Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (9–1)

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PHYSICS 0972/04
Paper 4 Theory (Extended) For Examination from 2018
SPECIMEN PAPER
1 hour 15 minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.

Answer all questions.

Electronic calculators may be used.
You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units.
2
Take the weight of 1.0 kg to be 10 N (acceleration of free fall = 10 m / s ).

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

This document consists of 17 printed pages and 1 blank page.

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1 Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for a car travelling along a straight road.

The graph shows how the speed of the car changes as the car passes through a small town.

35

D
60
speed
m/s
A
50

enters leaves
40 town town
here here

30

B C

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
time / s

Fig. 1.1

(a) Calculate the distance between the start of the town and the end of the town.

Area below the graph = 26 x (42-18)= 624 m

distance = [3]

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(b) Calculate the acceleration of the car between A and B.

Gradient= (26-50)/(18-10) = - 3 m.s-2

acceleration = [3]

(c) State how the graph shows that the deceleration of the car has the same numerical value as
its acceleration.

CD has the same slope as AB since they both symmetrical

[1]

[Total: 7]

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2 Fig. 2.1 shows a conveyor belt transporting a package to a raised platform. The belt is driven by a
motor.

conveyor belt
package

motor

Fig. 2.1

(a) The mass of the package is 36 kg.

Calculate the final gravitational potential energy (g.p.e.) of the package after it is raised
through a vertical height of 3.2 m.

GPE= mass x gravity x height= 36 x 10 x 3.2= 1152 J

Final g.p.e. = [2]

(b) The package is raised through the vertical height of 3.2 m in 4.5 s.

Calculate the power needed to raise the package.

Power= work/time= 1152/4.5= 256 watt

power = [2]

(c) The electrical power supplied to the motor is much greater than the answer to (b).

Explain how the principle of conservation of energy applies to this system.

The energy at beginning should be the same as the energy at the end though some of the
energy changes into heat or other type of energy which considered to be loss energy.
[2]

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(d) Assume that the power available to raise packages is constant. A package of mass greater
than 36 kg is raised through the same height.

Suggest and explain the effect of this increase in mass on the operation of the conveyer belt.

Increased in mass means more potential energy is needed.

Since the power is constant then time needed to increase the mass will be longer.

Time= energy /Power so the increased of energy means more time.

[3]

[Total: 9]

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3 The engine of an unpowered toy train is rolling at a constant speed on a level track, as shown in
Fig. 3.1. The engine collides with a stationary toy truck, and joins with it.

moving engine

stationary truck

track

Fig. 3.1

Before the collision, the toy engine is travelling at 0.24 m / s. The mass of the engine is 0.50 kg.

(a) Calculate the momentum of the toy engine before the collision.

0.24 x 0.5 = 0.12 kg m/s

momentum = [2]

(b) The mass of the truck is 0.32 kg.

Using the principle of conservation of momentum, calculate the speed of the joined engine
and truck immediately after the collision.

Total momemtum before collision = total momentum after collision

0.12 + 0 = (0.5+0.32) x v

0.12 = 0.82 x v

v= 0.12/0.82 = 0.15 m/s

speed = [3]

[Total: 5]

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BLANK PAGE

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4 A solar panel is mounted on the roof of a house. Fig. 4.1 shows a section through part of the
solar panel.

sunlight

trapped
air copper pipe,
painted black
water
glass sheet

insulating metal backing sheet,

material painted black

Fig. 4.1

A pump makes water flow through the copper pipes. The water is heated by passing through the
solar panel.

(a) Select and explain three features of the solar panel that maximise the final temperature of
the water.

any three features explained from:

copper/metal is a good conductor (of heat) NOT of electricity

black is good absorber/bad reflector

ignore emitter

insulating material will reduce heat lost/conducted away (from pipes/sheet)

NOT prevents heat loss owtte

glass/trapping of air reduces/prevents convection/warm air being blown away

glass produces greenhouse effect

[4]

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(b) During one day, 245 kg of water is pumped through the solar panel. The temperature of this
water rises from 16 °C to 38 °C.

The water absorbs 35 % of the energy incident on the solar panel. The specific heat capacity
of water is 4200 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the energy incident on the solar panel during that day.

Q= m x c x change of temperature= 245 x 4200 x(38-16)= 2.3 x10^7 J

Energy incident on solar panel = 100/35 x 2.3 x 10^7= 6.5 x 10^7 J

energy = [4]

(c) The solar panel in Fig. 4.1 is designed to heat water.

A person is deciding whether to install solar panels on her house.

List and explain three pieces of information she needs to consider in order to make her
decision.

valid explanation relating to at least one of the reasons below: [1]

note: if no explanation, this mark is not awarded even if more than three reasons are given

any three reasons from:

which direction roof faces

estimate output of panels household needs / whether
household will use all hot water
cost of panel / installation
time to recoup cost
whether roof is shaded
relevant environmental consideration (e.g. not using wood or other fuel to heat water)
[4]

(d) The Sun releases energy as a result of nuclear fusion.

State the meaning of nuclear fission.

A combination reaction of two nuclei in producing a different nuclei

Nuclei of helium are combined in a fission reaction in the sun to produce helium and energy.

[2]
[Total: 14]

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5 Fig. 5.1 shows a gas contained in a cylinder enclosed by a piston.

piston pressure gauge

gas cylinder

Fig. 5.1

At first, the length of cylinder containing the gas is 100 cm. The pressure of the gas, shown by the
pressure gauge, is 350 kPa. The area of cross-section of the cylinder is 0.12 m2.

(a) (i) Describe the motion of the molecules of the gas.

any one from:

(molecules) move randomly / in random directions
(molecules) have high speeds
(molecules) collide with each other / with walls

(ii) Use the idea of momentum to explain how the molecules exert a force on the walls of the
cylinder.

The collision of molecules to the wall will produce change of momentum (change of
speed) which at the end produce force since change of momentum is equal to the product
of force and time of collision. Change of momentum=Impulse = Force x time

[2]

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(b) The piston is moved so that the new length of cylinder occupied by the gas is 40 cm. The
temperature of the gas is unchanged.

(i) Calculate the new pressure of the gas.

P1V1= P2V2 -------------300 x 100 cm x 0.12 = P2 x 0.4 cm x 0.12

P2 = 750 kPa

pressure = [2]

(ii) Explain, in terms of the behaviour of the molecules, why the pressure has changed.

the molecules will collide more often with the walls when the volume is decreased
because the time to travel of molecules to the wall is shorter.

[2]

[Total: 7]

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6 Fig. 6.1 shows a scale drawing of plane wavefronts approaching a gap in a barrier.

direction of wave travel

barrier

clear attempt at semi circles, at least 3

same wavelength as incoming wavefronts, by eye

Fig. 6.1

(a) On Fig. 6.1, draw the pattern of the wavefronts after the wave has passed through the gap.
[2]

(b) The wave approaching the barrier has a wavelength of 2.5 cm and a speed of 2.5 m / s.

Calculate the frequency of the wave.

Freq= speed /wavelength = 2.5 /(0.025)= 100 Hz

frequency = [2]

(c) State what happens, if anything, to the frequency of the wave as it passes through the gap.
The same /constant frequency
[1]

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(d) Explain, in terms of diffraction, why a car radio may pick up low frequency radio signals but
not pick up high frequency radio signals when the car is travelling behind a hill.

low frequency has longer wavelength so it can be diffracted better than high frequency radio
signal that has lower wavelength. AM radio can go much further than FM radio.

[2]

[Total: 7]

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7 The circuit of Fig. 7.1 includes an immersion heater and a 6.0 V battery.

6.0 V

X
A

heater

Fig. 7.1

(a) State the name and purpose of component X.

name : rheostat/ variable resistor

Purpose: control/ vary resistance across different voltage

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8 Fig. 8.1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit controlling a lamp.

temperature
sensor

relay lamp

B
A
light
sensor

Fig. 8.1

The output of the temperature sensor is high (logic 1) when it detects raised temperatures. The
output of the light sensor is high (logic 1) when it detects raised light levels.

The lamp is lit when the input to the relay is high (logic 1).

(a) Complete the truth table by giving the outputs of A and B.

output of output of
output of A output of B
light sensor temperature sensor

0 0 1 0

0 1 1 1

1 0 0 0

1 1 0 0
[2]

(b) State the conditions under which the lamp is lit.

Dark and hot [1]

(c) Suggest why B is connected to a relay, rather than directly to the lamp.

B needs more power/ energy to transmit the current to the lamp. Relay can provide energy which is
used for far distance or remote appliance.

[2]

[Total: 5]

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9 A plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth and becomes positively charged. After charging, the rod is
held close to the suspended table-tennis ball shown in Fig. 9.1. The table-tennis ball is covered with
metal paint and is uncharged.

nylon thread

light
table-tennis ball
covered with metal
paint

positively
charged rod

Fig. 9.1

(a) Describe what happens to the charges in the metal paint on the ball as the positively charged
rod is brought close to the ball.

electrons / negative charges move towards the rod

[1]

(b) The ball is attracted towards the charged rod.

Explain why this happens, given that the ball is uncharged.

The negative charges will allign themselves at the closer side to the rod which creates
attractive force with the positive charges of the rod.

[2]

(c) State the unit in which electric charge is measured.

Coulomb [1]

[Total: 4]

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10 Emissions from a radioactive source pass through a hole in a lead screen and into a magnetic
field, as shown in Fig. 10.1. The experiment is carried out in a vacuum.

radioactive A magnetic field

source into paper

lead
screen

Fig. 10.1

Radiation detectors are placed at A, B and C. They give the following readings:

A B C

32 counts / min 543 counts / min 396 counts / min

The radioactive source is then completely removed, and the readings become:

A B C

33 counts / min 30 counts / min 31 counts / min

From the data given for positions A, B and C, deduce the type of emissions coming from the
radioactive source. Explain your reasoning.

[7]
[Total: 7]

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11 In Geiger and Marsden’s α-particle scattering experiment, α-particles were directed at a very thin
gold foil.

Fig. 11.1 shows five of the nuclei of the atoms in one layer in the gold foil. Also shown are the
paths of three α-particles directed at the foil.

Fig. 11.1

(a) On Fig.11.1, complete the paths of the three α-particles. [3]

(b) (i) State the result of the experiment that shows that an atom consists of a very tiny,
charged core, containing almost all the mass of the atom.

Only small amount of alpha particles deflected more than 90 degree

[1]

(ii) State the sign of the charge on this core. positive ............................................................ [1]

(iii) State what occupies the space between these charged cores.

Vacuum/space with electrons (cloud of electrons)

4
(c) The nuclide notation for an α-particle is 2 α.
State the number of protons and neutrons in an α-particle

protons = 2

neutrons = 2 [1]

[Total: 7]
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