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A Level Physics A Practice Paper Set 2

This document is a practice paper for the A Level Physics A H556/02 exam, consisting of various physics questions covering topics such as electromagnetic radiation, electric circuits, and wave properties. The paper includes instructions for candidates, a total mark of 100, and is structured into sections with multiple-choice and extended response questions. It is designed to assess students' understanding of physics concepts and their ability to apply them in problem-solving scenarios.

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Jack Archer
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
67 views32 pages

A Level Physics A Practice Paper Set 2

This document is a practice paper for the A Level Physics A H556/02 exam, consisting of various physics questions covering topics such as electromagnetic radiation, electric circuits, and wave properties. The paper includes instructions for candidates, a total mark of 100, and is structured into sections with multiple-choice and extended response questions. It is designed to assess students' understanding of physics concepts and their ability to apply them in problem-solving scenarios.

Uploaded by

Jack Archer
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Oxford Cambridge and RSA

A Level Physics A
H556/02 Exploring physics

Practice paper – Set 2


Time allowed: 2 hours 15 minutes
* 2 0 1 6 *

You must have:


• the Data, Formulae and Relationship Booklet
You may use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• a ruler (cm/mm)

First name

Last name

Centre Candidate
number number

INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You may use an HB pencil for graphs and diagrams.
• Complete the boxes above with your name, centre number and candidate number.
• Answer all the questions.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If additional space is
required, use the lined page(s) at the end of this booklet. The question number(s) must
be clearly shown.
• Do not write in the barcodes.

INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 100.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended responses will be assessed in questions marked with an
asterisk (*).
• This document consists of 32 pages.

© OCR 2016 Practice paper OCR is an exempt Charity


DC (SC/FC) 142873/2 Turn over
2
SECTION A

You should spend a maximum of 30 minutes on this section.

Write your answer to each question in the box provided.

Answer all the questions.

1 An electron, a proton, a neutron and an alpha-particle are travelling in a vacuum at the same
speed.

Which of these particles has the shortest de Broglie wavelength?

A electron

B proton

C neutron

D alpha-particle

Your answer
[1]

2 In which region of the electromagnetic spectrum is radiation of frequency 300 MHz?

A radio wave

B microwave

C visible

D X-ray

Your answer
[1]

3 A small heater is connected to a power supply. The power supply is switched on for 100 s. The
current in the heater is 3.0 A and it dissipates 1200 J of thermal energy.

What is the potential difference across the heater?

A 0.25 V

B 4.0 V

C 12 V

D 300 V

Your answer
[1]
© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02
3
4 A resistance wire is connected to a cell.
The length L of the wire is changed by pulling at the ends of the wire. The volume of the wire
remains the same.

What is the correct relationship between the resistance R of the wire and its length L?

A R = constant

B R∝L

C R ∝ L2

D R ∝ L−1

Your answer
[1]

5 A variable resistor is connected across the terminals of a power supply of constant e.m.f. and
internal resistance r.

power supply

+ – r

The resistance of the variable resistor is changed from zero to its maximum value.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1 The current in the circuit decreases.


2 The p.d. across the internal resistance decreases.
3 A graph plotted of terminal p.d. against current has a negative gradient.

A Only 1

B Only 1 and 2

C Only 1 and 3

D 1, 2 and 3

Your answer
[1]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


4
6 Two radio wave transmitters T1 and T2 emit radio waves of wavelength 20 m. The separation
between the transmitters is 500 m. The waves are in phase at the transmitters and have the same
amplitude.
A car travels at a constant speed of 10 m s−1 in a straight line in a direction parallel to the line
joining T1 and T2. The perpendicular distance of the car from the line joining the transmitters is
4.0 km.

direction of
T1 travel of car

500 m
T2
4.0 km

What is the time between two successive maximum signals detected at the car?

A 6.3 × 10−4 s

B 2.0 s

C 16 s

D 400 s

Your answer
[1]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


5
7 The diagram below shows the path of a narrow beam of light as it is refracted at the boundaries
between three different transparent materials X, Y and Z.

beam of light

The beam of light in X and the beam of light in Z are parallel.


The wavelength of the light in X is 640 nm.

Which statement is correct?

A The light travels faster in X than in Y.

B The wavelength of light in Y is shorter than 640 nm.

C Materials X and Z have the same value of refractive index.

D The refractive index of Y is greater than the refractive index of X.

Your answer
[1]

8 The diagram below shows a circuit connected by a student.

The capacitance of each capacitor is 300 pF.


What is the total capacitance between points R and S?

A 75 pF

B 230 pF

C 400 pF

D 1200 pF

Your answer
[1]
© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over
6
9 A current-carrying solenoid has N turns and radius r. The magnetic flux density within the core of
the solenoid is B.

What is the magnetic flux linkage for this solenoid?

A NB

B πr 2B

C 2πrBN

D πr 2BN

Your answer
[1]

10 The diagram below shows a current-carrying wire coming out from the plane of the paper. The
current in the wire produces a magnetic field in an anticlockwise direction around the wire.

B
direction of magnetic
direction of field due to current
Earth’s
magnetic
field A C

current-carrying
wire
D

The direction of the Earth’s magnetic field is also shown.


The Earth’s magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of the current-carrying wire.

At which point A, B, C or D is the resultant magnetic field strength a minimum?

Your answer
[1]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


7
11 The table shows data on four freshly prepared radioactive samples A, B, C and D.

Sample Number of active Half-life of the


nuclei in the sample sample
A N T

B N 3T

C 5N 0.5T

D 8N 4T

Which sample has the smallest activity?

Your answer
[1]

12 A positive pion (π+) is an unstable particle produced when high-speed hadrons collide in particle
accelerators. The π+ particle has a charge of +e.

What is the quark combination of the π+ particle?


_
A uu
_
B ud
_
C du
_
D dd

Your answer
[1]

13 The nuclei of uranium-235 ( 235 U) and carbon-12 ( 12 C) have different radii.


92 6

What is the ratio


radius of the uranium nucleus ?
radius of the carbon nucleus
A 2.5

B 2.7

C 15

D 20

Your answer
[1]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


8
14 Ultrasound is reflected at a boundary between two materials.

Which property of the materials governs the intensity of the ultrasound reflected at the boundary?

A density

B decay constant

C acoustic impedance

D attenuation coefficient

Your answer
[1]

15 An electron at point P experiences an electric force of magnitude 1.8 μN due to the positive
nucleus.

positive
nucleus
+ P

What is the magnitude of the force experienced by the same electron when it is at point Q?

A 0.28 μN

B 0.55 μN

C 1.0 μN

D 1.8 μN

Your answer
[1]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


9
BLANK PAGE

Question 16 begins on page 10

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


10
SECTION B

Answer all the questions.

16 (a) Two resistors of resistances R1 and R2 are connected in parallel.


Show that the total resistance R of this combination is given by the equation
1 1 1
= + .
R R1 R2

[3]

(b) A filament lamp X is part of an electrical circuit. The circuit has a battery of electromotive force
(e.m.f.) 6.0 V and negligible internal resistance. The potential difference across the lamp can
be increased continuously from 0 to 6.0 V. This potential difference is measured using a
voltmeter.
The lamp glows brightly at 6.0 V.

(i) Draw a circuit diagram for this electrical arrangement.

[2]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


11
(ii) Describe and explain the variation of the resistance of this lamp as the potential difference
across it is changed from 0 to 6.0 V.

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(iii) The filament lamp X is now connected in a different circuit as shown in Fig. 16.

power + X Y
supply –

Fig. 16

The power dissipated in X is three times more than the power dissipated in the filament
lamp Y. The filament wire of lamp X has a diameter half that of lamp Y.
The filament wires of X and Y are made of the same material and are at the same
temperature.

Calculate the ratio


mean drift velocity of charge carriers in lamp X .
mean drift velocity of charge carriers in lamp Y

ratio = ......................................................... [3]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


12
17 Fig. 17 shows a potential divider circuit consisting of a fixed resistor of resistance R and a negative
temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor.

R V

6.0 V

Fig. 17

The battery has electromotive force (e.m.f.) of 6.0 V and negligible internal resistance.
The thermistor is at room temperature. The resistance of the thermistor is 0.25 R.

(a) Calculate the potential difference V across the resistor.

V = ...................................................... V [2]

(b) A voltmeter whose resistance is 5 R is connected across the fixed resistor.


The voltmeter reading is less than your answer in (a).
Explain why the voltmeter reading is less and suggest an alternative measuring device.

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

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

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


13
(c) The circuit shown in Fig. 17 is now placed in a cold fridge. The temperature of the thermistor
slowly decreases to a constant value.
Describe and explain, in terms of current in the circuit, the variation of the potential difference
V across the fixed resistor with time.

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© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


14
BLANK PAGE

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


15
18 (a) In Fig. 18.1 the solid line represents the displacement s against distance x graph for a
progressive transverse wave on a stretched string at time t = 0. The dotted line shows the
graph for the same wave at a later time t = 2.5 ms.

6.0

s / cm 4.0

2.0

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 x / cm
–2.0

–4.0

–6.0

Fig. 18.1

Determine the frequency f of this wave.

f = .................................................... Hz [3]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


16
*(b) Fig. 18.2 shows an arrangement used to investigate stationary sound waves in a tube closed
at one end.

tube
closed end
loudspeaker
of tube

to oscilloscope
to signal
generator
microphone small hole for
microphone wires

Fig. 18.2

A loudspeaker is placed at the open end of the tube. The loudspeaker emits sound of constant
frequency.
A small microphone is placed inside the tube. The microphone is connected to an oscilloscope.
The microphone is slowly moved from the open end of the tube towards its closed end. The
signal detected by the microphone shows regions of maximum and minimum intensity of
sound. The distance between adjacent positions of maximum signal is 0.26 m.

Fig. 18.3 shows the signal displayed on the oscilloscope when the output signal from the
microphone is maximum. The time-base on the oscilloscope is set at 0.50 ms div−1.

0.50 ms

Fig. 18.3

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


17
Explain the presence of the regions of maximum and minimum intensities of sound within the
tube and determine the speed of sound.

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© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over
18
19 (a) Electromagnetic radiation of wavelength 300 nm is incident on the surface of two metals X
and Y. Metal X has work function 2.0 eV and metal Y has work function 5.0 eV.

With the help of calculations, explain any difference between the emission of photoelectrons
from the surfaces of the metals X and Y.

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

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

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

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

*(b) Two groups of researchers, A and B, conduct photoelectric effect experiments on a new
material. The maximum kinetic energy KEmax of the photoelectrons emitted from the material
is determined for different frequencies f of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the
material.

Fig. 19 shows incomplete graphs of KEmax against f from the groups A and B.

2.5 2.5

KEmax / eV KEmax / eV

0 0
0 6 0 6
f / 1014 Hz f / 1014 Hz

group A group B

Fig. 19

The value of the Planck constant h is determined from the completed KEmax against f graphs.
The result from each group is shown below.

group A: h = (6.3 ± 0.3) × 10−34 J s


group B: h = (6.6 ± 0.6) × 10−34 J s

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


19
Explain how a graph of KEmax against f can be used to determine h. Discuss the accuracy
and precision of the results from each group.

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© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over
20
BLANK PAGE

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


21
20 (a) Fig. 20.1 shows a capacitor connected to a power supply.

parallel metal
plates
+
power supply

Fig. 20.1

The capacitor consists of two parallel metal plates separated by air.


The switch is closed to charge the capacitor.
The switch is then opened and the separation between the charged plates is doubled.
State and explain what happens to the energy stored by the capacitor.

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.............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) A student is carrying out an experiment in the laboratory to determine the capacitance C of a
capacitor. Fig. 20.2 shows the circuit used by the student.

X Y

C R
V

Fig. 20.2

The switch S is first connected to X to charge the capacitor. The switch is then moved to Y
at time t = 0. The time T taken for the potential difference V across the capacitor to halve is
determined for different values of resistance R.

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


22
(i) Fig. 20.3 shows the graph of T against R as plotted by the student.

35

T/s

25

15

5.0
10 20 30 40
R/kΩ

Fig. 20.3

1 Draw a straight line of best fit. [1]

2 Use V = V0e–t/CR to show that T = −ln(0.5)CR.

[2]

3 Determine a value for the capacitance C.

C = ...................................................... F [3]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


23
(ii) Describe, without doing any calculations, how you can use Fig. 20.3 to determine the
percentage uncertainty in C.

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Question 21 begins on page 24

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


24
21 (a) Fig. 21.1 shows two oppositely charged ions to the left of a point X.

+ – X

Fig. 21.1

The separation between the centres of the ions is 3.0 × 10−10 m. Each ion has charge of
magnitude 1.6 × 10−19 C.

(i) Explain why the direction of the resultant electric field strength at point X is to the left.

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

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

(ii) Calculate the minimum energy in eV required to completely separate the ions.

energy = .................................................... eV [3]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


25
(b) A proton travels from point P to point Q in a uniform electric field as shown in Fig. 21.2.

electric
field lines

P Q

Fig. 21.2

The velocity of the proton at P is 7.2 × 106 m s−1 and the velocity at Q is 2.4 × 106 m s−1. The
distance between P and Q is 1.2 cm.

Calculate

(i) the magnitude of the deceleration of the proton

deceleration = ............................................... m s−2 [2]

(ii) the electric field strength E.

E = ................................................ N C−1 [2]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


26
22 A nucleus of hydrogen-3 (31 H) is unstable and it emits a beta-minus particle (electron).

(a) The emitted beta-minus particle enters a region of uniform magnetic field.
Fig. 22.1 shows the path of the particle before it enters the magnetic field.

region of uniform
magnetic field

Fig. 22.1

The direction of the magnetic field is into the plane of the paper.

Describe and explain the path of the particle in the magnetic field.

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

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

(b) The nucleons inside the 31 H nucleus experience gravitational force and one other type of force.
Name this other type of force and describe its nature.

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(c) Write a decay equation for beta-minus in terms of a quark model.

[2]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


27
(d) The fusion of two 31 H nuclei produces a stable nucleus of 42 He and some fast-moving neutrons.
(i) Explain why the fusion of the 31 H nuclei must produce two neutrons.

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

(ii) The total energy released in this fusion reaction is 11 MeV. The binding energy per
nucleon of the 42 He nucleus is 7.1 MeV.
Calculate in J the binding energy per nucleon of the 31 H nucleus.

binding energy per nucleon = ....................................................... J [3]

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


28
23 (a) The medical tracer technetium-99m is used in gamma scans. Technetium-99m has a half-life
of 6.0 hours and it emits gamma rays.
A fresh sample of a radiopharmaceutical containing technetium-99m is prepared in the
radiography department of a hospital. The initial activity of the radiopharmaceutical is
820 MBq. The radiopharmaceutical is injected into the patient some time later when its activity
has dropped to 630 MBq.

Calculate the time in hours between the radiopharmaceutical being produced and it being
injected into the patient.

time = ..................................................... h [3]

(b) A gamma camera is connected to a computer and a display. Sophisticated software is used
to produce a quality scan (image) of the patient.

(i) Briefly describe the function of the collimator, scintillator and photomultiplier tubes in a
gamma camera.

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© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


29
(ii) Fig. 23 shows two types of lead collimator tubes T and S available for a gamma camera.

Fig. 23

Tube T is thin and long. Tube S is broad and short.

Discuss which type of tube would be more suitable in a gamma camera.

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© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02 Turn over


30
24 A patient with a blood clot in his muscle is having an ultrasound A-scan.
Fig. 24.1 shows an ultrasound transducer placed on the patient’s skin.

muscle

gel
clot

to
oscilloscope

transducer

skin

Fig. 24.1 (not to scale)

The ultrasound transducer produces pulses of ultrasound. An oscilloscope is connected to the


transducer. Fig. 24.2 shows part of the oscilloscope display.

Q
R

time

Fig. 24.2

(a) In Fig. 24.2, P is one of the signal pulses produced by the transducer.
Explain the origin of the pulses Q and R.

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© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


31
(b) The front of the blood clot is 1.5 cm from the skin.
The density of the patient’s muscle is 1070 kg m−3.
The time difference between pulses P and Q in Fig. 24.2 is 19 μs.
Determine the acoustic impedance Z of patient’s muscle. State an appropriate unit for your
answer.

Z = ........................... unit: .................... [4]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02


32
ADDITIONAL ANSWER SPACE

If additional space is required, you should use the following lined page(s). The question number(s)
must be clearly shown in the margin(s).

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Oxford Cambridge and RSA

Copyright Information
OCR is committed to seeking permission to reproduce all third-party content that it uses in its assessment materials. OCR has attempted to identify and contact all copyright holders
whose work is used in this paper. To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced in the OCR Copyright
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© OCR 2016 Practice paper H556/02

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