P510/2

PHYSICS
PAPER 2
2½ Hours
August,2023
UNNASE MOCK EXAMINATIONS
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education
U.A.C.E. MOCK EXAMINATIONS
PHYSICS
PAPER 2
2 hours 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES:
Answer only five questions, taking at least one question from each of the
sections A, B, C and D, but not more than one question should be chosen from
either section A or section B.
Any additional question(s) answered will not be marked.
Mathematical tables and squared paper will be provided.
Non-programmable Silent Scientific Calculators may be used.
Where necessary assume the following constants:

Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.81 m s – 2

Speed of light in Vacuum, c = 3.00 × 10 8 m s – 1
Speed of sound in air, = 340 m s – 1
Electronic charge, e = 1.60 × 10 – 19 C
Electronic mass, me = 9.11 × 10 – 31 kg
Permeability of free space, µo = 4.0π × 10 – 7 H m– 1

Permittivity of free space, 0 = 8.85 × 10 – 12 F m – 1

1
The Constant, = 9.00 × 10 9 F – 1 m
4 o

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SECTION A
1. (a) (i) Define the term refraction of light. (01 mark)
(ii) State the laws of refraction. (02 marks)
(b) Monochromatic light is incident from a liquid of refraction index 1.25
to glass of refraction index 1.50 as shown in figure 1

Liquid
P 30°
β
Glass

Fig. 1
Determine the size of angle β.
(c) (i) Derive an expression for the total deviation of light that passes
through a triangular glass prism of a small refraction angle A
and of refraction index, n. (04 marks)
(ii) Calculate the angular dispersion of Red and Violet lights
emerging after refraction from a triangular prism of refracting
angle of 5° given that the refractive indices for Red and Violet
lights are 1.52 and 1.54 respectively. (03 marks)
(d) (i) Describe an experiment to determine the focal length of a
convex mirror using a plane mirror.
(ii) Figure 2 shows an extended real object O placed in front of a
convex mirror M, and plane mirror N. Image I, of object O is
formed by mirrors M and N using the method of no parallax.

10 cm
O
I
5 cm

M
N Fig. 2
Use the information given on the diagram to determine the
focal length of the convex mirror, M. (03 marks)

2. (a) (i) Define the term refraction index of a material. (01 mark)
(ii) Describe how the refractive index of a prism of known
refracting angle is determined using an optical spectrometer.
(06 marks)

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(b) Distinguish between linear magnification and angular magnification.

(03 marks)
(c) Two convex lenses 𝑳𝟏 and 𝑳𝟐 of focal lengths 𝒇𝟏 and 15.0 cm
respectively are arranged coaxially to form a final virtual magnified
inverted image at the plane of the object located at 30cm from lens 𝐿2 .
If the separation between the lenses is 25.0 cm
(i) Determine the value of 𝑓1 (05 marks)
(ii) Sketch a ray diagram to illustrate the action of the lenses.
(02 marks)
(d) Give three advantages of reflecting telescopes over refracting
telescopes. (03 marks)

SECTION B
3. (a) Define the following terms as applied to progressive waves.
(i) Wave length (01 mark)
(ii) Frequency (01 mark)
(b) A harpsichord string of length 1.50 m and linear mass density of 25.0
milligrams per metre vibrates at its fundamental frequency of 450 Hz.
(i) Calculate the speed of the transverse string waves. (03 marks)
(ii) Determine the tension in the string. (03 marks)
(c) (i) What is Doppler effect? (01 mark)
(ii) In parts of the Midwestern United States, sirens sound
whenever a severe storm that may produce a tornado is
approaching. John is walking at a speed of 1.56 ms – 1 from
siren P directly towards siren Q when they both sound at a
frequency of 698 Hz. Determine the beat frequency of sound
heard by John. (05 marks)
(d) (i) Derive an expression for the beat frequency of two sound notes
of frequencies 𝒇𝟏 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒇𝟐 . (03 marks)
(ii) Explain how beats are used to tune a musical instrument.
(03 marks)
4. (a) (i) State the superposition principle of waves (01 mark)
(ii) Two identical sinusoidal progressive waves each of amplitude
5.00 cm superpose forming a wave of amplitude 6.69 cm.
Determine the phase difference ɸ in degrees between the
component waves. (03 marks)
(b) (i) What is polarized light? (01 mark)
(ii) Un polarized light is incident from water of refractive index
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1.33 to a glass slab of refractive index 1.50 at a polarizing angle

𝐈𝐏 . If the reflected light is plane polarized, derive an expression
for Brewster’s law. Hence calculate the angle of refraction of
light in the glass slab. (06 marks)
(c) Distinguish between interference by division of wave front and
interference by division of amplitude. (03 marks)
(d) The figure 3 shows a system used in Lloyd’s mirror for the production
of interference fringes.
P

Screen

S Plane mirror

5°
M O
Q

S Fig. 3

If light of wave length 1.2 x 10−7 m is provided by source S, determine

the;
(i) Distance S𝑆1 (03 marks)
(ii) Fringe separation or fringe width. (03 marks)

SECTION C
5. (a) (i) Define the term magnetic flux density. (01 mark)
(ii) State the unit of magnetic flux density. (01 mark)
(b) (i) Write down the expression for the magnetic flux density at the
centre of a plane circular coil of N – turns, radius R and
carrying a current I in air. (01 mark)
(ii) Describe an accurate method of measuring magnetic flux
density at the centre of a plane circular coil. (06 marks)
(c) A straight wire of length L carrying a current I, is placed normal to a
uniform magnetic field of flux density B. Show that the magnetic force
experienced by each electron in the wire is given by 𝑭 = 𝑩𝒆𝒗 where,
e is electronic charge and v is the average drift velocity of the
electrons. (04 marks)
(d) The figure 4 shows three straight and parallel current carrying wires
A, B and C each of length 1.0 m carrying currents of 2A, 5A and 4A
respectively normal to the plane of the paper and at the vertices of an
equilateral triangle of side 2.0 cm.

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2 cm 2 cm

2 cm
B C
Fig . 4
Determine the net force experienced by wire A. (07 marks)
6. (a) (i) Distinguish between self-induction and mutual-induction.
(02 marks)
(ii) Describe a simple experiment to demonstrate self-induction
(05 marks)
(b) Figure 5 shows a strong bar magnet with poles P and Q suspended on
spring with its axis directed towards the centre of a solenoid,
connected via a switch K to a centre zero galvanometer, G.
The magnet is displaced vertically downward and left to perform
vertical oscillations. Explain why;

Spring
(i) The magnet takes a longer time to
stop oscillating when switch K is open
and takes a shorter time to stop
Bar magnet P oscillating when switch K is closed.
(03 marks)
Q
(ii) The galvanometer G deflects to the left
when switch K is closed and end Q of
K the magnet is approaches the coil.
Coil (02 marks)
(iii) State the poles P and Q of the magnet
in part (ii) above (01 mark)
G
Fig . 5

(c) (i) Derive an expression for the e.m.f induced across the ends of a
coil of plane area A, having N turns being rotated about an axis
perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field of flux density B tesla
at a constant angular frequency ω. (04 marks)
(ii) Calculate the peak value of the e.m.f generated across a
rectangular coil of 750 turns and of dimensions of 20cm by
40cm rotated at 3000 revolutions per minute about an axis
normal to its shorter sides, in a uniform magnetic field of
50 milli-tesla. (03 marks)

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7. (a) Define the following terms as applied to alternating currents.

(i) Peak value (01 mark)
(ii) Root mean square current. (01 mark)
(b) An alternating current 𝐼 = 𝐼0 sin 2𝜋𝑓𝑡 amperes, passes through a
pure inductor of self-inductance, L.
(i) Show that the voltage across the inductor, leads the current
𝜋
flowing through it by radians. (04 marks)
2
(ii) Find the expression for the inductive reactance, in terms of
frequency, f of the source and the self-inductance L of the coil.
(03 marks)
(c) A Capacitor of capacitance, 4.0 µF is connected a cross an ac source of
e.m.f. 𝑉 = 20 sin 1000𝜋𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠. Calculate the root mean square value
of the alternating current flowing in the circuit. (03 marks)
(d) (i) Describe the structure and mode of operation of a full wave
rectifier meter. (06 marks)
(ii) Explain why a moving coil ammeter cannot measure
alternating current. (02 marks)
SECTION D
8. (a) (i) Define the terms work function and charge quantization
of a body. (02 marks)
(ii) A glass rod and a piece of silk both initially neutral, are then
rubbed together. If 4.0 × 109 electrons are transferred from the
glass to the silk and no ions are transferred. Determine the net
charge on each body. (03 marks)
(b) In figure 6, a small charged metal sphere of mass 5.10 g is hanging
vertically from an insulating thread of 12.0 cm long. A positively
charged metal plate on the left causes the sphere to be subjected to a
uniform horizontal
electric field of magnitude
+ 7.20 × 105 NC – 1
+ The sphere is displaced to
θ the right through a small
+
angle θ to the vertical as
+ shown in the figure 6.
E
+
Metal sphere
6.0 cm
+ E

Metal plate Fig . 6

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Determine the;
(i) Value of angle θ. (02 marks)
(ii) Tension in the string. (02 marks)
(iii) Magnitude of the charge on the metal sphere. (03 marks)
(c) (i) Define the term electric flux and state its unit. (02 marks)
(ii) Show that the electric flux due to an isolated positive point
charge Q in free space is independent of the distance of the
point from the charge. (03 marks)
(d) Explain how thunder is produced on a cloudy and rainy day.
(03 marks)
9. (a) (i) Define electric potential at a point. (01 mark)
(ii) Derive an expression for electric potential difference between
two points A and B in an electric field due to a point charge +Q,
with point B being nearer to Q than A, and defined by distances
a and b respectively from Q. (04 marks)
(b) (i) What is corona discharge? (03 marks)
(ii) Describe one industrial application of corona discharge.
(06 marks)
(c) (i) State three uses of a dielectric in a capacitor. (03 marks)
(ii) Explain the effect of inserting a dielectric between the plates of
a charged parallel plate capacitor. (03 marks)
10. (a) (i) State Kirchoff’s laws of electrical networks. (02 marks)
(ii) Use Kirchoff’s laws to determine the values of currents I1, I2 , I3
and the value of the e.m.f. E, of the battery, as shown in figure 7.
(06 marks)
I3 1Ω

I1
E
5Ω
1.20 V
2Ω I2

1.00 V 4Ω
Fig . 7
(b) (i) Explain the principle of operation of a slide wire
potentiometer. (04 marks)
(ii) Describe how a potentiometer can be used to calibrate a
voltmeter. (06 marks)
(c) Explain why a slide wire potentiometer is more accurate for the
measurements of thermoelectric e.m.f.s as compared to a moving coil
voltmeter. (02 marks)
= END =
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