British Physics Olympiad Competition

BPhO Answer Booklet

7th November 2023

Name
School
Account Number
The question paper must not be taken out of the exam room.

Instructions

Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Questions: There are two sections in the paper and you should spend about 1 hour 20 minutes
on each section.
Section 1 - Students may attempt any parts but are not expected to complete all parts.
Section 2 - Only two questions out of the four questions should be attempted.
Each question contains independent parts so that later parts should be
attempted even if earlier parts are incomplete.
Marks: A maximum of 50 marks can be awarded for Section 1. There is a total of ≈ 80
marks allocated to the problems of Question 1 which makes up the whole of Section 1.
Each question in Section 2 is out of 25, with a maximum of 50 marks from two questions
only. Students are recommended to spend about 40 minutes on each question.

Working: Working, calculations, explanations and diagrams, properly laid out, must be shown
for full credit. The final answer alone is not sufficient. Writing must be clear.

Calculators: Any standard calculator may be used, but calculators cannot be programmable
and must not have symbolic algebra capability.

Solutions: Answers and calculations are to be written in the Answer booklet. A formula sheet
should also be made available. Students should ensure that their Name, School and
Account Number written clearly on the Answer booklet. Number each question answered.
 Important Constants

Constant Symbol Value

Speed of light in free space c 3.00 × 108 m s−1

Elementary charge e 1.602 × 10−19 C

Planck constant h 6.63 × 10−34 J s

Mass of electron me 9.110 × 10−31 kg

Mass of proton mp 1.673 × 10−27 kg

Mass of neutron mp 1.675 × 10−27 kg

atomic mass unit u 1.661 × 10−27 kg = 931.5 MeV c−2

Gravitational constant G 6.67 × 10−11 m3 kg−1 s−2

Earth’s gravitational field strength g 9.81 N kg−1

Permittivity of free space ε0 8.85 × 10−12 F m−1

Avogadro constant NA 6.02 × 1023 mol−1

Gas constant R 8.3145 J K−1 mol−1

Mass of Sun MS 1.99 × 1030 kg

Radius of Earth RE 6.37 × 106 m

◦
Specific heat capacity of water cw 4180 J kg−1 C−1

T(K) = T(◦ C) + 273

Volume of a sphere = 34 πr3

ex ≈ 1 + x + ... x≪1

(1 + x)n ≈ 1 + nx x≪1
1
≈ 1 − nx x≪1
(1 + x)n
tan θ ≈ sin θ ≈ θ for θ ≪ 1
θ2
cos θ ≈1− for θ ≪ 1
2
 Formula Sheet
Mechanics Waves
Equations of motion s = ut + 12 at2 Refraction n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2
λd
v 2 = u2 + 2as Double slit fringes w=
s
fs c
s = 1/2(u + v)t Doppler effect fo =
c ± vs
h
Impulse F ∆t = ∆(mv) de Broglie wavelength λ=
p
Work W = F s cos θ Photon energy E = hf
v2
Centripetal acceleration a= = ω2r
r
Gases
Hydrostatic pressure p = ρgh
Gas law pV = nRT

Electricity Work done by a gas ∆W = p∆V

∆Q
Current I=
∆t Pressure of an ideal gas pV = 13 N mhc2 i
Power P =VI 1
Energy of a molecule 2
2 mcRMS = 32 kT
Resistance V = IR
Fields
Electric current I = nAvq ∆V
Field and potential E=−
ρ` ∆x
Resistivity R= GM
A Gravitational potential Vg = −
r
Resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + . . . GM
Gravitational field Eg = 2
1 1 1 r
Resistors in parallel = + + ... Q
R R1 R2 Electric potential V =
4πε0 r
AC voltage V = V0 sin ωt Q
Electric field E=
4πε0 r2
SHM Q
Capacitance C=
Acceleration a = −ω 2 x V
1 1 1
Capacitors in series = + + ...
Displacement x = A sin(ωt + φ) C C1 C2
r
m Capacitors in parallel C = C1 + C2 + . . .
Period of a spring T = 2π
k
Energy of a capacitor E = 12 QV
Radioactivity Magnetic force F = I`B and F = qvB
Radioactive decay N = N0 exp(−λt)
dφ
EM induction ε = −N
dt
Decay constant λt 1 = ln 2 = 0.693
2

Thermal
Heat transfer Q = mc∆T and Q = mL

Thermodynamics ∆Q = ∆U + ∆W
 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page:

 BPhO Answer Booklet

Name: School: Account Number: Page: