2015

Higher School Certificate

Half Yearly Examination

Physics
Total marks – 50

General Instructions
Section I – Pages 2–5
 Reading time – 5 minutes 10 marks
Attempt Question 1-10
 Working time – 1 ½ hours
Allow about 15 minutes for this part
 Write using black or blue pen
 Draw diagrams using pencil
Section II – Pages 6–13
 Board-approved calculators may 40 marks
be used Attempt Questions 11–19
Allow about 1 hour and 15 minutes for this part
 Write your student number and/or
name at the top of every page

This paper MUST NOT be removed from the examination room

STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..

 STUDENT NUMBER/NAME: ……………………..

Section I – 10 marks
Attempt Questions 1–10
Allow about 15 minutes for this part

Select the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers the question and indicate your choice with a
cross (X) in the appropriate space on the grid below.

A B C D

10

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1 A rocket, with a mass of M kg, is ascending vertically from a launch pad on Earth’s surface. The
rocket exerts a downwards force (T) with exhaust gases.

What is the magnitude of the net force acting on the rocket?

(A) Mg
(B) Mg + T
(C) T – Mg
(D) T

2 A satellite is in a stable orbit around Earth.

What properties of the satellite will change if its altitude above the Earth changes?

(A) Only gravitational potential energy

(B) Weight and its gravitational potential energy
(C) Weight, gravitational potential energy, orbital speed and period
(D) Mass, weight, gravitational potential energy, orbital speed and period

3 Which alternative lists the factors that affect the measured value of acceleration due to gravity at a
location?

(A) Latitude, local geology and height relative to sea level

(B) Air temperature, local geology and height relative to sea level
(C) Air temperature, latitude and height relative to sea level
(D) Latitude, air temperature and local geology

4 Two satellites, X and Y, orbit the Earth. The mass of satellite X is twice that of satellite Y. The
orbital radius of satellite Y is twice that of satellite X.

What is the ratio of the orbital speed of satellite X to the orbital speed of satellite Y?

(A) 1:1
(B) √2:1
(C) 1:√2
(D) 2:1

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5 The mass of Mars is about 0.1 times that of the Earth, and its radius is about half that of Earth. The
gravitational potential energy of an object on the Earth’s surface is –32J.

What is the approximate gravitational potential energy of the same object on the surface of Mars?

(A) –6.4 J
(B) 6.4 J
(C) –12.4 J
(D) 12.4 J

6 A projectile is fired from the top of a cliff with speed v at an angle θ above the horizontal.
Air resistance is negligible.

What is the horizontal component of the projectile’s velocity after time t?

(A) v cosθ – gt
(B) v cosθ
(C) v sinθ – gt
(D) v sinθ

7 Which of the following is a consequence of Einstein’s proposal that the speed of light was constant?

(A) The principle of relativity cannot be contravened.

(B) The aether does not exist.
(C) An experiment cannot be done to distinguish between an inertial and a non-inertial
frame of reference.
(D) Length and time can no longer be regarded as constant quantities.

8 In an experiment, a magnet was dropped vertically through an aluminium tube. The magnet fell
more slowly than when it was falling outside the tube.

Which statement best accounts for this observation?

(A) Eddy currents are induced above and below the magnet, and these induce additional magnetic
fields which, according to Lenz’s law, oppose the motion
of the magnet through the tube.
(B) An eddy current is induced in the aluminium tube below the magnet, and this,
according to Lenz’s law, opposes the motion of the magnet through the tube.
(C) Eddy currents are induced above and below the magnet, and these, according to
Lenz’s law, oppose the motion of the magnet through the tube.
(D) Magnetic fields are induced in the aluminium tube, and these, according to Lenz’s law, oppose
the motion of the magnet through the tube.
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9 Two parallel conductors, X and Y, are at a distance d apart. When a current of 2A flows through
conductors X and Y, conductor X experiences a force of magnitude F.

X 2A

Y 2A

What will be the force on conductor X if currents of 4A flow through both conductors X and Y?

(A) 2F up the page

(B) 2F down the page
(C) 4F up the page
(D) 4F down the page

10 A conductor carrying a current of 3A passes across a magnetic field of strength 5  10–4 T. The width
of the field is 30 cm and the angle of the conductor to the magnetic field is 30°, as shown in the
diagram.

I=3A

D = 30 cm
B = 5  10–4 T
30o

What is the force on the conductor?

(A) 2.3  10–4 N

(B) 2.3  10–2 N
(C) 4.5  10–4 N
(D) 4.5  10–2 N

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Section II – 40 Marks
Attempt Questions 11–19
Allow about 1 hour and 15 minutes for this part

Answer the questions in the spaces provided.

Question 11 (5 marks) Marks

A cannon ball is launched at an angle of 30° above horizontal at an initial speed of

45 m s−1. Assume that air resistance is negligible.

(a) Calculate the time of flight of the cannon ball. 2

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(b) Calculate the maximum height of the cannon ball. 2

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(c) Calculate the range of the cannon ball. 1

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Question 12 (7 marks) Marks

The graph shows how the gravitational potential energy per kilogram varies, with distance R
from the Earth’s centre.

R(m × 106)
V (Jkg−1 × 10 7)
Gravitational potential

(a) Estimate the increase in the gravitational potential energy of a 400 kg satellite launched
from Earth’s surface to an altitude of 34 000 km. 1
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(b) Estimate the energy required to send this satellite from the Earth’s surface to an infinite
distance away from Earth. 1
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(c) Explain why gravitational potential energy is a negative quantity. 2

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Question 12 continues on the next page

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Question 12 (continued) Marks

(d) Explain why acceleration due to gravity varies at different places on Earth’s surface. 3
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End of Question 12

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Question 13 (3 marks) Marks

A rocket is launched from Venus. It moves at 0.75 c relative to Earth, passing Earth on the
way to a distant planet that is 9.0 light years away from Earth.

(a) How long will the rocket take to reach this planet, from an observer’s frame of
reference on Earth? 1
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(b) How long will the rocket take to reach this planet, as measured by an astronaut in the
rocket? 2
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Question 14 (3 marks)

Discuss the importance that the principle of relativity had on the development of special
relativity. 3
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Question 15 (4 marks) Marks

(a) The diagram shows a current-carrying conductor, perpendicular to the page, between
two magnetic poles. The current is into the page.

Current-carrying
conductor

Draw the magnetic field in the area between the magnetic poles. 2

(b) The diagram shows a cross-section of a loudspeaker with a copper coil with 200 turns
and a radius of 1.6 cm. The magnetic field between the poles has a magnetic flux
density of 2.6 × 10−2 T.

paper tube

coiled
copper wire

loudspeaker
cone

Calculate the magnitude of the force on the coil when a current of 3.5 × 10−4 A flows
through the coil. 2
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Question 16 (6 marks) Marks

A flat metal sheet is moved horizontally through a magnetic field, directed out of the page.
The plate is moved at a constant speed.

v v v v v

A B C D E

(a) How does an eddy current differ from other induced currents? 1
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(b) While moving through one or more positions, (A, B, C, D or E) an eddy current is
induced in the plate.

Eddy currents are not present in the plate in all positions (A, B, C, D or E).

On the diagram above, draw the eddy currents that do exist.

Justify your answer in the space below. 3

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(c) Choose ONE of the eddy currents you have drawn and explain how you determined
the direction of the current, in terms of the principles of physics involved. 2
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Question 17 (4 marks) Marks

(a) Describe the slingshot effect and the role of the gravitational force. 2
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(b) Beginning with the Law of Gravitation, derive a formula that could be used to
calculate the approximate radius of the Earth using the data provided on the data sheet.
Note: you do not need to calculate the radius of the Earth. 2
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Question 18 (2 marks)

Jenny is a 15-year-old girl. Her 35-year-old cousin, Andre, is an astronaut. Andre is to be

launched into space for a non-stop, round trip, journey into deep space that will take 25
years. Jenny finds the results unusual, but calculates that in 25 years, when Andre returns
to Earth; both will be the same age, 40!

How fast would the space ship travel on this journey? 2

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Question 19 (6 marks) Marks

(a) Outline a first-hand investigation demonstrating the motor effect, which does not use
a rotating coil. 3
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(b) A rectangular coil, with 250 turns, is between the poles two bar magnets. Its plane
makes an angle of 30° with the direction of the magnetic field. The side AB measures
15 cm and the side BC measures 10 cm. The magnetic field strength between the poles
of the magnets is 5.0 mT and the current through the coil is 25 mA.

A C
o
N 30 S

Calculate the magnitude and direction of the force on side AB, when the coil is at
an angle of 30° to the direction of the magnetic field. 2
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(c) The formula  = nBIAcosθ is used to calculate the torque on the coil of a motor.

Define the term torque. 1

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