FORM V TEST

1) (a) What is a magnetic field?

(b) Distinguish between soft and hard magnetic materials
(c) Sketch the magnetic field line pattern on the diagrams:
S

Soft Iron

Soft iron

2) The diagram shows a steel bar to be magnetised with a north pole at end A.
steel bar

Copy and complete the diagram to show how you would arrange a coil, connected to a
battery, to achieve this. How will you check experimentally that the steel bar has been
magnetised.
3) The diagram shows a cross-section through a conductor carrying a current into the paper.
(a) Sketch on the diagram the pattern of the magnetic field lines due to the current.
(b) Describe how you will check experimentally the direction of the magnetic field lines
around the wire.
(c) How the magnetic field changes if current is decreased?
4) The diagram shows a beam of electron entering a region of magnetic field out of the paper.
Copy the diagram and complete the path of the electron beam as
field out of paper
it enters and emerges the magnetic field.
Explain the reason for your path.

4) (a) What happens if the split-ring in a d.c motor is replaced by a slip ring?
(b) Give two reasons why sometimes the coil of a d.c motor does not rotate when the external
circuit is closed.
(c) Sketch a graph to show how the force acting on each side of the coil in a d.c motor varies
with time as the coil rotates at a constant rate.
5) The diagram shows a simple a.c generator.
(a) Explain why an e.m.f is induced in the coil as it rotates.
(b) State the polarity of the ring P at the instant shown in the
diagram. Explain your answer.
(c) Explain why work has to be done to keep the coil rotating
when the slip rings P and Q are connected across a resistor.
(d) The coil rotates at a constant rate of 2 rev/s. At this speed,
the maximum value of the induced e.m.f. is 20mV. On graph
paper, sketch a graph of e.m.f. against time for a time interval
of 1 s from the instant shown in the diagram.

axle

S
coil
P
Q

I/A
FORM V TEST
1) The graph shows how the current I in an electrical
component varies with the p.d V across it.

0.25

(a) Calculate the resistance of the component at

0.15
a p.d of 2 V.
(b) State, with a reason, whether the resistance of the 0.12
component increases or decreases with increasing p.d.
0
2) (a) The battery has an e.m.f of 12 V.
What is meant by an e.m.f of 12 V?
(b) Calculate the readings shown by ammeter A and voltmeter
V.
(b) Calculate the energy supplied by the battery in 5 minutes.
(d) The filament of the 3 lamp breaks. State and explain
any change in the brightness of the 6 lamp.

V/V

12V

2
V
3

3) (a) State one similarity and one difference between

transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
6
(b) Visible light has a longer wavelength than X rays.
A
Compare their frequency. Explain your answer.
(c) Sketch the waveform of a pure note and a musical note. State and explain the difference
between their waveform.
4) An electric kettle is marked 3 kW, 240 V. It is connected, through a correctly wired 3-pin
plug, to the 240 V mains supply socket.
(a) Suggest a fuse value to be used in the plug.
(b) Calculate the electrical energy supplied to the electric kettle in 6 minutes.
(c) Water in the electric kettle connected to a 240 V supply took 6 min to reach its boiling
point. How long would it have taken if the supply had been one of 210 V?
(d) Another electric kettle is marked 3kW, 120V. Calculate the ratio of their resistances.
(e) The electric kettle has a metal casing. For safety it is fitted with an earth wire. State where
the earth wire is connected to the kettle and explain how it acts as a safety device.
(f) Explain why the wires in the flexible cable connecting the kettle to the mains supply are
made thick.
5) Two men stand a distance apart beside a long metal fence on a still day. One man places
his ear against the fence while the other gives the fence a sharp knock with a hammer. Two
sounds, separated by a time interval of 0.5 s, are heard by the first man.
(a) Explain why two sounds are heard. (b) Estimate how far apart are the two men.
6) (a) Water ripples are caused to travel across the surface of a shallow tank by means of a
suitable straight vibrator. The distance between 15 successive crests is 42.0 cm and the waves
travel 42 cm in 2.0 s. Calculate the frequency of the vibrator.
(b) As the ripples cross the tank they meet a shallower section, the edge of which is straight
and at 45 to the initial direction of the ripples. If the wave velocity in this section is only
two-thirds of the initial value, describe as fully as possible what happens to the ripples. Your
answer should be illustrated by suitable calculations and a clear diagram.

Lower Six Practical Test First Term 2015 (20 marks)

In this experiment, you will investigate how the period T of a simple pendulum
depends on its length l.
(a) Set up the apparatus as shown as shown in Fig 1.1, with l about 1 m.
cork
clamp
thread
retord stand

bob

Fig. 1.1

Fig.1.2

(i) Measure and record length l.

(b) Displace the bob a small distance to the left and release. The time the bob takes
for each complete swing, first to the right and then back to the left, as shown in
Fig. 1.2, is the period T.
By timing several of these complete swings, determine an accurate value of T. [2]
(c) (i) Change length l and repeat (b) until you have 6 sets of values of l and T.
Include T2 in your table of results.
(ii) Justify the number of significant figures that you have given for T2. [7]
(d) (i) Plot a graph of T2 against l. [5]
(ii) Draw the line of best fit. [2]
(iii) Determine the gradient of this line of best fit. [2]

l
(e) Theory predicts that T and l are related by the equation T =2 g , where g is
the
acceleration of free fall. Use your answer from (d) (iii) to determine the value
for g. Include an appropriate unit. [2]

1. Explain the principles behind the use of X-rays for imaging internal body structures.
X-ray beam directed through body onto detector (plate)
different tissues absorb/attenuate beam by different amounts
giving shadow image of structures
any other detail e.g. comment re sharpness or contrast
2.Describe how the image produced during CT scanning differs from that produced by
X-ray imaging.
X-ray image is flat OR 2-dimensional
CT scan takes many images of a slice at different angles
these build up an image of a slice through the body
series of images of slices is made
so that 3D image can be built up
image can then be rotated
3.Suggest and explain two ways in which the reproduction of the original analogue
signal could be improved.
increase number of bits in digital number at each sampling
so that step height is reduced
increase sampling frequency / reduce time between samples
so that depth / width of step is reduced
4.Whilst making a call using a mobile phone fitted into a car, a motorist moves through
several different cells. Explain how the reception of signals to and from the mobile
phone is maintained.
computer at cellular exchange
monitors signal strength
switches call from one base station to another
to maintain maximum signal strength
5.What is meant by acoustic impedance.
product of density (of medium) and speed of sound (in medium)
6.Explain why acoustic impedance is important when considering reflection of
ultrasound at the boundary between two media.
difference in acoustic impedance
determines fraction of incident intensity
that is reflected/amount of reflection
7.Explain the principles behind the use of ultrasound to obtain diagnostic information
about structures within the body.
pulse of ultrasound (directed into body)
reflected at boundary (between tissues)
(reflected pulse is) detected and processed
time for return of echo gives (information on) depth
amount of reflection gives information on tissue structures
8.Suggest and explain why the country is divided into a number of cells.
carrier frequencies can be re-used (simultaneously without interference)

so that number of handsets possible is increased

lower power transmitters
so less interference)
UHF used
so must be line-of-sight/short handset aerial
9.Outline what happens at the base station and the cellular exchange when a mobile
phone handset is switched on before a call is made/ received.
handset sends out an (identifying) signal
communicated by base stations to (computer at) exchange
computer selects base station with strongest signal
and allocates a (carrier) frequency
10.Outline briefly the main principles of the use of MRI to obtain information about
internal body structures.
large / strong (constant) magnetic field
nuclei rotate about direction of field / precess
radio frequency / r.f. pulse
causes resonance in nuclei , nuclei absorb energy
(pulse) is at the Larmor frequency
on relaxation / nuclei de-excite emit (pulse of) r.f.
detected and processed
non-uniform field (superimposed)
allows for position of nuclei to be determined
and for location of detection to be changed
11.What is virtual earth?
gain of op-amp is very large / infinite
non-inverting input is at earth / 0 V
for amplifier not to saturate, P must be at about earth / 0 V
12.By reference to the principles of CT scanning, suggest why CT scanning could not be
developed before powerful computers were available.
X-ray image of slice taken from many different angles
these images are combined (and processed)
repeated for many different slices
to build up a 3-D image
3-D image can be rotated
computer required to store and process huge quantity of data
13.Explain the main principles behind the use of ultrasound to obtain diagnostic
information about internal body structures.
pulse of ultrasound
reflected at boundaries / boundary )
received / detected (at surface) by transducer
signal processed and displayed
time between transmission and receipt of pulse gives
(information about) depth of boundary
reflected intensity gives information as to nature of boundary

14.Explain why as the crack becomes wider, the resistance of the strain gauge increases.
resistance of wire = L / A
as crack widens, L increases and A decreases
so resistance increases
A strain gauge is made by sealing a length of very fine wire in a small rectangle of thin
plastic.
15.Explain why a continuous spectrum of wavelengths is produced in the spectrum of Xray radiation.
e.m. radiation / photons is produced whenever a charged particle
is accelerated
wavelength depens on magnitude of acceleration
electrons have a distribution of accelerations
so continuous spectrum
Explain why the spectrum had a sharp cut off at short wavelengths.
when electron loses all its energy in one collision
or when energy of electron produces a single photon
16.What is the linear absorption coefficient?
parallel beam (in matter)
I = I0exp(-x)
I, I0, and x explained
17.Why is it advantageous to filter out low energy photons from the X-ray beam?
low-energy photons absorbed (much) more readily
or low-energy photons (far) less penetrating
low-energy photons do not contribute to X-ray image
low energy photons could cause tissue damage
18.Briefly explain the principles of CT Scanning.
X-ray taken of slice / plane / section
repeated at different angles
images / data is processed
combined / added to give (2-D) image of slice
repeated for successive slices
to build up a 3-D image
image can be viewed from different angles / rotated
19.What is negative feedback?
fraction of the output (signal) is added to the input (signal)
out of phase by 180 / rad / to inverting input
20.Explain the main principles behind the generation and detection of ultrasound to
obtain diagnostic information about internal body structures.
1)either quartz or piezo-electric crystal
opposite faces /two sides coated (with silver) to act as electrodes
either molecular structure indicated
or centres of (+) and () charge not coincident

potential difference across crystal causes crystal to change shape

alternating voltage (in US frequency range) applied across crystal
causes crystal to oscillate / vibrate
(crystal cut) so that it vibrates at resonant frequency
2)quartz/piezo-electric crystal
p.d. across crystal causes either centres of (+) and () charge to move
or crystal to change shape
alternating p.d. (in ultrasound frequency range) causes crystal to vibrate
crystal cut to produce resonance
when crystal made to vibrate by ultrasound wave
alternating p.d. produced across the crystal
21.Explain the use of a gel on the surface of skin during ultrasound diagnosis
no gel, majority of ultrasound will undergo reflection
with gel, little reflection
when wave travels in or out of the body
22.Outline the principles of the use of a geostationary satellite for communication on
Earth
(carrier wave) transmitted from Earth to satellite
satellite receives greatly attenuated signal
signal amplified and transmitted back to Earth
at a different (carrier) frequency
different frequencies prevent swamping of uplink signal
e.g. of frequencies used (6/4 GHz, 14/11 GHz, 30/20 GHz)
23.Advantages of a Polar satellite
much shorter time delay
because orbits are much lower
e.g. whole Earth may be covered
in several orbits / with network
24.Disadvantages of a Polar satellite
must be tracked
or limited use in any one orbit
more satellites required for continuous operation
25.By reference to the formation of the image in each case, suggest why the exposure to
radiation differs between CT scans and X rays.
X-ray image involves a single exposure
CT scan: exposure of a slice from many different angles
repeated for different slices
CT scan involves a (much) greater exposure
26.Suggest why on an X ray plate, the contrast between bone and muscle is much
greater than that between fat and muscle
attenuation (coefficients) in muscle and in fat are similar
attenuation (coefficients) in bone and muscle / fat are different
contrast depends on difference in attenuation

27.Suggest the function of a DAC

analogue signal is sampled at (regular time) intervals
sampled signal is converted into a binary number
28.State the function of a comparator
to compare two potentials / voltages
output depends upon which is greater
29.Describe the effect on the transmission of ultrasound through a boundary where
there is a large difference between
acoustic impedance of the two media.
would be nearly equal to 1
either reflected intensity would be nearly equal to incident intensity
or coefficient for transmitted intensity = (1 )
transmitted intensity would be small
30.The use of ionoshperic reflection or radio waves has been replaced by satellite
communication. Why?
e.g. unreliable communication
because ion layers vary in height / density
e.g. cannot carry all information required
bandwidth too narrow
e.g. coverage limited
reception poor in hilly areas
31.Why should uplink and downlink frequencies must be different?
signal must be amplified (greatly) before transmission back to Earth
uplink signal would be swamped by downlink signal
32.State and explain the purpose of relays.
relay can be used to switch a large current/voltage
output current of op-amp is a few mA/very small
or relay can be used as a remote switch
for inhospitable region/avoids using long heavy cables
33.Suggest why communication between a mobile phone handset and the base station is
conducted using UHF.
short aerial so easy to handle
short range so less interference between base stations
larger waveband so more carrier frequencies
34.Explain why neighboring cells use different carrier frequencies.
no interference (between signals) near boundaries (of cells)
35.Explain why each cell has a limited area, even in sparsely populated regions.
for large area, signal strength would have to be greater and this could be hazardous to health

36.Explain why the regenerator amplifiers do not amplify the noise that has been picked
up on digital signals.
for digital, only the high and the low / 1 and 0 are necessary
variation between highs and lows caused by noise not required
37.State the function of the parallel to serial converter.
all bits for one number arrive at one time
bits are sent out one after another
38.Suggest why cross linking in coaxial cables is much less than in wire pairs.
outer of coaxial cable is earthed
outer shields the core from noise / external signals
39.Explain the importance of the difference between Z1 and Z2 for the transmission of
ultrasound across the body.
Z1>Z2- mostly transmission if small
If large, mostly reflection
Refer to attenuation coefficient
40.Suggest and explain an advantage of the use of high frequency ultrasound compared
with lower frequency ultrasound.
Increase frequency- smaller structures/details can be distinguished.