3

1 (a) Compare scalar and vector quantities.

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

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

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

(b) The radius of a small sphere is determined from a measurement of the volume of the sphere.
The sphere is submerged in water, displacing some of the water into a measuring cylinder as
shown in Fig. 1.1.

measuring
cylinder
sphere

displaced
water

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

The measured volume of displaced water is (28.0 ± 0.5) cm3.

Calculate:

(i) the radius, in cm, of the sphere

radius = ................................................... cm [1]

(ii) the percentage uncertainty in the radius of the sphere.

percentage uncertainty = ..................................................... % [2]

[Total: 5]

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2 A hot-air balloon floats just above the ground. The balloon is stationary and is held in place by a
vertical rope, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

balloon

rope

ground

Fig. 2.1

The balloon has a weight W of 3.39 × 104 N. The tension T in the rope is 4.00 × 102 N.
Upthrust U acts on the balloon.
The density of the surrounding air is 1.23 kg m–3.

(a) (i) On Fig. 2.1, draw labelled arrows to show the directions of the three forces acting on the
balloon. [2]

(ii) Calculate the volume, to three significant figures, of the balloon.

volume = .................................................... m3 [3]

(iii) The balloon is released from the rope.

Calculate the initial acceleration of the balloon.

acceleration = ................................................ m s–2 [3]

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(b) The balloon is stationary at a height of 500 m above the ground. A tennis ball is released from
rest and falls vertically from the balloon.

A passenger in the balloon uses the equation v2 = u2 + 2as to calculate that the ball will be
travelling at a speed of approximately 100 m s–1 when it hits the ground.

Explain why the actual speed of the ball will be much lower than 100 m s–1 when it hits the
ground.

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

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(c) Before the balloon is released, the rope holding the balloon has a strain of 2.4 × 10–5.
The rope has an unstretched length of 2.5 m. The rope obeys Hooke’s law.

(i) Show that the extension of the rope is 6.0 × 10–5 m.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the elastic potential energy EP of the rope.

EP = ...................................................... J [2]

(iii) The rope holding the balloon is replaced with a new one of the same original length and
cross-sectional area. The tension is unchanged and the new rope also obeys Hooke’s
law.

The new rope is made from a material of a lower Young modulus.

State and explain the effect of the lower Young modulus on the elastic potential energy
of the rope.

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

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

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

[Total: 16]

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3 A trolley A moves along a horizontal surface at a constant velocity towards another trolley B which
is moving at a lower constant speed in the same direction. Fig. 3.1 shows the trolleys at time t = 0.

A B

horizontal surface

Fig. 3.1

Table 3.1 shows data for the trolleys.

Table 3.1

trolley mass / kg initial speed / m s–1

A 0.25 0.48
B 0.75 0.12

The two trolleys collide elastically and then separate. Resistive forces are negligible.

Fig. 3.2 shows the variation with time t of the velocity v for trolley B.

0.5
v / m s–1
0.4

0.3 B

0.2

0.1

0 t/s
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
–0.1

–0.2

–0.3

–0.4

–0.5

Fig. 3.2

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(a) State what is represented by the area under a velocity–time graph.

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

(b) Use Table 3.1 and Fig. 3.2 to determine:

(i) the acceleration of trolley B during the collision

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

(ii) the magnitude and direction of the final velocity of trolley A.

magnitude = ...................................................... m s–1

direction ...............................................................
[3]

(c) On Fig. 3.2, sketch the variation of the velocity of trolley A with time t from t = 0 to t = 0.50 s.
[3]

[Total: 9]

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4 (a) State the principle of superposition.

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

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

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

(b) Coherent light is incident normally on two identical slits X and Y. The diffracted light emerging
from the slits superposes to produce an interference pattern on a screen positioned at a
distance of 1.9 m from the slits.

Fig. 4.1 shows the arrangement and the central part of the interference pattern of bright and
dark fringes formed on the screen.

1.9 m
dark fringe

X
coherent
light 0.65 mm bright fringe

Y 1.7 mm

screen

Fig. 4.1 (not to scale)

The separation of the slits is 0.65 mm. The distance between the centres of adjacent bright
fringes is 1.7 mm.

Calculate the wavelength λ of the light.

λ = ..................................................... m [3]

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(c) Light waves from slits X and Y in (b) arrive at a point between adjacent bright fringes on the
screen. Fig. 4.2 shows the variation of displacement with time for the waves arriving at the
point where they meet.

wave from X wave from Y

displacement

0
time

Fig. 4.2

A student makes two statements about the waves at this point:

Statement 1: ‘The phase difference between the waves is 90°.’

Statement 2: ‘The amplitude of the resultant wave is zero.’

(i) Explain how statement 1 is correct.

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

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

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

(ii) State and explain whether statement 2 is correct.

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

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

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

(d) The width of each slit in (b) is decreased by the same amount. There is no change to the
separation of the slits.

Describe and explain the effect, if any, of this change on the appearance of the interference
pattern.

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

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

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

[Total: 9]

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5 A train travels at a constant high speed along a straight horizontal track towards an observer
standing adjacent to the track, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

train
observer
track

Fig. 5.1

The train sounds its horn continuously as it approaches the observer, from time t = 0 until it is well
past the observer at time t = t2. The train passes the observer at time t = t1.
The horn emits a sound wave of constant frequency fS.

(a) On Fig. 5.2, sketch the variation of the frequency of sound heard by the observer with time t,
from time t = 0 to t = t2.

frequency

fS

0
0 t1 t2
t

Fig. 5.2
[1]

(b) At a particular time, the sound waves at the observer have an intensity of 4.7 × 10–3 W m–2.
The waves at the observer are incident at right angles on a circular detector of radius 2.8 cm.

Calculate the power P of the waves incident on the detector.

P = ..................................................... W [3]

[Total: 4]

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6 A battery is connected in a circuit with a light-dependent resistor (LDR), two fixed resistors and a
voltmeter, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

25 V

320 Ω

V 240 Ω

Fig. 6.1

The battery has an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of 25 V and negligible internal resistance.
The resistors have resistances of 320 Ω and 240 Ω.

(a) The voltmeter displays a reading of 16 V.

(i) Show that the current in the battery is 0.050 A.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the resistance of the LDR.

resistance = ..................................................... Ω [3]

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(iii) Determine the ratio

power dissipated in the LDR
power dissipated in the 240 Ω resistor .

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

(b) The intensity of the light incident on the LDR increases.

State and explain what happens to the voltmeter reading.

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

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 9]

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7 (a) The results of the α-particle scattering experiment led to the development of the nuclear
model for the atom.

State the results that suggested that most of the mass of the atom is concentrated in a very
small region and most of the atom is empty space.

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

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

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

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

(b) State the composition of γ-radiation.

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

(c) Table 7.1 lists the names of three particles and possible classifications for them.

Table 7.1

classification
particle name
baryon hadron lepton

neutrino

neutron

positron

Complete Table 7.1 by placing ticks (3) in the boxes to indicate the classifications that apply
to each particle. [2]

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(d) The discovery of a particle with an unusual charge was an important step in the development
of the theory of quarks. The particle is a hadron with a mass of 2.19 × 10–27 kg and a charge
of +2e, where e is the elementary charge.

(i) Calculate the mass, in u, of the particle. Give your answer to three significant figures.

mass = ....................................................... u [1]

(ii) Determine a possible quark composition of a hadron with a charge of +2e.

Explain your reasoning.

[2]

[Total: 8]

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1 (a) In the following list, underline all quantities that are SI base quantities.

charge electric current force time [1]

(b) Under certain conditions, the distance s moved in a straight line by an object in time t is given
by
1
s = 2 at 2

where a is the acceleration of the object.

State two conditions under which the above expression applies to the motion of the object.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

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

(c) The variation with time t of the velocity v of a car that is moving in a straight line is shown in
Fig. 1.1.

25

20

15
v / m s–1
10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
–5 t/s

–10

–15

Fig. 1.1

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(i) Compare, qualitatively, the acceleration of the car at time t = 8.0 s and at time t = 14.0 s
in terms of:

● magnitude

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

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

● direction.

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

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

(ii) Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the car at time t = 4.0 s.

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

(iii) The car is at point X at time t = 0.

Determine the magnitude of the displacement of the car from X at time t = 12.0 s.

displacement = ...................................................... m [2]

[Total: 9]

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2 A high‑altitude balloon is stationary in still air. A solid sphere is suspended from the balloon by a
string, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

balloon

string
sphere

Fig. 2.1 (not to scale)

The volume of the balloon is 7.5 m3. The total weight of the balloon, string and sphere is 65 N. The
upthrust acting on the string and sphere is negligible.

(a) Calculate the density of the air surrounding the balloon.

density = .............................................. kg m–3 [2]

(b) The string breaks, releasing the sphere.

(i) State the magnitude of the acceleration of the sphere immediately after the string breaks.

acceleration = ................................................ m s–2 [1]

(ii) State and explain the variation, if any, in the magnitude of the acceleration of the sphere
when it is moving downwards before it reaches terminal (constant) velocity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

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(c) The sphere has a mass of 4.0 kg.

Calculate the total resistive force acting on the sphere at the instant when its acceleration is
1.9 m s–2.

resistive force = ...................................................... N [2]

[Total: 8]

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3 A vertical rod is fixed to the horizontal surface of a table, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

rod

surface of spring
table

Fig. 3.1 (not to scale)

A spring of mass 7.5 g is able to slide along the full length of the rod.

The spring is first pushed against the surface of the table so that it has an initial compression of
2.1 cm. The spring is then suddenly released so that it leaves the surface of the table with a kinetic
energy of 0.048 J and then moves up the rod.

Assume that the spring obeys Hooke’s law and that the initial elastic potential energy of the
compressed spring is equal to the kinetic energy of the spring as it leaves the surface of the table.
Air resistance is negligible.

(a) By using the initial elastic potential energy of the compressed spring, calculate its spring
constant.

spring constant = ................................................ N m–1 [2]

(b) Calculate the speed of the spring as it leaves the surface of the table.

speed = ................................................ m s–1 [2]

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(c) The spring rises to its maximum height up the rod from the surface of the table. This causes
the gravitational potential energy of the spring to increase by 0.039 J.

(i) Calculate, for this movement of the spring, the increase in height of the spring after
leaving the surface of the table.

increase in height = ...................................................... m [2]

(ii) Calculate the average frictional force exerted by the rod on the spring as it rises.

average frictional force = ...................................................... N [2]

(d) The rod is replaced by another rod that exerts negligible frictional force on the moving spring.
The initial compression x of the spring is now varied in order to vary the maximum increase
in height Δh of the spring after leaving the surface of the table. Assume that the spring obeys
Hooke’s law for all compressions.

On Fig. 3.2, sketch a graph to show the variation with x of Δh. Numerical values are not
required.

Δh

0
0 x

Fig. 3.2
[2]

[Total: 10]

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4 (a) A ball Y moves along a horizontal frictionless surface and collides with a ball Z, as illustrated
in the views from above in Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 4.2.

0.25 kg
Y 3.7 m s–1

27°
P Y Z Q P Q
44°
0.25 kg mZ
Z
mZ 5.5 m s–1

BEFORE COLLISION AFTER COLLISION

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

Ball Y has a mass of 0.25 kg and initially moves along a line PQ.
Ball Z has a mass mZ and is initially stationary.

After the collision, ball Y has a final velocity of 3.7 m s–1 at an angle of 27° to line PQ and
ball Z has a final velocity of 5.5 m s–1 at an angle of 44° to line PQ.

(i) Calculate the component of the final momentum of ball Y in the direction perpendicular
to line PQ.

component of momentum = .................................................... N s [2]

(ii) By considering the component of the final momentum of each ball in the direction
perpendicular to line PQ, calculate mZ.

mZ = ..................................................... kg [1]

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(iii) During the collision, the average force exerted on Y by Z is FY and the average force
exerted on Z by Y is FZ.

Compare the magnitudes and directions of FY and FZ. Numerical values are not required.

magnitudes: .......................................................................................................................

directions: ..........................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Two blocks, A and B, move directly towards each other along a horizontal frictionless surface,
as shown in the view from above in Fig. 4.3.

4 m s–1 6 m s–1
A B

Fig. 4.3

The blocks collide perfectly elastically. Before the collision, block A has a speed of 4 m s–1 and
block B has a speed of 6 m s–1. After the collision, block B moves back along its original path
with a speed of 2 m s–1.

Calculate the speed of block A after the collision.

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

[Total: 6]

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5 (a) A beam of vertically polarised light is incident normally on a polarising filter, as shown in
Fig. 5.1.

vertically polarised transmitted

incident light beam light beam

transmission
filter axis of filter

Fig. 5.1

(i) The transmission axis of the filter is initially vertical. The filter is then rotated through an
angle of 360° while the plane of the filter remains perpendicular to the beam.

On Fig. 5.2, sketch a graph to show the variation of the intensity of the light in the
transmitted beam with the angle through which the transmission axis is rotated.

maximum value

intensity of
the light

0
0 90 180 270 360
angle / °

Fig. 5.2
[2]

(ii) The intensity of the light in the incident beam is 7.6 W m–2. When the transmission axis
of the filter is at angle θ to the vertical, the light intensity of the transmitted beam is
4.2 W m–2.

Calculate angle θ.

θ = ........................................................° [2]

(b) State what is meant by the diffraction of a wave.

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

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

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

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(c) A beam of light of wavelength 4.3 × 10–7 m is incident normally on a diffraction grating in air,
as shown in Fig. 5.3.

third order

beam of light, 68°

wavelength 68°
4.3 × 10–7 m

diffraction third order

grating

Fig. 5.3 (not to scale)

The third‑order diffraction maximum of the light is at an angle of 68° to the direction of the
incident light beam.

(i) Calculate the line spacing d of the diffraction grating.

d = ...................................................... m [2]

(ii) Determine a different wavelength of visible light that will also produce a diffraction
maximum at an angle of 68°.

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

[Total: 10]

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6 (a) A metal wire has a resistance per unit length of 0.92 Ω m–1. The wire has a uniform
cross‑sectional area of 5.3 × 10–7 m2.

Calculate the resistivity of the metal of the wire.

resistivity = .................................................. Ω m [2]

(b) A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) E and negligible internal resistance is connected in
series with a fixed resistor and a light‑dependent resistor (LDR), as shown in Fig. 6.1.

E 1400 Ω

1600 Ω

Fig. 6.1

The resistance of the fixed resistor is 1400 Ω. The intensity of the light illuminating the LDR
causes it to have a resistance of 1600 Ω. A voltmeter connected across the LDR reads 6.4 V.

(i) Show that the current in the LDR is 4.0 × 10–3 A.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the number of free electrons passing through the LDR in a time of 3.2 minutes.

number of free electrons = ......................................................... [2]

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(iii) Calculate the e.m.f. E.

E = ...................................................... V [2]

(iv) Determine the ratio

power dissipated in LDR
.
power dissipated in fixed resistor

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

(c) The environmental conditions change causing a decrease in the resistance of the LDR in (b).
The temperature of the environment does not change.

State whether there is a decrease, increase or no change to:

(i) the intensity of the light illuminating the LDR

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

(ii) the current in the battery

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

(iii) the reading of the voltmeter.

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

[Total: 12]

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7 (a) In the following list, underline all the particles that are not fundamental.

antineutrino baryon nucleon positron [1]

(b) A nucleus of thorium‑230 ( 230

90
Th) decays in stages, by emitting α‑particles and β– particles, to
form a nucleus of lead‑206 ( 206
82
Pb).

Determine the total number of α‑particles and the total number of β– particles that are
emitted during the sequence of decays that form the nucleus of lead‑206 from the nucleus of
thorium‑230.

number of α‑particles = ...............................................................

number of β– particles = ...............................................................

[2]

(c) A meson has a charge of –1e, where e is the elementary charge. The quark composition of
the meson includes a charm antiquark.

State and explain a possible flavour (type) of the other quark in the meson.

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

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

[Total: 5]

Permission to reproduce items where third‑party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer‑related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

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1 (a) Table 1.1 lists some physical quantities. Complete the table by placing a tick (✓) next to the
scalar quantities.

Table 1.1

acceleration

charge

momentum

power

upthrust

[1]

(b) A uniform cylinder has diameter D, length L and mass M.

The density ρ of the cylinder is given by

4M
ρ= .
π D2 L

Table 1.2 shows the data obtained from an experiment to determine the density of the cylinder.

Table 1.2

quantity measurement percentage uncertainty

D (26.2 ± 0.1) mm
................%

L (162 ± 1) mm
................%

M (247 ± 1) g 0.4%

(i) Calculate the percentage uncertainties in D and L. Write your answers in Table 1.2.

[1]

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(ii) Calculate the density of the cylinder. Give your answer to three significant figures.

density = .............................................. kg m–3 [2]

(iii) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the density.

percentage uncertainty = ......................................................% [2]

[Total: 6]

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2 A ball on horizontal ground is kicked towards a vertical wall. Fig. 2.1 shows the path of the ball.

path of ball

horizontal h
u
ground
wall
38°

9.0 m
ball

Fig. 2.1 (not to scale)

The ball has an initial velocity u at an angle of 38° to the ground. The ball travels a horizontal
distance of 9.0 m before striking the wall at a height h above the ground. The horizontal
component uH of the initial velocity of the ball is 9.5 m s–1.

Air resistance is negligible.

(a) (i) Show that the time t for the ball to reach the wall is 0.95 s.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the vertical component uV of the initial velocity of the ball.

uV = ................................................ m s–1 [2]

(iii) Determine h.

h = ...................................................... m [2]

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(b) The speed of the ball just after striking the wall is less than its speed just before striking the
wall.

State what this indicates about the nature of the collision of the ball with the wall.

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

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

[Total: 6]

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3 (a) State the conditions for a system to be in equilibrium.

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

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

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

(b) Fig. 3.1 shows an airship in flight. The airship is propelled by identical fans that can be angled
to control the motion of the airship.

airship

fans

Fig. 3.1

The upthrust on the airship is 93 000 N.

The density of the surrounding air is 1.2 kg m–3.

(i) Calculate the volume of air displaced by the airship.

volume = .................................................... m3 [1]

(ii) When fully loaded, the weight of the airship is greater than the upthrust.
To maintain horizontal flight, the fans provide a total vertical force of 3.0 × 103 N upwards
on the airship.

Calculate the mass of the airship.

mass = ..................................................... kg [2]

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(c) At a certain time, the airship in (b) is stationary. The thrust force exerted by a fan on the
airship is 2800 N.

To produce this force, a mass of 64 kg of air is propelled through the blades of the fan in a
time of 0.50 s. Assume that this air is initially stationary at the entrance to the fan.

Calculate:

(i) the change in momentum ∆p of the air propelled through the fan blades in this time

∆p = ............................................ kg m s–1 [2]

(ii) the speed of the air as it leaves the fan

speed = ................................................ m s–1 [2]

(iii) the total kinetic energy of this air due to its movement through the fan.

kinetic energy = ....................................................... J [2]

[Total: 11]

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4 Fig. 4.1 shows the variation with extension x of the tensile force F for two wires, G and H, made
from the same material.

3.5
H
3.0 G
F/N
2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
x / mm

Fig. 4.1

The elastic limit has not been exceeded for G or H.

(a) For the lines in Fig. 4.1:

(i) state what is represented by the gradient

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

(ii) explain why the area under the line represents the elastic potential energy of the wire.

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

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

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

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

(b) Wires G and H are joined together end‑to‑end to form a composite wire of negligible weight.
The composite wire hangs vertically from a fixed support.

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A block of weight of 2.0 N is attached to the end of the wire, as shown in Fig. 4.2.

fixed
support block,
H
weight 2.0 N

Fig. 4.2

(i) Use Fig. 4.1 to determine:

● the extension xG of wire G

xG = ........................................................ mm

● the extension xH of wire H.

xH = ........................................................ mm
[1]

(ii) Calculate the total elastic potential energy EP of the composite wire due to the weight of
the block.

EP = ....................................................... J [2]

(iii) The original length of wire G is L and the original length of wire H is 1.5 L.

Calculate the ratio

cross‑sectional area of wire G
.
cross‑sectional area of wire H

ratio = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 9]

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5 Two point sources, A and B, produce coherent electromagnetic waves. The waves from A and B
are emitted in phase and have wavelength λ, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

A B

Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

The lines on Fig. 5.1 represent wavefronts. All the points on a wavefront are in phase.

(a) On Fig. 5.1, mark with a cross (×):

(i) the position of an interference maximum (label this cross Y) [1]

(ii) the position of an interference minimum (label this cross Z). [1]

(b) The waves in air have a wavelength of 2.9 × 10–5 m.

An interference pattern is detected along a line parallel to AB and at a perpendicular distance

of 140 m from AB. The spacing between adjacent interference maxima is 1.2 cm.

(i) Calculate the separation a of the sources A and B.

a = ...................................................... m [3]

(ii) State the principal region of the electromagnetic spectrum to which the waves belong.

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

[Total: 6]

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6 A train travels at constant speed along a straight horizontal track towards an observer standing
adjacent to the track, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

train observer
track

Fig. 6.1

The train sounds its horn continuously as it approaches the observer. The horn emits a sound of
constant frequency 251 Hz. The frequency of sound heard by the observer is 291 Hz. The speed
of sound in air is 340 m s–1.

(a) Calculate the speed of the train.

speed = ................................................ m s–1 [2]

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(b) The train approaches and then passes the observer. The intensity I of the sound heard by the
observer varies with the distance d of the horn from the observer.

When the horn is at a distance x0 from the observer, the intensity I of the sound heard is I0
and the amplitude A of the sound wave at the observer is A0.

Fig. 6.2 shows the variation with d / x0 of I / I0 as the train moves away from the observer.

1.0 1.0

I / I0 A / A0

0.8 0.8

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

0 0
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
d / x0 d / x0

Fig. 6.2 Fig. 6.3

(i) State the relationship between amplitude A and intensity I for a progressive wave.

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

(ii) On Fig. 6.3, sketch the variation with d / x0 of A / A0. [2]

[Total: 5]

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7 (a) State Ohm’s law.

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

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

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

(b) A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 6.2 V and negligible internal resistance is connected
in a circuit to a uniform resistance wire, a voltmeter, a fixed resistor and a switch, as shown
in Fig. 7.1.

6.2 V

S
wire of resistance 18 Ω

Fig. 7.1

The resistance wire has resistance 18 Ω, length 0.94 m and cross‑sectional area 7.2 × 10–8 m2.
The slider S is positioned half‑way along the length of the wire.

(i) Calculate the resistivity ρ of the material of the resistance wire.

ρ = .................................................. Ω m [2]

(ii) The switch is open.

State the reading on the voltmeter.

voltmeter reading = ...................................................... V [1]

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(iii) The switch is now closed.

State whether there is an increase, decrease or no change to:

● the current in the battery

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

● the voltmeter reading.

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

(iv) The switch remains closed. The slider S is moved along the resistance wire so that the
voltmeter reading is 3.1 V.

On Fig. 7.1, draw a cross (×) on the resistance wire to show a possible new position of
the slider. [1]

(c) The circuit in (b) is altered by changing the battery for one of a different e.m.f.
The switch is open.

A student records the following data for the resistance wire:

current in the wire 0.93 A

mean drift speed of charge carriers 1.3 × 10–3 m s–1
number density of charge carriers 9.0 × 1028 m–3.

(i) Determine the charge q of a charge carrier in the wire suggested by this data.

q = ...................................................... C [2]

(ii) With reference to the value of q, explain why the data recorded by the student cannot be
correct.

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

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

[Total: 11]

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23
8 (a) The nuclide 12 Mg is an isotope of magnesium that undergoes β+ decay to form a new
nuclide X according to the equation

23 ........ ........ + 0
12
Mg X + β + 0
ν.
........ ........

Four numbers are missing from the equation.

23
(i) For the nuclide 12 Mg, state what is represented by the numbers 23 and 12.

23 represents: ...................................................................................................................

12 represents: ...................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Complete the equation by inserting the missing numbers. [2]

(iii) State the name of the group (class) of fundamental particles to which the positron and
neutrino belong.

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

(b) A radioactive source emits particles from its nuclei when it decays.
Fig. 8.1 shows, for the source, the variation with kinetic energy of the number of particles
emitted.

number of
particles
emitted

0
0
kinetic energy of emitted particles

Fig. 8.1

State how Fig. 8.1 shows that these nuclei do not undergo beta‑decay.

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

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

[Total: 6]

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