you know.6.0 × 10−19 C, 8.0 × 10−19 C, 10.0 × 10−19 C
A battery of e.m.f. 6 V produces a steady current of 2.4 A for 10 minutes.Calculate:a. The charge that it suppliedb. The energy that it transferred.
a. These are stress–strain curves for three different materials, P, Q and R.State and explain which material has the greatest Young modulus.b. Describe an experiment to determine the Young modulus
This is a force–extension graph for a spring.a. State what is represented by:i. The gradient of the graphii. The area under the graph.b. The spring has force constant k = 80 N m−1. The spring is
Calculate the number of protons that would have a charge of one coulomb. (Proton charge = +1.6 × 10−19 C.)
a. A lamp of resistance 15 Ω is connected to a battery of e.m.f. 4.5 V.Calculate the current in the lamp.b. Calculate the resistance of the filament of an electric heater that takes a current of 6.5
A car battery is labelled ‘50 A h’. This means that it can supply a current of 50 A for one hour.a. For how long could the battery supply a continuous current of 200 A needed to start the car?b.
In a lightning strike there is an average current of 30 kA, which lasts for 2,000 μs. Calculate the charge that is transferred in this process.
In a circuit, a charge of 50 C passes a point in 20 s. Calculate the current in the circuit.
A generator produces a current of 40 A. Calculate how long will it take for a total of 2,000 C to flow through the output.
Calculate the current that gives a charge flow of 150 C in a time of 30 s.
Calculate the charge that passes through a lamp when there is a current of 150 mA for 40 minutes.
The current in a circuit is 0.40 A. Calculate the charge that passes a point in the circuit in a period of 15 s.
Which statement defines e.m.f.?A. The e.m.f. of a source is the energy transferred when charge is driven through a resistor.B. The e.m.f. of a source is the energy transferred when charge is driven
Figure 8.8 shows a circuit with a conducting solution having both positive and negative ions.a. Copy the diagram and draw in a cell between points A and B. Clearly indicate the positive and negative
A small immersion heater is connected to a power supply of e.m.f. of 12 V for a time of 150 s. The output power of the heater is 100 W. What charge passes through the heater?A. 1.4 CB.
Figure 7.19 shows force–extension graphs for two materials. For each of the following questions, make the statement required. Also explain how you deduce your answer from the graphs.a. State which
A spring has a force constant of 4800 N m−1. Calculate the elastic potential energy when it is compressed by 2.0 mm.
A force of 12 N extends a length of rubber band by 18 cm. Estimate the energy stored in this rubber band. Explain why your answer can only be an estimate.
For each of the materials whose stress–strain graphs are shown in Figure 7.15, deduce the values of the Young modulus. a 150 100 50 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 Strain / % Figure 7.15: Stress-strain graphs for
In an experiment to measure the Young modulus of glass, a student draws out a glass rod to form a fibre 0.800 m in length. Using a travelling microscope, she estimates its diameter to be 0.40 mm.
Calculate the extension of a copper wire of length 1.00 m and diameter 1.00 mm when a tensile force of 10 N is applied to the end of the wire. (Young modulus of copper = 130 GPa.)
A light spring that obeys Hooke’s law has an unstretched length of 0.250 m. When an object of mass 2.0 kg is hung from the spring the length of the spring becomes 0.280 m. When the object is fully
A piece of steel wire, 200.0 cm long and having cross-sectional area of 0.50 mm2, is stretched by a force of 50 N. Its new length is found to be 200.1 cm. Calculate the stress and strain, and the
This diagram shows water in a container filled to a depth of 0.50 m. The density of water is 1000 kg m−3.a. Calculate the pressure at X on the base of the container.b. Explain why the pressure at X
Figure 7.14 shows stress–strain graphs for two materials, A and B. Use the graphs to determine the Young modulus of each material. 15- 10 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 Strain / % Figure 7.14: Stress-strain
a. Liquid of density ρ fills a cylinder of base area A and height h.i. Using the symbols provided, state the mass of liquid in the container.ii. Using your answer to i, derive a formula for the
This is a stress–strain graph for a metal wire.The wire has a diameter of 0.84 mm and a natural length of 3.5 m.Use the graph to determine:a. The Young modulus of the wireb. The extension of the
Figure 7.11 shows the force–extension graphs for four springs, A, B, C and D.a. State which spring has the greatest value of force constant.b. State which is the least stiff.c. State which of the
To allow for expansion in the summer when temperatures rise, a steel railway line laid in cold weather is pre-stressed by applying a force of 2.6 × 105 N to the rail of cross-sectional area 5.0 ×
Figure 7.9 shows the force–extension graph for a wire that is stretched and then released.a. Which point shows the limit of proportionality?b. Which point shows the elastic limit? D By A E.
a. State the meaning of tensile stress and tensile strain.b. A vertical steel wire of length 1.6 m and cross-sectional area 1.3 × 10−6 m2 carries a weight of 60 N. The Young modulus for steel
A balloon of volume 3000 m−3 is filled with hydrogen of density 0.090 kg m−3. The mass of the fabric of the balloon is 100 kg. Calculate the greatest mass that the balloon can lift in air of
Describe how to use a newton-meter, a micrometer screw gauge, a metal cube of side approximately 1.0 cm and a beaker of water to show experimentally that Archimedes’ principle is correct. The
A piece of wax is attached to a newton-meter. In air, the reading on the newton-meter is 0.27 N and when submerged in water of density 1,000 kg m−3 thereading is 0.16 N. Calculate:a. The
A boat has a uniform cross-sectional area at the water line of 750 m2. Fifteen cars of average mass 1200 kg are driven on board. Calculate the extra depth that the boat sinks in water of density 1000
This is the force–extension graph for a metal wire of length 2.0 m and cross-sectional area 1.5 × 10−7 m2.a. Calculate the Young modulus.b. Determine the energy stored in the wire when the
a. Why is it difficult to hold an inflated plastic ball underwater?b. A submarine floats at rest under the water. To rise to the surface compressed air is used to push water out of its ‘ballast’
A sample of fishing line is 1.0 m long and is of circular cross-section of radius 0.25 mm. When a weight is hung on the line, the extension is 50 mm and the stress is 2.0 × 108 Pa. Calculate:a. The
Estimate the height of the atmosphere if atmospheric density at the Earth’s surface is 1.29 kg m−3. (Atmospheric pressure = 101 kPa.)
Two springs, each with a spring constant 20 N m−1, are connected in series.Draw a diagram of the two springs in series and determine the total extension if a mass, with weight 2.0 N, is hung on the
Calculate the pressure due to the water on the bottom of a swimming pool if the depth of water in the pool varies between 0.8 m and 2.4 m. (Density of water = 1000 kg m−3.) If atmospheric pressure
Sketch a force–extension graph for a spring that has a spring constant of 20 N m−1 and that obeys Hooke’s law for forces up to 5.0 N. Your graph should cover forces between 0 and 6 N and show
Estimate the pressure you exert on the floor when you stand on both feet. (You could draw a rough rectangle around both your feet placed together to find the area in contact with the floor. You will
a i. Define density.ii. State the SI base units in which density is measured.b i. Define pressure.ii. State the SI base units in which pressure is measured.
A chair stands on four feet, each of area 10 cm2. The chair weighs 80 N. Calculate the pressure it exerts on the floor.
Two wires P and Q both obey Hooke’s law. They are both stretched and have the same strain. The Young modulus of P is four times larger than that of Q.The diameter of P is twice that of Q.What is
The density of steel is 7850 kg m−3. Calculate the mass of a steel sphere of radius 0.15 m. (First, calculate the volume of the sphere using the formula V = 4/3 π r3 and then use the density
Which force is caused by a difference in pressure?A. DragB. FrictionC. UpthrustD. Weight
A cube of copper has a mass of 240 g. Each side of the cube is 3.0 cm long. Calculate the density of copper in g cm−3 and in kg m−3.
A golf ball has a mass of 0.046 kg. The final velocity of the ball after being struck by a golf club is 50 m s−1. The golf club is in contact with the ball for a time of 1.3 ms. Calculate the
Water pouring from a broken pipe lands on a flat roof. The water is moving at 5.0 m s−1 when it strikes the roof. The water hits the roof at a rate of 10 kg s−1. Calculate the force of the water
Two railway trucks are travelling in the same direction and collide. The mass of truck X is 2.0 × 104 kg and the mass of truck Y is 3.0 × 104 kg. This graph shows how the velocity of each truck
A ball is kicked by a footballer. The average force on the ball is 240 N and the impact lasts for a time interval of 0.25 s.a. Calculate the change in the ball’s momentum.b. State the direction of
a. State two quantities that are conserved in an elastic collision.b. A machine gun fires bullets of mass 0.014 kg at a speed of 640 m s−1.i. Calculate the momentum of each bullet as it leaves the
A car of mass 1,000 kg is travelling at a velocity of +10 m s−1. It accelerates for 15 s, reaching a velocity of +24 m s−1. Calculate:a. The change in the momentum of the car in the 15 s periodb.
a. State what is meant by:i. A perfectly elastic collisionii. A completely inelastic collision.b. A stationary uranium nucleus disintegrates, emitting an alpha-particle of mass 6.65 × 10−27 kg and
A snooker ball collides with a second identical ball as shown in Figure 6.19.a. Determine the components of the velocity of the first ball in the x- and y-directions.b. Hence, determine the
A. State the principle of conservation of momentum and state the condition under which it is valid.B. An arrow of mass 0.25 kg is fired horizontally towards an apple of mass 0.10 kg that is hanging
Figure 6.18 shows the momentum vectors for two identical particles, 1 and 2, before and after a collision. Particle 2 was at rest before the collision. Show that momentum is conserved in this
A cricket bat strikes a ball of mass 0.16 kg travelling towards it. The ball initially hits the bat at a speed of 25 m s−1 and returns along the same path with the same speed. The time of impact is
Look back to Worked example 4. Draw the vector triangle that shows that momentum is conserved in the collision described in the question. Show the value of each angle in the triangle.
A marble of mass 100 g is moving at a speed of 0.40 m s−1 in the x-direction.a. Calculate the marble’s momentum. The marble strikes a second, identical marble. Each moves off at an angle of 45°
A snooker ball strikes a stationary ball. The second ball moves off sideways at 60° to the initial path of the first ball. Use the idea of conservation of momentum to explain why the first ball
A car of mass 1100 kg is travelling at 24 m s−1. The driver applies the brakes and the car decelerates uniformly and comes to rest in 20 s.a. Calculate the change in momentum of the car.b.
A ball of mass 0.40 kg is thrown at a wall. It strikes the wall with a speed of 1.5 m s−1 perpendicular to the wall and bounces off the wall with a speed of 1.2 m s−1. Explain the changes in
a. Explain what is meant by an:i. Elastic collisionii. Inelastic collision.b. A snooker ball of mass 0.35 kg hits the side of a snooker table at right angles and bounces off also at right angles. Its

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