Cambridge International AS & A Level

* 3 4 2 1 8 4 4 7 8 9 *

PHYSICS 9702/22
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions October/November 2020

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 20 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (ST/CT) 183311/2
© UCLES 2020 [Turn over
 2

Data

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

permeability of free space μ0 = 4π × 10−7 H m−1

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

1
( = 8.99 × 109 m F−1)
4πε0
elementary charge e = 1.60 × 10−19 C

the Planck constant h = 6.63 × 10−34 J s

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

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

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

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

the Avogadro constant NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol−1

the Boltzmann constant k = 1.38 × 10−23 J K−1

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

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s−2

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 3

Formulae

1
uniformly accelerated motion s = ut + 2 at 2
v 2 = u 2 + 2as

work done on/by a gas W = p ΔV

Gm
gravitational potential φ = −
r

hydrostatic pressure p = ρgh

1 Nm 2
pressure of an ideal gas p = 〈c 〉
3 V
simple harmonic motion a = − ω 2x

velocity of particle in s.h.m. v = v0 cos ωt

v =±ω√ (x02 – x 2)

fsv
Doppler effect fo =
v ± vs

Q
electric potential V =
4πε0r
capacitors in series 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + . . .

capacitors in parallel C = C1 + C2 + . . .

1
energy of charged capacitor W = 2 QV

electric current I = Anvq

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

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

BI
Hall voltage VH =
ntq

alternating current/voltage x = x0 sin ωt

radioactive decay x = x0 exp(−λt )

0.693
decay constant λ =
t 1
2

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

 4

Answer all the questions in the spaces provided.

1 (a) Complete Table 1.1 by putting a tick (3) in the appropriate column to indicate whether the
listed quantities are scalars or vectors.

Table 1.1

quantity scalar vector

acceleration
density
temperature
momentum
[2]

(b) A toy train moves along a straight section of track. Fig. 1.1 shows the variation with time t of
the distance d moved by the train.

0.6

0.5
d/m
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3
t/s

Fig. 1.1

(i) Describe qualitatively the motion of the train between time t = 0 and time t = 1.0 s.

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

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

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 5

(ii) Determine the speed of the train at time t = 2.0 s.

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

(c) The straight section of track in (b) is part of the loop of track shown in Fig. 1.2.

track

Fig. 1.2

The train completes exactly one lap of the loop.

State and explain the average velocity of the train over the one complete lap.

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

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

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

[Total: 6]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

 6

2 (a) A cylinder is suspended from the end of a string. The cylinder is stationary in water with the
axis of the cylinder vertical, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

cylinder string
weight 0.84 N

water h
density 1.0 × 103 kg m–3

0.031 m

Fig. 2.1 (not to scale)

The cylinder has weight 0.84 N, height h and a circular cross-section of diameter 0.031 m.
The density of the water is 1.0 × 103 kg m−3. The difference between the pressures on the top
and bottom faces of the cylinder is 520 Pa.

(i) Calculate the height h of the cylinder.

h = ..................................................... m [2]

(ii) Show that the upthrust acting on the cylinder is 0.39 N.

[2]

(iii) Calculate the tension T in the string.

T = ..................................................... N [1]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 7

(b) The string is now used to move the cylinder in (a) vertically upwards through the water. The
variation with time t of the velocity v of the cylinder is shown in Fig. 2.2.

12.5

10.0
v / cm s–1
7.5

5.0

2.5

0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
t/s

Fig. 2.2

(i) Use Fig. 2.2 to determine the acceleration of the cylinder at time t = 2.0 s.

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

(ii) The top face of the cylinder is at a depth of 0.32 m below the surface of the water at time
t = 0.

Use Fig. 2.2 to determine the depth of the top face below the surface of the water at time
t = 4.0 s.

depth = ..................................................... m [2]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

 8

(c) The cylinder in (b) is released from the string at time t = 4.0 s. The cylinder falls, from rest,
vertically downwards through the water. Assume that the upthrust acting on the cylinder
remains constant as it falls.

(i) State the name of the force that acts on the cylinder when it is moving and does not act
on the cylinder when it is stationary.

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

(ii) State and explain the variation, if any, of the acceleration of the cylinder as it falls
downwards through the water.

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

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

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

[Total: 12]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 9

BLANK PAGE

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

 10

3 (a) A spring is fixed at one end and is compressed by applying a force to the other end. The
variation of the force F acting on the spring with its compression x is shown in Fig. 3.1.

F1

0
0 x/m 0.045

Fig. 3.1

A compression of 0.045 m is produced when a force F1 acts on the spring. The spring has a
spring constant of 800 N m−1.

(i) Determine F1.

F1 = ..................................................... N [2]

(ii) Use Fig. 3.1 to show that, for a compression of 0.045 m, the elastic potential energy of
the spring is 0.81 J.

[2]

(b) A child’s toy uses the spring in (a) to launch a ball of mass 0.020 kg vertically into the air. The
ball is initially held against one end of the spring which has a compression of 0.045 m. The
spring is then released to launch the ball. The kinetic energy of the ball as it leaves the toy is
0.72 J.

(i) The toy converts the elastic potential energy of the spring into the kinetic energy of the
ball. Use the information in (a)(ii) to calculate the percentage efficiency of this conversion.

efficiency = ..................................................... % [1]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 11

(ii) Determine the initial momentum of the ball as it leaves the toy.

momentum = ................................................... N s [3]

(c) The ball in (b) leaves the toy at point A and moves vertically upwards through the air. Point B is
the position of the ball when it is at maximum height h above point A, as illustrated in Fig. 3.2.

B
ball reaches maximum
height at point B
h
ball at point A
kinetic energy 0.72 J A
mass 0.020 kg

Fig. 3.2 (not to scale)

The gravitational potential energy of the ball increases by 0.60 J as it moves from A to B.

(i) Calculate h.

h = ..................................................... m [2]

(ii) Determine the average force due to air resistance acting on the ball for its movement
from A to B.

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

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

 12

(iii) When there is air resistance, the ball takes time T to move from A to B.

State and explain whether the time taken for the ball to move from A to its maximum
height will be more than, less than or equal to time T if there is no air resistance.

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

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

[Total: 13]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 13

4 A rigid plank is used to make a ramp between two different horizontal levels of ground, as shown
in Fig. 4.1.

45 N

1.10 m
B

0.30 m
D
C
1.50 m
rope 38°
T
96 N
A

Fig. 4.1 (not to scale)

Point A at one end of the plank rests on the lower level of the ground. A force acts on, and is
perpendicular to, the plank at point B. The plank is held in equilibrium by a rope that connects
point D on the plank to the ground. The plank has a weight that may be considered to act from its
centre of gravity C.

The rope is perpendicular to the plank and has tension T. The plank is at an angle of 38° to the
vertical.

The forces and the distances along the plank of points A, B, C and D are shown in Fig. 4.1.

(a) Show that the component of the weight that is perpendicular to the plank is 59 N.

[1]

(b) By taking moments about end A of the plank, calculate the tension T.

T = ..................................................... N [3]
[Total: 4]
© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over
 14

5 Microwaves with the same wavelength and amplitude are emitted in phase from two sources X
and Y, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

path of detector
X

A position of central maximum

B position of adjacent minimum
Y

Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

A microwave detector is moved along a path parallel to the line joining X and Y. An interference
pattern is detected. A central intensity maximum is located at point A and there is an adjacent
intensity minimum at point B. The microwaves have a wavelength of 0.040 m.

(a) Calculate the frequency, in GHz, of the microwaves.

frequency = ................................................. GHz [3]

(b) For the waves arriving at point B, determine:

(i) the path difference

path difference = ..................................................... m [1]

(ii) the phase difference.

phase difference = ........................................................° [1]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 15

(c) The amplitudes of the waves from the sources are changed. This causes a change in the
amplitude of the waves arriving at point A. At this point, the amplitude of the wave arriving from
source X is doubled and the amplitude of the wave arriving from source Y is also doubled.

Describe the effect, if any, on the intensity of the central maximum at point A.

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

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

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

(d) Describe the effect, if any, on the positions of the central intensity maximum and the adjacent
intensity minimum due to the following separate changes.

(i) The separation of the sources X and Y is increased.

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

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

(ii) The phase difference between the microwaves emitted by the sources X and Y changes
to 180°.

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

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

[Total: 9]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

 16

6 (a) A network of three resistors of resistances R1, R2 and R3 is shown in Fig. 6.1.

I1 R1

I
I2 R2

R3
I3

Fig. 6.1

The individual currents in the resistors are I1, I2 and I3. The total current in the combination
of resistors is I and the potential difference across the combination is V.

Show that the combined resistance R of the network is given by

1 1 1 1
= + + .
R R1 R2 R3

[2]

(b) A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 8.0 V and internal resistance r is connected to three
resistors X, Y and Z, as shown in Fig. 6.2.

8.0 V
r

X Z

0.49 A

0.45 A 16 Ω

Fig. 6.2

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 17

Resistor Y has a resistance of 16 Ω. The current in resistor X is 0.49 A and the current in
resistor Y is 0.45 A.

Calculate:

(i) the current in the battery

current = ...................................................... A [1]

(ii) the internal resistance r of the battery.

r = ..................................................... Ω [2]

(c) Resistors X and Y in Fig. 6.2 are made from wires of the same material and cross-sectional
area. The average drift speed of the free electrons in X is 2.1 × 10−4 m s−1.

Calculate the average drift speed v of the free electrons in Y.

v = ................................................ m s−1 [2]

(d) Resistor Z in Fig. 6.2 is replaced by a new resistor of smaller resistance.

State and explain the effect, if any, on the terminal potential difference of the battery.

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

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

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

[Total: 9]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

 18

7 (a) State a similarity and a difference between an up quark and an up antiquark.

similarity: ...................................................................................................................................

difference: .................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Fig. 7.1 shows an electron in an electric field, in a vacuum, at an instant when the electron is
stationary.

electric field lines

electron

Fig. 7.1

(i) On Fig. 7.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the electric force acting on the
stationary electron. [1]

(ii) The electric field causes the electron to move from its initial position.

Describe and explain the acceleration of the electron due to the field, as the electron
moves through the field.

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

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

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

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

(iii) A stationary α-particle is now placed in the same electric field at the same initial position
that was occupied by the electron.

Compare the initial electric force acting on the α-particle with the initial electric force that
acted on the electron.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 7]

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 19

BLANK PAGE

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20

 20

BLANK PAGE

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2020 9702/22/O/N/20