2.1 Physical Quantities QP
2.1 Physical Quantities QP
2.1 Physical Quantities QP
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Physical Quantities
1. A capacitor of capacitance C is connected across a strip of conductive paper.
The switch is moved from X to Y, and the time t for the potential difference across the capacitor to halve is
measured.
t = (Ck ln2) × L
where k is the resistance of the conductive paper per unit length and L is the length of the conductive paper.
Draw a straight line of best fit through the data points, and use the gradient of this line to determine k.
2 (a). A student is investigating stationary waves in the air column inside a tube, using the apparatus shown in Fig.
5.1.
The loudspeaker emits sound of frequency f and wavelength λ. The tube is initially fully immersed in the water. The
student then slowly raises the tube until the oscilloscope trace shows its first maximum. A stationary wave of
fundamental frequency f is produced in the air column. When this occurs, the student measures the length l of the
tube above the water level.
Fig. 5.1
Theory suggests that f and l are related by the e quation 4(l + k) = where v is the speed of sound in air and
k is a constant.
The student measures corresponding values of l and f and plots a graph of l against
The data points, error bars and the line of best fit drawn by the student are shown in the graph below.
i. Show that the line of best fit has gradient and y-intercept = – k.
[2]
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
(b). The experiment is repeated using the same tube and an unlabelled tuning fork, as shown in Fig. 5.2. The
distance l is measured as 22 cm.
Fig. 5.2
The frequency of the vibrating tuning fork is F.
F = .....................................................Hz [2]
ii. The percentage uncertainty in the value of F can be written as 100 where ΔFis the absolute
uncertainty in F.
Use the rules for combining uncertainties to write an expression for the percentage uncertainty in the
value of F in terms of v and its absolute uncertainty Δv, l and its absolute uncertainty Δl and k and its
absolute uncertainty Δk.
[2]
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
3 (a). The London Eye, shown rotating anticlockwise in Fig. 6.1, is a giant wheel which rotates slowly at a
constant speed.
The resultant upward force (R – W) on the tourist changes during the 30 minutes of the rotation of the London Eye as
shown in Fig. 6.3.
Fig. 6.3
Explain how the graph in Fig. 6.3 shows that the magnitude of the centripetal force on the tourist during the
rotation is 0.050 N.
[1]
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
(b).
Fig. 6.3
i. Explain why the horizontal force F between the floor and the tourist is necessary.
[2]
ii. Draw on Fig. 6.3 the variation of the horizontal force F during the 30 minutes of the anticlockwise
rotation of the London Eye. Take forces to the right to be positive.
[2]
iii. Calculate the magnitude of force F when the pod is at the position shown in Fig. 6.2, at 40° above the
horizontal.
F = .....................................................N [2]
(c). Calculate the distance d of the centre of mass of the tourist from the centre of rotation of the London Eye.
d = .....................................................m[3]
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
4(a). This question is about a space probe which is in orbit around the Sun.
The space probe has mass 810 kg. The orbital radius of the space probe is 1.5 × 1011 m. The orbital period of
the space probe around the Sun is 3.16 × 107 s. The mass of the Sun is 2.0 × 1030kg.
i. Show that the magnitude of the gravitational potential energy of the space probe is about 7 × 1011 J.
[2]
ii. Show that the kinetic energy of the space probe is half the value of your answer to (i).
[3]
(b). The power source for the instrumentation on board the space probe is plutonium-238, which provides 470 W
initially.
i. Calculate the number N of plutonium-238 nuclei needed to provide the power of 470 W.
ii.
N = .........................................................[3]
iii. Calculate the power P still available from the plutonium-238 source 100 years later.
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
P = ..................................................... W [3]
5. This question is about an electric cooker, which consists of an oven and an electromagnetic induction hob.
The oven is not sealed, so the air inside remains at atmospheric pressure of 1.0 × 105 Pa.
The volume of the oven is 0.065 m3. The air inside the oven behaves as an ideal gas.
The temperature of the oven increases from room temperature to 200 °C.
Show that the internal energy of the air in the oven is the same at all temperatures of the oven.
Support your answer with an explanation of the motion of the air molecules in terms of kinetic theory.
[6]
Fig. 1
The potential difference between the overhead cable and the rails on the ground is 25 kV.
The sliding contact on the top of the train constantly touches the overhead cable.
The overhead cable supplies a current I to the electric motor of the train.
The motor turns the wheels. The train experiences a resultant forward force F.
The train accelerates from rest. The value of F is 190 kN for speeds less than 6.0 m s–1.
[1]
ii. Calculate the distance s that the train travels to reach a speed of 6.0 m s–1.
s = ..................................................... m[2]
Use the graph to show that output power of the electric motor during this period is constant at about
1.
4 MW.
[3]
2. Calculate the current I in the electric motor when the train is travelling at 50 m s –1 .
I = ...................................................... A[2]
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
Some data for one length of this wire are shown below.
• length = 1500 m
• area of cross-section = 1.1 × 10–4 m2
• resistivity = 1.8 × 10–8 Ωm
• the Young modulus = 1.2 × 1010Pa
• strain = 1.3%
R = ..................................................... Ω[2]
T = ..................................................... N[3]
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
= ..................................................... V[2]
[1]
Calculate
A force, energy
B moment, momentum
C power, work done
D work done, moment
The amplitude of the sound wave is 7.8 nm. The intensity of the sound at the earhole is 4.8 × 10−7 W m−2.
i. Determine the power of the sound incident at the earhole by estimating the diameter of the
earhole in mm.
A = ................................................... nm [2]
A 12 J
B 100 J
C 900 J
D 800 000 J
Fig. 2.2
A = ................................................... m2 [3]
14. Which definition is correct and uses only quantities rather than units?
15. A ball, initially at rest, is struck by a hockey stick. It leaves the hockey stick at speed v.
Which quantity, together with the mass of the ball, can be used to determine v?
Use the equation W = VQ to show that the volt may be written in base units as kg m2 A−1 s−3.
[3]
17. A chemical cell is connected across a resistor.
i. The terms electromotive force (e.m.f.) and potential difference (p.d.) are terms associated with the
circuit.
State one similarity and one difference between e.m.f. and p.d.
similarity:
difference:
[2]
ii. The resistor is cylindrical in shape. It has cross-sectional area 1.2 × 10−6 m2 and length 6.0 × 10−3 m. In
this resistor there are 9.6 × 1016 free electrons.
Calculate the mean drift velocity v of the electrons when the current in the resistor is 3.0 mA.
2.1 Physical Quantities PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
18 (a). A cylindrical cup of internal diameter 7.0 cm and height 8.5 cm is filled to the top with water.
The density of water is 1000 kg m−3. The mass of one mole of water is 18 g. The specific heat capacity of water is
4200 J kg−1 K−1.
Show that the minimum time taken for a 0.50 kW camping kettle to bring a cup of water at 20 °C to boiling point is
about 200 s.
[3]
(b). In a laboratory test, the camping kettle was found to bring a cup of water to the boil in 320 seconds.
Explain why your previous answer is an underestimate and suggest two ways that you can refine the test to ensure that
the time to boil is closer to 200 s.
[3]