2011 JC1 Physics H1 & H2 Lecture Assignment 1A

8
Name: ……………………………………( ) CG : 11…… Date: …….…..
Topic 1 Measurements

1. The kilogram, metre and the second are base units. Name two other base units. [2]

Suggested Solution Comments

Any 2 base units from the following: kelvin, mole, ampere or Well done.
candela.

2. The density ρ and the pressure p of a gas are related by the expression:

p
c where c and γ are constants.

i. Determine the base units of density ρ and p. [2]

Suggested Solution Comments

m Mostly well done, though some

V students wrongly mistook that the
kg question is asking to state the base
[  ]  3  kg m-3
m units that the variable are made up
of.
F ma
p 
A A
kg m s-2
[ p]   kg m-1 s-2
m2

ii. Given that γ is a unitless quantity, determine the unit of c.

Suggested Solution Comments

p The [] should be included in the
c working as it represents ‘base units

1 of’. Without it, the students are
 kg m-1 s-2  wrongly implying that the variable is
 
2 1
[c ]     m2 s-2 2
 m s-1
 kg m
-3
 equivalent to the base units.

iii. Using your answer to (ii), suggest what quantity may be represented by the symbol c. [1]

Suggested Solution Comments

Since the base units of c is m s-1, c can be speed or velocity. Well done if they manage to find out
base units of c.

3. What is a realistic estimate of

(a) the wavelength of infrared radiation.
(b) the momentum of an Olympic sprinter where momentum is product of mass and velocity?

Suggested Solution Comments

(a) Wavelength of IR radiation is higher than red light, thus it Students are unfamiliar with this
should be greater than 700 nm. Estimate is 1000 nm or section. There is a need for them to
1.0 × 10-6 m be more observant and make
(b) Momentum = mass × velocity reasoned estimate of variable around
p = 80 × 10 = 800 kg m s-1
them.

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 2011 JC1 Physics H1 & H2 Lecture Assignment 1B

4
Name: ……………………………………( ) CG : 11…… Date: …….…..
Topic 1 Measurements

4 Four students A to D were measuring the potential difference across a piezo-electric

material. If the actual potential difference is 1.65 x 10-2 V, which student’s measurement
was accurate but not precise?

Student Potential Difference / 10 - 2 V

A 1.61 1.65 1.65 1.58 1.61
B 1.69 1.70 1.69 1.70 1.69
C 1.66 1.68 1.63 1.64 1.65
D 1.65 1.64 1.65 1.65 1.66

Suggested Solution Comments

Student < V> / 10-2 V Accurate Spread Precision Mostly well done with a handful that
A 1.62  0.07  did not show the working that elicits
B 1.69  0.01  the understanding.
C 1.65  0.05 
D 1.65  0.02 
Student C’s measurement was accurate but not precise.

5 N95/III/1 (modified)
A student set up the circuit shown in order to determine the
resistance of a wire and hence the resistivity of the metal of
the wire.
The following readings were obtained for the experiment:
Reading of voltmeter = 1.30  0.01 V
Reading of ammeter = 0.76  0.01 A

Calculate, with its actual uncertainty, the value of

V
(a) the resistance of the wire ( R  )
I
(b) Express the results in an appropriate number of significant figures. [3]

Suggested Solution Comments

V 1.30 Well done.
R 
I 0.76 Students should take note that
R  1.711  intermediate answer can be left with
4 or 5 sf.
R V I
 
R V I
R 0.01 0.01
 
1.711 1.3 0.76
R  0.04  (to 1 s.f)
R = (1.71 ± 0.04) Ω

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 2011 JC1 Physics H1 & H2 Lecture Assignment 1C

8
Name: ……………………………………( ) CG : 11…… Date: …….…..
Topic 1 Measurements

6 Differentiate a scalar and a vector quantity. [1]

Suggested Solution Comments

A vector quantity is one which has both magnitude [B1] and Well done.
direction [B1].

7 Vector A and Vector B are shown below.

A B

(a) Draw a vector diagram to show the resultant of (A + B). [1]

(b) Draw a vector diagram to show the resultant of (B – A). [1]

Suggested Solution Comments

B B Well done.

A
B-A -A
A+B

8 H2 N10/I/2
A boat changes its velocity from 8 m s-1 due north to 6 m s-1 due east. What is its change
in velocity?
A 2 m s-1 at a direction of 37 east of north
B 2 m s-1 at a direction of 53 east of north
C 10 m s-1 at a direction of 37 east of south
D 10 m s-1 at a direction of 53 east of south
Show your working. [3]

Suggested Solution Comments

Change in velocity implies that it is a vector subtraction function Not well done.
∆v = v – u = (+v) + (-u) Surprisingly, a lot of students failed
v v to realize that this question is about
vector subtraction. They did not
θ
u realize the word ‘change in’ implies
v -u -u subtraction. A lot of students
wrongly mistook this question for
vector addition.
|∆v| = (62 + 82)½ = 10 m s-1 Those who manage to draw the
8 correct vector triangle did not
tan  always show the directions of the
6
θ = 56.1° vector and calculate the correct
Hence the change in velocity is 10 m s-1 at an angle of 37° east angle respective to east of south.
of south.

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9. Resolve the vectors A, B, C and D and complete the following table. [2]
y-direction
B
A

20
45

x-direction
30
60

D
C

Vectors x-component y-component

A A sin 45 (right) A cos 45 (upwards)

B

C

D

Suggested Solution Comments
Vectors x-component y-component Students are still confused with
A A sin 45 (right) A cos 45 (upwards) vector resolution. They did not
B B sin 20 (left) B cos 20 (upwards) always make use of the angle given in
C C cos 60 (left) C sin 60 (downwards) the question.
D D cos 30 (right) D sin 30 (downwards)

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 Innova Junior College
JC1 Physics
Topic 1 Measurement (Tutorial)

1 H1 N07/I/2
When a beam of light is incident on a surface, it delivers energy to the surface. The intensity
of the beam is defined as the energy delivered per unit area per unit time.
What is the unit of intensity, expressed in S.I. base units?

Suggested Solution Comments

energy force  displacement Easy question
Intensity  
area  time area  time
mass  acceleration  displacement

area  time
kg  m s 2  m
Intensity  
m2  s
Intensity   kg s 3
2 H2 N07/I/2
A radio aerial of length L, when the current is I, emits a signal of wavelength  and power P.
These quantities are related by
2
L
P  kI 2   where k is a constant.

What unit, if any, should be used for the constant k?
A volt
B ohm
C watt
D no unit

Suggested Solution Comments

L
2
Nil
P  kI 2  

P 2 VI 2
k   2 2
I 2 L2 I L
V  A  m2 V
k   2 2   
A m A

3 H1 N09/II/1
Give reasoned estimates of the following quantities. In each case, give your answer in an
SI unit.
(a) The area of the island of Singapore.
(b) The acceleration of a train on the Singapore rapid transit system.
(c) The power of a car traveling on an expressway.

Suggested Solution Comments

(a) Estimate: the area of Singapore island is a kite of width 40
km and height 30 km,
area of Singapore
= 2 (½ × 40  15)
= 600 km2

(b) Estimate: the train accelerates from rest to 80 km/h in 10 s

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 v = u + at
80  1000
 0  a  10
60  60
a = 2.2 m s-2

(c) Estimate: the car of 1000 kg accelerates from rest to 90

km/h in 15 s.
90  1000
½  1000  0
KE 60  60
Power  
t 15
= 2.1 × 104 W

4 N91/III/1 (part)
An experiment is set up as shown to determine the spring constant of a spring. Using the
formulae mg = kx, the spring constant k may be determined by finding the extension of the
spring, x, and the load applied, m.
(a) Give one example of a systematic error and one example of a random error which could
occur in this experiment.
(b) Readings of the position of the bottom end of the spring are made using the metre rule.
Suggest a method by which the error in these readings may be kept to a minimum.

Suggested Solution Comments

Any error in m, g and x will give rise to an error in the value of k Examples given are often correct
though not always appropriate to the
Systematic Error Random Error
Wrong value of Reading from the metre experiment.
acceleration of free fall rule taken when spring
used system is not stable
Wrong calibration of the Parallax error arising from
metre rule or electronic measurement using the
mass balance metre rule

(b) Either Many suggestions lacks any

Place a pointer (pin) horizontally at the bottom of the spring and experimental details, e.g. vague
put the metre rule scale as close as possible to the pointer. references to ‘fixing a pointer on the
Or
weight’ without any diagram or clear
View the scale normally (i.e. line of sight is perpendicular to the
explanation as to the relative
scale) with the help of a set square.
positions of the rule and pointer.

5 N99/I/2
A student measures the time t for a ball to fall from rest through a vertical distance h.
Knowing that the equation is h = ½ at2 applies, the student plots the graph shown.

Which of the following is an explanation for the intercept?

A Air resistance has not been taken into account for larger values of h.
B There is a constant delay between starting the timer and releasing the ball.
C There is an error in the timer that consistently makes it run faster.
D The student should have plotted h against t 2.

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 Suggested Solution Comments
Error A does not cause a shift in the graph, but rather longer Nil
time for larger values of time due to smaller acceleration.
Error C cause the timing to be shorter than the expected
values, thus the graph should shift leftwards instead of
rightward
Method D does not affect the shape of the linearization as both
form should give a zero y-intercept.

Error B is the only possible choice left which may cause the
graph to shift rightwards due to a earlier starting of the timer.

6 The period of oscillation of a pendulum is given by the equation

l
T  2
g

where l is the length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to free fall.
To measure g, a boy takes the following measurements:
Time for 20 oscillations = (18.2  0.1) s
Length of the pendulum = (20.6  0.1) cm
Calculate g and its associated uncertainty.

Suggested Solution Comments

l
T  2
g
t l
 2 where time t = 20T (T: period)
20 g It is important to make the unknown,
l i.e. g, the subject of the equation in
g  1600 2

t2 terms of the variables given (l & t).

0.206
g  1600 2
18.2 2
= 9.8207

Since g is a multiplication & division function, the fractional Consider carefully if the uncertainty
uncertainty is the addition of its fractional uncertainty of its should be calculated in terms of
variables. absolute or fractional uncertainty.
g l t
 2
g l t
g 0.1 0 .1
 2
9.8207 20.6 18.2
∆g = 0.155
Absolute uncertainty is always 1 s.f.
≈ 0.2 (1 s.f.)

g = (9.8 ± 0.2) m s-2 Calculated value of g always follows

the d.p. of the Δg.

7 H1 N08//I/2
A specimen of volume V is cut from a length of circular-section metal rod. The length of the
specimen is known with an uncertainty of 1% and the diameter with an uncertainty of 2%.
What will be the percentage uncertainty of V? [5%]

-3-
Suggested Solution Comments
d 
2
Nil
V    l
2
Since V is a multiplication function, its fractional uncertainty is
the addition of its fractional uncertainty of its variables.
V d l
2 
V d l
V d l
 100%  2  100%   100%
V d l
V
 100%  2  2%  1%  5%
V

8 H1 N07/I/3 (modified)
A student carries out an experiment to determine the resistivity of copper, using a copper
wire, and obtains a value of 1.71  10-8 Ω m. The uncertainties in the measurements are
shown.
uncertainty in resistance R of wire = 0.8 %
uncertainty in length l of wire = 0.2 %
uncertainty in diameter d of wire = 1.6 %
4 l
The equation relating resistivity , to the other physical quantities is R  .
d 2
How should the answer for resistivity be stated?

Suggested Solution Comments

4 l Nil
R
d 2
d 2 R

4l
Since ρ is a multiplication and division function, its fractional
uncertainty is the addition of its fractional uncertainty of its
variables.
 d R l
2  
 d R l

 20.016   0.008  0.002
1.71  10 8
∆ρ = 0.07182 × 10-8
≈ 0.07 × 10-8

ρ = (1.71 ± 0.07) × 10-8 Ω m

9 Two tugs A and B pull a ship along the direction XO (i.e. the resultant
force on the boat is along X0.) Tug A exerts a force on the ship of
3.0  104 N at an angle of 15° to XO. Tug B pulls with a force of
1.8  104 N at an angle θ to XO.
(a) Draw a vector diagram showing all the forces exerted on the ship and
the resultant force.
(b) Hence,
(i) find the value of angle  .
(ii) find the value of this resultant force.

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Suggested Solution Comments
Nil

sin 15 sin 


18000 30000
θ = 25.6°

sin 180  15  25.6 sin 15


R 18000
R = 4.53 × 104 N

10 A car is driven 125 km west and then 65.0 km southwest. By resolving the
displacements, find the resultant displacement of the car from the point of origin.

Suggested Solution Comments

x-component y-component Nil
s1 - 125 0
s2 - 65 sin 45 - 65 cos 45
sresultant - 170.69 - 45.96

sresultant2 = sx2 + sy2 = 170.962 + 45.962

sresultant = 177 km

45.96
tan  
170.69
θ = 15.1°
The resultant displacement of the car from the point of origin is
177 km at 15.1° south of west.

11 N85/I/1
A particle has an initial velocity of 15 m s-1 in the 0x direction, as shown in the Fig. 1 below.
As a later time its velocity is 15 m s-1 at an angle of 60 to 0x (Fig. 2). Directions are
indicated by measuring angles anticlockwise from the direction 0x.

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The change of velocity that has taken place in this interval is
A zero.
B 26 m s-1 at an angle of 30 to 0x.
C 15 m s-1 at an angle of 120 to 0x.
D 26 m s-1 at an angle of 210 to 0x.
E 15 m s-1 at an angle of 300 to 0x.

Suggested Solution Comments

Change in velocity implies that it is a vector subtraction function Nil
∆v = v – u = (+v) + (-u)

∆v

Since the vector diagram shows an equilateral triangle, the

magnitude of ∆v is also 15 m s-1 at an angle 120° to the OX.

12 An aircraft is climbing with a steady speed of 50 m s-1 at an angle of 30° to the horizontal.
A short time later, its velocity changes to 60 m s-1 vertically upwards.
Using a scale of 1 cm to represent 10 m s-1, draw a vector diagram to show the initial and
final velocities and hence find the change in velocity graphically (i.e draw to scale).

Suggested Solution Comments

Change in velocity implies that it is a vector subtraction function Nil
∆v = v – u = (+v) + (-u)

∆v

From scale drawing,

v is 55 m s-1, 39 above the horizontal.

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13 J95/II/1 (part)
(b) A ball is thrown into the air and at one instance, it is moving upwards with a speed of
5.0 m s-1 at an angle of 60 to the vertical.
(i) using a scale such that 1.0 cm represents a speed of 1.0 m s-1, draw a line, starting at O
on Fig. 5, to represent the velocity of the ball at that instant.
(ii) On Fig. 5, construct lines to represent the vertical and the horizontal components of the
velocity of the ball. Hence, from your drawing, determine
1. the vertical component of the velocity
2. the horizontal component of the velocity.

Suggested Solution Comments

Most students drew an acceptably
accurate line. However, a significant
minority drew the line at 60° to the
horizontal and surprisingly it was not
uncommon to find other angles such
as 45° and 50°.

Many did not construct lines to

determine the components, but
instead many calculated the
components.

1. vy = 2.6 m s-1
2. vx = 4.4 m s-1

14 J98/III/1 (part)
A cyclist travels down an inclined road without pedalling. The angle that the road makes with
the horizontal is 6.8, as shown in the figure.

The cyclist and bicycle have a combined weight of 760 N.

Show that the component of the weight of the cyclist and bicycle down the slope is 90 N.

Suggested Solution Comments

Almost all students gave a correct
expression for the component of the
W sin 6.8° weight acting down the slope.
However the expression was often
given without further justification.
W cos 6.8°
W
Component of weight along the slope
= W sin 6.8
= 760 sin 6.8
= 90 N

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