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Paper Reference

7 5 4 0

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No.

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Signature

Paper Reference(s)

7540/02

Examiners use only

London Examinations GCE

Team Leaders use only

Physics
Ordinary Level
Paper 2
Monday 10 January 2011 Morning

Question Leave
Number Blank

1
2
3

Time: 2 hours

4
Materials required for examination
Nil

Items included with question papers

Nil

Instructions to Candidates
In the boxes above, write your centre number, candidate number, your surname, initial(s) and signature.
Check that you have the correct question paper.
Answer ALL the questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided in this question paper.

Information for Candidates

Calculators may be used.
Where necessary, assume the acceleration of free fall, g = 10 m/s2.
The total mark for this paper is 100. The marks for parts of questions are shown in round
brackets: e.g. (2).
This paper has 5 questions. All blank pages are indicated.

Advice to Candidates
Write your answers neatly and in good English.
In calculations, show all the steps in your working.

Total
This publication may be reproduced only in accordance with
Edexcel Limited copyright policy.
2011 Edexcel Limited.
Printers Log. No.

N36636A
W850/U7540/57570 5/5/4/2/

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Answer ALL the questions.

1.

This question is about heat.

(a) (i) Define specific heat capacity.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii) Calculate the amount of heat energy required to heat 400 g of water from 0 C
to 50 C.
[Specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/(kg K)]
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(3)
(iii) Calculate the time taken to heat this water using a heater rated at 700 W.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iv) Give two reasons why the time taken would be longer than your answer in (iii).
1 ..............................................................................................................................
2 ..............................................................................................................................
(2)
(v) Using only the information given in this question, explain why you would be
unable to calculate the heat energy required to heat 400 g of water from 10 C
to +10 C.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

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(b) In an effect called the Mpemba effect a quantity of hot water freezes completely in a
shorter time than the same quantity of cold water when both are placed in the same
freezer.
Two explanations of this effect are:
  x convection effects within the water
  x greater rate of evaporation of the warmer water reducing its mass.
(i) Describe the process of convection within a liquid.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(3)
(ii) State two differences between evaporation and boiling.
1 ..............................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
2 ..............................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii) Explain in terms of molecules why the mass of a liquid reduces during
evaporation.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

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(c) Another explanation of the Mpemba effect is that when the two containers of water
are placed next to each other on a freezer shelf, the container with the hot water melts
the ice on the shelf more quickly. So there is better thermal contact between this
container and the melted ice on the shelf.
Name the heat transfer process that takes place between the bottom of the container
of hot water and the melted ice beneath it.
.......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(d) The graphs below were obtained by cooling two samples of water from different
starting temperatures under identical conditions.

20

Time / s

Temperature / C

40

10 000

20 000

20
Explain why the graphs show the Mpemba effect. Your answer should quote data
from the graphs.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)

Q1

(Total 20 marks)

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2.

This question is about forces and gases.

The diagrams below show the action of a stopper for a bottle.
F
Handle

Lid

Block

Air

Rubber
container

Plate

Diagram 1

1.5
cm

5.0 cm

12 N

Diagram 2

As the end of the handle is moved downwards, the block pushes down on the lid. The
plate is pulled upwards. The air in the rubber container is compressed. The rubber spreads
outwards. When the handle is horizontal a force F acts upwards on the block.
(a) (i) Define the moment of a force.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii) Calculate the clockwise moment of the 12 N force about X in Diagram 2.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii) Calculate F.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
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(b) (i) State the size of air molecules.

................................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii) Describe the motion and spacing of air molecules within the rubber container.
motion .....................................................................................................................
spacing ....................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii) Explain how these molecules exert a pressure.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

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(c) The pressure of the air in the rubber container in Diagram 1 is 100 kPa and its volume
is 0.0000040 m3. In Diagram 2 its volume is 0.0000025 m3.
(i) Calculate the pressure of the air in the rubber container in Diagram 2.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii) State two assumptions that you made in your calculation.
1 ..............................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
2 ..............................................................................................................................
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(2)

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(d) (i) Explain the term elastic behaviour.

................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii) Why is it necessary for the rubber in the bottle stopper to show elastic
behaviour?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii) Give one reason why it would be unsuitable to use a metal bottle stopper.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)

Q2

(Total 20 marks)

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3.

This question is about electromagnetism.

(a) The diagram below shows an electromagnet being used to investigate how the
additional weight supported from a soft iron bar depends on the circuit current.
0 to 12 V
d.c. supply
+
A

Soft iron core

Soft iron
bar
Additional
weight

The table shows how the additional weight depends on the current.
Additional weight / N

Current / mA

25

75

125

175

225

275

(i) On the grid opposite, plot a graph of additional weight (y-axis) against current
(x-axis).
You should use a suitable scale for the x-axis that makes best use of the graph
paper. Draw a best fit line through the points.
(5)

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(ii) Use your graph to find the current needed to support an additional weight of
2.8 N.
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(iii) On the grid, show clearly how you used the graph to obtain your answer.
(1)
(iv) What is the weight of the iron bar?
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(v) Explain why soft iron is used for the core of the electromagnet and for the bar.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

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(b) A new railway line is being built between Shanghai and Hangzou in China. The
train uses magnetic levitation (Maglev), instead of wheels, to support aluminium
carriages above the track. Electromagnets raise the carriages above the concrete
guideway. Computers control the current through the electromagnets to keep a
10 mm air gap between the electromagnets and iron rails.
The diagram below shows a suitable arrangement of the electromagnets, iron rails and
the concrete guideway as might be seen when viewed from along the track.

Aluminium
carriage

Iron rail

Iron rail
10 mm air gap

10 mm air gap

Electromagnet

Electromagnet

Concrete guideway
(i) Suggest two advantages Maglev trains might have compared to trains running on
wheels.
Advantage 1 ...........................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Advantage 2 ...........................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

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(ii) As passengers board the train, the electromagnets maintain the air gap between
the electromagnets and the iron rails at 10 mm. State and explain how the
electromagnets achieve this.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii) It is found that the electromagnets are not strong enough to maintain the air gap
at 10 mm when the train is fully loaded. Give two other changes which could be
made to the system to enable it to maintain the correct gap.
1 ..............................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
2 ..............................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iv) The journey from Shanghai to Hangzou is 170 000 m (170 km) and is expected
to take 30 minutes. Calculate the average speed of such a Maglev train.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(v) Explain why it is essential that the electricity supply should not fail while the
train is moving.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

Q3

(Total 20 marks)

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4.

This question is about radioactivity.

(a) You are provided with a radioactive source, three absorbers, a GM detector and a
counter. The source is known to emit only alpha and gamma radiation. You are
asked to carry out an experiment to prove that the source emits only alpha and gamma
radiation.
(i) Why must the GM detector be placed less than 10 cm from the source?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii) List three materials you will need to use as absorbers.
1 ..............................................................................................................................
2 ..............................................................................................................................
3 ..............................................................................................................................
(3)
(iii) Describe how you would use the apparatus to carry out the experiment. You may
wish to draw a diagram.

................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(6)
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(iv) Give one precaution you should take when carrying out experiments involving
radioactive sources.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)

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(b) During the manufacture of the steel used for making the central support for a table
to be used in a restaurant, the steel becomes contaminated by a radioactive isotope,
polonium-209. This isotope emits an alpha particle to form an isotope of lead.

Wooden table top

Chair

Radioactive steel
support

(i) Complete the decay equation shown below.

209

..........

..........

..........

..........

82

Po o

Pb
(3)

(ii) Shortly after the emission of the alpha particle, the isotope of lead emits a gamma
ray. What effect, if any, will this have on the composition of the lead nucleus?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(iii) Explain your answer by reference to the nature of gamma rays.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)

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(iv) The manufacturer of the tables suggests that customers will not be at risk from
the radiation. To what extent will this be true, assuming their legs will be at least
30 cm from the steel support?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(4)

Q4

(Total 20 marks)

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5.

This question is about waves and the design of an experiment.

A vibrating tuning fork, marked 512 Hz, is held over the open end of a tube full of water.
As the water is let out slowly using the tap, a louder note is heard when there is an air
column length l, as shown in the diagram. As more water is let out the note becomes
quieter again even though the tuning fork is still vibrating.

Vibrating tuning fork

l

Air column

Water

Tap

(a) (i) What is the name of this effect?

................................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii) Why is a louder note heard when the length is l?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii) When the experiment is carried out using a tuning fork with a frequency of
512 Hz the louder note is heard when the length l is 0.16 m. The length of the air
column is of the wavelength of the sound wave. Calculate the speed of sound
in the air in the column.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(3)
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(b) A student decides to investigate the relationship between the frequency of the tuning
fork and length of the air column when the louder note is heard.
Describe how the student would carry out this investigation using the apparatus
shown.
Your account should include:
(i) two additional items of apparatus that will be needed,
1 ..............................................................................................................................
2 ..............................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii) a factor that will need to be controlled (kept constant) during the investigation,
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(iii) two essential measurements that must be recorded,
1 ..............................................................................................................................
2 ..............................................................................................................................
(2)
(iv) a description of how the apparatus would be used,
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(5)

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(v) a table for recording results, showing the column headings,

(2)
(vi) a sketch graph in the space below to show the expected results.

(2)
(Total 20 marks)
TOTAL FOR PAPER: 100 MARKS
END

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Q5