Cambridge Pre-U

* 1 4 4 0 9 1 4 6 1 4 *

PHYSICS 9792/02
Paper 2 Written Paper October/November 2020

2 hours

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: Insert (enclosed)

INSTRUCTIONS
● Section 1: answer all questions.
● Section 2: answer the question. The question is based on the material in the insert, which is a copy of
the pre-release material.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 100.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This syllabus is regulated for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a Cambridge International Level 3 Pre-U Certificate.

This document has 28 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (LO) 208247
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 dt
a = –Aω cos ωt
2
N = N0e– λ t
F = –mω 2x
2 In2
t1 =
1 λ
Data E = 2
mA2ω 2 2

1 g = 9.81 N kg–1 attenuation losses I = I 0e – μ x

gravitational field strength close toinEarth’s
energy stored a surface
W = 2 QV
capacitor
elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10 –19 mass-energy
C equivalence ΔE = c 2Δm
t
–
capacitor discharge
speed of light in vacuum Q = Q0ec RC= 3.00 × 108 m s–1 –13.6 eV
hydrogen energy levels En =
n2
Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10 –34 J s
Q1Q2
electric force F = h
permittivity of free space 4 πε 0r=2 8.85 × 10 –12 Heisenberg
F m–1 uncertainty ΔpΔx
2π
principle
gravitational constant Q1GQ2= 6.67 × 10 –11 N m 2 kg –2
electrostatic potential W =
4 π ε 0r 1
electron mass energy me = 9.11 × 10 –31 Wien’s
kg displacement law λ max ∝
T

proton mass Gm m2 × 10 –27 Stefan’s

gravitational force F = – mp 12= 1.67 kg law L = 4πσ r 2T 4
r
unified atomic mass constant u = 1.66 × 10 –27 kg
Gm1m2 electromagnetic radiation Δλ ≈ Δf ≈ v
molar gas constantgravitational potential E = – Rr = 8.31 J K –1 molfrom
–1 a moving source λ f c
energy
Avogadro constant N = 6.02 × 10 23 mol –1
magnetic force F = BIl Asinθ
Boltzmann constant = 1.38 –23 –1
F = BQvk sinθ × 10 J K
Stefan-Boltzmann constant σ = 5.67 × 10–8 W m–2 K– 4

Formulae

1
uniformly accelerated s = ut + 2 at 2 change of state ΔE = mL
motion
sin θ1
v 2 = u 2 + 2as refraction n =
sin θ2

u+v v1
s = t n =
2 v2

heating ΔE = mcΔθ

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d(NΦ)
diffraction electromagnetic induction E = –
dt
single slit, minima nλ = b sinθθ
Hall effect V = Bvd
grating, maxima nλ = d sinθθ
ax t
double slit interference λ =
D time dilation t' =
1 – v2
2

c
λ
Rayleigh criterion θ ≈
b
1 – v2
2
length contraction l' = l
c
photon energy E = hf

1 3
h kinetic theory 2m c2 = 22 kT
de Broglie wavelength λ =
p
work done on/by a gas W = p ΔV
simple harmonic motion x = A cos ω t
dN
v = –Aω sin ω t radioactive decay = –λN
dt
a = –Aω 2 cos ωt
N = N0e– λ t
F = –mω 2x
In2
t1 =
1 λ
E = 2
mA2ω 2 2

1 attenuation losses I = I 0e – μ x
energy stored in a W = 2 QV
capacitor
mass-energy equivalence ΔE = c 2Δm
tt
– RC
capacitor discharge Q = Q0e RC –13.6 eV
hydrogen energy levels En =
n2
Q1Q2
electric force F = h
4 π ε 0r 2 Heisenberg uncertainty ΔpΔx
2π
principle
Q1Q2
electrostatic potential W =
4 π ε 0r 1
energy Wien’s displacement law λ max ∝
T
Gm1m2
gravitational force F = – Stefan’s law L = 4πσ r 2T 4
r2

Gm1m2 electromagnetic radiation Δλ ≈ Δf ≈ v

gravitational potential E = – r from a moving source λ f c
energy

magnetic force F = BIl sinθ

F = BQv sinθ

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 4

Section 1

You are advised to spend about 1 hour 30 minutes on this section.

1 (a) State what is meant by a heat engine.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) The efficiency of a power station that generates 2.25 GW of electricity is 37.5% (0.375).

(i) Calculate the total energy input to the power station in 12.0 hours. Give your answer in
joules.

total energy input = ...................................................... J [3]

(ii) The power station is kept cool by pumping water through the heated parts at a rate of
38 000 kg s–1. The specific heat capacity of water is 4180 J kg–1 K–1.

Calculate the temperature increase of the water.

temperature increase = ...................................................... K [3]

[Total: 8]

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2 Steel is a material that can be formed into a wire because steel is tough.

(a) State what is meant by tough.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) A 2.50 m length of steel wire of diameter 0.610 mm is suspended vertically from a support. A
60.0 N weight is attached to the lower end of the wire and, as it stretches, the extension of the
wire remains within the Hooke’s law region.

(i) State what is meant by the Hooke’s law region.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) The Young modulus of steel is 1.85 × 1011 Pa.

Calculate the extension of the wire.

extension = ..................................................... m [3]

(c) Explain, in terms of the atoms, how plastic deformation differs from elastic deformation.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 8]

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 6

3 A pulley system is a device that consists of wheels (pulleys) and a rope which is used to lift loads.

Fig. 3.1 shows a system of two pulleys with one pulley fixed to the ceiling but free to rotate. The
other pulley is attached to a load.

ceiling

fixed pulley
rope

11.5°
force
11.5°
moving pulley

load

Fig. 3.1 (not to scale)

A force is used to pull the free end of the rope and this lifts the load at a constant speed. The air
resistance and friction are negligible.

The moving pulley has a mass of 2.40 kg and the load is a box of weight 960 N.

(a) The tension T in the rope is constant along its length.

Calculate:

(i) the combined weight of the moving pulley and load

combined weight = ..................................................... N [1]

(ii) tension T.

T = ..................................................... N [2]

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(b) The load is lifted, at a constant speed, through a distance of 3.50 m.

(i) Calculate the gravitational potential energy gained by the load.

gravitational potential energy gained = ...................................................... J [2]

(ii) As the load moves upwards, the tension in the rope changes.

Explain how the tension changes.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) A graph of force applied against the distance moved by the force is plotted.

State how the work done by the force can be deduced from the graph.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) When the pulley system is used, the work done by the force pulling the rope is greater than
the gravitational potential energy gained by the load.

(i) Suggest one reason for this.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Suggest one reason for using the pulley system.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 10]

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4 Fig. 4.1 shows a laboratory trolley that contains a tank of water.

tank

valve water

nozzle

Fig. 4.1

The water in the tank is maintained at high pressure. At time t = 0, the valve is opened and water
is expelled backwards through the circular nozzle at a constant rate. The jet of water leaves the
nozzle horizontally and the trolley accelerates forwards in a straight line until there is no water left
in the tank.

As the trolley moves forwards, it experiences a constant resistive force of 0.050 N.

A sensor is used to measure the instantaneous speed of the trolley for the first 7.0 s of its motion.

Fig. 4.2 is the speed–time graph for the trolley.

2.0

speed / m s–1

1.5

1.0

0.5

0
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0
t/s

Fig. 4.2

The density of water is 1000 kg m–3.

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By considering the motion of the trolley immediately after t = 0, immediately before t = 4.0 s and
after t = 4.0 s, or otherwise, explain what can be deduced from the graph.

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

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.................................................................................................................................................... [8]

[Total: 8]

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 10

5 A 12.0 V battery, which has a negligible internal resistance, is used to power a 24.0 W, 12.0 V
filament lamp.

(a) Calculate the resistance of the lamp when powered by the battery.

resistance = ..................................................... Ω [1]

(b) (i) The 12.0 V battery is the power source of a circuit that is used to obtain results for a
voltage–current graph for the filament lamp. The circuit ensures all values of voltage
from 0 to 12.0 V inclusive can be supplied to the lamp.

Draw the circuit diagram and describe how the circuit is used.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [4]

(ii) The resistance of the filament lamp increases as its temperature increases.

On Fig. 5.1, sketch a voltage–current graph for the lamp. Include a value for IO, the
operating current.

12.0

voltage / V

0
0 IO = ............... A
current / A

Fig. 5.1
[2]
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 11

(c) The 12.0 V battery is used to power the circuit shown in Fig. 5.2.

12.0 V

X 15.0 Ω

20.0 Ω

Fig. 5.2

The resistance of X is set at 30.0 Ω.

(i) Calculate the current in the 15.0 Ω resistor.

current = ...................................................... A [3]

(ii) The resistance of X is gradually decreased.

Explain what happens to the current in the 15.0 Ω resistor.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 12]

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6 A transmitter produces microwaves of wavelength 0.0310 m.

Fig. 6.1 shows the transmitter in front of a vertical aluminium sheet which reflects the microwaves
incident on it.

microwave aluminium
transmitter sheet

Fig. 6.1

(a) The microwaves produced by the transmitter create a standing wave in the region between
the transmitter and the aluminium sheet.

(i) Describe what is meant by standing wave.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) State why a standing microwave is set up between the transmitter and the aluminium
sheet.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Determine the distance between a node and an adjacent antinode in the standing wave.

distance = ..................................................... m [1]

(b) The microwaves produced by the transmitter are plane-polarised.

(i) Explain why microwaves can be plane-polarised but sound waves cannot be.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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 14

(ii) The aluminium sheet in Fig. 6.1 is removed and replaced with the arrangement of thin,
vertical conducting rods shown in Fig. 6.2.

plastic block
conducting rods
transmitter
detector

A B
rotation
direction

Fig. 6.2

The arrangement of rods is held in place by two plastic blocks. A microwave detector is
placed behind the rods.

The arrangement acts as a polarising filter for the microwaves and with the rods vertical,
no microwaves are detected.

The arrangement of rods is rotated by 90° about the axis AB to the position shown in
Fig. 6.3.

plastic block
conducting rods
transmitter
detector

A B
rotation
direction

Fig. 6.3

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 15

On Fig. 6.4, sketch a graph to show how the amplitude of the waves detected changes
as the arrangement of rods is rotated from 0 to 360° from the original, vertical position.

maximum
amplitude

0
0 90 180 270 360
angle of rotation from vertical / °

Fig. 6.4
[2]

[Total: 8]

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 16

7 Fig. 7.1 shows two aluminium spheres, X and Y, mounted on insulating stands.

sphere X sphere Y

Fig. 7.1

The surfaces of the two spheres are thoroughly cleaned. The positive terminal of a high-voltage
power supply is connected to X and the negative terminal is connected to Y.

Sphere X gains a positive charge of 6.24 × 10–8 C and sphere Y gains a negative charge of the
same magnitude. The charging takes a time of 0.325 ms.

(a) Calculate the average charging current in the connecting wires.

charging current = ...................................................... A [2]

(b) The power supply is disconnected from both spheres and the spheres are moved a long way
apart. Monochromatic ultraviolet radiation is directed onto both spheres.

(i) Explain why Y emits electrons from its surface and discharges but X does not discharge.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

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(ii) The kinetic energies of the electrons emitted by Y are measured and it is observed that
their kinetic energies range from zero to a maximum value.

Explain why there is a maximum value of these kinetic energies.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) Explain why some electrons have kinetic energies less than the maximum value in (b)(ii).

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) When the wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation used is 2.56 × 10–7 m, the maximum
kinetic energy of the electrons emitted is 1.24 × 10–19 J.

Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of the electrons emitted when ultraviolet radiation
of wavelength 1.28 × 10–7 m is directed onto an aluminium surface.

maximum kinetic energy = ...................................................... J [3]

[Total: 11]

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 18

8 Plutonium-239 (23994Pu) is produced in a nuclear reactor by exposing nuclei of a particular isotope

to neutron radiation.

(a) A nucleus of the isotope absorbs a neutron. This produces a nucleus of uranium-239 (239
92U).

(i) Complete the nuclear equation that represents this first stage.

..... ..... 239

..... ..... + ..... n 92 U

[2]

(ii) The uranium-239 nuclide is radioactive. It decays to produce an intermediate nuclide of

neptunium (Np) which in turn decays to produce a nuclide of plutonium-239.

Deduce:

• the type of radioactive decay that produces the neptunium nuclide

• the type of radioactive decay by which the neptunium nuclide decays
• the proton number (atomic number) of neptunium.

neptunium nuclide produced by .................................................... decay

neptunium nuclide decays by .................................................... decay

proton number of neptunium = ...............................................................

[2]

(b) In a nuclear power station, plutonium-239 undergoes induced fission which leads to a chain
reaction.

(i) Explain what is meant by induced fission.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain what is meant by chain reaction.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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(c) When plutonium-239 is used as fuel in a power station, it does not all undergo fission. The
nuclear waste contains some plutonium-239. Its half-life is 2.41 × 104 years.

Calculate the proportion of the original quantity of plutonium-239 that remains after 9.64 × 104
years elapse.

proportion remaining = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 10]

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 20

Section 2

You are advised to spend about 30 minutes on this section.

The questions in this section refer to the pre-release material provided as an insert to the question
paper.

Your answers should, where possible, make use of any relevant physics.

9 (a) Table 9.1 shows the kinetic energies of two particles emitted during radioactive decay.

Table 9.1

particle kinetic energy

parent nucleus radiation emitted
/ MeV
radon-222 alpha 5.48
carbon-14 beta 0.156

(i) A moving alpha-particle has both charge and kinetic energy.

Calculate the charge of an alpha-particle.

charge = ..................................................... C [1]

(ii) A stationary alpha-particle is accelerated by a potential difference (p.d.) until its kinetic
energy is equal to that of an alpha-particle emitted by radon-222.

Calculate the p.d. required.

p.d. = ...................................................... V [1]

(iii) Calculate the speed of a 5.48 MeV alpha-particle.

mass of alpha-particle mα = 6.64 × 10–27 kg

speed = ................................................ m s–1 [2]

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(iv) Explain why beta-particles can penetrate much further through air than alpha-particles
even though the beta-particles have far less energy.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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(b) The linear accelerator (LINAC) in Fig. 9.1 is being used to accelerate protons.

proton source 1 2 3 n

beam

cylindrical tubes high-frequency

alternating p.d.

Fig. 9.1

The alternating p.d. shown in Fig. 9.2 is connected to the odd-numbered cylindrical tubes
(tubes 1, 3, 5, etc.) in Fig. 9.1. The even-numbered tubes (tubes 2, 4, 6, etc.) are connected
to the proton source which is at earth potential (0 V).

p.d. / V
2000

0 time / ns
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

−2000

Fig. 9.2

(i) On the graph of Fig. 9.2, mark with X a point where the p.d. causes a proton between
tube 1 and tube 2 to accelerate away from the source. [1]

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(ii) Explain why the proton is only accelerated away from the source when it is between
adjacent cylindrical tubes, even though the electric field changes direction regularly.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

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...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(iii) At the time when LINACs were being developed, radio transmissions used electromagnetic
waves with wavelengths in the range 10 m–2000 m.

Use data from Fig. 9.2 to justify whether the alternating p.d. source can be classified as
radiofrequency.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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 24

(c) Fig. 9.3 (a) and Fig. 9.3 (b) show a cyclotron, viewed along the direction of the magnetic field.
It is being used to accelerate protons. The gap where the electric field E accelerates protons
is much smaller than the radius of each dee.

D1 D1

B B
F
+ –

E E
dees
F
– +

D2 D2

Fig. 9.3 (a) Fig. 9.3 (b)

(i) The magnetic flux density B is constant over the area of the two dees and is perpendicular
to, and out of, the plane of the diagram.

State why the protons within each dee follow a circular path. You can assume that the
protons each have a constant speed within each dee.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]
mv where v is the speed
(ii) Show that the radius r of each semi-circular path is given by r =
qB
of the proton, m is the mass of the proton and q is the charge of the proton.

[2]

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(iii) One of Lawrence’s cyclotrons had a diameter of 0.28 m and a magnetic flux density of
1.1 T. It was reported that it could accelerate protons to energies greater than 1 MeV.

Use the equation in (c)(ii) to check this claim, justifying your choice of values used.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(iv) The p.d. between the two dees in Lawrence’s cyclotron described in (c)(iii) is 50 kV when
the proton crosses the gap.

Calculate the number of complete rotations a proton must make to reach a kinetic energy
of 1 MeV.

number of complete rotations = ......................................................... [1]

(v) Protons are injected into the cyclotron near the centre and emerge near the outside
edge of one of the dees.

Estimate the total distance travelled by the 1 MeV proton while in the cyclotron.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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(d) Maxwell showed that accelerating electric charges emit electromagnetic waves.

(i) Fig. 9.4 shows a radio transmitter antenna (aerial) consisting of two conductors AB and
CD connected to an alternating source of p.d. as shown in Fig. 9.2. As a result, conductor
AB becomes positively charged and CD becomes negatively charged. Some time later
conductor AB becomes negatively charged and CD becomes positively charged. These
two arrangements of charge then continue to alternate.

A A
+ –

+ –
B B

C C
– +

– +

D D

Fig. 9.4

Explain how this alternating p.d. results in the acceleration of charges in AB.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Fig. 9.5 shows a proton travelling in a circular path at a constant speed in a synchrotron.

synchrotron
ton +
f pro radiation
o
th
pa

Fig. 9.5

State why the movement of the proton generates electromagnetic waves.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 25]

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© UCLES 2020 9792/02/O/N/20