Question 1 

  

A pendulum oscillates with simple harmonic motion (SHM). The length of the pendulum is
10 m and the gravitational acceleration is 10 m s^{-2}−2.

What is the period of the pendulum?

1. \piπ 

2. 2\piπ 

3. 4\piπ 

4. 8\piπ 

Question 2   

An object on a spring oscillates with simple harmonic motion (SHM) on Earth. Which of the
following statements is true about the period of this system?

1. It is influenced by the length of the spring.

2. It is influenced by the spring constant.

3. It is independent of the mass of the object.

4. It will increase when the system is taken to the Moon.

Question 3   

Which statement correctly describes a difference between single-slit diffraction and double-
slit interference?

1. A single-slit diffraction pattern is only observed when monochromatic light passes

through a slit.

2. The double-slit interference pattern is not influenced by the width of the slits.

3. The appearance of the single-slit diffraction pattern only depends on the wavelength
of the incident light.

4.  In a single-slit diffraction pattern, the intensity of the first secondary maximum is
only about 5% of the principal maximum, while in a double-slit interference pattern
it is much higher.

Question 4

Whether the images of two objects can be resolved, does not depend on:
The temperature of the objects.

The distance between the objects.

The distance between the objects and the observer.

The wavelength of the light received from the objects.

Question 5   

The Doppler effect:

1. Occurs for light waves only.

2. Occurs for sound waves only.

3. Occurs both for light waves and sound waves.

4. Occurs neither for light nor for sound waves.

Question 6   

Monochromatic light is incident on ten slits and creates an interference pattern on a screen
located at distance d from the slits.

Which of the following changes is correct when half of the slits are covered while d is
unchanged?

1. The intensity of the maxima increases

2. The width of the maxima increases

3. The separation of the maxima decreases

4. The number of dark fringes observed increases

Question 7   

A pendulum oscillates between positions X and Y.

Which of the following statements is true about the motion of the pendulum bob?

1. The net force on the pendulum bob at positions X and Y are zero.

2. The direction of the net force and the direction of the pendulum bob’s velocity are
always the same. 

3. The acceleration of the pendulum bob is never zero.

4. The velocity and the acceleration of the pendulum bob are directly proportional. 

Question 8   

The following electromagnetic waves are incident on a single slit.

Which one of them is diffracted the least?

1. Green light

2. Radio waves

3. Blue light

4. Gamma rays

Question 9   

A train sounds its horn while moving away from a stationary observer. The frequency of the
observed sound is different from the frequency of the emitted sound, because:

1. The speed of sound relative to the observer has increased.

2. The speed of sound relative to the observer has decreased.

3. The wavelength detected by the observer is longer than the emitted wavelength.

4. The wavelength detected by the observer is shorter than the emitted wavelength.
Question 10   

The angle subtended by two point sources at the pupil of a person’s eye is 3.65 \times 10^{-
4}3.65×10−4 m. The wavelength of the light emitted by the sources is 600600 nm. The
images of the point sources are just resolved by the person’s eye. What is the best estimate
for the diameter of the circular aperture of the person’s eye?

1. 11 mm

2. 22 mm

3. 33 mm

4. 44 mm

Question 11    

A car is driving away from a stationary loudspeaker at a speed of 30 m s^{-1}−1. The

loudspeaker emits a sound of frequency 1000 Hz. The speed of sound in air is 330 m s^{-
1}−1.

What is the frequency of the sound heard by an observer traveling in the car?

1. \frac{11000}{10}1011000 Hz

2. \frac{11000}{12}1211000 Hz

3. \frac{10000}{11}1110000 Hz

4. \frac{12000}{11}1112000 Hz

Question 12   

Monochromatic green light is incident on a single slit. After the light passes through the slit it
reaches a screen and forms a diffraction pattern.

What changes to the width of the slit and to the colour of the light will definitely decrease
the diffraction angle?

Width of the slit Colour of the light

A. Increase Blue

B. Increase Red

C. Decrease Blue
 Decrease
D.

Question 13   

A sound source emits a sound wave that has speed c in still air. An airplane flies towards the
sound source at constant speed v, passes the sound source and continues flying away from
the sound source at the same constant speed.

What is true about the speed of the sound detected by an observer on the airplane before
the airplane passes the sound source and after the airplane has passed the sound source
when v = c?

Speed detected by observer before the airplane Speed detected by observer after the airp
passes the source passed the source

A. 2c 0

B. c 0

C. 2c c

D. c c

Question 14    

An object attached to a spring oscillates with simple harmonic motion (SHM). The period of
oscillation for the object is TT. Another, identical spring is attached to the object parallel to
the first spring and the mass of the object is halved. 

What is the new period of oscillation for the object?

1. 2T2T

2. 4T4T

3. \frac{T}{2}2T

\frac{T}{4}4T

Question 15    

The Rayleigh criterion for the resolution of images:

1. Is an imaging system’s ability to produce two distinguishable images of two separate

objects.
 2. States that two images will be just resolved when the centre of the diffraction
pattern of one image is at the same position as the first minimum of the diffraction
pattern of the other image. 

3. Is defined as the ratio of the wavelength of the light incident on a diffraction grating
to the smallest difference in wavelength that can be resolved by the grating. 

4. States that when there is relative motion between a wave source and an observer,
the observed frequency is different to the frequency emitted by the source. 

Question 16   

A mass m undergoes simple harmonic motion with amplitude A, angular speed \

omegaω and total energy E. The amplitude is changed to \frac{A}{4}4A and the total energy
is changed to \frac{E}{2}2E.

What is the new mass and the new angular speed?

Mass Angular speed

A. m 8\omegaω

B. 2m 2\omegaω

C. m 4\omegaω

D. 4m \omegaω

Question 17   

Two lines in the emission spectrum of an ideal gas have wavelengths 400.0 nm and 400.5
nm. A light beam emitted by the gas is incident on a diffraction grating that has 1000 lines
per mm. The emission lines are just resolved in the fourth-order diffraction. 

What is the width of the light beam?

1. 0.05 mm

2. 0.2 mm

3. 0.5 mm

4. 2 mm

Question 18   
A galaxy emits light of wavelength of \lambda_{G}λG. When this light is detected on Earth,
its wavelength is measured to be \lambda_{E}λE. What is the relative direction of motion
and the relative speed of the galaxy compared to those of the Earth if \lambda_{E} > \
lambda_{G}λE>λG?

Direction of motion Speed

A. Away from Earth \frac{c(\lambda_{E} - \lambda_{G})}{\lambda_{G}}λGc(λE−λG)

B. Away from Earth \frac{c(\lambda_{E} - \lambda_{G})}{\lambda_{E}}λEc(λE−λG)

C. Towards Earth \frac{c(\lambda_{E} - \lambda_{G})}{\lambda_{G}}λGc(λE−λG)

D. Towards Earth \frac{c(\lambda_{E} - \lambda_{G})}{\lambda_{E}}λEc(λE−λG)

Question 19   

A pendulum of length LL oscillates with simple harmonic motion (SHM) on Earth. The

pendulum passes through its equilibrium position 6060 times per minute. When the
pendulum is taken to Planet X, its period of oscillation is 8.08.0 s. What is the best estimate
for the value of the gravitational acceleration on Planet X?

1. 0.160.16 m s^{-2}−2

2. 0.630.63 m s^{-2}−2

3. 1.31.3 m s^{-2}−2

4. 2.52.5 m s^{-2}−2

Question 20   

When two light sources are viewed through a blue filter, their images are just resolved. The
blue filter is replaced with a yellow filter. What is the change, if any, to the resolution of the
images and to the angular separation of the sources?

Resolution of the images Angular separation of the sources

A. Resolved Increases

B. Resolved Unchanged

C. Unresolved Increases

D. Unresolved Unchanged
Question 21    

The grating spacing of a diffraction grating is 3 \muμm. When it is illuminated with a parallel
beam of monochromatic light, the angle between the zero order and the third order is
30^{o}o. 

Given that sin(30^{o}o) = 0.5, what is the wavelength of the light?

1. 700 nm

2. 600 nm

3. 500 nm

4. 400 nm

Question 22   

A diffraction grating has MM number of lines per unit length. When monochromatic light of
wavelength 600 nm is incident on the grating, the third-order maximum is observed at an
angle \thetaθ to the straight-through direction. 

What is \sin \thetasinθ?

1. 2.0 \times 10^{-7} \times M^{-1}2.0×10−7×M−1

2. 2.0 \times 10^{-7} \times M2.0×10−7×M 

3. 1.8 \times 10^{-6} \times M^{-1}1.8×10−6×M−1 

4. 1.8 \times 10^{-6} \times M1.8×10−6×M

Question 23   

A particle oscillates with simple harmonic motion (SHM). The total distance travelled by the
particle during one full oscillation is 44 m. The graph shows how the velocity of the particle
varies with time. 
What is the displacement of the particle?

1. \sin (\pi t)sin(πt)

2. \pi \sin (\pi t)πsin(πt)

3. - \sin (\pi t)−sin(πt)

4. - \pi \sin (\pi t)−πsin(πt)

Question 24   

Monochromatic light of wavelength 600600 nm is incident on the surface of a lens that is

coated with a thin oil layer. The thickness of the oil layer is 1.11.1  \muμm and the refractive
index of the oil is 1.51.5.

What is the phase change of ray P when it is reflected at the surface of the oil layer and what
type of interference occurs between rays P and Q?

Phase change of P Type of interference between P and Q

A. \piπ Constructive

B. \piπ Destructive

C. No phase change Constructive

D. No phase change Destructive

Question 25   

The maximum acceleration of an object that oscillates with simple harmonic motion (SHM)
is 2020 m s^{-2}−2. The distance between the two maximum displacement positions of the
object is 2020 m. What is the magnitude of the object’s velocity when it is halfway between
the maximum displacement and the equilibrium positions?

1. \sqrt{150}150 m s^{-1}−1

2. \sqrt{300}300 m s^{-1}−1

3. \sqrt{600}600 m s^{-1}−1

4. \sqrt{1200}1200 m s^{-1}−1

Question 1

A pipe is fixed to the top of a building. A standing sound wave is formed in the pipe. A
person on a bike is moving away from the pipe at a speed of 15.515.5 km h^{-1}−1. 

a. Outline the difference between the frequency emitted by the pipe and the frequency
detected by the person.

   [3 marks]

b. There is a 1.261.26 % change in the magnitude of the emitted frequency compared to the
magnitude of the detected frequency. 

i. Show that the speed of the sound wave is 342 m s^{-1}−1.

   [4 marks]

ii. The distance between an adjacent node and antinode of the sound wave is 72 cm.
Calculate the frequency of the sound wave.
    [2 marks]

c. The speed of sound is related to the temperature of the medium it travels in by the
equation v = 331 \sqrt{\frac{T}{273}}v=331273T where vv is the speed of sound and TT is the
temperature of the medium in Kelvin. Find the temperature of the air at the location of the
pipe. Give your answer in ^{o}oC.

   [2 marks]

Question 2 

An experiment is carried out on Planet X using a simple pendulum of length ll and a wooden

block of mass mm attached to a spring with spring constant kk. The block can move
horizontally on a frictionless surface. A motion sensor with a lightbulb is placed above the
equilibrium position of the block. Every time the block passes the equilibrium position, the
lightbulb lights up. 
The pendulum and the block are displaced from their equilibrium positions and are made to
oscillate with simple harmonic motion. The pendulum bob completes 7575 full oscillations in
four minutes and the lightbulb lights up once every 0.800.80 seconds. 

a. Outline the conditions necessary for simple harmonic motion.

   [2 marks]

b. The mass of the block is 240240 grams. Show that the value of kk is approximately 44 N
m^{-1}−1

   [3 marks]

c. Show that l = \frac{4mg}{k}l=k4mg.

   [3 marks]

d. The volume of planet X is the same as the volume of the Earth and the density of Planet X
is half of the density of Earth. Calculate the value of ll.

   [2 marks]

e. When the acceleration of the pendulum bob is at its maximum, the angle that the string
makes with the horizontal is 8181^{o}o. Find the maximum speed reached by the pendulum
bob.

   [4 marks]

Question 3

Two stars are viewed from Earth through the circular lens of a telescope. The following data
are available:

Distance between the stars: 1.9 \times 10^{10}1.9×1010 km

Average distance of stars from Earth: 3.2 \times 10^{15}3.2×1015 km

Frequency of incident light: 560560 THz

a. The stars appear as separate, easily distinguishable images. 

i. Show that the wavelength of the detected light is 540 nm.

   [2 marks]

ii. Find the minimum possible radius of the lens.

   [3 marks]
b. The light from the stars is incident on a double slit. The following intensity pattern is
observed on a screen at a distance of 520520 cm from the slits:

i. Explain why intensity is zero at P.

   [2 marks]

ii. The distance between the slits is 9.39.3 mm. Find the distance between P and the central
maximum.

   [2 marks]

c. When a diffraction grating with grating spacing of 450450 lines per mm is used instead of
the double slit, a different pattern is observed on the screen. 

i. State three changes to the pattern that is observed on the screen after this modification.

   [3 marks]

ii. The fourth order maximum is observed on the screen at an angle \thetaθ to the straight
through direction. Find \thetaθ.

 [3 marks]  

Question 4

Monochromatic light of wavelength 536536 nm is incident of a thin soap film. The angle

between the incident ray and Ray A is \thetaθ. The refractive index of the soap film
is 1.341.34.
a. Draw an arrow on the diagram to indicate a light ray entering air below the soap layer.

 [1 mark]

b. Outline whether Ray A undergoes a phase change.

   [2 mark]

c. The angle between Ray B and the lower part of the soap layer is 67.2^{o}67.2o. Find the
value of \thetaθ.

   [3 marks]

d. The optical path difference between Ray A and Ray D is 8.04 \times 10^{-7}8.04×10−7 m.

i. Calculate the thickness of the soap film.

   [2 marks]

ii. Deduce whether there will be constructive or destructive interference between Ray A and
Ray D.

   [2 marks]

Question 5

A mass of 0.48 kg is attached to a spring and the system is made to oscillate with simple
harmonic motion (SHM) on a horizontal, frictionless surface. The mass passes through the
equilibrium position 240240 times per minute. 

a. The kinetic energy of the mass as it passes through the equilibrium position is 400400 mJ. 
i. There are two points where the restoring force acting on the block is at its maximum.
Show that the distance between these points is approximately 2121 cm.

   [4 marks]

ii. Find the distance of the block from the equilibrium position when the speed of the block
is 0.80.8 m s^{-1}−1

   [2 marks]

iii. Find the magnitude of the net force acting the block when its speed is 0.80.8 m s^{-1}−1

   [2 marks]

b. The experiment is moved to planet M. The gravitational acceleration on planet M

is g_{M}gM. It is known that \frac{g_{M}}{g} = 3ggM=3. Another change is that three more
identical springs are placed parallel to the original spring. Outline, without calculations, how
these changes affect the frequency with which the block oscillates.

   [4 marks]