S6 Paper 2 PHYSICS QUESTIONS
S6 Paper 2 PHYSICS QUESTIONS
PAPER 2
S.6 Sci
Attempt all questions
SECTION A (Geometrical Optics - Light)
1(a) For a converging mirror define the terms
(i) radius of curvature (1)
(ii) principal focus (1)
(b) With the aid of a ray diagram derive the mirror formula for a convex mirror. (6)
(c) (i) With the aid of a ray diagram, describe the structure and action of a reflecting
telescope in normal adjustment. (5)
(ii) State two advantages of a reflecting telescope over a refracting one. (2)
(d) An astronomical telescope with an objective of focal length 84.0 cm and an eyepiece
of focal length 8.0 cm. The eyepiece is shifted until the final image is formed at a
distance of 64.0 cm from the objective. Find the distance between the two lenses. (5)
2(a) (i) Explain the difference between the terms magnifying power and magnification as
applied to optical instruments. (3)
(iii) With the aid of a ray diagram, explain how the two lenses of a telescope form, at
infinity, a magnified virtual image of a real distant object. (4)
(b) A telescope has an objective of focal length 80cm and an eyepiece of focal length
2.0cm. It is focused on the moon, whose diameter subtends an angle of 8.0 x 10-3 rad at the
objective. The eyepiece is adjusted so as to project a sharp image of the moon onto a screen
placed 20cm from the eyepiece lens. Calculate:
(i) the diameter of the intermediate image formed by the objective lens. (3)
(c) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the formation of the eye-ring in a telescope and
state why it is the best position for the eye of the observer. (4)
(b) A lens forms a sharp image of height h1 on a fixed screen. As the lens is moved
towards the screen another sharp image of height h2, of the same object, is formed on the
screen. If the object position remained the same in both cases, obtain an expression for the
height of the object. (4)
(c) A converging lens of focal length 30 cm is placed between an object and a diverging
lens of focal length 5 cm. If the object is 6 metres from the converging lens and 6.20 metres
from the diverging lens, determine
4(a) (i) State the conditions for total internal reflection. (2)
(b) Explain how a fish in a pond is able to enjoy a 180o field of view. (3)
(c) Show that when a ray of light passes through different media separated by plane
boundaries
n sin i = constant
where n is the absolute refractive index of a medium and i is the angle made by the ray
with the normal in the medium. (4)
(d) Describe an experiment to measure the refractive index of glass of rectangular shape,
using a pin, by the apparent depth method. (4)
(e) The figure below shows a liquid of refractive index 1.33 enclosed by glass of uniform
thickness. A ray of light, incident on face PQ at an angle of incidence, θ, emerges through
face QR. Q
θ A
P R
(ii) A string of length 0.50 m and mass 5.0 g is stretched between two fixed points. If
the tension in the string is 100 N, find the frequency of the second harmonic.
Tension
(Velocity of sound along the string = ) (4)
Mass per unit length
(ii) State the conditions necessary for the observation of interference pattern. (2)
(iii) Describe how interference can be used to test for the flatness of a surface. (3)
(b) Describe with the aid of a labeled diagram, how the wavelength of monochromatic
light is measured using Young’s double-slit method. (5)
(c) Two microscope slides are in contact at one end and are separated by a thin piece of
paper at the other end. Monochromatic light is directed normally on the wedge.
(ii) Explain what will be observed if a liquid is introduced between the slides.(2)
(b) (i) A source of sound of frequency f, is moving with velocity us away from an
observer who is moving with velocity uo in the same direction. If the velocity of
sound is V, derive an expression for the frequency of sound heard by the observer. (5)
(ii) Explain what happens to the pitch of the sound heard by the observer in (b)(i) above
when the observer moves faster than the source (2)
(c) (i) A star which emits light of wavelength is approaching the earth with velocity v.
If the velocity of light is c, write down an expression for the shift in the wavelength of
the emitted light. (1)
(ii) Describe how the speed of a star may be measured using the Doppler effect (4)
(d) Two open pipes of lengths 78 cm and 80 cm are found to give a beat frequency of 5
Hz when each is sounding in its fundamental note. If the end errors are 1.7 cm and 1.5
cm respectively, calculate the;
4(a) (i) What evidence does suggest that light is a transverse wave while sound is a
longitudinal one? (1)
(b) Two slits X and Y are separated by a distance s and illuminated with light of
wavelength . Derive the expression for the separation between successive fringes on
a screen placed a distance D from the slit. (5)
(c) A source of light, a slit, S, and a double slit (A and B) are arranged as shown below
Perspex screen
with scale
A
Microscope
S
Eye
Source B
of light
(iii) How would you use the set up above to measure the wavelength of red light? (4)
(d) In Young’s double-slit experiment, the 8th bright fringe is formed 6mm away from
the centre of the fringe system when the wavelength of light used is 6.3 x 10-7 m. Calculate
the distance of the screen from the slits if the separation of the two slits is 0.7 mm.
(3)
SECTION C (Magnetism and A.C circuits)
(b) Explain what happens to the angle of dip as one moves along the same longitude
from the Equator to the North pole. (2)
(c) (i) Write down an expression for the magnetic flux density at the centre of a narrow
circular coil of radius r having N turns when a current I is flowing in it. (1)
(d) A circular coil of 4 turns and diameter 14.0 cm carries a current of 0.35A. It is placed
at the equator with its plane along the magnetic meridian. Calculate the direction and
magnitude of the resultant magnetic flux density at the position if the earth’s magnetic
flux density at the location is 1.8 x 10-5 T. (4)
(e) (i) What is meant by the term magnetic moment of a coil? (1)
(ii) Explain why a moving coil galvanometer must have the following:
A radial magnetic field,
Fine hair springs,
Large number of turns
A conducting former. (5)
K
(i) When switch K is closed, at first both bulbs A and B light up, but soon B dims out
while A becomes brighter. Explain these observations. (3)
(c) (i) Explain the origin of the back emf in a motor. (2)
(ii) A motor, whose armature resistance is 2Ω, is operated on 240V mains supply. If it
runs at 3000 rev min-1 when drawing a current of 5 A, at what speed will it run when
drawing a current of 15 A? (3)
(d) (i) With the aid of a labeled diagram, describe the mode of action of a simple d.c
generator. (5)
(ii) Sketch the output against time of a simple d.c generator. (1)
(iii) State two factors that determine the polarity of the output of a d.c generator. (1)
3 (a) Define the following terms as applied to voltage in alternating current circuits.
(i) Root-mean-square value. (1)
(c) With the aid of a labeled diagram, describe the mode of operation of a repulsion type
moving iron ammeter. (5)
(d) A source of alternating current voltage of frequency f is connected across the ends of
a pure inductor of self -inductance L. Derive an expression for the inductive
reactance of the circuit and explain the phase difference between the voltage and the
current that flows. (5)
(e) A pure inductor of inductance 2H, is connected in series with a resistor of 500 Ω
across a source of e.m.f 240 V(r.m.s), alternating at a frequency of 50 Hz. Calculate the
potential difference across the resistor. (4)
(ii) Explain the fact that an alternating current continues to pass through a capacitor
whereas direct current cannot. (4)
(c) With the aid of a labelled diagram describe the structure and action of a hot-wire
ammeter. (6)
(b) A magnetic field of flux density B is applied normally to a metal strip carrying
current I as shown in the figure below.
I P
Q b
a
(i) Account for the occurrence of a potential difference between points P and Q,
indicating the polarity of this p.d. (3)
(ii) Derive an expression for the electric intensity between P and Q if the drift velocity
of the conduction electrons is v. (3)
(c) (i) With the aid of a labeled diagram, describe the mode of action of a simple d.c
generator. (5)
(ii) Sketch the output against time of a simple d.c generator. (1)
(d) A square coil of side 10 cm has 100turns. The coil is arranged to rotate at 3000 rev.
min-1 about a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal uniform magnetic field of
flux density 0.8 T. The axis of rotation passes through the mid-points of a pair of
(b) A coil of area A is rotated at a frequency f in a uniform magnetic field of flux density
B about an axis which is perpendicular to the field.
(i) Derive an expression for the e.m.f generated. (3)
(ii) Deduce at least four of the factors on which the e.m.f depends. (2)
(iii) State any two factors that reduce the efficiency of an a.c. generator to less than
100% (2)
(c) A rectangular coil of 50 turns is 15.0 cm wide and 30.0 cm long. If it rotates at a
uniform rate of 3000 revolutions per minute about an axis parallel to its long side and
at right angles to a uniform magnetic field of flux density 0.04T, find the peak value
of the emf induced in the coil. (2)
(d) (i) A metallic circular disc of diameter d is in a uniform magnetic field of flux density
B and the plane of the disc is perpendicular to the field. If the disc is rotated at a
frequency f, derive an expression for the emf developed between its centre and rim.
(4)
(ii) Describe an experiment to measure resistance by means of a rotating disc in a
magnetic field. (5)
SECTION D (Electricity)
(b) (i) State the factors which determine the resistance of a wire of a given material. (2)
(ii) Explain why the resistance of a metal increases when the temperature of the metal
is increased.
(2)
(iii) Derive an expression for the equivalent resistance of three resistances, R1, R2 and
R3 connected in series. (3)
(c) You are provided with about 1 m of a bare constantan wire, an ammeter, a voltmeter,
crocodile clips and some connecting wires.
Describe an experiment you would perform, using all but only the items provided, to
determine the internal resistance of a cell. Give a diagram of your setup. (5
(d) In the circuit shown below, each source has en e.m.f of 2V and negligible internal
resistance.
(ii) the reading of the voltmeter when connected between B and C. (2)
2(a) Explain why the terminal p.d falls as the current drawn from a source increases. (3)
(b) A d.c source of e.m.f 12 V and negligible internal resistance is connected in series
with two resistors of 400 and R ohms, respectively. When a voltmeter is connected
across the 400 resistor, it reads 4 V while it reads 6 V when connected across the
resistor of R ohms. Find the:
(c) Describe how you would use a slide wire potentiometer to measure the internal
resistance of a dry cell. (5)
(d) In the circuit diagram shown below, AB is a slide wire of length 1.0 m and resistance
10 . X is a driver cell of e.m.f 3.0 V and negligible internal resistance. Y is a cell of
e.m.f 2.2 V and internal resistance 1.0
When the centre-zero galvanometer is connected in turns to points e and f, the balance
lengths obtained are 45.0 cm and 80.0 cm respectively.
Calculate the:
(i) current flowing through R1. (3)
(ii) resistances of R1 and R2. (2)
2
X 3.0V
A B
d e f
R1 R2
Y 2.2V, 1
(c) Describe an experiment to show that capacitance is affected by the thickness of the
dielectric. (4)
(d) Derive an expression for the energy stored in a capacitor of capacitance C charge to a
p.d V. (5)
(e) In the circuit shown below switch K is open, capacitors A and B have respective
capacitances of 10F and 15 F and are charged to p.ds of 25 V and 20 V
respectively.
+A-
K
G
+ -
B
A ballistic galvanometer G, with sensitivity of 2 divisions per C joins the positive
plates of the capacitors. If K is now closed, what will be the throw on G? (5)
(ii) Define the terms electric field intensity and electric potential at a point. (2)
(b) (i) Sketch graphs of the variation of electric potential and electric field intensity with
distance from the centre of a charged conducting sphere. (2)
(ii) Describe how a conducting body may be positively charged but remains at zero
potential. (3)
(iii) Explain how the presence of a neutral conductor near a charged conducting sphere
may reduce the potential of the sphere. (3)
(d) Charges of -1C, +8C and +1C are placed at the corners of a square of side 20
cm as shown below
20cm
+8C +1C
Calculate the:
(i) electric potential at P (4)
(b) The diagram shows two metallic spheres A and B placed apart and each supported on
an insulating stand. A positively charged plate C is placed mid-way between them but
without touching them.
A C
B
(i) Draw the spheres at the end of the operation and show the charge distribution over
them. (2)
(ii) On the same diagram sketch the electric field pattern in the region of the spheres.
(2)
(iii) Explain the change in p.d between the spheres as the spheres are moved further
apart. (2)
(c) Describe an experiment to show that excess charge resides outside a hollow
conductor.
(5)
3cm
Q 4cm R
If the charges are in vacuum, calculate the magnitude of the electric intensity at S due
to the charges. (6)
6(a) Define
(i) capacitance (1)
(b) Describe an experiment to show the relationship between capacitor charge and
potential difference. (5)
(c) Derive an expression for the equivalent capacitance of three capacitors connected in
series. (3)
(d) Two large metal plates, placed parallel to each other and separated by dry air, form a
capacitor. The arrangement is given a charge, then isolated and finally an ideal
voltmeter is connected across its plates as shown.
V
Explain what is observed on the voltmeter reading when