Centre Number

Student Number

PENNANT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

2011
HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION

YEAR 11

Physics

General Instructions

Total marks 100

Reading time 5 minutes

Part A

Working time 90 minutes

20 marks

Write using black or blue pen.

Attempt Questions 1 20.

Draw diagrams using B or 2B pencil.

Use the Multiple Choice Answer Sheet provided.

Board-approved calculators may be

used.

Allow about 15 minutes for this part.

Write your student number on this

booklet.

Part B

The exam paper must be collected at

the conclusion of the examination.

Attempt Questions 21 37.

A Data Sheet, Periodic Table and

Formula Sheets are provided.

Allow about 75 minutes for this part.

Pages 28

Pages 920

80 marks

Page 1

Part A
20 marks
Attempt Questions 1 20.
Use the multiple-choice answer sheet for Questions 1 20.

The frequency of a wave is:

(A)

the number of waves passing a point in one second.

(B)

the number of waves passing a point in 10 seconds.

(C)

one wave passing a point in as many seconds as it takes.

(D)

ten waves passing a point in one second.

An observer, standing 320 metres from a wall, hears a gun fired. The gun was 80
metres from the wall at the time of firing. After hearing the initial sound, the observer
hears the sound reflected from the wall.

What is the time interval between hearing the two sounds?

(A)

1 second

(B)

0.7 seconds

(C)

1.25 seconds

(D)

1.4 seconds

Page 2

Echoes are reflections of sound waves, and this property is used in different
applications. Depth analysis of a body of water is one such application SONAR.
In sonar, which of the following is assumed constant?

(A)

The depth to the bottom of the body of water.

(B)

The speed of the sound waves in water.

(C)

The nature of the bottom of the body of water.

(D)

The amplitude of the sound wave in water.

A student is using a luxmeter to measure the intensity of light at various distances

from a light source. At distance, d, the intensity is measured as I units.
If the distance is reduced to

(A)

I
2

(B)

I
4

(C)

2I

(D)

4I

d
the intensity would be closest to:
2

The diagram below illustrates the process of communication between two people
using radio signals.

What is the function of the part labelled X?

(A)

To transform electrical energy into sound energy.

(B)

To transform electrical energy into electromagnetic energy.

(C)

To allow for two-way communication between both people.

(D)

To allow both AM and FM radio signals to be transmitted.

Page 3

A popular Sydney radio station transmits at a frequency of 104.9 MHz. The

wavelength of this radio station would be closest to:
(A)

0.31 m

(B)

0.35 m

(C)

2.86 m

(D)

3.24 m

Which of the following waves could not be used to communicate between two
people on the surface of the moon?
(A)

Light

(B)

Sound

(C)

Radio

(D)

Infrared

The pictures from the Beijing Olympics were seen live all around the world. Why did
the TV signal need to be retransmitted from satellites for this to occur?
(A)

TV waves cannot travel through space.

(B)

TV waves cannot travel in a curved path around the earth.

(C)

TV waves become too weak if they travel a long distance.

(D)

Both (B) and (C).

Question 9 starts on the next page.

Page 4

A spear fisherman sees a fish in the water. The actual location of the fish is shown
in the diagram (labelled FISH).

P
Q

Which of the images best shows the location of where the fish appears to be, as
seen by the spear fisherman?

10

11

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

Light moves from medium B towards medium A. The velocity of light in medium B is
3 x 108 m s-1, while in medium A its velocity is 2.8 x 10 8 m s-1. The refractive index
of medium A is:
(A)

0.93

(B)

1.00

(C)

1.07

(D)

1.70

The current in a wire:

(A)

depends only on the potential difference applied.

(B)

depends only on the resistance of the wire.

(C)

depends on both resistance and potential difference.

(D)

does not depend on resistance and potential difference.

Page 5

12

13

14

15

The potential at a point is 20 V. The work done to bring a charge of 0.5 C from
infinity to this point will be:
(A)

20 J.

(B)

10 J.

(C)

5 J.

(D)

40 J.

The resistance of an electric bulb drawing 1.2 A current at 6.0 V is:

(A)

0.5 .

(B)

5 .

(C)

0.2 .

(D)

2 .

Which of the following statements does not represent Ohms Law?

(A)

current / potential difference = constant

(B)

potential difference / current = constant

(C)

potential difference = current x resistance

(D)

current = resistance x potential difference

Two light bulbs P and Q are identical in all respects, except that Ps filament is
thicker than Qs. If the same potential difference is applied to each, then:
(A)

P will burn brighter because it has the greater resistance.

(B)

Q will burn brighter because it has the greater resistance.

(C)

P will burn brighter because it has the lower resistance.

(D)

Q will burn brighter because it has the lower resistance.

Question 16 starts on the next page.

Page 6

16

Three rods, X, Y and Z, are charged by friction. Rod X attracts rod Y but repels rod Z.
The sign of the charges on each of these could be:

17

Rod X

Rod Y

Rod Z

(A)

negative

positive

negative

(B)

negative

negative

positive

(C)

negative

negative

negative

(D)

negative

positive

positive

Volta and Galvani argued about the nature of electricity because:

(A)

Galvani believed animal electricity was different to other forms of electricity.

(B)

Volta believed animal electricity was different to other forms of electricity.

(C)

Galvani developed the battery before Volta.

(D)

18

Volta believed voltage was proportional to current and Galvani did not
believe they were proportional to one another.

Which of the diagrams shown below indicates the correct electric field pattern near
two charged objects?

Page 7

19

A student rubs a polythene strip with fur and suspends it from a clamp stand. She
then rubs another polythene strip with fur and brings it up to the first strip. The two
strips repel each other. Look at the following four statements:
P
Q
R
S

One of the strips is neutral, the other charged.

The strips are both negatively charged.
The strips are both positively charged.
The strips are both neutral.

Which two of the above statements are false?

20

(A)

P and Q

(B)

Q and R

(C)

R and S

(D)

S and P

The work done in moving a unit positive charge across two points in an electric
circuit is a measure of:
(A)

current.

(B)

potential difference.

(C)

resistance.

(D)

power.

End of Part A

Page 8

2011 HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION

Centre Number

YEAR 11

Physics

Student Number

Part B
80 marks
Attempt Questions 21 37.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided. These spaces provide guidance for the
expected length of response.

Question 21 (3 marks)
Describe the energy transformations in ONE of the following:
(a)

Mobile telephone
OR

(b)

Fax/Modem
OR

(c)

Radio and TV

Question 22 (3 marks)
Waves are propagators of energy through a medium. Distinguish between
transverse and longitudinal wave propagations of energy.

Page 9

Question 23 (2 marks)
The graphs below are a record of the motion of a wave.

Use the graphs to find the waves:

(a)

amplitude.

.
.
(b)

speed.

.
.

Question 24 (2 marks)
Describe the principle of Superposition and compare the resulting wave to
the original waves.

Page 10

Question 25 (3 marks)
Identify TWO different types of radiation that make up the electromagnetic
spectrum. State one similarity and one difference between the two.

Question 26 (4 marks)
Identify the electromagnetic wavebands filtered out by the atmosphere.
Explain the importance of this for the Earth.

Question 27 starts on the next page.

Page 11

Question 27 (6 marks)
(a)

Complete the following diagrams to show the path(s) followed by light

rays as they hit the following objects.

(i)

(ii)

(b)

For both (i) and (ii) above, state the name of the phenomena that is
occurring at each objects surface.

.
.
.

Question 28 (2 marks)
Describe an example of how the following mirrors are utilised.
(a)

Concave

(b)

Convex
.
.
.
.
Page 12

Question 29 (6 marks)
(a)

Define the term refractive index.

.
.
.
(b)

A student was conducting an investigation to determine the refractive

index of Perspex. A diagram of one pair of incident and refracted rays
is shown below (diagram not to scale).
Angle is measured to be 60o, angle is measured to be 70.5o.

air

Perspex

From this information calculate the refractive index of Perspex.

.
.
.
.
(c)

State the conditions necessary for total internal reflection.

.
.
.
.
(d)

Calculate the critical angle of the Perspex slab above.

.
.
.
.
Page 13

Question 30 (6 marks)

The above diagram is a full scale sketch of a group of plane waves formed
on the surface of water in a ripple tank. The waves are moving from left to
right. The waves were produced by a wavemaker operating at 20 hertz.
(a)

From the diagram find the value of the wavelength in the shallow
water.

.
(b)

What is the speed of the waves in the shallow water? Show your
working.

.
.
The speed of the waves in the deep water is twice that for the shallow water.
(c)

What is the frequency of the waves in the deep water?

.
(d)

On the diagram, accurately draw 3 more lines to represent the wave

crests in the deep water.

Page 14

Question 31 (3 marks)
During your course you have carried out research to explain the physical
principles related to waves, which are used in ONE of the following
technologies:

Global Positioning System (GPS)

CD
DVD
Internet (digital process)

Explain how you ensured that the information you collected was reliable.

Question 32 starts on the next page.

Page 15

Question 32 (5 marks)
Describe an experimental method that could be used to determine whether a
particular resistor R, obeys Ohms Law. As a part of the method, draw a
diagram of the circuit you would use.

Question 33 starts on the next page.

Page 16

Question 33 (10 marks)

(a) This question refers to the following diagram.

Power Supply

A small sphere carrying a positive charge of 0.5 x 10 -6 C is placed in

an electric field between two parallel plates as indicated in the
diagram. The electric force is arranged to exactly oppose the
gravitational force. A potential difference of 0.5 V is applied to hold the
sphere stationary between the two plates.
(i)

Which of the two plates must be negative?

.
(ii)

Sketch the shape of the electric field between the plates on the
diagram above.

(iii)

If the sphere has a mass of 1.02 x 10-6 kg, find the strength of
the field.

.
.
.
(b)

Complete the following table. Show all your working.

Field Strength (NC-1)

Charge (C)

Force (N)

+6 x 10-6

1.5 x 10-3 south

1.5 x 10-3 east

+4.0 x 10-6

1.5 x 10-3 west

1.5 x 10-3 north

.
.
.
.
.
Page 17

Question 34 (7 marks)

Current (A)

The graph shows the results of an experiment where students measured the
current through a resistor as the voltage across it was changed.

1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

Applied Voltage (V)

(a)

What was the value of the resistor used?

.
.

.
(b)

If the equipment was left running for 5 minutes when the applied
voltage was 4 volts, how much energy was used?
.
.
.

(c)

Describe how the length and cross sectional area of a conductor affect
the movement of electricity through it.
.
.

Page 18

Question 35 (5 marks)
The table below shows some typical materials used in the home and their
resistivity.

(a)

Material

Resistivity m

Copper

1.78 x 10-8

Aluminium

3.21 x 10-8

Silver

1.64 x 10-8

Rubber

2 x 107

Carbon

5 x 10-5

Porcelain

3 x 1012

Identify which of these materials are conductors and which are

insulators.

.
(b)

What are the typical resistivity values of conductors?

.
(c)

What other factors beside resistivity might affect the choice of

materials used as conductors?

.
(d)

Explain how conductors are different to insulators.

.
.
.

Question 36 starts on the next page.

Page 19

Question 36 (6 marks)
List three factors that affect the resistance of a conductor. Explain how each
factor affects the resistance of a conductor.

Question 37 (7 marks)
(a)

Referring to their ideas on animal electricity, assess whether Galvani

or Volta contributed more to our understanding of electricity.

.
.
.
.
.
(b)

Outline the changes that have occurred in the main sources of

domestic energy over time and assess the impacts of changes in our
sources of domestic energy over time.
.
.
.
.
.
.

End of paper
Page 20