Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level

* 5 4 1 6 2 4 8 0 7 2 *

PHYSICS 9702/23
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions October/November 2019
1 hour 15 minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.

Answer all questions.

Electronic calculators may be used.

You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units.

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

This document consists of 17 printed pages and 3 blank pages.

DC (NH/CB) 164215/2
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Data

speed of light in free space c = 3.00 × 108 m s−1

permeability of free space μ0 = 4π × 10−7 H m−1

permittivity of free space ε0 = 8.85 × 10−12 F m−1

1
( = 8.99 × 109 m F−1)
4πε0
elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10−19 C

the Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10−34 J s

unified atomic mass unit 1 u = 1.66 × 10−27 kg

rest mass of electron me = 9.11 × 10−31 kg

rest mass of proton mp = 1.67 × 10−27 kg

molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K−1 mol−1

the Avogadro constant NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol−1

the Boltzmann constant k = 1.38 × 10−23 J K−1

gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10−11 N m2 kg−2

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s−2

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Formulae

1
uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 2 at 2
v 2 = u 2 + 2as

work done on/by a gas W = p ΔV

Gm
gravitational potential φ = −
r

hydrostatic pressure p = ρgh

1 Nm 2
pressure of an ideal gas p= 〈c 〉
3 V
simple harmonic motion a = − ω 2x

velocity of particle in s.h.m. v = v0 cos ωt

v =±ω√ (x02 – x 2)

fsv
Doppler effect fo =
v ± vs

Q
electric potential V=
4πε0r

capacitors in series 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + . . .

capacitors in parallel C = C1 + C2 + . . .

1
energy of charged capacitor W = 2 QV

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + . . .

resistors in parallel 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + . . .

BI
Hall voltage VH =
ntq

alternating current/voltage x = x0 sin ω  t

radioactive decay x = x0 exp(−λt )

0.693
decay constant λ=
t 1
2

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Answer all the questions in the spaces provided.

1 (a) Determine the SI base units of the moment of a force.

SI base units ......................................................... [1]

(b) A uniform square sheet of card ABCD is freely pivoted by a pin at a point P. The card is held
in a vertical plane by an external force in the position shown in Fig. 1.1.

17 cm

45° P
A C
4.0 cm G

0.15 N

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

The card has weight 0.15 N which may be considered to act at the centre of gravity G. Each
side of the card has length 17 cm. Point P lies on the horizontal line AC and is 4.0 cm from
corner A. Line BD is vertical.

The card is released by removing the external force. The card then swings in a vertical plane
until it comes to rest.

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(i) Calculate the magnitude of the resultant moment about point P acting on the card
immediately after it is released.

moment = .................................................. N m [2]

(ii) Explain why, when the card has come to rest, its centre of gravity is vertically below
point P.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 5]

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2 (a) State what is meant by work done.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) A lift (elevator) of weight 13.0 kN is connected by a cable to a motor, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

motor

cable

lift (elevator)
weight 13.0 kN
v

Fig. 2.1

The lift is pulled up a vertical shaft by the cable. A constant frictional force of 2.0 kN acts on
the lift when it is moving. The variation with time t of the speed v of the lift is shown in Fig. 2.2.

3.0

v / m s –1

2.0

1.0

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
t/s

Fig. 2.2

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(i) Use Fig. 2.2 to determine:

1. the acceleration of the lift between time t = 0 and t = 3.0 s

acceleration = ................................................ m s–2 [2]

2. the work done by the motor to raise the lift between time t = 3.0 s and t = 6.0 s.

work done = ...................................................... J [2]

(ii) The motor has an efficiency of 67%. The tension in the cable is 1.6 × 104 N at time
t = 2.5 s.

Determine the input power to the motor at this time.

input power = ..................................................... W [3]

(iii) State and explain whether the increase in gravitational potential energy of the lift from
time t = 0 to t = 7.0 s is less than, the same as, or greater than the work done by the
motor. A calculation is not required.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 9]

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3 (a) State the property of an object that experiences a force when the object is placed in:

(i) a gravitational field

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) an electric field.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) A potential difference of 1.2 × 103 V is applied between a pair of horizontal metal plates in a
vacuum, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

top metal plate

p

1.8 cm Y +
particle
1.2 × 103 V
X 1.8 cm
charge –4.2 × 10–9 C –
mass 5.9 × 10–6 kg
velocity 0.75 m s–1

bottom metal plate

Fig. 3.1 (not to scale)

The separation of the plates is 3.6 cm. The electric field between the plates is uniform.

A particle of mass 5.9 × 10–6 kg and charge –4.2 × 10–9 C enters the field at point X with a
horizontal velocity of 0.75 m s–1 along a line midway between the two plates.
The particle is deflected by the field and hits the top plate at point Y.

(i) Calculate the magnitude of the electric force acting on the particle in the field.

electric force = ...................................................... N [3]

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(ii) By considering the resultant vertical force acting on the particle, show that the
acceleration of the particle in the electric and gravitational fields is 14 m s–2.

[4]

(iii) Determine:

1. the time taken for the particle to move from X to Y

time taken = ....................................................... s [2]

2. the distance p of point Y from the left-hand edge of the top plate.

p = ...................................................... m [1]

[Total: 12]

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BLANK PAGE

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4 A ball X moves along a horizontal frictionless surface and collides with another ball Y, as illustrated
in Fig. 4.1.

X vX
0.300 kg

60.0°
A B A X Y B
60.0°

Y 6.00 m s–1
0.200 kg BEFORE COLLISION AFTER COLLISION

Fig. 4.1 (not to scale) Fig. 4.2 (not to scale)

Ball X has mass 0.300 kg and initial velocity vX at an angle of 60.0° to line AB.
Ball Y has mass 0.200 kg and initial velocity 6.00 m s–1 at an angle of 60.0° to line AB.
The balls stick together during the collision and then travel along line AB, as illustrated in Fig. 4.2.

(a) (i) Calculate, to three significant figures, the component of the initial momentum of ball Y
that is perpendicular to line AB.

component of momentum = ............................................ kg m s–1 [2]

(ii) By considering the component of the initial momentum of each ball perpendicular to
line AB, calculate, to three significant figures, vX.

vX = .................................................m s–1 [1]

(iii) Show that the speed of the two balls after the collision is 2.4 m s–1.

[2]

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(b) The two balls continue moving together along the horizontal frictionless surface towards a
spring, as illustrated in Fig. 4.3.

balls of total spring of spring constant 72 N m–1

mass 0.500 kg
2.4 m s–1

horizontal
surface X Y

Fig. 4.3

The balls hit the spring and remain stuck together as they decelerate to rest. All the kinetic
energy of the balls is converted into elastic potential energy of the spring. The energy E
stored in the spring is given by

E = 1 kx 2
2
where k is the spring constant of the spring and x is its compression.
The spring obeys Hooke’s law and has a spring constant of 72 N m–1.

(i) Determine the maximum compression of the spring caused by the two balls.

maximum compression = ...................................................... m [3]

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(ii) On Fig. 4.4, sketch graphs to show the variation with compression x of the spring, from
zero to maximum compression, of:

1. the magnitude of the deceleration a of the balls

2. the kinetic energy Ek of the balls.

Numerical values are not required.

a Ek

0 0
0 x 0 x

[3]
Fig. 4.4

[Total: 11]

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5 (a) Light waves emerging from the slits of a diffraction grating are coherent and produce an
interference pattern.

Explain what is meant by:

(i) coherence

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) interference.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) A narrow beam of light from a laser is incident normally on a diffraction grating, as shown in
Fig. 5.1.

second order
maximum spot

51° zero order

laser 51° maximum spot
light
diffraction
grating second order
maximum spot
screen

Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

Spots of light are seen on a screen positioned parallel to the grating. The angle corresponding
to each of the second order maxima is 51°. The number of lines per unit length on the
diffraction grating is 6.7 × 105 m–1.

(i) Determine the wavelength of the light.

wavelength = ..................................................... m [2]

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(ii) State and explain the change, if any, to the distance between the second order maximum
spots on the screen when the light from the laser is replaced by light of a shorter
wavelength.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 5]

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6 A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 12 V and negligible internal resistance is connected to a

network of two lamps and two resistors, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

0.50 A

R
0.20 A

12 V X Y

28 Ω

Fig. 6.1

The two lamps in the circuit have equal resistances. The two resistors have resistances R and
28 Ω. The lamps are connected at junction X and the resistors are connected at junction Y. The
current in the battery is 0.50 A and the current in the lamps is 0.20 A.

(a) Calculate:

(i) the resistance of each lamp

resistance = ...................................................... Ω [2]

(ii) resistance R.

R = ...................................................... Ω [2]

(b) Determine the potential difference VXY between points X and Y.

VXY = ...................................................... V [3]

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(c) Calculate the ratio

total power dissipated by the lamps .
total power produced by the battery

ratio = ......................................................... [2]

(d) The resistor of resistance R is now replaced by another resistor of lower resistance.

State and explain the effect, if any, of this change on the ratio in (c).

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 11]

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7 A stationary nucleus of a radioactive isotope X decays by emitting an α-particle to produce a

nucleus of neptunium-237 and 5.5 MeV of energy. The decay is represented by

X 23 7 Np + α + 5.5 MeV.
93

(a) Calculate the number of protons and the number of neutrons in a nucleus of X.

number of protons = ...............................................................

number of neutrons = ...............................................................

[2]

(b) Explain why the energy transferred to the α-particle as kinetic energy is less than the 5.5 MeV
of energy released in the decay process.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) A sample of X is used to produce a beam of α-particles in a vacuum. The number of α-particles
passing a fixed point in the beam in a time of 30 s is 6.9 × 1011.

(i) Calculate the average current produced by the beam of α-particles.

current = ...................................................... A [2]

(ii) Determine the total power, in W, that is produced by the decay of 6.9 × 1011 nuclei of X in
a time of 30 s.

power = ..................................................... W [2]

[Total: 7]

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