Cambridge International AS & A Level

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PHYSICS 9702/22
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions October/November 2023

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● 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 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (RW/SG) 313481/2
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Data

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s–2

speed of light in free space c = 3.00 × 108 m s–1

elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10–19 C

unified atomic mass unit 1u = 1.66 × 10–27 kg

rest mass of proton mp = 1.67 × 10–27 kg

rest mass of electron me = 9.11 × 10–31 kg

Avogadro constant NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol–1

molar gas constant R = 8.31 J K–1 mol–1

Boltzmann constant k = 1.38 × 10–23 J K–1

gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2

permittivity of free space ε0 = 8.85 × 10–12 F m–1

1
( = 8.99 × 109 m F–1)
4rf0

Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10–34 J s

Stefan–Boltzmann constant σ = 5.67 × 10–8 W m–2 K–4

Formulae

uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 12 at 2

v2 = u 2 + 2as

hydrostatic pressure ∆p = ρg∆h

upthrust F = ρgV

fs v
Doppler effect for sound waves fo = v!v
s

electric current I = Anvq

resistors in series R = R1 + R2 + ...

1 1 1
resistors in parallel = + + ...
R R1 R2

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BLANK PAGE

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1 (a) In the following list, underline all quantities that are SI base quantities.

charge electric current force time [1]

(b) Under certain conditions, the distance s moved in a straight line by an object in time t is given
by
1
s = 2 at 2

where a is the acceleration of the object.

State two conditions under which the above expression applies to the motion of the object.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

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

(c) The variation with time t of the velocity v of a car that is moving in a straight line is shown in
Fig. 1.1.

25

20

15
v / m s–1
10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
–5 t/s

–10

–15

Fig. 1.1

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(i) Compare, qualitatively, the acceleration of the car at time t = 8.0 s and at time t = 14.0 s
in terms of:

● magnitude

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

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

● direction.

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

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

(ii) Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the car at time t = 4.0 s.

acceleration = ................................................ m s–2 [2]

(iii) The car is at point X at time t = 0.

Determine the magnitude of the displacement of the car from X at time t = 12.0 s.

displacement = ...................................................... m [2]

[Total: 9]

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2 A high‑altitude balloon is stationary in still air. A solid sphere is suspended from the balloon by a
string, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

balloon

string
sphere

Fig. 2.1 (not to scale)

The volume of the balloon is 7.5 m3. The total weight of the balloon, string and sphere is 65 N. The
upthrust acting on the string and sphere is negligible.

(a) Calculate the density of the air surrounding the balloon.

density = .............................................. kg m–3 [2]

(b) The string breaks, releasing the sphere.

(i) State the magnitude of the acceleration of the sphere immediately after the string breaks.

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

(ii) State and explain the variation, if any, in the magnitude of the acceleration of the sphere
when it is moving downwards before it reaches terminal (constant) velocity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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(c) The sphere has a mass of 4.0 kg.

Calculate the total resistive force acting on the sphere at the instant when its acceleration is
1.9 m s–2.

resistive force = ...................................................... N [2]

[Total: 8]

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3 A vertical rod is fixed to the horizontal surface of a table, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

rod

surface of spring
table

Fig. 3.1 (not to scale)

A spring of mass 7.5 g is able to slide along the full length of the rod.

The spring is first pushed against the surface of the table so that it has an initial compression of
2.1 cm. The spring is then suddenly released so that it leaves the surface of the table with a kinetic
energy of 0.048 J and then moves up the rod.

Assume that the spring obeys Hooke’s law and that the initial elastic potential energy of the
compressed spring is equal to the kinetic energy of the spring as it leaves the surface of the table.
Air resistance is negligible.

(a) By using the initial elastic potential energy of the compressed spring, calculate its spring
constant.

spring constant = ................................................ N m–1 [2]

(b) Calculate the speed of the spring as it leaves the surface of the table.

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

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(c) The spring rises to its maximum height up the rod from the surface of the table. This causes
the gravitational potential energy of the spring to increase by 0.039 J.

(i) Calculate, for this movement of the spring, the increase in height of the spring after
leaving the surface of the table.

increase in height = ...................................................... m [2]

(ii) Calculate the average frictional force exerted by the rod on the spring as it rises.

average frictional force = ...................................................... N [2]

(d) The rod is replaced by another rod that exerts negligible frictional force on the moving spring.
The initial compression x of the spring is now varied in order to vary the maximum increase
in height Δh of the spring after leaving the surface of the table. Assume that the spring obeys
Hooke’s law for all compressions.

On Fig. 3.2, sketch a graph to show the variation with x of Δh. Numerical values are not
required.

Δh

0
0 x

Fig. 3.2
[2]

[Total: 10]

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4 (a) A ball Y moves along a horizontal frictionless surface and collides with a ball Z, as illustrated
in the views from above in Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 4.2.

0.25 kg
Y 3.7 m s–1

27°
P Y Z Q P Q
44°
0.25 kg mZ
Z
mZ 5.5 m s–1

BEFORE COLLISION AFTER COLLISION

Fig. 4.1 (not to scale) Fig. 4.2 (not to scale)

Ball Y has a mass of 0.25 kg and initially moves along a line PQ.
Ball Z has a mass mZ and is initially stationary.

After the collision, ball Y has a final velocity of 3.7 m s–1 at an angle of 27° to line PQ and
ball Z has a final velocity of 5.5 m s–1 at an angle of 44° to line PQ.

(i) Calculate the component of the final momentum of ball Y in the direction perpendicular
to line PQ.

component of momentum = .................................................... N s [2]

(ii) By considering the component of the final momentum of each ball in the direction
perpendicular to line PQ, calculate mZ.

mZ = ..................................................... kg [1]

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(iii) During the collision, the average force exerted on Y by Z is FY and the average force
exerted on Z by Y is FZ.

Compare the magnitudes and directions of FY and FZ. Numerical values are not required.

magnitudes: .......................................................................................................................

directions: ..........................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Two blocks, A and B, move directly towards each other along a horizontal frictionless surface,
as shown in the view from above in Fig. 4.3.

4 m s–1 6 m s–1
A B

Fig. 4.3

The blocks collide perfectly elastically. Before the collision, block A has a speed of 4 m s–1 and
block B has a speed of 6 m s–1. After the collision, block B moves back along its original path
with a speed of 2 m s–1.

Calculate the speed of block A after the collision.

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

[Total: 6]

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5 (a) A beam of vertically polarised light is incident normally on a polarising filter, as shown in
Fig. 5.1.

vertically polarised transmitted

incident light beam light beam

transmission
filter axis of filter

Fig. 5.1

(i) The transmission axis of the filter is initially vertical. The filter is then rotated through an
angle of 360° while the plane of the filter remains perpendicular to the beam.

On Fig. 5.2, sketch a graph to show the variation of the intensity of the light in the
transmitted beam with the angle through which the transmission axis is rotated.

maximum value

intensity of
the light

0
0 90 180 270 360
angle / °

Fig. 5.2
[2]

(ii) The intensity of the light in the incident beam is 7.6 W m–2. When the transmission axis
of the filter is at angle θ to the vertical, the light intensity of the transmitted beam is
4.2 W m–2.

Calculate angle θ.

θ = ........................................................° [2]

(b) State what is meant by the diffraction of a wave.

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

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

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

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(c) A beam of light of wavelength 4.3 × 10–7 m is incident normally on a diffraction grating in air,
as shown in Fig. 5.3.

third order

beam of light, 68°

wavelength 68°
4.3 × 10–7 m

diffraction third order

grating

Fig. 5.3 (not to scale)

The third‑order diffraction maximum of the light is at an angle of 68° to the direction of the
incident light beam.

(i) Calculate the line spacing d of the diffraction grating.

d = ...................................................... m [2]

(ii) Determine a different wavelength of visible light that will also produce a diffraction
maximum at an angle of 68°.

wavelength = ...................................................... m [2]

[Total: 10]

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6 (a) A metal wire has a resistance per unit length of 0.92 Ω m–1. The wire has a uniform
cross‑sectional area of 5.3 × 10–7 m2.

Calculate the resistivity of the metal of the wire.

resistivity = .................................................. Ω m [2]

(b) A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) E and negligible internal resistance is connected in
series with a fixed resistor and a light‑dependent resistor (LDR), as shown in Fig. 6.1.

E 1400 Ω

1600 Ω

Fig. 6.1

The resistance of the fixed resistor is 1400 Ω. The intensity of the light illuminating the LDR
causes it to have a resistance of 1600 Ω. A voltmeter connected across the LDR reads 6.4 V.

(i) Show that the current in the LDR is 4.0 × 10–3 A.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the number of free electrons passing through the LDR in a time of 3.2 minutes.

number of free electrons = ......................................................... [2]

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(iii) Calculate the e.m.f. E.

E = ...................................................... V [2]

(iv) Determine the ratio

power dissipated in LDR
.
power dissipated in fixed resistor

ratio = ......................................................... [2]

(c) The environmental conditions change causing a decrease in the resistance of the LDR in (b).
The temperature of the environment does not change.

State whether there is a decrease, increase or no change to:

(i) the intensity of the light illuminating the LDR

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

(ii) the current in the battery

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

(iii) the reading of the voltmeter.

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

[Total: 12]

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7 (a) In the following list, underline all the particles that are not fundamental.

antineutrino baryon nucleon positron [1]

(b) A nucleus of thorium‑230 ( 230

90
Th) decays in stages, by emitting α‑particles and β– particles, to
form a nucleus of lead‑206 ( 206
82
Pb).

Determine the total number of α‑particles and the total number of β– particles that are
emitted during the sequence of decays that form the nucleus of lead‑206 from the nucleus of
thorium‑230.

number of α‑particles = ...............................................................

number of β– particles = ...............................................................

[2]

(c) A meson has a charge of –1e, where e is the elementary charge. The quark composition of
the meson includes a charm antiquark.

State and explain a possible flavour (type) of the other quark in the meson.

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

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

[Total: 5]

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