96 AL Physics/Essay Marking Scheme/P.

96’ AL Physics : Essay

Marking Scheme

1. (a) For student A, when r increases, v also increases linearly with r as

2πr v2
period T = is constant, therefore a = actually increases. 1
v r
2π
For student B, when r increases, a = ω2r increases provided that ω = is constant,
T
which is ensured by constant period T. 1 2

(b) (i)
θ T=W
ω

mg

1
The string dips so that the vertical component of the tension balances
the weight of the rubber bung. 1

(ii) W cos θ = mω2r (as T = W) ½

∴ W cos θ = mω2 (L
cos θ) ½
W = mω2L

- friction exists at the opening of the glass tube. ½

ANY - the rubber bung is not swirled with constant speed. ½
TWO - the string is not inextensible. ½
- the rubber bung is not swirled in a horizontal circle. ½
(accept any other reasonable answers)

(iii)
- increase the weight W ½
ANY
- reduce the mass m of the rubber bung ½
TWO
- reduce the length L of the string ½

(iv) The rubber bung goes along tangential direction to A due to inertia and ½+½
falls as a projectile to the ground due to gravity. ½+½ 7

(c)
p2 p1

1
A B
Tube + mixture p1 > p2

Consider the part of liquid between A and B inside the rotating tube,
the pressure at B is greater than that at A ½
so as to provide the necessary centripetal force acting inwards. 1
For that part of the liquid the force due to pressure difference supplies exactly
the centripetal force required. 1
If this part of the liquid is replaced by matter of smaller density/mass, the force is too large
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and the matter moves inwards. 1

Practical use: - cream is separated from milk. ½
ANY - separate solids in a suspension ½
ONE - laundry drier spins to remove water from the clothes ½

or (Diagram. 1
The drum of a laundry drier has many tiny holes on its surface.
When the drum spins, the reaction from its circumference on the wet clothes ½
provides the necessary centripetal force acting inwards. 1
However there is no such reaction at those tiny holes and 1
the excessive water in the clothes can no longer keep a circular path and goes out
through the holes.) 1 5

(d) Similarities: - the relatively massive body (earth/proton) remains practically

ANY at rest at the centre. ½
TWO - having negative potential energy (closed system) ½
- forces directed to centre obey inverse square law ½

Differences: - gravitational attraction versus electrostatic attraction. ½

ANY - continuous range of orbital radii versus discrete orbital radii ½
TWO - orbit of the satellite is definite versus orbit of the electron is
the probability of its distribution ½ 2

2. (a) (i)
displacement

(right)

0 time ½

(left)

pressure normal air

pressure when
wave absent
wave 1
travelling
to the left

time

(ii) The displacement leads/lags the air pressure by a phase angle of π/2 (or ¼ period) ½ 2

(b) (i) (I) Sound waves from the two loudspeakers reaching different points on XY 1
have different path differences, interference thus occurs. ½
For the path difference equals nλ, constructive interference occurs and
a maximum intensity results. ½
For the path difference equals (n + ½)λ, destructive interference occurs and
a minimum intensity results. ½

(II) Waves from the loudspeakers take paths of different lengths to a minimum ½
position, by inversely square law, amplitudes of the waves are different, ½
or (When waves diffracted from a loudspeaker, the amplitude is maximum at the
central position but decreases when going sideways, so waves from the two ½
loudspeakers reaching a minimum point would have different amplitudes.) ½
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destructive interference of waves is not complete, hence a non-zero intensity

results. ½

(ii) Sound intensity is the energy per second crossing a unit area normally to the
direction of the sound (unit: Wm-2) 1

Sound intensity level of a source is its intensity relative to some agreed ‘zero’
intensity level (unit: dB) 1

When one loudspeaker is turned off, the amplitude of waves at O is halved, ½

intensity drops to ¼ of the original value, resulting in a change of intensity level
1
I
10 log10 4 = -6 dB. ½
I

(iii) If the frequency of the signal generator increases, the wavelength of the sound
waves produced would decreases, making the separation between positions of
maximum/minimum intensity decrease. 1 8

(c)

(or cork dust)

1
The loudspeaker produces progressive longitudinal waves travelling towards
the end of the cylinder where they are reflected to interfere/superpose the incident waves. 1
The frequency of the sound/signal generator is varied until resonance occurs. 1
The stationary wave formed is revealed by the lycopodium powder which swirls away
from the antinodes (where the air is vibrating strongly) and heaps are formed at the nodes. 1
By measuring the average separation between the heaps (or nodes), d ½
the speed of sound in air equals f(2d) where f = frequency of the sound waves ½
Precautions : 1. the
tube should be dry ½
2. the layer of lycopodium powder should be thin. ½ 6

3. (a) (i) Pressure of a gas arises from the momentum change suffered by each gas molecule in
colliding elastically with the wall of the container. 1

Temperature of an ideal gas is a measure of the mean kinetic energy of the gas
molecules. (In fact mean k.e. of the gas molecules is proportional to the absolute
temperature of the gas.) 1

pV
(ii) Ideal gas is a gas that obeys the ideal gas equation (
= constant or pV = nRT)
T
or Boyle’s Law under all temperatures and pressures. 1

Real gas behaves like ideal gas under high temperatures AND low pressures. 1 4
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(b) Free electron gas model for metallic conduction.

Metal consists of a large number of free electrons which are in a state of rapid thermal ½
motion, moving randomly within the lattice at high speeds. ½
They make frequent collisions with the lattice ions, changing directions all the time
without net displacement.

When a p.d. is applied, the electric field would cause the free electrons to accelerate (in a
direction opposite to the electric field) and hence gain velocity/k.e. 1
On colliding with the lattice ions, the electrons give up their additional k.e. to the lattice ions. ½
The electrons slow down and then accelerate again. (This process is repeated many times.) ½

The net effect is that the vast number of free electrons drift slowly, giving a net flow
of electrons in one direction, which constitute an electric current macroscopically. 1

When collided by the accelerating electrons, the lattice ions gain vibrational energy (both k.e.
and p.e. as they vibrate more vigorously and with greater amplitude). 1
Macroscopically the internal energy of the metal increases resulting in a temperature rise.
Consequently thermal energy is released. 1 6

(c) (i) Rutherford’s model (nuclear model)

Most of the mass of an atom and all the positive charges are concentrated in a tiny
nucleus at the centre of the atom. 1
Outside the nucleus, most of the space in an atom is ‘empty’, in which the negatively-
charged electrons (of negligible mass) are orbiting around the nucleus. 1

(ii) In α-particle scattering experiment, most of the α-particles pass through the thin gold
foil with no or small deflection, ½
since most of an atom is ‘empty’ and the very light orbiting electrons
outside the nucleus have negligible effect on the energetic and massive α-particles. 1

Some α-particles (about 1/8000) were scattered by angles greater than 90º and very
few even rebounded back along original paths. ½
Only for a few α-particles which come very close to the tiny nucleus experience a
strong electrostatic repulsive force (Coulomb force) and hence suffer large angle
deflection. 1

(iii) Rutherford’s model could not explain the existence of the characteristic atomic line
spectra from atoms of a particular element. 1 6

4. (a) (i) One major source is coal (or oil). ½

The fuel (coal/oil) is burnt in the furnace for heating water in a boiler. ½
This produces high pressure stream for 1
driving the turbine of the generator (alternator, rotor) to produce electric power. ½

(ii) Coil

Magnet ½
N S Coil ½
Carbon Brush Slip rings ½
Slip Ring Brushes ½

Load
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The output is sinusoidal if the coil is rotating with uniform angular speed (50 rps) in
a uniform magnetic field between two pole-pieces. 1½ 6

(b) Power loss = I2R ½

P2R
= as P = IV 1
V2
If output power P and resistance R of the cables are constant, then power loss ∝ 1/V2
where V = output voltage. ½ 2

(c) (i) Maintenance is easy as overhead cables are bare. 1

Also no insulation is required, so it is many times cheaper. 1
ANY Less installation compared with underground cables, therefore much cheaper 1
TWO Compared with underground cables, overhead cables can use higher voltages
for reducing power loss. 1

Potential danger of electric shock due to high voltage. 1

Overhead transmission is suspected to cause environmental pollution (e.g. leukemia -
a blood cancer) due to electromagnetic radiation consisting of oscillating electric
and magnetic fields. 1
(Accept any other reasonable answer)

(ii) Aluminium is lighter, but copper is a better electric conductor. ½+½

(or Copper is easily oxidized when bare but aluminium is not.)
(or Compared with copper, aluminium is less brittle.)

Steel has a high breaking stress, so it can increase the strength of the overhead cable. 1
6

(d)

Transformer ½
Rectifier ½
Smoothing ½
Battery ½
(polarity correct) 2

5. (a)
Heater H &
Cathode C ½

C G Y2 Grid G ½
A1 A2 X2
H Screen
Y1 Anodes A1, A2 ½
X1
Deflecting
plates X, Y ½+½

Graphite Tube, screen ½

e.h.t.
coating
Potentiometer 1 4
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(b) (i) The filament (heater H) is heated by passing a current from a low voltage supply. ½
The cathode C is indirectly heated by radiation from the hot filament, electrons
are emitted from the cathode surface. (Thermionic emission) ½

(ii) The grid potential is more negative to the cathode so that less energetic electrons
are repelled. 1
The grid potential can be adjusted to control the number of electrons passing
and hence the intensity of the beam (i.e. the brightness of the spot). 1

The focusing anode A1 and the accelerating anode A2 together form an electron
lens system so as to focus and accelerate the beam. ½
The potential of anode A1 is adjustable and in turn controls the sharpness. ½

(iii) The graphite coating provides a return path for the electrons reaching the
screen back to the cathode. 1

- The anode A2, one of the X-plates and one of the Y-plates are also earthed so
that they together with the graphite coating form a field-free region between A2
and the screen. (i.e. shield the beam from external electric fields) 1
ANY - As a result the electron beam leaving anode A2 is not deflected if no external
ONE p.d. is applied to the deflecting plates. 1
- This avoids the disturbance by nearby earthed objects (such as an observer’s
hand) outside the CRT. 1 6

(c) (i) Time base circuit is an electronic circuit which generates a saw-toothed voltage
applied to the X-plates internally. 1

V
sweep
0
t ½

flyback

The time base circuit repeatedly moves the spot from left to right across the
screen at a steady speed (i.e. sweep) and then brings it back nearly instantaneously
to the left side (i.e. flyback). 1½
Thus it allows a waveform to be displayed on the screen.

(ii) A capacitor for blocking the unwanted d.c. component. ½+½ 4

(d) Advantages:
Nearly infinite internal resistance. ½
ANY
Quicker response than pointer. ½
TWO
Not easily damaged by overloading. ½

Disadvantages:
No direct reading/need calibration. ½
ANY It is bulky. ½
TWO It needs electric supply to operate. ½ 2