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Physics 9702/12 October/November 2020: question paper and mark scheme

Cambridge AS & A Level Physics (9702), Paper 1 Multiple Choice, October/November 2020. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.

9702_w20_qp_129702_w20_ms_129702/12/O/N/20

Paper
Paper 1 Multiple Choice
Total marks
40
Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Code on the paper
9702/12/O/N/20
9702_w20_ms_12.pdf

9702/12 answers, question by question

Each question and its answer from the key, as text. Diagrams and graphs are in the question paper above.

Question 11 mark

Question

A student uses the volume of a metal coin in order to determine the density of the metal. What is not needed in order to determine an estimate of the volume of the coin? A estimate of the diameter B estimate of the mass C estimate of the thickness D use of the formula for the volume of a cylinder

Answer

B

Question 21 mark

Question

The speed v of waves on a stretched wire is given by the equation v = T pμq where T is the tension in the wire and μ is the mass per unit length of the wire. What are the values of p and q? p q A −1 −1 2 2 B −1 1 2 2 1 −1 C 2 2 1 1 D 2 2

Answer

C

Question 31 mark

Question

The diagram shows a force F. P is the horizontal component of F, at an angle θ to F. F θ P Which graph best shows the variation with θ of the magnitude of P ? A B P P 0 0 0 90 0 90 θ /° θ /° C D P P 0 0 0 90 0 90 θ /° θ /°

Answer

A

Question 41 mark

Question

A student wishes to measure a distance of about 10 cm to a precision of 0.01 cm. Which measuring instrument should be used? A metre rule B micrometer C tape measure D vernier calipers

Answer

D

Question 51 mark

Question

A steel ball is dropped and falls through a vertical height h. The time t taken to fall is measured using light gates. The results are given in the table. h (4.05 ± 0.01) m t (0.91 ± 0.02) s The acceleration of free fall g is calculated using the equation shown. h = 21 gt 2 What is the percentage uncertainty in the value of g? A 2.4% B 4.6% C 5.1% D 9.3%

Answer

B

Question 61 mark

Question

A stone is thrown vertically upwards from a point X at time t ꞊ 0. The variation with time t of the velocity v of the stone is shown. 20 v / m s–1 10 0 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 t/s –10 What is the displacement of the stone from point X at time t ꞊ 3.0 s? A 15 m above X B 15 m below X C 25 m above X D 25 m below X

Answer

A

Question 71 mark

Question

A mass of 5.0 kg is released from rest on a frictionless surface inclined at 30° to the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible. mass 5.0 kg frictionless surface 30° horizontal How far does the mass travel in a time of 0.80 s? A 1.6 m B 2.0 m C 2.7 m D 3.1 m

Answer

A

Question 81 mark

Question

What is not a statement of one of Newton’s laws of motion? A If body X exerts a force on body Y, body Y exerts an equal and opposite force on body X. B If no resultant force acts on a body it has constant velocity. C The rate of change of momentum of a body is proportional to the resultant force acting on it and takes place in the direction of the force. D The total momentum of a system of interacting bodies is constant if there is no external force.

Answer

D

Question 91 mark

Question

An object falls from a tall building. The graph shows how the velocity of the object changes with time t. velocity 0 0 Y Z t The acceleration of free fall is g. What describes the acceleration of the object at times t = Y and t = Z? acceleration acceleration at t = Y at t = Z A decreasing g B decreasing 0 C constant g D constant 0

Answer

B

Question 101 mark

Question

Two balls, one of mass 2m and one of mass m, collide. The diagrams show the initial and final velocities of the balls. Which collision is not elastic? before collision after collision 2m m 2m m A 4.0 m s–1 1.0 m s–1 2.0 m s–1 5.0 m s–1 2m m 2m m B 6.0 m s–1 3.0 m s–1 4.0 m s–1 7.0 m s–1 2m m 2m m C 8.0 m s–1 2.0 m s–1 5.0 m s–1 8.0 m s–1 2m m 2m m D 10.0 m s–1 4.0 m s–1 6.0 m s–1 12.0 m s–1

Answer

C

Question 111 mark

Question

The diagram shows a ‘ballistic pendulum’. block pellet M m A pellet of mass m travelling at a speed u hits a stationary block of mass M. The pellet becomes embedded in the block and causes the block to move at a speed v immediately after the impact. When a pellet of mass 2m, travelling at a speed 2u, hits a block of mass 2M, what is the speed of the block immediately after the impact? (Neglect the small increase in the mass of the block as the pellet’s mass is added during the collision.) A v B v 2 C 2v D 4v

Answer

C

Question 121 mark

Question

A rigid circular disc of radius r has its centre at X. A number of forces of equal magnitude F act at the edge of the disc. All the forces are in the plane of the disc. Which arrangement of forces provides a total moment of magnitude 2Fr about X? A B F X X F F C D F X X F F F F

Answer

A

Question 131 mark

Question

The diagram shows a uniform beam PQ. The length of the beam is 3.0 m and its weight is 50 N. The beam is supported on a pivot 1.0 m from end P. A load of weight W is hung from end P. The beam is in equilibrium. 3.0 m 1.0 m P Q W pivot What is the value of W ? A 25 N B 50 N C 75 N D 100 N

Answer

A

Question 141 mark

Question

In a high-wire circus act, a man of mass 85 kg is standing at rest at the midpoint of the wire. 20° 20° T T The wire on either side of the man is at an angle of 20° to the horizontal. What is the tension T in the wire? A 0.44 kN B 0.89 kN C 1.2 kN D 2.4 kN

Answer

C

Question 151 mark

Question

A cylindrical block of ice of cross-sectional area 12 m2 is floating, partially submerged, in the sea. The density of the sea water is 1020 kg m–3. A polar bear of mass 400 kg steps onto the block of ice. bear, mass 400 kg cross-sectional area 12 m2 sea water, density 1020 kg m–3 The block of ice sinks a vertical distance d. What is the value of d ? A 3.3 mm B 3.3 cm C 0.32 m D 3.1 m

Answer

B

Question 161 mark

Question

A ball is thrown vertically upwards. Air resistance is negligible. Which statement is correct? A By the principle of conservation of energy, the total energy of the ball is constant throughout its motion. B By the principle of conservation of momentum, the momentum of the ball is constant throughout its motion. C The kinetic energy of the ball is greatest at the greatest height attained. D The potential energy of the ball increases at a constant rate during its ascent.

Answer

A

Question 171 mark

Question

A hammer with 10 J of kinetic energy hits a nail and pushes it 5.0 mm into a plank. Both the hammer and nail come to rest after the collision. What is the approximate average force that acts on the nail while it moves through 5.0 mm? A 0.050 N B 2.0 N C 50 N D 2000 N

Answer

D

Question 181 mark

Question

The change in gravitational potential energy ∆E of an object of mass m when moving through height ∆h near the surface of the Earth is given by the equation shown. ∆E = mg∆h Which equation is needed as part of the derivation of this expression? A kinetic energy = 21 × mass × (speed)2 B moment = force × distance C weight = mass × acceleration of free fall D work done = power × time

Answer

C

Question 191 mark

Question

A racing car has an output power of 300 kW when travelling at a constant speed of 60 m s–1. What is the total resistive force acting on the car? A 5 kN B 10 kN C 50 kN D 100 kN

Answer

A

Question 201 mark

Question

A mass of 60.0 g is suspended from a spring and the distance from the bottom of the spring to the floor is measured to be 16.4 cm. The mass is replaced with a 100.0 g mass and the distance from the bottom of the spring to the floor is now measured to be 12.6 cm. The spring obeys Hooke’s law. What is the spring constant of the spring? A 1.05 N m–1 B 1.35 N m–1 C 10.3 N m–1 D 103 N m–1

Answer

C

Question 211 mark

Question

The graph shows the force–extension graph for a wire. 100 force / N 80 60 40 20 0 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 extension / 10–3 m The wire is already extended by a force of 60 N. How much work is done to increase the extension of the wire by 2.0 mm? A 0.040 J B 0.090 J C 0.16 J D 0.25 J

Answer

C

Question 221 mark

Question

The speed v of waves in deep water is given by the equation gλ v2 = 2π where λ is the wavelength of the waves and g is the acceleration of free fall. A student measures the wavelength λ and the frequency f of a number of these waves. Which graph should he plot to give a straight line through the origin? A f 2 against λ B f against λ2 C f against 1 λ D f 2 against 1 λ

Answer

D

Question 231 mark

Question

When sound travels through air, the air particles vibrate. A graph of displacement against time for a single air particle is shown. displacement 0 time 0 T 2T Which graph shows how the kinetic energy of the air particle varies with time? A B kinetic kinetic energy energy 0 time 0 time 0 T 2T 0 T 2T C D kinetic kinetic energy energy 0 time 0 time 0 T 2T 0 T 2T

Answer

D

Question 241 mark

Question

A vibrating tuning fork is held above a glass cylinder filled to the top with water. The water level is steadily lowered. A loud sound is first heard when the water level is 83.5 cm above the bench. The next loud sound is heard when the water level is 17.1 cm above the bench. tuning fork NOT TO cylinder SCALE water 83.5 cm water bench 17.1 cm The speed of sound in air is 340 m s–1. What is the frequency of the tuning fork? A 128 Hz B 256 Hz C 384 Hz D 512 Hz

Answer

B

Question 251 mark

Question

An emergency vehicle sounds its siren as it accelerates along a straight road between two points X and Y, as shown in the diagram. direction of travel X Y emergency road vehicle The frequency of the sound emitted by the siren is 750 Hz. A person stands at X and another person stands at Y. What describes the sounds heard by the people at X and at Y as the vehicle accelerates? sound heard by person at X sound heard by person at Y A higher than 750 Hz, lower than 750 Hz, increasing in frequency decreasing in frequency B higher than 750 Hz, lower than 750 Hz, decreasing in frequency increasing in frequency C lower than 750 Hz, higher than 750 Hz, decreasing in frequency increasing in frequency D lower than 750 Hz, higher than 750 Hz, increasing in frequency decreasing in frequency

Answer

C

Question 261 mark

Question

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum is shown. increasing frequency visible light What is the name of the shaded region and what is the order of magnitude of a wavelength of a wave from this region? wavelength name /m A infrared 10–5 B infrared 10–8 C ultraviolet 10–5 D ultraviolet 10–8

Answer

A

Question 271 mark

Question

The three waves shown in each diagram have the same amplitude and frequency but different phase. They are added together to give a resultant wave. In which case is the resultant wave zero at this instant? A B C D

Answer

A

Question 281 mark

Question

A transmitting mast sends out microwaves of wavelength 1.5 cm and radio waves of wavelength 1.5 km. mountain transmitting receiving mast aerial NOT TO SCALE A receiving aerial behind a mountain can detect the radio waves but not the microwaves. What is the reason for this? A The radio waves are coherent but the microwaves are not. B The radio waves are diffracted around the mountain but the microwaves are not. C The radio waves are reflected by the mountain but the microwaves are not. D The radio waves travel at the speed of light but the microwaves do not.

Answer

B

Question 291 mark

Question

An experiment is carried out to demonstrate double-slit interference using light of wavelength 500 nm. The distance between bright fringes in the interference pattern is 5 mm. What are possible values for the distance between the slits and the screen, and the slit separation? slit–screen slit separation distance A 50 cm 0.5 mm B 50 cm 5 mm C 5m 0.5 mm D 5m 5 mm

Answer

C

Question 301 mark

Question

Light of a single frequency is incident on a diffraction grating. Seven bright spots are observed on a screen. Which change will result in an increase in the number of bright spots observed? A Increase the distance between the grating and the screen. B Increase the frequency of the incident light. C Increase the intensity of the incident light. D Increase the number of lines per metre in the grating.

Answer

B

Question 311 mark

Question

A molecule behaves as an electric ‘dipole’ consisting of two equal point charges of opposite sign, separated by a fixed distance. The molecule moves with constant horizontal velocity as it enters a vertical uniform electric field, as shown. – + molecule electric field The positive and negative charges of the molecule enter the field at the same time. What describes the effect of the electric field on the velocity of the molecule? horizontal component vertical component of velocity of velocity A constant increases B constant zero C increases increases D increases zero

Answer

B

Question 321 mark

Question

Two parallel metal plates are connected to a battery of negligible internal resistance. metal plates One of the plates is slowly moved towards the other. Which row is correct? electric field strength potential difference between the plates between the plates A decreases constant B increases constant C decreases increases D increases increases

Answer

B

Question 331 mark

Question

Four point charges, each of charge Q, are placed on the edge of an insulating disc of radius r. The disc rotates at a rate of n revolutions per unit time. Q r Q Q Q What is the equivalent electric current at the edge of the disc? A 4Qn B 4Q C 8πrQn D 2Qn n πr

Answer

A

Question 341 mark

Question

In the circuit shown, a fixed resistor X is connected in series with a battery and a variable resistor. X The power dissipated in resistor X is 7.2 W when a current of 3.0 A passes through it. The variable resistor is adjusted so that the power dissipated in X increases by 50%. What is the new current in the circuit? A 2.4 A B 3.7 A C 4.5 A D 14 A

Answer

B

Question 351 mark

Question

A resistor and a filament lamp are connected in series with a power supply. The I–V characteristics of the resistor and of the lamp are shown below. resistor filament lamp 0.4 0.4 I/A I/A 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 V/V V/V The potential difference (p.d.) across the resistor is 3.3 V. What is the resistance of the lamp? A 0.071 Ω B 4.2 Ω C 11 Ω D 14 Ω

Answer

D

Question 361 mark

Question

A car battery has an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of 12 V and an internal resistance of 0.05 Ω. The battery is connected to the starter motor of a car. The current in the motor is 160 A. 12 V 0.05 Ω 160 A M What is the terminal p.d. across the battery? A 0V B 4V C 8V D 12 V

Answer

B

Question 371 mark

Question

A cell of negligible internal resistance is connected to a network of resistors and a voltmeter, as shown. R 3.00 Ω 14.4 Ω V 2.00 Ω 4.80 Ω The reading on the voltmeter is zero. What is the resistance of resistor R? A 1.20 Ω B 1.80 Ω C 7.20 Ω D 14.4 Ω

Answer

D

Question 381 mark

Question

A voltmeter is connected into a circuit with the polarity shown in the diagram. Q + – 3V V 3V P The sliding contact is moved to end P of the potentiometer and then to end Q. What are the two readings of the voltmeter? sliding contact sliding contact at end P at end Q A 0V 3V B 0V 6V C 3V 3V D 3V 6V

Answer

D

Question 391 mark

Question

What is a conclusion from the alpha-particle scattering experiment? A Protons and electrons have equal but opposite charges. B Protons have a much larger mass than electrons. C The nucleus contains most of the mass of the atom. D The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons.

Answer

C

Question 401 mark

Question

Which particle is a hadron? A electron B neutrino C positron D proton

Answer

D

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Where can I find the 9702/12 October/November 2020 mark scheme?

On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Physics 9702/12, October/November 2020 (9702_w20_ms_12), and the question paper (9702_w20_qp_12), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.

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Physics 9702/12 for October/November 2020 is out of 40 marks, with 1 hour 15 minutes to answer it.

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Yes. Upload your answers to 9702/12/O/N/20 as a PDF or photos, and CIE Buddy marks every question against this paper's official mark scheme, using Cambridge's marking rules. You get your score, each lost mark explained on your own script, and the topics to revise. It's a guide, not an official Cambridge grade.