Queen’s College

Yearly Examination 2022 − 2023

PHYSICS

Secondary 4 Date: 12th June 2023

Maximum mark: 100 Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
(2 hours)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper must be answered in English. ALL questions must be answered.

2. This paper consists of three sections, A, B and C.

Section A: 20 multiple choice questions (40 marks)

Section B: 3 short questions (15 marks)
Section C: 3 conventional questions (45 marks)

3. Answer Section A on the Multiple-choice Answer Sheet.

Answer Section B and Section C in the spaces provided in your Answer Book.

4. Write your class, class number and subject block in the spaces provided on the cover
of the Answer Book.

5. The diagrams in this paper are NOT necessarily drawn to scale.

6. Unless otherwise stated, you may assume the following constants:

acceleration due to gravity g = 9.81 m s–2 (close to the Earth)

universal gravitational constant G = 6.67  10–11 N m2 kg–2

7. All numerical answers should either be exact or correct to 3 significant figures.

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Section A Multiple Choice Questions (40 marks)
Each question carries 2 marks.

1. An object moves 864 m in 1 minute. What is its speed in km h-1?

A. 4 km h-1
B. 14.4 km h-1
C. 40 km h-1
D. 51.8 km h-1

2. A student walks 15 m due west and then 8 m due south in 20 s. Find his average
velocity.
A. 0.85 m s-1 at S61.9W
B. 0.85 m s-1 at N61.9E
C. 1.15 m s-1 at S61.9W
D. 1.15 m s-1 at N61.9E

3. Two cars X and Y start from the same starting point O and travel along the same
straight road. Their velocity-time graphs are shown below.

Which of the following statements must be INCORRECT?

(1) At t = t1, the two cars meet each other.
(2) At t = t2, the two cars are speeding up.
(3) At t = t2, X is further away from starting point O than Y.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

4. A stone is released from rest from the top of a cliff. The stone takes 2 s to fall from
the mid-point of the cliff to the ground. What is the time taken for the stone to fall
from the top to the mid-point of the cliff? Assume that air resistance is negligible.
A. 2.00 s
B. 3.24 s
C. 4.83 s
D. 6.83 s

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5. When a skydiver reaches terminal speed in mid-air, what is the relationship between
the air resistance f and his weight W?
A. f < W
B. f = W
C. f > W
D. There is no specific relationship between them.

6. A rocket with two stages is launched at an acceleration of 3g as shown in Figure a.

The propelling force acting on the rocket is F. After the first stage of mass m is
released, the second stage of mass 2m is kept propelled by the same force F and has an
acceleration of a as shown in Figure b. Assume the acceleration due to gravity g is
constant. Find a.

2m 2m
3g a

F
F m

Figure a Figure b
A. 3.5g
B. 4.5g
C. 5g
D. 6g

7. A block of weight W is placed on the ground. The block is connected by a light string
passing over a fixed smooth pulley as shown. The string is now pulled by an external
force F, and the block remains on the ground.

Which of the following correctly describe the magnitudes of the forces acting on the
block by the string and by the ground?
By the string By the ground
A. F W−F
B. F+W W–F
C. F W
D. F+W W

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8. As shown in the figure, a plate is supported by a finger and remains stationary.

Which of the following correctly deduces whether or not the two forces shown in the
figure are an action-and-reaction pair?
action-and-reaction pair? reason
A. no The two forces act on different bodies.
B. no The two forces act on the same body.
C. yes The two forces are in opposite directions.
D. yes The two forces have the same magnitude.

9. A box of weight 600 N is put on a trolley which is resting on the ground as shown.
The trolley has a weight of 90 N, and its two wheels, X and Y, are separated 0.6 m apart.
The centre of mass of the trolley is 0.2 m away from its wheel X, and the centre of
mass of the box is 0.2 m away from wheel Y. Find the normal reaction exerted by the
ground on wheel Y.

A. 690 N
B. 430 N
C. 345 N
D. 230 N

10. When the momentum of a body is doubled, its kinetic energy will be .
A. one half as large
B. the same as before
C. twice as large
D. four times as large

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11. A block of weight W is pulled up along a smooth inclined plane at a constant speed by
a force F. From the bottom to the top, which of the following equals the total work
done by F?

A. W×h
B. (F − W) × l
C. W×l
D. F×h

12. Which of the following statements about a completely inelastic collision between two
objects is/are correct?
(1) The total momentum of two colliding objects is conserved.
(2) The total KE of two colliding objects is conserved.
(3) The two objects stick together after the collision.
A. (1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (1) and (3) only

13. A washing machine has a hollow cylindrical drum which rotates with an angular speed
of 78.5 rad s-1. How fast does it rotate in revolutions per minute (rpm)?
A. 12.5 rpm
B. 493 rpm
C. 750 rpm
D. 29600 rpm

14. A car turns through a bend road of radius 80 m with a banking angle of 30. To avoid
slipping, what is the safest speed that the car should move to turn around the bend
road?
A. 16.8 m s-1
B. 21.3 m s-1
C. 28.4 m s-1
D. 34.3 m s-1

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15. A small ball of mass m is hung from a light string and rotates in a horizontal circle of
radius r as shown in the figure. The string makes an angle  with the vertical.
Which of the following equals to tan ?
A. mr 2
mr 2
B.
g

C.
g
r 2
D.
g

16. The figure shows two points masses M and m isolated from all other masses in the
universe. The gravitational force between them is F. Suppose that m is now moved
5
to another position such that the gravitational force becomes F.
4

Which point could be the possible new position?

A. P
B. Q
C. R
D. S

17. Figure (a) shows a train of water waves passing through a cork at t = 2 s. Figure (b)
shows the displacement-time (s – t) graph of the cork from t = 0 to t = 2.7 s.

Which of the following is correct about the speed of water waves?

A. 8.89 cm s-1 towards the left
B. 8.89 cm s-1 towards the right
C. 10.0 cm s-1 towards the left
D. 10.0 cm s-1 towards the right

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18. The displacement–distance graph of a transverse wave at time t = 0 is shown below.
The wave travels to the left at a speed of 2 m s−1. When will particle P on the wave
reach the crest for the first time?

A. At t = 2.5 s
B. At t = 3 s
C. At t = 7.5 s
D. At t = 9 s

19. A slinky spring is set up as shown below.

y

Which of the following statements are correct?

(1) If a longitudinal wave passes through the spring, the coils will vibrate along the x
direction.
(2) If a transverse wave passes through the spring, energy will be transferred along
the x direction.
(3) A vibrating source can produce a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave in the
spring at the same time.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

20. An obstacle is placed at the middle of a ripple tank. Which of the following graphs
shows the waves obstructed by the obstacle?
A. B. C. D.

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Section B Short Questions (15 marks)

1. A trolley of mass 2 kg is connected to a 1.5 kg weight by an inextensible string passing

over a fixed smooth pulley. The inclined plane makes an angle  = 30 to the
horizontal. The system is released from rest.

(a) If there is no friction between the inclined plane and the trolley, find the
acceleration of trolley. (3 marks)
(b) Find the frictional force between the inclined plane and the trolley if the system
remains stationary after release. (2 marks)

2. Trolleys A, B, and C of masses 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg respectively, are placed on a

horizontal table as shown. Initially trolleys A and B are in contact and remain at rest.
When the trigger of trolley A is hit by a small hammer, ‘explosion’ occurs and trolleys
A and B move away from each other.

(a) Find the speed of trolley A after the ‘explosion’ if trolley B moves off with a
speed of 4 m s-1. (2 marks)
(b) When trolley B collides with trolley C, they move off together. Find their
common velocity after collision. (2 marks)

3. A ripple tank is divided into two regions A and B which are of different depths. Plane
water waves of frequency 5 Hz are produced and travel from region A to region B.
The following diagram shows the side view of the ripple tank.
10 cm 6 cm

Region A Region B

(a) Which region, A or B, is shallower? (1 mark)

(b) Find the speed of water waves in region A. (1 mark)
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3. (c) As viewed from the top of the ripple tank, the plane waves move across the
boundary with an angle of incidence.

60

Region A Region B

(i) What is the angle of incidence? (1 mark)

(ii) Draw the wavefronts in region B. On your diagram, you should show the
value of the angle of refraction in region B. (Calculations are not required.)
(3 marks)

Section C Conventional Questions (45 marks)

4.
(a) In a circus show, a performer is shot vertically upwards by a cannon. Given that
the mass of the performer is 80 kg and the speed of the performer is 25 m s -1
when he leaves the cannon. Assume that air resistance, the size of the performer
and the height of the mouth of the cannon can be neglected.

(i) Find the maximum height H the performer can reach. (2 marks)
(ii) Find
(1) the kinetic energy, and (2 marks)
(2) the direction of the net force acting on the performer when it reaches a
1
height of H. (1 mark)
3

(b) In the firing process, it takes 0.15 s for the cannon to fire and shoot the performer.
Find the average pushing force acting on the performer during the firing.
Assume that the speed of the performer is zero before the cannon fires.
(3 marks)

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4.
(c) The show is repeated by re-adjusting the cannon such that it aims at 30 above
the horizontal. Assume that the performer is shot at the same speed as before.

(i) Find the time of flight of the performer’s motion in the air. (2 marks)
(ii) Find the range of the performer’s motion in the air. (2 marks)
(iii) Without calculations, compare the new maximum height that the performer
can reach with your answer in (a)(i). Explain briefly. (2 marks)

(d) The cannon is moved to a platform which is of 10 m above the ground. The
performer is shot at the same speed and the same angle as before.

(i) Consider the performer’s motion in the air. When he is exactly at half of
the flight, is he ascending, moving horizontally or descending? (1 mark)
(ii) The performer hits the ground with a velocity of V and makes an angle  to
the horizontal.
(1) Does the angle  smaller than, equal to or larger than 30? (1 mark)
(2) Find V. (2 marks)

p. 10
5. You are given the following data about a planet X.

Structure of planet: sphere of uniform density

Radius of planet: 5.82  10 7 m
Surface gravity: 10.4 N kg-1
Period of self-rotation: 10.2 hours

(a) Find the mass M of planet X. (2 marks)

(b) A spaceship revolves around planet X in an orbit such that it stays at rest relative
to the planet surface.
(i) Name this orbit. (1 mark)
(ii) State the period T of this orbit. (1 mark)
(iii) Find the radius r of this orbit. (2 marks)
(iv) The diagram below shows the rotational axis of the of the planet.

On the diagram, draw the orbit of the spaceship. (2 marks)

(c) An astronaut of mass 85 kg is inside the spaceship.

(i) Find the gravitational field strength at the position of the spaceship.
(2 marks)
(ii) Hence or otherwise, find the weight of the astronaut inside the spaceship.
(1 mark)
(iii) Explain briefly how the astronaut feels about his weight. (2 marks)

p. 11
6. A vibrator vibrates vertically and generates a travelling wave on a string. The figure
below shows the string at t = 0. Particle T completes 20 oscillations in 4 s with an
average particle speed of 1.6 m s-1.
Q
P travelling direction
of the wave
R T

vibrator S
end of string

0.45 m

(a) State TWO particles which are vibrating

(i) in phase, and (1 mark)
(ii) in antiphase with each other. (1 mark)

(b) Find the (i) frequency, (1 mark)

(ii) amplitude, and (2 marks)
(iii) speed of the wave. (2 marks)

(c) Sketch the shape of the entire string after 0.1 s. Show the positions of the
particles P, Q, R, S and T. (2 marks)

(d) Sketch the displacement-time graph of particle P for a time interval of 2 periods.
Displacements above the equilibrium position should be taken as positive.
(2 marks)

(e) Now the string is replaced by another one which is of the same length, same
thickness but made of lighter material. Assume that the tension remains the
same as before.
State the changes, if any, to the (i) wavelength, (1 mark)
(ii) amplitude and (1 mark)
(iii) speed of the wave. (1 mark)

End of Paper

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