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H I G H E R S C H O O L C E R T I F I C AT E
E X A M I N AT I O N
Physics
Section I
Pages 227
75 marks
This section has two parts, Part A and Part B
Part A 15 marks
Attempt Questions 115
Allow about 30 minutes for this part
Part B 60 marks
Attempt Questions 1627
Allow about 1 hour and 45 minutes for this part
Section II
Pages 2943
25 marks
Attempt ONE question from Questions 2832
Allow about 45 minutes for this section
433
Section I
75 marks
Part A 15 marks
Attempt Questions 115
Allow about 30 minutes for this part
2+4=
(A) 2
A
(B) 6
(C) 8
(D) 9
D
If you think you have made a mistake, put a cross through the incorrect answer and fill in the
new answer.
A
If you change your mind and have crossed out what you consider to be the correct answer, then
indicate the correct answer by writing the word correct and drawing an arrow as follows.
correct
A
(C)
(D) The acceleration of the ball at the top of its motion is zero.
Why would a satellite in low orbit around Earth eventually fall to Earth?
(A) It is not in a geostationary orbit.
(B)
(C)
The initial velocity required by a space probe to just escape the gravitational pull of a
planet is called escape velocity.
Which of the following quantities does NOT affect the magnitude of the escape velocity?
(A) Mass of the planet
(B)
(C)
A space probe, P, is in a stable orbit around a small, distant planet. The probe fires a
forward-facing rocket that reduces its orbital speed by half.
Which of the following best illustrates the subsequent motion of the probe?
(A)
(C)
(B)
*P
(D)
*P
*P
*P
Napoleon attacked Moscow in 1812 with his cannon firing a shot at an elevation angle of
40. Napoleon then decided to fire a second shot at the same speed but at an elevation
angle of 50.
Which of the following observations would Napoleon expect to be true about the second
shot when compared with the first?
(A) Longer range
(B)
Shorter range
(C)
In a particular experiment a long length of copper wire of very low resistance is rotated
by two students. The ends of the wire are connected to a galvanometer, G, and a current
is detected.
G
Which of the following is LEAST likely to affect the amount of current produced?
(A) The length of the rotating wire
(B)
(C)
A single-turn coil of wire is placed in a uniform magnetic field B at right angles to the
plane of the coil as shown in the diagrams. The coil is then rotated in a clockwise
direction as shown.
Which of the following shows the direction of current flow in the coil as it begins
to rotate?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
The primary coil of a transformer is connected to a battery, a resistor and a switch. The
secondary coil is connected to a galvanometer.
G
R
Which of the following graphs best shows the current flow in the galvanometer when the
switch is closed?
Time
(C)
(D)
Time
Time
Current
Current
(B)
Current
(A)
Current
Time
Three rings are dropped at the same time over identical magnets as shown below.
Plastic
Copper
Copper
Which of the following describes the order in which the rings P, Q and R reach the
bottom of the magnets?
(A) They arrive in the order P, Q, R.
(B)
(C)
10
Iron sheets
(B)
Iron
Insulated
wire
Insulated
wire
(C)
(D)
Insulated
wire
Insulating
material
Insulating
material
Iron rods
Insulated
wire
Insulating
material
Iron sheets
11
The discharge tube shown below contains a rotating paddle wheel that is free to move.
The tubes electrodes are connected to a high-voltage source.
Cathode
Cathode rays
Anode
+
Which of the following statements about cathode rays does this apparatus provide
evidence for?
(A) Cathode rays travel in straight lines.
(B)
(C)
(D) Cathode rays are waves of high frequency and short wavelength.
12
The family of curves below shows the relationship between the intensity of black body
radiation and its wavelength for various Kelvin temperatures.
8000 K
Intensity
5000 K
3000 K
0
1000
2000
3000
Wavelength (nm)
This diagram has been adapted from Figure 2.18 in Physics Concepts and Applications, VCE Units 1&2 by Harding et al, Macmillan Education Australia, 1997.
Reproduced by permission of Macmillan Education Australia.
Einstein, in 1905, when he suggested light was a stream of particles called photons
(C)
Germanium
(C)
Phosphorus
(D) Sulfur
10
14
6.812 1026
(C)
2.918
A current is passed along a square semiconductor rod as shown. Half of the current is
carried by electrons and half by holes. A magnetic field is then applied to the rod at right
angles to its axis.
Magnetic
field
Conventional
current
Which of the following correctly describes the movement of the electrons and holes in
the rod when the magnetic field is applied?
(A) They speed up.
(B)
(C)
11
BLANK PAGE
12
Board of Studies NSW 2005
Physics
Centre Number
Section I (continued)
Part B 60 marks
Attempt Questions 1627
Allow about 1 hour and 45 minutes for this part
Student Number
Marks
Question 16 (5 marks)
From nearest to furthest, the four satellite moons of Jupiter first observed by Galileo
in the year 1610 are called Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. For the first three
moons, the orbital period T of each is exactly twice the period of the one orbiting
immediately inside it. That is,
TEuropa = 2 TIo
TGanymede = 2 TEuropa
The mass of Jupiter is 1.90 1027 kg, and the orbital radius of Io is 421 600 km.
(a)
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(b)
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434
13
Marks
Question 17 (6 marks)
Einsteins 1905 theory of special relativity made several predictions that could not be
verified for many years.
(a)
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(b)
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(c)
Explain how technological advances since 1905 have made it possible to carry
out this experiment.
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14
Marks
Question 18 (4 marks)
The idea of a universal aether was first proposed to explain the transmission of light
through space. Michelson and Morley attempted to measure the speed of Earth
through the aether.
Evaluate the impact of the result of the Michelson and Morley experiment on scientific
thinking.
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15
Marks
Question 19 (4 marks)
In 1970 NASA launched Apollo 13, their third mission planned to land humans on the
Moon. Half-way to the Moon a huge explosion crippled the spacecraft. The only way
home for the astronauts was to fly around the back of the Moon and then fire the
rocket engine to take the craft out of lunar orbit and put it into an Earth-bound
trajectory.
At the completion of the rocket engine burn, mission leader Jim Lovell was heard to
say, We just put Isaac Newton in the drivers seat.
Given that the spacecraft returned safely to Earth, justify Jim Lovells statement.
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16
Board of Studies NSW 2005
Physics
Centre Number
Marks
Question 20 (6 marks)
In your course you had to gather information to explain how induction is used in
certain applications.
With reference to TWO applications, describe how you assessed the reliability of
information you found.
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435
17
Marks
Question 21 (6 marks)
Two thin metal tubes one metre long were supported in a vertical wooden rack as
shown in the diagram.
tre
1 me
10 cm
The two ends were connected together, then the other two ends were connected briefly
to a car battery as shown in the diagram. It was observed that one of the tubes jumped
upward as the connection was made.
(a)
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...............................................................................................................................
(b)
Each tube has a mass of 1 102 kg, and the tubes lie on the rack 10 cm apart.
18
Marks
Question 22 (5 marks)
A schematic diagram of a system to supply electricity to a house is shown below.
High voltage
transmission line
Power
plant
Step-down
transformer
Step-down
transformer
(substation)
Step-up
transformer
11 000 V
240 V
J D Cutnell & K W Johnson, 2001, Physics, 5th edn. Reprinted with permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
(b)
Identify the causes of the two main energy losses in the transmission of
electricity between the power plant and the house.
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(c)
19
Marks
Question 23 (3 marks)
Explain how an understanding of black body radiation changed the direction of
scientific thinking in the early twentieth century.
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20
Board of Studies NSW 2005
Physics
Centre Number
Marks
Question 24 (4 marks)
Using labelled diagrams and text, explain how superconductivity occurs according to
the BCS theory.
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436
21
Question 25 (6 marks)
A student conducts an experiment using a photoelectric cell as shown in the diagram.
Grid
Metal surface
Light enters
Vacuum tube
100 V
Light is shone through a grid onto a metal surface. The metal is at earth potential and the grid
is at 100 V, so that any electrons emitted from the surface produce a current in the external
circuit.
The student shines light sources of different photon energies onto the metal surface and records
the current flowing for each. The light sources are adjusted so that their intensities are equal.
The results are recorded in the table and shown on the graph.
Photon energy (eV)
Photo-current (A)
0.50
0.90
1.20
0.5
1.70
2.8
1.75
4.0
1.90
8.0
2.20
9.2
2.50
9.4
22
Marks
Question 25 (continued)
Photo-current (A)
10
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
On the grid provided, draw the straight line of best fit in the region where the
photo-current varies greatest with photon energy.
(b)
From the line drawn on your graph, estimate the minimum energy (work
function) for photoelectric emission.
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(c)
The experiment is repeated, but the intensities of the light sources are doubled.
Predict the results of this new experiment by drawing a second line on the graph.
(d)
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End of Question 25
23
Marks
Question 26 (5 marks)
The diagram shows two parallel horizontal metal plates connected to a DC source of
electricity. Suspended between the plates is a charged particle of mass 9.6 106 kg.
Charged particle
+
49 V
(a)
Using conventional symbols, draw the electric field between the metal plates on
the diagram above.
(b)
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(c)
Determine the sign and magnitude of the charge on the particle if it is suspended
motionless between the plates.
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24
Board of Studies NSW 2005
Physics
Centre Number
Question 27 (6 marks)
437
25
Question 27 (6 marks)
Bubble chambers are used in conjunction with particle accelerators to photographically record
the tracks of fast-moving charged particles. An intense magnetic field is applied at right angles
to the path of the particles to deflect them according to their charge and momentum.
The diagram shows a beam of protons travelling horizontally at 6.0 107 m s1 and entering a
liquid hydrogen bubble chamber in a vertical magnetic field of 1.82 T.
Camera
Powerful
magnet
Proton beam
Liquid hydrogen
bubble chamber
Examination of the photograph taken by the camera, as sketched below, shows that the protons
were deflected along a circular path of radius 0.350 metres.
Proton beam
26
Marks
Question 27 (continued)
(a)
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(b)
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(c)
End of Question 27
27
BLANK PAGE
28
Board of Studies NSW 2005
Physics
Section II
25 marks
Attempt ONE question from Questions 2832
Allow about 45 minutes for this section
Answer the question in a writing booklet. Extra writing booklets are available.
Show all relevant working in questions involving calculations.
Pages
438
Question 28
Question 29
Question 30
Question 31
Question 32
29
Marks
Question 28 Geophysics (25 marks)
(a)
(b)
During your study of geophysics you investigated the radiation reflected from
various surfaces.
(i)
(ii)
(i)
If Hobart is 1320 km from the explosion, how far is Tennant Creek from
the explosion?
(ii)
30
Marks
Question 28 (continued)
(c)
The diagram below shows the deflection of a plumb-bob near a large mountain
range. The diagram exaggerates the amount of deflection.
(i)
(ii)
Describe how Jean Richer used a pendulum to show that Earth is not
spherical.
End of Question 28
31
Marks
Question 29 Medical Physics (25 marks)
(a)
(i)
The images show a persons heart before and after a medical procedure.
Abnormal heart
before procedure
Heart
after procedure
Radiation
emitted
Half-life
11
Gamma
20.30 minutes
99
Gamma
6.02 hours
201
Gamma
3.05 days
131
Gamma
8.04 days
137
Alpha
30.17 years
238
Alpha
C
Tc
Tl
I
Cs
U
Which radioactive isotope from the table would most likely be used to
investigate the abnormality shown in the image above? Justify your
choice.
32
Question 29 (continued)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
(c)
Compare the physics involved in producing X-ray images with that used
for endoscopies.
Marks
Question 29 (continued)
(d)
(i)
34
Marks
Question 29 (continued)
(ii)
End of Question 29
35
Marks
Question 30 Astrophysics (25 marks)
(a)
Spectrum
Violet Blue Green
Source
Red
(A)
Red
(B)
Star Croesus
Red
(C)
Star Dromus
DIAGRAMS
NOT TO SCALE
(i)
For each star, Croesus and Dromus, identify the principal way in which
its spectrum differs from the spectrum shown in part A of the figure.
(ii)
For each star, Croesus and Dromus, state what its spectrum tells us about
the motion of that star.
36
Marks
Question 30 (continued)
(b)
(i)
1"
1"
X
X
0
1"
1"
(ii)
Absolute magnitude
Alpha Centauri A
+ 4.33
Proxima Centauri
+14.93
(c)
37
Marks
Question 30 (continued)
(i)
3.0
Apparent
magnitude
3.5
4.0
50
100
150
Time (days)
200
The graph shows the brightness of a star system recorded over a period of time.
The star system is identified as a binary pair, and measurements show them to
be 5.0 1010 m apart. One star is known to have four times the mass of the other.
Brightness
(d)
C
A
0
5
Time (days)
10
(ii)
(iii)
End of Question 30
38
Marks
Question 31 From Quanta to Quarks (25 marks)
(a)
During your study of From Quanta to Quarks you either performed a first-hand
investigation, or you gathered information to observe nuclear radiation using a
Wilson cloud chamber, or similar detection device.
Below is a true-size photograph in this type of device showing the tracks made
by -particles.
(i)
(ii)
39
Marks
Question 31 (continued)
(b)
(c)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
An understanding of the nucleus led to the Manhattan Project, which was based
in laboratories in Los Alamos between 1942 and 1945.
Describe the technologies developed from this project, and assess the
significance to science and society of their applications.
40
Marks
Question 31 (continued)
(d)
The diagram below shows the first five circular Bohr orbits or stationary states
for the electron orbiting the nucleus of the hydrogen atom.
n=5
n=4
n=3
n=2
n=1
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
End of Question 31
41
Marks
Question 32 The Age of Silicon (25 marks)
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(b)
+
Vi
Vo
7.5
Vi (V)
7.5
Vcc = 15 V
15
(i)
(ii)
Input voltage
0.6
(volts)
0.5
1
1.5
Time (ms)
42
Marks
Question 32 (continued)
(c)
Over the last ten years the ability to acquire, store and manipulate digital images
has increased dramatically.
(d)
(i)
(ii)
The circuit below uses an optical isolator (comprising a LED and LDR)
to electronically isolate a switch S from a digital gate G.
+10 V
R
+5 V
10 k
S
Vi
200
LDR resistance
30 mA
190
20 mA
290
10 mA
600
1 mA
20 k
< 0.1 mA
> 1
Show, using calculations, how the digital output of the gate G, either 1
or 0, depends on whether the switch is open or closed.
End of paper
43
BLANK PAGE
44
Board of Studies NSW 2005
Physics
DATA SHEET
Charge on electron, qe
1.602 1019 C
Mass of electron, me
9.109 1031 kg
Mass of neutron, mn
1.675 1027 kg
Mass of proton, mp
1.673 1027 kg
340 m s1
9.8 m s2
Speed of light, c
3.00 108 m s1
2.0 107 N A2
Mass of Earth
6.0 1024 kg
Planck constant, h
6.626 1034 J s
1.097 107 m1
1.661 1027 kg
931.5 MeV/ c 2
439
1 eV
1.602 1019 J
Density of water,
1.00 103 kg m3
45
FORMULAE SHEET
v = f
I
m1 m2
r
Ep = G
F = mg
d2
v1
sin i
=
v2
sin r
v x 2 = ux 2
v = u + at
E =
F
q
v y 2 = uy 2 + 2 ay y
R =
V
I
x = ux t
P = VI
1
2
y = uy t + ay t 2
Energy = VIt
r3
T
vav =
aav
r
t
F =
v
vu
therefore aav =
=
t
t
GM
4 2
Gm1 m2
d2
E = mc 2
F = ma
F =
Ek =
v2
lv = l0 1
mv 2
r
tv =
1 2
mv
2
t0
1
W = Fs
mv =
p = mv
v2
c2
m0
1
Impulse = Ft
46
c2
v2
c2
FORMULAE SHEET
F
l
I1 I2
= k
1
p
d =
F = BIl sin
d
M = m 5 log
10
= Fd
IA
IB
= nBIA cos
Vp
Vs
(mB mA )
m1 + m2 =
np
4 2 r 3
1
1
1
= R 2 2
n f ni
V
d
h
mv
E = hf
c = f
A0 =
Vout
Z = v
Vin
Ir
I0
GT 2
ns
F = qvB sin
E =
= 100
2
Z2 Z1 ]
[
=
[ Z2 + Z1 ] 2
47
Vout
Vin
=
Rf
Ri
48
Yttrium
5771
Strontium
56
Ba
137.3
Barium
88
Ra
[226.0]
Radium
Rubidium
55
Cs
132.9
Caesium
87
Fr
[223.0]
Francium
Rutherfordium
104
Rf
[261.1]
Hafnium
72
Hf
178.5
Zirconium
90
Th
232.0
Thorium
Actinides
89
Ac
[227.0]
Actinium
Protactinium
91
Pa
231.0
Praseodymium
59
Pr
140.9
Dubnium
105
Db
[262.1]
Tantalum
73
Ta
180.9
Niobium
41
Nb
92.91
Vanadium
Uranium
92
U
238.0
Neodymium
60
Nd
144.2
Seaborgium
106
Sg
[266.1]
Tungsten
74
W
183.8
Molybdenum
42
Mo
95.94
Chromium
Neptunium
93
Np
[237.0]
Promethium
61
Pm
[144.9]
Bohrium
107
Bh
[264.1]
Rhenium
75
Re
186.2
Technetium
43
Tc
[97.91]
Manganese
Plutonium
94
Pu
[244.1]
Samarium
Americium
95
Am
[243.1]
Europium
63
Eu
152.0
Meitnerium
Hassium
62
Sm
150.4
110
Ds
[271]
109
Mt
[268]
111
Rg
[272]
Gold
79
Au
197.0
Silver
47
Ag
107.9
Copper
Curium
96
Cm
[247.1]
Gadolinium
64
Gd
157.3
Berkelium
97
Bk
[247.1]
Terbium
65
Tb
158.9
Darmstadtium Roentgenium
Platinum
Iridium
78
Pt
195.1
Palladium
46
Pd
106.4
Nickel
108
Hs
[277]
77
Ir
192.2
Rhodium
45
Rh
102.9
Cobalt
28
Ni
58.69
Osmium
76
Os
190.2
Ruthenium
44
Ru
101.1
Iron
27
Co
58.93
Californium
98
Cf
[251.1]
Dysprosium
66
Dy
162.5
Mercury
80
Hg
200.6
Cadmium
48
Cd
112.4
Zinc
30
Zn
65.41
Einsteinium
99
Es
[252.1]
Holmium
67
Ho
164.9
Thallium
81
Tl
204.4
Indium
49
In
114.8
Gallium
31
Ga
69.72
Fermium
100
Fm
[257.1]
Erbium
68
Er
167.3
Lead
82
Pb
207.2
Tin
50
Sn
118.7
Germanium
32
Ge
72.64
Silicon
14
Si
28.09
Carbon
6
C
12.01
Sulfur
Phosphorus
Mendelevium
101
Md
[258.1]
Thulium
69
Tm
168.9
Bismuth
83
Bi
209.0
Antimony
51
Sb
121.8
Arsenic
Nobelium
102
No
[259.1]
Ytterbium
70
Yb
173.0
Polonium
84
Po
[209.0]
Tellurium
52
Te
127.6
Selenium
34
Se
78.96
16
S
32.07
15
P
30.97
33
As
74.92
Fluorine
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Lawrencium
103
Lr
[262.1]
Lutetium
71
Lu
175.0
Astatine
85
At
[210.0]
Iodine
53
I
126.9
Bromine
35
Br
79.90
Chlorine
17
Cl
35.45
9
F
19.00
8
O
16.00
7
N
14.01
Where the atomic weight is not known, the relative atomic mass of the most common radioactive isotope is shown in brackets.
The atomic weights of Np and Tc are given for the isotopes 237Np and 99Tc.
Cerium
Lanthanum
Lanthanides
57
58
La
Ce
138.9
140.1
Actinides
89103
Lanthanides
39
Y
88.91
38
Sr
87.62
40
Zr
91.22
Titanium
Scandium
Calcium
26
Fe
55.85
29
Cu
63.55
37
Rb
85.47
25
Mn
54.94
Potassium
24
Cr
52.00
Aluminium
23
V
50.94
20
Ca
40.08
19
K
39.10
22
Ti
47.87
Magnesium
Sodium
21
Sc
44.96
13
Al
26.98
Boron
12
Mg
24.31
Name of element
11
Na
22.99
Atomic Weight
Gold
Beryllium
Lithium
Symbol of element
5
B
10.81
79
Au
197.0
4
Be
9.012
3
Li
6.941
Atomic Number
KEY
Hydrogen
1
H
1.008
Radon
86
Rn
[222.0]
Xenon
54
Xe
131.3
Krypton
36
Kr
83.80
Argon
18
Ar
39.95
Neon
10
Ne
20.18
Helium
2
He
4.003