Pre-Foundation Program

PF102P Physics
Final Exam
Questions

Total Given – 200 Marks

Date – / / 2023

Time – 9:00 AM ~ 12:00 PM

Allowed Time – 3:00 Hours

There will be 2 sections.

Section A has 40 Multiple choice questions for 40 Marks.

Section B has 19 Questions for 160 Marks.

Answer All the Questions.

Name –

Batch -

Student ID –

Sign -

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Section A

1. A student measures the mass of water. Which apparatus is suitable?

A. a balance B. a measuring cylinder C. a ruler D. a thermometer

2. The diagrams show distance–time graphs for four objects. Which graph represents an object moving
with an increasing speed?

3. The gravitational field strength on the Moon is smaller than that on the Earth. A scientist examines a
rock which has been brought back from the Moon. He measures three quantities.
1. the density of the rock
2. the mass of the rock
3. the weight of the rock

Which quantities are the same size on the surface of the Earth and on the surface of the Moon?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 1 and 3 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3

4. Which substance in the table has the lowest density?

5. A 100 cm beam balances as shown.

What is its moment?

A. 320 Nm B. 30 Nm C. 120 Nm D. 150 Nm
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6. The pivot is moved 10 cm to the left. What will be the effect of this change on the anticlockwise and
clockwise moments about the pivot?

7. A spacecraft is travelling in space with no resultant force and no resultant moment acting on it.
Which statement about the spacecraft is correct?
A Its direction is changing. B It is in equilibrium.
C Its speed is decreasing. D Its speed is increasing.

8. The diagram shows an electric circuit. When the switch is closed, the lamp is lit. Which row states
the type of energy stored in the cell and how this energy is usefully transferred to the lamp?

9. The box shown has a weight of 15 N. What is the pressure due to face P.
A. 250 N/m2
B. 25 N/m2
C. 150 N/m2
D. 100 N/m2

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10. What is the pressure on the surface if the box falls over onto face Q?
A. 0.0040 N/m2 B. 0.0067 N/m2 C. 100 N/m2 D. 150 N/m2

11. What is the change in pressure on the surface if the box changes falling from face P into face Q?
A. 0.0040 N/m2 B. 0.0067 N/m2 C. 100 N/m2 D. 150 N/m2

12. A liquid is evaporating. The liquid is not boiling.

Which statement about the liquid is correct at an instant in time?

A. Any molecule can escape, and from any part of the liquid.
B. Any molecule can escape, but only from the liquid’s surface.
C. Only molecules with enough energy can escape, and only from the liquid’s surface.
D. Only molecules with enough energy can escape, but from any part of the liquid.

13. Which row correctly describes the movement of particles in solids and liquids?

14. The diagram shows a pan used for cooking food.

The base of the pan is made up of

A. good thermal conductor
B. poor thermal conductor
C. rubber
D. plastic

15. The handle of the above pan is made up of

A. good thermal conductor C. steel
B. poor thermal conductor D. copper

16. Louder sound has higher

A. frequency B. wavelength C. amplitude D. period

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17. Low pitch sound has
A. frequency B. wavelength C. amplitude D. period

18. The diagram shows a wave.

Amplitude is
A. the distance between 1 and 2
B. the distance between 1 and 3
C. the distance between 2 and 4
D. the distance between 4 and 5

19. Wavelength is
A. the distance between 0 and 4 C. the distance between 4 and 6
B. the distance between 4 and 5 D. the distance between 5 and 6

20. A ray of green light passes through a glass prism as shown. Which colors of light refract as shown in
the table?

21. The diagram shows a ray of light in air incident on a glass block. Some of the light is refracted and
some of the light is reflected. Two angles, p and q, are marked on the diagram. Which row gives the
angle of incidence and states whether total internal reflection occurs?

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22. Radiation from which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is used in the remote controller for a
television?

A. infrared waves B. microwaves

C. radio waves D. ultraviolet waves

23. The diagram shows a ray of light in glass incident on the surface between the glass and air.
What happens if the angle of incidence is made larger than the critical angle for the glass?
A. The angle of refraction becomes equal to 90
degree.
B. There is a refracted ray and a ray reflected
inside the glass.
C. There is a refracted ray only.
D. There is only a ray reflected inside the glass.

24. Two rays of light are different colours. Which row is correct?

25. What is ultrasound?

A. sound waves that are so loud that they damage human hearing
B. sound waves that are too high-pitched for humans to hear
C. sound waves that are too low-pitched for humans to hear
D. sound waves that are too quiet for humans to hear

26. A bar magnet is brought near to a rod of unknown material. The unknown rod is attracted to both
ends of the bar magnet. Which material is the bar made from?
A. aluminium B. magnetised steel C. unmagnetised iron D. plastic

27. If the direction of current is supporting upward, the direction of magnetic field by using the right
hand grip rule is
A. upward too B. downward C. clockwise D. counter clockwise

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28. Magnetic material can be __________ by magnets
A. attracted only C. attracted or repelled
B. repelled only D. neither attracted nor repelled

29. In step-up transformer, the number of turns in primary coil is _________ number of turns in the
secondary coil.
A. greater than B. less than C. equal D. much greater than

30. The secondary or output voltage in step-down transfer is _______ than the input voltage.
A. greater than B. less than C. equal D. much greater than
31. In which circuit is the ammeter measuring the flow of charge through the lamp?

32. The diagram shows a circuit containing two resistors of resistance 1.0 Ω and 2.0 Ω. A voltmeter is
connected across the 1.0 Ω resistor by connecting P to X. The reading on the voltmeter is 6.0 V.
P is moved to point Y in the circuit.
What is the new reading on the voltmeter?
A. 3.0 V B. 6.0 V
C. 12 V D. 18 V

33. The diagram shows an electric circuit.

Which row correctly shows the numbers of
different components in the circuit?

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34. Which graph represents an alternating current (a.c.)?

35. The name of force that keeps all the planets of the Solar System in orbit around the Sun?
A. elastic force B. magnetic force C. air resistance D. gravity

36. Two factors determining the size of the force on surfaces of plants are
A. size and shape C. size and composition of planets
B. size and distance D. distance and composition of planets

37. The inner planets in solar system are

A. made up of gases and small in size C. made up of rocks and small in size
B. made up of gases and large in size D. made up of rocks and large in size

38. The nuclear equation below shows the decay of thorium.

What type of decay is taking place in this transformation?

A. alpha B. gamma C. beta D. neutron

39. The mass number and atomic number of Pa in above nuclear is

A. 235 & 89 B. 234 & 90 C. 234 & 89 D. 234 & 91

40. Ionizing radiation is the radiation that makes the neutral atom to become
A. alpha B. beta C. beta D. ion

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Section B
1. The diagram shows the horizontal forces on a car travelling to the right along a level road.

(a) How can you tell that the car is accelerating? (1)

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

(b) (i) State the relationship between acceleration, change in velocity and time. (1)

(ii) The car accelerates for 6.0 s.

The velocity of the car increases from 15 m/s to 24 m/s.
Calculate the acceleration of the car. (2)

acceleration = .......................... m/s2

(c) Describe how the horizontal forces on car change (increase or decrease?) when the driver applies
the brakes. (2)

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

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

(Total for Question 1 = 6 marks)

2. (a) Which of these quantities is a scalar? (1)

A. acceleration
B. energy
C. force
D. velocity
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(b) The diagram shows the horizontal forces acting on a van at a particular instant,
as it accelerates.

(i) Calculate the resultant horizontal force acting on the van. (1)

resultant force = ................... N

(ii) State the equation linking resultant force, mass and acceleration. (1)

(iii) The mass of the van is 2500 kg.

Calculate the acceleration of the van.
Give the unit. (3)

acceleration = ..................... unit ...........

(c) The graph shows how the velocity of a van changes with time.
Explain the shape of the graph.
Use ideas about forces in your answer (balanced force or unbalanced force). (5)

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

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

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

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

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

(Total for Question 2 = 11 marks)

3. (a) The box lists some devices that can be used to transfer energy from one form into another.

an aerial a loudspeaker a microphone a microwave oven

Select a device from the box to complete each sentence. (2)

Sound energy is changed into electrical energy using ..........................................
Electrical energy is changed into sound energy using ..........................................

(b) A radio station uses a short wavelength radio wave for broadcasting information.
The wavelength is 25 m.
The frequency is 12 000 kHz. (Carefully handle with the SI unit)
(i) State the relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave. (1)

(ii) Calculate the speed of the short wavelength radio wave. (3)

speed = ................................. m/s

(Total for Question 3 = 6 marks)

4. This question is about waves.

(a) The diagram represents a water wave at an instant in time.

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 (i) What is the wavelength of the water wave? (1)
A. 0.5 m B. 1.0 m C. 1.5 m D. 2.0 m

(ii) What is the amplitude of the water wave. (1)

A. 1 cm B. 2 cm C. 4 cm D. 8 cm

(b) Describe the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves.

You may draw a diagram to help your answer. (3)

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

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

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

(c) All electromagnetic waves are transverse.

State two other properties that are the same for all electromagnetic waves. (2)

1....................................................................................................................................................

2....................................................................................................................................................

(d) Some types of wave are used in hospitals.

(i) Which type of wave is used in radiotherapy to treat cancer? (1)
A. gamma rays
B. infrared
C. microwave
D. radio waves
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 (ii) Endoscopes use optical fibers to see inside the body.
Which type of wave should be used in the optical fibers? (1)
A. microwave
B. radio waves
C. ultraviolet
D. visible light

(Total for Question 4 = 9 marks)

5. This question is about pressure and density.

(a) Photograph A shows a pile of identical metal squares on a table.

There are 6 metal squares in the pile.

The weight of “each metal square” is 0.072 N.
The pressure exerted on the table by “all the pile of metal squares” is 820 Pa.
(i) State the equation linking pressure, force and area. (1)

(ii) Calculate the area of the table in contact with “all the metal squares”. (3)

area = ...................... m
(b) Photograph B shows the 6 metal squares spread out on the table.
(i) Explain how spreading out the metal squares affects the pressure they exert on the
table. (2)

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

......................................................................................................................................................
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 (ii) Explain whether spreading out the metal squares affects the density of the material
they are made from or not. (2)

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

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

(Total for Question 5 = 8 marks)

6. A light ray can undergo total internal reflection.

(a) (i) State two uses of total internal reflection. (2)

1....................................................................................................................................................

2....................................................................................................................................................

(ii) Describe the conditions required for total internal reflection to occur. (2)

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

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

(b) The diagram shows a light ray entering a glass block from air and then incident
on the flat side of the block at position A.

(i) Draw the normal line where the light ray is incident on the flat side of the block. (1)

(ii) Measure the angle of incidence. (1)

angle of incidence = ...............

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 (iii) The critical angle of the glass block is 40°
Continue the path of the light ray after it reaches position A. Put the labels too. (2)

(iv) State the equation linking critical angle and refractive index. (1)

(v) Calculate the refractive index of the glass block. (2)

refractive index = ...................

(Total for Question 6 = 11 marks)

7. This question is about collisions.

The diagram shows ball A moving in the direction shown by the arrow.
Ball A collides with ball B, a stationary ball of the same mass and size as ball A.

(a) State the principle of conservation of momentum. (1)

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

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

(b) Ball A collides with ball B.

• before the collision, ball A moves with a velocity of 10 m/s
• after the collision, ball B moves in the same direction as ball A with a velocity of 8 m/s
• ball A continues to move in the same direction, but at a lower velocity
Calculate the velocity of ball A after the collision.
[mass of each ball = 0.16 kg] (3)

velocity of ball A = ................... m/s

(c) During the collision some kinetic energy is lost.
Calculate the kinetic energy lost in the collision. (3)

kinetic energy lost = ....................... J

(Total for Question 7 = 7 marks)

8. The table shows some data about planets in our Solar System. Use data from the table to answer
these questions.

(a) Which planet has about the same diameter as the Earth? ................................. (1)

(b) Jupiter has the largest gravitational field strength. Suggest a reason for this. (2)

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

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

(c) (i) State the equation linking density, mass and volume. (1)

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 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
(ii) Calculate the density of Neptune in kg/km3. (Check the unit of Mass and radius ( )
2
from the table carefully). You may assume that Neptune is a sphere and that its volume is
4π𝑟 3
given by volume = (3)
3

density = .............. kg/km

(d) A student says “The smaller the planet, the shorter its period of orbit”.
Use the data from the table to evaluate this statement. (3)

(Total for Question 8 = 10 marks)

9. The photograph shows an electrical appliance called a toaster.

(a) The toaster has a power of 1800 W when operating at a voltage of 230 V.
(i) State the equation linking power, current and voltage. (1)

(ii) Show that the current in the toaster is about 8 A. (2)

(iii) Which fuse rating would be suitable for the toaster? (1)
A. 1 A B. 3 A C. 7 A D. 13 A

(b) The toaster uses mains electricity.

Mains electricity provides alternating current.

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 (i) Describe the difference between alternating current (a.c.) and direct current (d.c.). (2)

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

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

(ii) State a source of direct current. (1)

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

(Total for Question 9 = 7 marks)

10. The diagram shows an incomplete series circuit.

(a) (i) Draw a thermistor in the above diagram to complete the circuit. (1)

(ii) Add a voltmeter to the circuit to measure the voltage across the lamp. (2)

(b) The voltmeter measures a voltage of 5.6 V.

The ammeter measures a current of 790 mA. (Handle the SI units carefully)

(i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance. (1)

(ii) Calculate the resistance of the lamp. (3)

resistance = ........................
(c) The completed circuit is moved from a cold room to a hot room. (Temperature increases)
Explain how this would affect the brightness of the lamp. (3)

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

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

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

(d) State how the current in the circuit would change (current increase or decrease?) if another lamp
is added in series with the first lamp. (1)

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

(Total for Question 10 = 11 marks)

11. (a) A man stands on a wooden board to paint a wall, as shown in diagram 1.

The diagram shows some of the forces acting

(i) State the principle of moments. (1)

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

(ii) Calculate force X.

[ignore the weight of the wooden board] (4)

force X = .............. N
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 (b) The man walks to the other end of the wooden board, as shown in diagram 2.

Explain the change in force X as the man walks along the wooden board. (3)

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

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

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

(Total for Question 11 = 8 marks)

12. A student investigates a transformer.

This is the student’s method.

● use a primary coil with 10 turns
● connect the primary coil to a constant maximum input voltage
● measure the output voltage across the secondary coil
● repeat using an increasing number of turns on the primary coil

The table shows the student’s results.

(a) (i) Plot a graph of the student’s results on the grid. (4)

(ii) Draw a curve of best fit. (1)

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 (iii) Describe the relationship between the output voltage and the number of turns on the primary
coil. (2)

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

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

(b) (i) State the formula linking input and output voltages and the turns ratio for the
transformer. (1)

(ii) The input voltage of the transformer is 6.8 V.

Calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil. (Choose the any number for the output
voltage and the number of turns for primary coil from table) (2)

number of turns = ...............

(Total for Question 12 = 10 marks)

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13. A dog sits on a water-filled bag to keep cool.

(a) The table shows some data about the dog and the water in the bag.
The dog sits on the bag for 22 minutes. (Handle the SI units carefully)
(i) Calculate the energy transferred from the dog to water by heating in 22 minutes. (3)

energy = ............... J
(ii) State an assumption you have made when calculating the energy transferred. (1)

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

(iii) Calculate the temperature of the water after 22 minutes. (4)

temperature = .................. °C

(a) Discuss why conduction is the main way that thermal energy is transferred from the dog to the
water. (3)
......................................................................................................................................................

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

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

(Total for Question 13 = 11 marks)

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14. (a) Describe what is meant by the term vector quantity. (2)

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

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

(b) Complete the table by ticking (3) the correct boxes to show whether each quantity is a scalar or a
vector. The first one has been done for you. (3)

(Total for Question 14 = 5 marks)

15. This question is about magnetic fields.

(a) Describe an experiment to investigate the magnetic field pattern around a permanent bar
magnet. You may draw a diagram to help your answer. (3)

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

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

......................................................................................................................................................
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 (b) The diagram shows two bar magnets.
Complete the diagram to show the magnetic field pattern. (3)

(Total for Question 15 = 6 marks)

16. A car driver sees a hazard on the road ahead.

The graph shows the velocity of the car from when the driver sees the hazard.
(a) (i) Use the graph to determine the reaction time of the driver. (1)

reaction time = .................. s

(ii) Calculate the stopping distance of the car. (4)

stopping distance = .................. m

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 (iii) Calculate the acceleration of the car when the car is braking. (3)

acceleration = ................m/s2

(b) The speed of the car affects the thinking distance and braking distance.
Discuss other factors that affect the thinking distance and the braking distance of the car. (4)

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

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

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

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

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

(Total for Question 16 = 12 marks)

17. The diagram shows the basic details of a steam engine used in a steam train.

(a) Coal is burned in the firebox to heat up water in the boiler.

Coal is a non-renewable fuel.
Give an example of another non-renewable fuel. (1)

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

(b) This is how the steam engine works.

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 • hot air from the firebox passes through a pipe to the chimney
• water is heated as the pipe passes through the boiler
• the water boils to form steam
• the steam is trapped by the closed inlet valve and continues to be heated

Explain why the pressure of the steam increases as its temperature increases. (3)

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

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

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

(c) When the inlet valve is opened, the steam moves into the cylinder.

The steam exerts a force on the piston in the cylinder.

(i) State the equation linking pressure, force and area. (1)

(ii) The steam has a pressure of 1.45 MPa. (Handle the SI unit carefully)
The piston has an area of 0.0243 m2.
Calculate the force exerted on the piston. (3)

force = ................... N

(d) The force pushes the piston so that the wheels turn and the train moves.
This process transfers chemical energy from the coal into useful kinetic energy.
(i) State a type of energy that is wasted in this process (1)

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

(ii) The input chemical energy is 5MJ, the useful kinetic energy is 2 J and others are wasted
energy. Draw the Sankey diagram for the energy transfers in the process in below. (3)

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 (ii) Calculate the efficiency of the steam train. (2)

efficiency = ................................

(Total for Question 17 = 13 marks)

18. Americium-241 is a radioactive isotope used in smoke detectors. It has the symbol

(a) (i) How many protons are in an americium-241 nucleus? (1)

A. 95 B. 146 C. 241 D. 336

(ii) How many neutrons are in an americium-241 nucleus? (1)

A. 95 B. 146 C. 241 D. 336

(iii) How many electrons are in a neutral americium-241 atom? (1)

A. 95 B. 146 C. 241 D. 336

(b) When americium-241 decays, it emits alpha particles to form neptunium-237.

Np is the symbol for neptunium.

Complete the nuclear equation for the decay of americium-241. (3)

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 (c) Complete the following sentences. (6)

When the atoms _______, they produce the three types of radiation.

An alpha particle has ____________ nucleus.. It has mass number of ____ and the

________________of 2 . Alpha particle is the _________ moving particles. It has high

______________ power. It can be stopped by a thin sheet of ________ .

There are two types of beta particles; __________________ and _________________.

Third type of radiation is _________ radiation. It has high __________ power. It can be stopped

by ________.

(Total for Question 18 = 12 marks)

19. The diagram shows a simplified view of part of an inkjet printer.

A negatively charged ink drop falls vertically between a pair of charged plates.

(a) The ink drop experiences a horizontal electrostatic force as it falls.

Explain direction of the electrostatic force exerted on the ink drop by the charged plates. (2)

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

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

(b) On the diagram, draw the path of the ink drop as it falls between the charged plates until it hits
the paper. (2)

(c) The ink drop experiences a horizontal force of 8.5×10–7 N when it is between the charged plates.
The mass of the ink drop is 1.1×10–10 kg.
Calculate the horizontal acceleration of the ink drop when it is between the charged plates. (3)

acceleration = ...................... m/s

(Total for Question 19 = 7 marks)

*************************** End of Questions ******************************

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