Surname

Centre
No.

Initial(s)

Paper Reference

6 7 5 4

Candidate
No.

0 1

Signature

Paper Reference(s)

6754/01

Examiners use only

Edexcel GCE

Team Leaders use only

Salters Horners Physics

Advanced Level
Unit Test PSA4

Question Leave
Number Blank

Wednesday 10 June 2009 Afternoon

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

2
3
4
5

Materials required for examination

Nil

Items included with question papers

Nil

6
7

Instructions to Candidates
In the boxes above, write your centre number, candidate number, your surname, initial(s) and signature.
Answer ALL of the questions, writing your answers in this question booklet.
In calculations you should show all the steps in your working, giving your answer at each stage.
Calculators may be used.
Include diagrams in your answers where these are helpful.

Information for Candidates

The mark for individual questions and the parts of questions are shown in round brackets.
There are seven questions in this paper. The total mark for this paper is 60.
The list of data, formulae and relationships is printed at the end of this booklet.

Advice to Candidates
You will be assessed on your ability to organise and present information, ideas, descriptions and
arguments clearly and logically, taking account of your use of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Total
This publication may be reproduced only in accordance with
Edexcel Limited copyright policy.
2009 Edexcel Limited.
Printers Log. No.

N29158A
W850/R6754/57570 6/6/3/

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1.

When signals travel along an optic fibre they experience attenuation.

(a) What is meant by attenuation?
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(b) A fibre optic cable is specified as follows:
At wavelength 850 nm, attenuation coefficient = 7.8 104 m1
At wavelength 1300 nm, = 2.3 104 m1
(i) Explain whether electromagnetic radiation with these wavelengths can be seen.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii) State and explain which radiation would travel further along the cable before
needing to be boosted.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)

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(c) A booster station is needed when the signal strength has fallen to 8% of its initial
value.
(i) Calculate the length of cable corresponding to this attenuation for a signal of
wavelength 1300 nm.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Length = ...................................................................
(3)
(ii) Explain whether this length is a maximum or a minimum possible length between
booster stations.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)

Q1

(Total 8 marks)

*N29158A0320*

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2.

A student makes a capacitor by placing a large square of aluminium foil on the bench. She
then covers it with a plastic bin-liner and puts another large square of aluminium foil over
the plastic, immediately above the first square. The two foil sheets are then connected to
a d.c. voltage supply.
(a) She gradually increases the voltage from zero. When the voltage reaches 1900 V,
sparks can be heard crossing the plastic between the two foil sheets. The thickness of
the plastic is 0.022 mm.
Calculate the electric field strength in the plastic when the sparks start.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
Electric field strength = ................................................................................................
(2)
(b) She repeats the experiment using a new bin-liner. This time she adjusts the voltage
to 1300 V and then switches it on. She notices that the top sheet flattens itself down
so as to press against the plastic. Explain this.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(c) A coulombmeter in the circuit indicates that 45 nC of charge flowed round the circuit
when 1300 V was applied across the sheets.
(i) Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Capacitance = ............................................................
(2)
(ii) Calculate how much energy is stored in the capacitor when it is charged to
1300 V.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Energy = ...........................................................
(2)

*N29158A0420*

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(d) With the 1300 V still applied, the student places a heavy weight on top of the
capacitor. This causes sparks to start passing across the plastic where the weight has
been placed. Explain this.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)

Q2

(Total 10 marks)

*N29158A0520*

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3.

The following passage is about cosmic rays: high energy particles which enter our
atmosphere from space.
When a high energy particle, for example a proton with energy 1 1014 eV, hits a
proton or a neutron in a nucleus about half its energy materialises in the form of
new particles in agreement with the famous relation E = mc2. The particles are often
created as particle/antiparticle pairs, with pairs of positively and negatively charged
pions being the most likely.
(a) Show that the mass of a 1 1014 eV proton is about 100 000 times its rest mass.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(3)
(b) Explain the meaning of the phrase particle/antiparticle pairs.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)

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(c) All pions are mesons which consist of combinations of up quarks (u) with charge + 23 e ,
down quarks (d) with charge 13 e , anti-up quarks (u ) and anti-down quarks (d ).
A positive pion has charge +1e, and a negative pion has charge 1e.
Both positive and negative pions have mass 140 MeV/c2.
(i) Suggest the quark composition of a positive pion. Give your reasoning.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii) Suppose that a proton with energy 1 1014 eV interacts with matter as described,
and the only new particles produced are positive and negative pions.
Calculate the maximum number of pairs of pions that could be produced.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Maximum number of pairs = ...................................
(2)

Q3

(Total 9 marks)

*N29158A0720*

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4.

In a laboratory demonstration, a metal disc is made to spin in a magnetic field as shown

in the diagram.
Initial
magnetic field
Rotating
disc
A

(a) Explain why there is an e.m.f. between A and B.

.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(b) Explain how continuous currents can flow in the disc.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)

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(c) Scientists believe that this demonstration models how the Earths magnetic field is
sustained. The disc represents the liquid iron core of the Earth. This core is rotating.
Electric currents in the core arise in a similar way to currents in the disc; these currents
themselves create the magnetic field.
Explain why the rotation of the core would have to be maintained by some force
within the Earth.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(3)

Q4

(Total 7 marks)

*N29158A0920*

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5.

The graph shows a simulation of the path of a glider which is flown in a loop.
Height / m
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Start of
loop
20

50

100

150

200

250

Horizontal position / m
The time interval between successive points is 0.13 s.
(a) (i) Make suitable measurements from the graph to show that the initial speed of the
glider at the start of the loop is about 60 m s1.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

*N29158A01120*

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(ii) Assuming an initial speed of 60 m s1, calculate the maximum height the glider
might be able to reach at the top of the loop.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Maximum height = ...................................................................
(2)
(iii) Suggest why the height you have calculated is different from that shown in the
simulation.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(1)
(b) (i) Use the graph to make an estimate of the initial radius of curvature of the loop.
................................................................................................................................
Radius = ...................................................................
(1)
(ii) Assuming an initial speed of 60 m s1, calculate the initial centripetal acceleration
of the glider.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Acceleration = ...................................................................
(2)

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(iii) While the glider is flying straight and level, there is a normal contact force
between the pilot and her seat equal to her weight.
Calculate the new value of this contact force as she starts the loop.
Mass of pilot = 50 kg.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
Force = .....................................................................
(2)
(iv) The pilot flies the glider in a path which maintains this contact force at the same
magnitude all the way through the manoeuvre. Explain why the loop becomes
tighter at the top.
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(2)

Q5

(Total 12 marks)

*N29158A01320*

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6.

Write a short account of the principles of multiplexing.

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

Q6

(Total 6 marks)

*N29158A01520*

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7.

A student is gathering data from a collision between two carts on a track. The bearings
on the carts are smooth enough for friction to be negligible. One cart of mass 0.40 kg is
pushed so that it collides with a second stationary cart of mass m. They stick to each other
and move on together as shown.
Before collision
0.40 kg

After collision
0.40 kg

The motion of the 0.40 kg cart is monitored using a data logger. The graph shows how the
position of this cart varies with time.
0.90
0.85
0.80
0.75
0.70
0.65
0.60
)m( noitisoP

0.55
0.50
0.45
0.40
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20

Time (s)
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*N29158A01620*

3.8

3.6

3.4

3.2

3.0

2.8

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.4

0.10
1.2

0.15
4.0

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(a) Using appropriate measurements from the graph, determine a value for the mass m of
the second cart.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
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.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
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.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
m = ............................................................................
(5)
(b) Using your values from (a), determine whether this is an elastic or an inelastic
collision.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(3)

Q7

(Total 8 marks)
TOTAL FOR PAPER: 60 MARKS
END

*N29158A01720*

17

List of data, formulae and relationships

Data
Gravitational constant

6.67 u 10 11 N m 2 kg  2

Acceleration of free fall

9.81m s 2

(close to Earths surface)

Gravitational field strength

9.81N kg 1

(close to Earths surface)

Electronic charge

1.60 u 1019 C

Electronic mass

me

Electronvolt

1eV 1.60 u10 19 J

Proton mass

mp

Planck constant

Speed of light in a vacuum

c 3.00 u 108 m s 1

Molar gas constant

R 8.31J K 1 mol1

Boltzmann constant

k 1.38 u10 23 J K 1

Permittivity of free space

H0

8.85 u10 12 F m 1

Permeability of free space

P0

4Su 10 7 N A 2

9.11u 10 31 kg
1.67 u10 27 kg
6.63 u10 34 J s

Unit 1
Physics at work, rest and play
Mechanics
Kinematic equations of motion s
v2

ut  12 at 2
u 2  2as

Energy
% efficiency = [useful energy (or power) output/total energy (or power) input] u100%
'E

Heating

mc'T

Quantum Phenomena
Photon model

hf

Waves and Oscillations

18

(T / P )

For waves on a wire or string

For a lens

P 1/ f

*N29158A01820*

Unit 2
Physics for life
Quantum Phenomena

I  12 mv 2max

hf

Photoelectric effect
Materials
Elastic strain energy

'Eel

F'x / 2

Stress

F /A

Strain

'x / x

Young modulus

E V /H

Stokes law

6SK r v

Refraction

sin i / sin r

For lenses

P1  P2

Waves and Oscillations

v1 /v 2

1/ u  1/ v 1/ f

Mathematics
V

Volume of sphere

4
3

Sr 3

Unit 4
Moving with physics
Mechanics
v Zr

Motion in a circle

2S/Z

Energy
Attenuation

I 0 e P x

Nuclear Physics
Mass-energy

'E

Quantum Phenomena
de Broglie wavelength

h/p

Fields
Electric field

F /Q

c 2 'm

E V /d

In a magnetic field

F
F

BIl sin T
Bqv sin T

Energy stored in capacitor

r p / BQ
W 12 QV

Capacitor discharge

Q Q0e  t / RC

Magnetic Effects of Currents

Faradays and Lenzs Laws

d(N ) )/dt

*N29158A01920*

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*N29158A02020*