1

1 Two blocks, A and B, are joined by a thin thread that passes over a frictionless pulley. Block A is
at rest on a rough horizontal surface and block B is held at rest, just below the pulley.

The diagram shows the thread hanging loose.

pulley
block A thread

block B

rough horizontal surface

(not to scale)

Block B is released and it falls vertically. The thread remains loose until block B has fallen a distance
of 0.45 m.

The mass of block B is 0.50 kg.

Calculate the change in the gravitational potential energy (g.p.e.) of block B as it falls through
0.45 m.

change in g.p.e. ...................................................... [2]

[Total: 2]

2 A quantity of gas is trapped by a piston in a cylinder with thin metal walls. The piston is free to move
without friction within the cylinder.

The diagram shows the cylinder and piston.

gas

cylinder

piston
 2

The cylinder is placed inside a freezer.

5
The air in the freezer is at atmospheric pressure, which is 1.0 × 10 Pa.
−3 2
The area of the piston in contact with the air in the freezer is 2.4 × 10 m .

(a) Calculate the force exerted on the piston by the air in the freezer.

force = .......................................................... [2]

(b) When the cylinder is first placed into the freezer, the temperature of the gas in the cylinder
decreases and the air pushes the piston into the cylinder.

Calculate the work done on the piston by the air in the freezer as the air pushes the piston a
distance of 0.021 m into the cylinder.

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

[Total: 4]

3 State two differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

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

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

2 ...............................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 2]

4 A vertical tube contains a liquid. A metal ball is held at rest by a thread just below the surface of
the liquid, as shown in the diagram.
 3

(not to scale)

The diameter of the tube is much greater than the diameter of the ball.

The metal ball is released.

The metal ball has a mass of 2.1 g. It falls a distance of 0.80 m between being released and reaching
the bottom of the tube.

(a) Calculate the gravitational potential energy transferred from the ball as it falls.

gravitational potential energy transferred = .............................................. [2]

(b) When the ball reaches the bottom of the tube, it has a speed of 1.2 m / s. Calculate the kinetic
energy of the ball at the bottom of the tube.

kinetic energy = .............................................. [3]

(c) Explain why the value calculated in (a) is different from that calculated in (b).

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

........................................................................................................................................... [1]
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[Total: 6]

5 The kinetic energy of air passing through a wind turbine every minute is 720 000 J. The electrical
output of the turbine is 9.0 A at a potential difference (p.d.) of 240 V.

Calculate the efficiency (%) of the wind turbine.

efficiency = .............................................. % [5]

[Total: 5]
3
6 A U-shaped tube of constant cross-sectional area contains water of density 1000 kg / m . Both
sides of the U-tube are open to the atmosphere.

Diagram A shows that the water levels in the two sides of the tube are equal.

Diagram A Diagram B
 5

5
The atmospheric pressure is 1.00 × 10 Pa.

The left-hand side of the tube is now connected to a gas supply using a length of rubber tubing.
This causes the level of the water in the left-hand side of the tube to drop by 0.200 m, as shown in
diagram B.

(a) Calculate the pressure of the gas supply. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

pressure = .............................................. [3]

(b) Diagram C shows that the gas supply is now connected to a cylinder that contains a piston.

Diagram C
 6

The pressure of the gas moves the piston to the right.

2
(i) The area of the piston in contact with the gas is 0.025 m .

Calculate the resultant force on the piston.

resultant force = .............................................. [2]

(ii) The pressure of the gas causes the piston to move a distance of 0.50 m to the right.

Calculate the work done by the gas from the supply on the piston.

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

[Total: 7]
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7 The diagram shows a shower that takes in cold water. The water passes through an electric water
heater and emerges from the showerhead at a higher temperature.

The power of the heater is 9000 W.

The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). The initial temperature of the cold water is
16 °C.

Determine the maximum mass of water that can be heated to a temperature of 35 °C in 1.0 s.

mass = .............................................. [4]

[Total: 4]
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8 The diagram shows apparatus used by a student to measure the specific heat capacity of iron.

The current in the heater is 3.8 A and the potential difference (p.d.) across it is 12 V. The iron block
has a mass of 2.0 kg. When the heater is switched on for 10 minutes, the temperature of the block
rises from 25 °C to 55 °C.

Calculate the specific heat capacity of iron.

specific heat capacity = .............................................. [4]

[Total: 4]
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9 (a) Describe a renewable process by which electrical energy is obtained from the energy stored
in water. You may draw a diagram in the space.

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

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

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

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

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

........................................................................................................................................... [4]

9 (b) Explain why the process described in (a) can be regarded as renewable.

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

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

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

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

(c) Explain whether the Sun is the source of the energy stored in the water in (a).

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

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

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

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

[Total: 8]