STAV Publishing 2008

Student name

PHYSICS
Unit 1
Trial Examination
QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK
Total writing time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Structure of book
Section Number of Number of
questions marks
A – Core areas of study
1. Wave-like Properties of Light 18 40
2. Nuclear and Radioactivity Physics 12 30
B – Detailed studies
1. Astronomy 10 20
OR 2. Medical Physics 11 20
OR 3. Energy from the nucleus 8 20
Total 90
• Students are permitted to bring into the examination room: pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers,
sharpeners, rulers, up to two pages (one A4 sheet) of pre-written notes (typed or handwritten) and an
approved scientific calculator.
• Students are NOT permitted to bring into the examination room: blank sheets of paper and/or white
out liquid/tape.
Materials supplied
• Question and answer book of 24 pages, with a detachable formula sheet in the centrefold.
Instructions
• Detach the data sheet from the centre of this book during reading time.
• Write your name in the space provided above on this page.
• Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
• Always show your working where space is provided because marks may be awarded for this working.
• All written responses should be in English.

Published by STAV Publishing. STAV House, 5 Munro Street, Coburg VIC 3058 Australia.
Phone: 61 + 3 9385 3999 • Fax: 61 + 3 9386 6722 • Email: stav@stav.vic.edu.au Website: http://www.stav.vic.edu.au
© STAV Publishing March 2008
ABN 61 527 110 823
All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication
may be reprinted, reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any other information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

TECover_PhysicsU1_Q&A_2008.indd 1 8/04/2008 2:40:17 PM

© STAV Publishing 2008 1 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

AREA 1 – WAVE-LIKE PROPERTIES OF LIGHT

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the following information

The diagram below shows a plastic duck sitting on a lake as a series of waves pass by moving the duck up
and down on the same spot. The wave is traveling at a speed of 1.5 m s-1. The amplitude of the wave is
measured to be 0.25 m and the wavelength is 2.0 m as shown below.

2.0 m

Not to scale!

Question 1.
What is the maximum vertical displacement of the plastic duck as it moves up and down?

A 0.25 m B 0.50 m C 1.5 m D 2.0 m

[2 marks]
Question 2.
What is the frequency of the water wave? Give the unit for your answer.

f= unit =
[2 + 1 = 3 marks]
© STAV Publishing 2008 2 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 3.
What is the shortest possible time taken for the duck to move from a position of maximum vertical height to
a position of minimum vertical height?

A 0.33 s B 0.67 s C 0.75 s D 1.50 s

[2 marks]

Questions 4 to 6 refer to the following information

Light travels from air to glass and is

refracted at the air-glass interface.
As shown in the diagram. normal

y0
Air
x0
w0
Glass
z0

Question 4.
Which of the following is the correct relationship for the speed of light in air (cair) to the speed of light in
glass (cglass)?

A cair = cglass B cair < cglass

C cair > cglass D cair ≈ cglass

E It cannot be found without knowing the refractive indices of glass and air.

[2 marks]

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 3 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 5.
Which of the following ratios (A – E) gives the relative refractive index for light passing from air to glass?

A sin w o B sin wo C sin x o D sin y o E sin z o

sin y o sin z o sin y o sin z o sin x o

[2 marks]

Question 6.
The angles w and x are measured to be w = 650 and x = 500.
What is the refractive index of the glass?

nglass =
[2 marks]
Question 7.
Two wire constructions of the letter F are placed in front of a plane mirror. Which of the choices (A – D)
shows the correct reflections of these wire letters in the mirror?

A B

C D

[2 marks]

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 4 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 8.
The following diagrams show a light ray travelling in air and then incident on a right angled prism.
Which one is impossible?

A B

C D

[2 marks]
Question 9.
A red book, seen in white light, appears red because it:

A absorbs red light B reflects blue light

C reflects red light D transmits red light

[2 marks]

Question 10.
A red book, illuminated by pure green light, appears:

A Red B Green

C Yellow D Blue

E Black F White

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 5 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 11.
A number of spotlights can have a variety of colour filters placed in the beam line. Which of the following
choices of filters (A-E) will produce cyan on a white screen where the beams overlap?

A blue, green B red, blue

C red, green, blue D red, yellow, blue

E red, green F yellow, blue

[2 marks]

Question 12.

In the information below, options are given within the brackets. Only one of the options will be correct.
Circle the best option in each case.

The distance f is called the [ far point / focus / focal length ] of a lens. Because the

lens is thicker at its centre than at its edges, this type of less is called a [ convex /

concave / bi-polar ] lens. The light after passing through this type of lens [ diverges

/ continues parallel to the principal axis / converges on the focal point ]

[3 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 6 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 13.
The diagram shows light from a ship at X, passing through a periscope AB to the eye at E.

20 m
A
X

1.8 m

0.2 m

The image seen by the eye at E will appear to be:

A At the point B B At the point X

C 20 metres above A D 20 metres to the left of B

E 22 metres from E F 1.8 metres above B

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 7 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 14.
Use careful ray tracing to locate the position of the image of the given object on the diagram below.

Concave
Mirror

object
f

[3 marks]

Question 15.
Use careful ray tracing to locate the position of the object for the given image on the diagram below.

Lens

f f

image

[3 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 8 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 16.
An object is placed some distance from a concave mirror with a focal point at f. A ray from the middle of the
object meets the mirror as shown below. Several possible ray paths (A – E) are shown for the ray after it
reflects from the mirror.

Concave
A mirror
object

D E

Which one of the suggested ray paths (A – E) best shows the path of the ray after reflecting from the mirror?

[2 marks]

Question 17.
Two plane mirrors are placed parallel with their reflecting surfaces facing each other. On the diagram below
show, by accurate sketching, the subsequent path of the given incident light ray.

Incident
light ray

[2 marks]

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 9 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 18.
Two parallel beams of light enter on the left side of an optically shaped glass object concealed under X. The
exit beams are shown on the right.

Which of the shapes, A to E below, is hidden under X?

A B

C D

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 10 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

AREA 2 – NUCLEAR AND RADIOACTIVITY PHYSICS

Question 1.
The Tritium ion is shown below. What is the number of each of the following?

a) Protons
3
b) Neutrons H+
1
c) Electrons

[3 marks]

Question 2.
Name another isotope that has the same chemical properties as Carbon -14 (C-14)

[2 marks]

Question 3.
Use the following descriptions (A –E) to answer the following questions.

A Fast electron

B Charged helium nucleus

C Very short wavelength EM radiation

D Uncharged particle

E Negative ion

a. Which of the choices, A – E, could be an alpha particle?

b. Which of the choices, A – E, could be a beta particle?

c. Which of the choices, A – E, could be a thermal neutron?

d. Which of the choices, A – E, could be a gamma ray?

[4 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 11 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Questions 4 to 6 refer to the following information.

A sample of radioactive material is measured to have a count rate of 1200 counts per minute. After half an
hour the technician doing the measurements finds that the count rate has fallen to 600 counts per minute.

Question 4
The count rate will fall to 150 counts per minute after another:

A 15 minutes B 30 minutes

C 45 minutes D 60 minutes

E 75 minutes F 90 minutes

G None of these

[2 marks]

Question 5.
What is a count rate of 1200 counts per minute in Becquerel?

Bq
[2 marks]

Question 6.
After a number of weeks has passed the technician finds that the count rate measured around the sample is
still about 15 counts per minute. The technician knows this is well over a hundred half lives and the count
rate should be much lower, in fact close to zero counts per minute.
Give two reasons why the count rate might not go to zero.

Reason 1:

Reason 2:

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 12 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 7.
The half life of Carbon 14 (C-14) is 5730 years.
On the following graph carefully sketch the decay curve for C-14.

Activity

100 %

75 %

50 %

25 %

0%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (years × 103)

[2 marks]

Question 8.
Carbon 14 initially undergoes beta decay. Complete the equation below for the beta decay of C-14.

14
β -decay
C
6

[3 marks]

Question 9.
C-14 cannot be used to date dinosaur fossils. Explain why not.

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 1 Physics Unit 1 Data Sheet

PHYSICS
Unit 1 Trial Examination

DATA SHEET

Directions to students

Detach this data sheet before commencing the trial examination.

This data sheet is provided for your reference.

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 2 Physics Unit 1 Data Sheet

Core – Wave-like Properties of Light & Nuclear and Radioactivity Physics

1 distance, speed, time distance = speed × time

Hi v
2 magnification M= =
Ho u

1 1 1
3 lens and mirror formula + =
u v f

sin θ i
4 Snell's law n= ; n1 sinθi = n2 sinθr
sin θ r

1 1
5 frequency and period f= ; T=
T f

6 fundamental wave equation v=fλ

7 absorbed dose energy absorbed (J)

absorbed dose (Gy) = mass (kg)

8 dose equivalent dose equivalent (Sv) = absorbed dose (Gy) × quality factor

9 half life : radioactive decay N = No 2 − t / t1 / 2 or N = No(½)n

10 speed of light in a vacuum 3.0 × 108 m s−1

11 1 Becquerel 1 disintegration per second

12 1 Gray 1 J kg−1

13 1 electron volt 1.6 × 10−19 J

Detailed study 3.1 − Astronomy

14 Kepler's third law T2 = k r3

θ1
15 angular magnification M=
θo

16 1 Astronomical Unit 1.50 × 1011 m

17 mass of the Earth 5.98 × 1024 kg

18 1 parsec 3.086 × 1016 m

19 1 light year 9.46 × 1015 m

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 3 Physics Unit 1 Data Sheet

Detailed study 3.2 − Medical Physics

20 acoustic impedence Z=ρv

I r (Z 2 − Z 1 )
2
21 reflection of ultrasound =
I o (Z 2 + Z1 )2

Detailed study 3.3 − Energy from the Nucleus

22 Einstein's equation E = m c2

23 speed of light in a vacuum 3.0 × 108 m s−1

Prefixes
p = pico = 10−12

n = nano = 10–9

μ = micro = 10–6

m = milli = 10–3

k = kilo = 103

M = mega = 106

G = giga = 109

END OF DATA SHEET

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© STAV Publishing 2008 4 Physics Unit 1 Data Sheet

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© STAV Publishing 2008 13 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 10.
A cancerous tumour is to be treated with radiation by injection with a radioactive medical isotope that
produces alpha particles. The tumour is carefully estimated to need to receive an absorbed dose of 0.750 Gy
in order to supply 0.025 joules of energy. This amount of energy is considered to be enough to reduce the
tumour considerably. From this information calculate the mass in gram, of the tumour before the treatment is
started.

[3 marks]

Question 11.
What would be the dose equivalent of the radiation source in Question 10 if the source was changed to a
beta emitter? Give the unit for your answer.

value = unit =

[2 +1 = 3 marks]

Question 12.
Why do different forms of nuclear radiation have different “quality factors”? For example α-particles have
a quality factor of 20 while γ-rays have a quality factor of 1.

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 14 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

AREA 3 – DETAILED STUDIES

DETAILED STUDY 1 – ASTRONOMY

Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following information.

A student is using the school telescope with a camera attachment to take a time lapse photograph of the
summer night sky above Melbourne. The telescope is pointed very carefully towards the South Celestial pole
and then the camera is used to expose the film for two hours.

Question 1.
Describe the picture that this type of exposure will create.

[2 marks]

Question 2.
Describe how the passage of a shooting star (a meteorite) would appear on this exposure.

[2 marks]

Question 3.
The planets of the solar system are generally classified into either rocky (or terrestrial) planets or gas giants.

Name two rocky planets:

1.

2.

Name two gas giant planets:

1.

2.

[4 × ½ = 2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 15 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 4.
Telescopes come in a number of different types including reflecting and refracting telescopes.
Explain the major physical difference in the way refracting and reflecting telescopes collect light images.

[2 marks]

Question 5.
Give two reasons why reflecting telescopes are more widely used than refracting telescopes by professional
stellar observers.

Reason 1:

Reason 2:

[2 marks]

Question 6.
Give two reasons why the Hubble Space Telescope can give such superior images even though its optical
system is physically so much smaller than some Earth bound telescopes.

Reason 1:

Reason 2:

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 16 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Questions 7 and 8 refer to the following information.

Astronomers use a number of different plotting systems to locate the positions of celestial objects. One such
plotting system uses the Declination (DEC) and the Right Ascension (RA) to define the position of celestial
objects.
The following is an example of a declination - right ascension chart.

70

60
Declination ( o )

A
50

40
B
30

20

10

0
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2
Right Ascension

Question 7.
The units used for Declination are degrees. What are the units used for Right Ascension?

A degrees B hours

C parsecs D light years

[2 marks]

Question 8.
What are the positions of the stars A and B according to the declination - right ascension chart?

Declination Right Ascension

Star A

Star B

[4 × ½ = 2 marks]

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 17 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 9.
Ptolemy was able to explain the retrograde movement of the planets by using:

A unicycles B bicycles

C epicycles D retrocycles

[2 marks]

Question 10.
Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Pluto has recently been downgraded from planet status
and is now considered to be a member of the family of objects that inhabit the Kuiper Belt.
What are two of the main reasons for the downgrading of the planetary status of Pluto?

[2 marks]

END OF EXAMINATION

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© STAV Publishing 2008 18 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

DETAILED STUDY 2 – MEDICAL PHYSICS

Question 1.
Ultrasound uses sound waves to obtain pictures of the internal organs of a body without the physical
penetration of the body being imaged. Ultrasound used in medical imaging typically has a frequency in
which of the following ranges?

A Hertz B kilohertz

C Megahertz D gigahertz

[2 marks]
Question 2.
The higher the frequency the more the ultrasound can penetrate living tissue.
True or false? (circle your answer)

TRUE FALSE
[1 mark]

Question 3.
The higher the density of living tissue the faster the velocity of the ultrasound wave.
True or false? (circle your answer)

TRUE FALSE
[1 mark]

Question 4.
Acoustic impedance (Z) measures how readily sound will pass through a material.

The formula for acoustic impedance is: Z=ρ×ν

where ρ is the density of the tissue in kg m-3 and ν is the velocity of the ultrasound wave in m s-1.

What is the unit for acoustic impedance?

unit =

[2 marks]

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 19 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 5.
Bone has a density on average of 1650 kg m-3 and the speed of sound in bone is 4080 m s-1.
What is the magnitude of the acoustic impedance of bone?

[2 marks]

Question 6.
Diagnostic ultrasound machines produce very low levels of sound energy of the order of mW.

Why don’t they use more energetic sound waves that are more readily reflected and detected, for diagnosis?

[2 marks]

Question 7.
X-rays are created by firing electrons that have been accelerated across a high potential difference at a
tungsten target. The tungsten target is rotated very rapidly.

Explain why the tungsten target has to be rapidly rotated when producing X-rays.

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 20 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 8.
Imaging systems using ionising radiation in the process of creating their images are dangerous to the patient
if used for extended exposure times because: (one or more answers)

A The radiation detectors used to see the image can be overloaded and the image will be unclear.

B The ionization of water molecules could create free radicals that can then cause damage to DNA.

C The ionizing radiation could “burn” tissue by delivering too much energy to a specific point.

D The ionizing radiation could be absorbed by denser tissues because of their better penetrating power
and reduce the effectiveness of the image.

[2 marks]

Question 9.
When using radioisotopes, “labelling” is very important when considering which isotope is to be used and
how the isotope gets to the target organ. What is the purpose of “labelling” when used in this context?

A The bottle containing the isotope must be correctly labelled according to Occupational Health &
Safety regulations or the wrong isotope could be administered to the patient.

B “Labelling” is the chemical attachment of the isotope to a compound that will normally be
metabolised by the organ of interest hence concentrating the radioisotope in the organ to be imaged.

C Radioisotopes are chemically labelled to ensure that forensic analysis can establish the source of the
radioisotopes in case of mishaps.

D Labelling of the specific radioisotope allows the observer to separate the correct radiation signal from
the background radiation.

[2 marks]

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 21 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Questions 10 and 11 refer to the following information.

A critical part of an endoscope is the bundle of

optical fibres that allow the surgeon to see the site
of the medical procedure inside the patient.

It is important for the surgeon to get a clear and coherent image.

Question 10.
Explain what you understand by the term “Coherent” as used in this context?

[2 marks]

Question 11.
Object
Which of the following images is NOT a coherent
image of the object shown?

A B

C D

[2 marks]
END OF EXAMINATION

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
© STAV Publishing 2008 22 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

DETAILED STUDY 3 – ENERGY FROM THE NUCLEUS

Question 1.
According to Einstein’s mass – energy equation how many grams of matter must be entirely converted to
produce 2.8 gigajoules of energy?

g
[3 marks]

Question 2.
Naturally occurring Uranium ore contains roughly 0.7% U-235. A sustainable nuclear fission reaction in a
nuclear power plant requires the U-235 content to be between 2% and 4%. The process of increasing the
percentage of U-235 in the Uranium ore fuel rod is called:

A enhancement B Enabling

C enrichment D Upgrading

[2 marks]

Question 3.
Approximately what percentage of U-235 is needed before the Uranium can be used in a nuclear bomb?

A 4% U-235 B 7% U-235

C 43% U-235 D 97% U-235

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 23 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Question 4.
Uranium has the atomic number 92. The isotope Plutonium-239 is produced when U-238 undergoes neutron
capture then undergoes β-decay to Neptunium and then further β-decay to Plutonium-239.
This nuclear process is illustrated in the following equation chain.

238 1 C D 239
-
U + n → U → Np + β → Pu + β-
A B 92 93 E

Fill in the missing numbers (A-E) for this process.

[5 marks]

Question 5.
The reaction chain in Question 4 is used in which process (A-D)?

A Fast Breeder

B Fission Reaction

C Fusion reaction

D Cold Fusion

[2 marks]

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© STAV Publishing 2008 24 Physics Unit 1 Trial Examination

Questions 6 to 8 refer to the following information.

Describe the purpose of the following components of a fission reactor.

containment
vessel heat exchanger

turbine

Question 6.
containment:

[2 marks]
Question 7.
turbine:

[2 marks]

Question 8.
heat exchanger:

[2 marks]
END OF EXAMINATION

Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010
Reproduced by Glen Waverley Secondary College, with permission from STAV Publishing 2010