Name: ______________________________ Reg.

No: _____

Class: 4/_____

___________________________________________________________________________

CLEMENTI WOODS SECONDARY SCHOOL

MID-YEAR EXAMINATION 2012
PHYSICS 5058/02
Paper 2
Secondary 4 Express
1 hour 45 minutes
3 May 2012
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READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
Write your name, register number and class on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
Section A
Answer All questions.
Section B
Answer All questions. Question 11 has a choice of parts to answer.
Candidates are reminded that all quantitative answers should include appropriate units.
Candidates are advised to show all their working in a clear and orderly manner.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
[Note: take g = 10 ms-2 and gravitational field strength = 10 N kg-1]
For Markers Use
Paper 1
Paper 2

/30
Section A

/50

Section B

/30

Total

/110

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This question paper consists of 17 printed pages.
CWD PHY 4E P2 MY12

Section A [ 50 marks ]
Answer all the questions in this section.

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A student used the set up shown to record the speed of a free falling wooden block. The
wooden block of mass 0.2 kg was released from rest under a motion sensor.

Fig. 1.1
The student plotted a speed-time graph which is shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2
(a)

(b)

From the speed-time graph given in Fig. 1.2, estimate the distance travelled by the
block.
[2]

distance =
Find the loss in potential energy of the block during the journey in (a).
[2]

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loss in potential energy =

(c)

From the speed-time graph, determine the maximum kinetic energy of the block.
[2]

maximum kinetic energy = .

(d)

Account for the difference in the values obtained in (b) and (c).

[1]

..
2

A 4 kg block is suspended by two identical strings as shown in Fig. 2.1. The strings are
connected to two rubber pads, which remain stationary on a horizontal rod.

Fig. 2.1

(a)

What is the weight of the 4 kg mass?

[1]
weight of block = ..

(b)

By drawing a scale diagram, find the tension in each string. State the scale used
clearly.
[3]

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scale used: ..
tension in each string = ..
3

(a)

An oil barrel of weight 1 500 N and diameter of 1.0 m rests against a step of height
0.2 m as shown in Fig. 3.1.

F,

Fig. 3.1

Calculate the minimum horizontal force F acting through the centre of gravity of
the barrel, C, needed to just push the barrel over the step.
[4]

(b)

Lisa
piece

force F =
accidentally steps on a
of banana skin, and found

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Fig. 3.2

herself in a precarious position immediately, as shown in Fig. 3.2.

(i)

Mark on Fig. 3.2, a most likely position for Lisa's centre of gravity with a
cross (x), and draw an arrow to represent the line of action of her body
weight.
[1]

(ii)

Will Lisa fall or regain her balance at this position? Explain your answer. [2]

Fig. 4.1 shows some ice in a plastic bag being carried by a nurse from a freezer to the
operating theatre in a hospital.

Fig. 4.1

(a)

(i)

The bag is held at rest and a convection current forms in the air outside the
bag. On Fig. 4.1, draw an arrow to show the movement of the air at X close
to the bag.
[1]

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(ii)

Explain how the convection current is formed.

[2]

(b)

The nurse notices that the ice melts too quickly. She puts the plastic bag containing
the ice into a second plastic bag. There is a layer of air between the two bags.
Explain how this layer of air helps to slow down the melting of the ice.

[2]

.
5

You are given the following data of a certain wave.

amplitude of the wave = 0.3 m
frequency of the wave = 0.5 Hz
speed of the wave = 2.5 m s-1
(a)

Fig. 5.1 shows the axes of a displacement-time graph. Plot a graph for the wave
mentioned above. Your graph should show two complete wavelengths.
[3]

Fig. 5.1

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(b)

Calculate the wavelength of this wave.

[2]

wavelength = ..
(c)

How far will the wave travel in 20 s?

[2]

distance travelled = .

State the types of electromagnetic waves which can be used to

(a)

cook food in an oven,

(b)

identify fake banknotes,

[1]

(c)

detect movement of animals at night,

[1]

(d)

broadcast live TV programmes by satellite communications,

[1]

(e)

check the speed of moving objects in radar systems.

[1]

[1]

It is found that electric charges are produced and accumulated on vehicles after they have
travelled a certain time and distance. These electric charges will interfere with reception
of radio signals. Conducting strips touching the ground are installed at the back of some

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vehicles to reduce this electrostatic interference.

(a)

Explain how the charges are produced.

[2]

......
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(b)

......................................................................................................................................
Explain briefly why these charges may be very dangerous to vehicles such as oil
trucks and aeroplanes.
[2]

......

.....

(c)

......
How are the designs of oil trucks and aeroplanes modified to eliminate these
electrostatic hazards?
[2]

......

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

Fig. 8.1 shows a circuit with a switch K.

Fig. 8.1

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(a)

Determine the following when the switch K is open:

(i)

the effective resistance,

[2]

effective resistance = .
(ii)

the current passing through the 9 resistor, and

[2]

current = ..
(iii) the voltage between X and Y.

[2]

voltage = ..
(b)

Determine the effective resistance when switch K is closed.

[3]

Thermistor Resistance /

effective resistance = .
Section B [ 30 marks ]
Answer all the questions in this section. Question 11 has a choice of parts to answer.
9

A thermistor is part of an electrical set-up as shown in Fig. 9.1. The fixed resistor R1 has
a resistance of 50 .
200
20 V
TR1
TR2
TR2
100
R1

TR1
TR1

alarm bell

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0V

10

20

40
Fig. 9.1

60

80

Temperature / oC

The alarm bell in the set-up will only be triggered when the potential difference across it
is 5.0 V and above.
Fig. 9.2 shows how the resistance of two thermistors, TR1 and TR2, vary with
temperature.

Fig. 9.2
(a)

From the graph, deduce the effect of increasing temperature on the resistance of the
thermistors.
[1]

..

(b)

(i)

Determine the resistance of TR1 when the temperature is 50 oC?

[1]

resistance of TR1 = .

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11

(ii)

Hence calculate the current flowing in TR1 and the potential difference
across it at 50 oC.
[4]
[1]
[1]

current in TR1 = .
potential difference across TR1 = .
(c)

With TR1 in the circuit, determine the lowest temperature at which the alarm will
be triggered.
[3]
[1]

temperature = .
(d)

TR1 is replaced with TR2. How will this affect the lowest temperature at which the
alarm will be triggered?
[1]

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12

10

(a)

(i)

State a formula that relates pressure to force and area.

[1]

(ii)

Nathaniel uses his finger to exert a small force of 0.015 N on the touchscreen
of his I-pad. If the area of the contact point is approximately a circle of
diameter 0.8 cm, calculate the pressure on the screen.
[3]

pressure = . Pa
(b)

A steam engine uses the energy from the steam to turn the turbine. Fig. 10.1 shows
a safety valve that is fitted to a steam engine. Some amount of steam is released
through the valve when the steam pressure reaches a certain value. The valve has a
cross-sectional area of 100 cm2.

Fig. 10.1

10

(b)

(i)

Find the minimum steam pressure that will cause the valve to release some
steam.
[3]

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13

pressure = .
(ii)

How would you adjust the safety valve so that it would release steam at a
lower pressure than the value calculated in (i)? Explain your answer.
[3]

11

EITHER

Optical fibres are widely used in telephone communication nowadays. The voice signals
are transmitted in the form of light through optical fibres.

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14

Fig. 11.1 shows a light ray travelling towards an optical fibre which has a refractive
index of 1.56.
(a)

Find the critical angle of the optical fibre.

[2]

critical angle = ..
(b)

The light ray enters the optical fibre at 90 o to the surface. Complete the subsequent
path of the ray in Fig. 11.2.
[2]

glass
Fig. 11.1
(c)

cladding material

The optical fibre is made of glass covered with a cladding material. Explain why
the light ray does not escape from the sides of the optical fibre.
[2]

..

(d)

State two advantages of using optical fibres over copper wires in telephone
communication.
[2]
..

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15


..

..

(e)

Determine the speed of the light ray in the optical fibre.

[2]

speed of light ray in optical fibre = ..

11

OR

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16

(a)

A worker in a restaurant puts 0.20 kg of water at room temperature T 1 into the

freezer of a refrigerator to make ice cubes. The cooling curve of the water is shown
in Fig. 11.2.

temperature/ oC
T1
T2
T3
time/ minute
Fig. 11.2
(i)

Describe what happens to the molecules in the water when it reaches the
temperature T2.
[3]

..

..
..

(ii)

..
Calculate the latent heat removed from the water, given that the specific
latent heat of fusion of ice is 3.36 x 105 J kg-1.
[2]

latent heat = .
(iii) The worker later takes out some ice cubes from the freezer and places them
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17

in a container at room temperature T1.

Sketch a graph to show the expected change in temperature of the ice cubes
in Fig. 11.3.
[2]

temperature/ oC
T1
T2
T3
time/ minute
Fig. 11.3
(b)

On a hot day, a chilled watermelon and some chilled sandwiches are removed from
a picnic cooler box. Which will remain cold for a longer time? Explain your
answer.
[3]
..

..

..
..

..
..
End of Paper

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