AS Cambridge (CIE) Physics 1 hour 7 questions

Structured Questions

Physical Quantities
Physical Quantities

Easy (3 questions) /35

Medium (3 questions) /34

Hard (1 question) /4

Total Marks /73

Easy Questions
1 (a) Explain what is meant by a physical quantity.

Answer

A physical quantity is:

Something that can be measured; [1 mark]

Represented by an alphabetical letter; [1 mark]
Contains a numerical value and a unit; [1 mark]
[Total: 3 marks]
(3 marks)

(b) State two possible physical quantities represented by the greek letter rho (ρ).

Answer

Possible physical quantities represented by the greek letter rho (ρ) are:

Density; [1 mark]
Resistivity; [1 mark]

[Total: 2 marks]
(2 marks)
(c) State three possible physical quantities represented by the capital letter P or the lower
case letter p.

Answer

The upper and lower case letter P's represent:

Pressure; [1 mark]
Momentum; [1 mark]
Power; [1 mark]
[Total: 3 marks]
(3 marks)

(d) Explain how the quantities represented by P or ρ can be distinguished from each other.

Answer

The quantities represented by P or ρ can be distinguished from each other by:

Any two from:

Looking at the units (of measurement); [1 mark]

Interpreting the context of the quantity; [1 mark]

Using any equations for the quantity; [1 mark]
[Total: 2 marks]
(2 marks)
2 (a) On Fig. 1.1, draw a line from each quantity to its correct unit.

Fig. 1.1

Answer

The correct quantities and units are as follows:

Work done = N m [1 mark]

Stress = N m−2 [1 mark]
Density = kg m−3 [1 mark]
[Total: 3 marks]
(3 marks)
(b) Determine suitable measuring units for the following quantities.

i) Duration of an international flight.

[1]

ii) The power rating of an electric heater.

[1]

iii) The kinetic energy of a ball dropped from a cliff.

[1]

Answer

i) Suitable measuring units for the duration of an international flight are:

Minutes and hours; [1 mark]

ii) Suitable measuring units for the power rating of an electric heater are:

Watts / W; [1 mark]
iii) Suitable measuring the kinetic energy of a ball dropped from a cliff:

Joules / J; [1 mark]
[Total: 3 marks]

While seconds are the standard unit of time in Physics. You wouldn't measure a flight
time like that!
(3 marks)

(c) Estimate the work done by the average human in lifting a normal dining room chair off
the ground, so the forearms of the person lifting are parallel with the floor at the end of
the lift.

Answer

Estimate the average height of a human:

Range of answers: 1.5 - 2.0 m; [1 mark]

 Estimate the average lift height of a human to bent elbows:

2
× height
3

2 2
Range: × 1.5 = 1.0 m to × 2.0 = 1.33 m; [1 mark]
3 3

Estimate the average mass of a dining room chair:

Range of answers: 10 kg - 30 kg; [1 mark]

Calculate an estimate of the work done, W:

W = Fd [1 mark]
Range: W = (10 × 9.81) × 1.0 to (30 × 9.81) × 1.33

Range: W = 98.1 J - 391.4 J [1 mark]

[Total: 5 marks]

In an estimation answer, a range of estimated values will be acceptable.

(5 marks)

(d) Estimate the orders of magnitude of the objects in Fig. 1.2 using the units provided.
 Quantity Order of magnitude

Mass of a car kg

Thickness of a sheet of paper mm

Density of air kg m−3

(at room temperature and pressure)

Time between two heart beats s

Fig. 1.2

Answer

Estimates of the orders of magnitude of the quantities are:

Quantity Order of magnitude

Mass of a car ~1 × 103 kg [1 mark]

Thickness of a sheet of paper ~1 × 10−1 mm [1 mark]

Density of air ~1 × 100 kg m−3 [1 mark]

(at room temperature and pressure)

Time between two heart beats ~1 s [1 mark]

[Total: 4 marks]
You should know that the mass of a car is of the order of 1 ton which is 1000 kg
You can estimate the thickness of a sheet of paper by considering a stack of 500
sheets (think about the stacks of paper that you can buy for printers), these are
about 1 inch thick which is 2.5 cm or 25 mm, so 1 sheet of paper is about 25 / 500
= 0.05 mm thick
You should also know that the density of air is about 1 kg m−3
You can consider a heartbeat and the number of beats per minute to calculate the
time between two beats, it's roughly 1 s depending on your resting heart rate
The following ranges also form acceptable answers for this question:
Mass of a car = 500 → 2000 kg
Thickness of a sheet of paper = 0.05 mm → 0.5 mm OR 50 → 500 µm
Density of air = 0.1 kg m−3 → 5 kg m−3
Time between two heart beats = 600 → 2000 ms OR 0.6 → 2.0 s
(4 marks)
3 (a) A student has a problem with his printer. The paper keeps getting jammed. He wants to
work out the thickness of one sheet of paper in the pile of 500 sheets.

i) Explain how he can do this without needing a micrometer to measure the thickness of
one sheet.

[2]

ii) State a suitable unit for him to use for the thickness of one sheet of paper.

[1]

Answer

i) He can do this by:

Using a ruler to measure the thickness of the 500 sheet pile; [1 mark]
Dividing the measurement obtained by 500; [1 mark]
ii) A suitable unit for the thickness of paper is:

micrometres / µm; [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]
(3 marks)
(b) Whilst waiting for his printer to work the student watches an ornamental pendulum
oscillate. He wants to know how long it takes for one oscillation of the pendulum.

Explain the method he should use to determine the time for one oscillation.

Answer

The method he should use to determine the time for one oscillation is:

Use a stopwatch; [1 mark]

To measure the time for 10 complete oscillations (of the pendulum); [1 mark]
Then divide the time for 10 oscillations by 10 (to obtain the average time for one
oscillation); [1 mark]
Repeat the experiment (as many times as necessary) until the results are consistent;
[1 mark]
[Total: 4 marks]
(4 marks)

(c) The student is getting bored waiting for the printer. He starts throwing a ball of
scrunched-up paper across the room using an underarm throwing technique.

Estimate the distance the paper ball is thrown.

Answer

The paper ball is thrown:

2 m; [1 mark]
[Total: 1 mark]

Any value between 1 and 5 m is acceptable to gain the marks in this question.
(1 mark)
(d) The student then finds a tennis ball and uses the same underarm throwing technique to
throw the ball across the room.

State whether the tennis ball will travel further than the scrunched-up paper ball. Explain
your answer.

Answer

The tennis ball will:

Travel further than the scrunched-up paper ball; [1 mark]

Explanation:

The tennis ball experiences less air resistance; [1 mark]

[Total: 2 marks]
(2 marks)
Medium Questions
1 (a) Estimate the speed of an apple as it hits the ground after falling from a tree.

Answer

Estimate the speed of an apple as it hits the ground after falling from a tree:

Height of apple on a tree, h ≈ 5 m [1 mark]

Acceptable range for h = 2 to 20 m

Use energy conservation to estimate the speed:

Change in GPE = Gain in KE

1
mgh = mv 2
2

v 2 = 2gh ⇒ v= 2gh

v≈ 2 × 9 . 81 × 5

v ≈ 9.91 ≈ 10 m s−1 [1 mark]

Acceptable range for v = 6 to 20 m s−1

[Total: 2 marks]
(2 marks)

(b) Estimate the number of kilowatt-hours used by a lightbulb if switched on for a whole day.

Answer

Estimate the number of kilowatt-hours used by a lightbulb if switched on for a whole day:

Power output of a lightbulb ≈ 70 W [1 mark]

Acceptable range for power = 20 to 100 W

 Convert from W to kWh in 24 hours:

E
P= ⇒ E = Pt
t

P (W ) × t (hr )
Kilowatt-hours is a unit of energy, so E (kWh ) =
1000

70 × 24
E (kWh ) ≈
1000

E(kWh) ≈ 1.68 ≈ 1.7 kWh per day [1 mark]

Acceptable range for E(kWh) = 0.5 to 2.4 kWh

[Total: 2 marks]
(2 marks)

(c) Estimate the density, in g cm−3, of the head of an adult person.

Answer

Estimate the density, in g cm−3, of the head of an adult person:

Radius of a head, r ≈ 10 cm [1 mark]

Acceptable range for radius = 7 to 12 cm

Mass of a head, m ≈ 5 kg = 5000 g [1 mark]

Acceptable range for mass = 1 to 10 kg (1000 to 10 000 g)

Use the equation for volume of a sphere with the density equation:

Volume of an adult's head ≈ volume of a sphere

4 3
Volume of a sphere: V= πr
3
 m m
Density: ρ= =
V 4
πr 3
3

5000
ρ= [1 mark]
4
π× ( 10) 3
3

ρ = 1.194 = 1.2 g cm−3 [1 mark]

Acceptable range for density = 0.1 to 7.0 g cm−3

[Total: 4 marks]

When asked a question, such as this, where you likely have no reference to make a
reasonable estimate for something, like the mass of a person's head, think about
reasonable approximations you could make
For example, if the mass of an adult person is about 70 kg, you could make a
reasonable assumption that their head might make up about 10% of this mass, which
would be 7 kg
It's important that you communicate this in your answer so the examiner can see
your lines of thought, and even if you are outside of the acceptable range, you could
still earn extra marks for method and reasoning
(4 marks)

(d) The radius of the Earth is approximately 6.4 × 106 m.

Estimate the number of people it would take to circle the Earth holding hands.

Answer

Estimate the number of people it would take to circle the Earth holding hands:

Radius of Earth, r = 6.4 × 106 m

Arm span ≈ 2 m [1 mark]

Acceptable range for arm span estimate = 1 to 3 m

Calculate the circumference of Earth:

 Circumference of a circle = 2πr

Circumference of Earth = 2π × (6.4 × 106) = 4 × 107 m [1 mark]

Calculate how many people would be needed:

Each person spans approximately 2 m

circumf erence of Earth

Number of people ≈
arm span

4 × 107
Number of people ≈ [1 mark]
2

Number of people ≈ 2 × 107 [1 mark]

Acceptable range for number of people estimate = 1.3 × 107 to 4 × 107

[Total: 4 marks]

If you have approximated the arm span of a person to a different value than 2 m,
that's ok, as long as it is a reasonable approximation. You may have said, 1.5 m or
somewhere in between, and that's ok. You would still get the marks. But, if you
approximated it to 5 m, this is not a reasonable estimation and you would not get
the first mark. However, you would still get the other two marks if your calculations
were correct, no matter what number you used.
Questions that ask you to estimate may not always contain an unknown value that
you need to approximate, like arm span in this question. They may just use inexact
values such as the diameter of the Earth, or the mass of a proton as 1 atomic mass
unit. Don't let this throw you, the calculation is just the same as it would be if you
were using exact values. If you do approximate something, like the hand span, just
remember to use the 'approximately equal to' sign ≈
(4 marks)
2 (a) X–ray pulsars are detected by X–ray telescopes on a satellite in low Earth orbit 2000 km
above the surface of the Earth.

Calculate the number of cubic millimetres (mm3) in a volume of 2000 km3.

Answer

List known quantities:

Volume = 2000 km3

Recall the metric multipliers:

k = kilo = 103

m = milli = 10–3

Convert km3 into mm3:

1 km = 1 × 106 mm [1 mark]
1 km3 = (1 × 106)3 mm3 = 1 × 1018 mm3 [1 mark]
Convert 2000 km3 into mm3:

2000 km3 = 2000 × (1 × 1018) = 2 × 1021 mm3 [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]

Recognising that there are 1 × 1018 mm3 in 1 km3 is the key to answering this
question correctly.
 Volume of a cube = length × width × height = (1 × 106) × (1 × 106) × (1 × 106) =
1 × 1018 mm3
(3 marks)

(b) X–rays from a pulsar travel at the speed of light and are detected on Earth with a
wavelength of 8.0 nm.

Calculate the frequency of the X–rays. Give your answer to an appropriate number of
significant figures.

Answer

List the known quantities and expand the multipliers:

Wavelength of pulsar = 8.0 nm = 8.0 × 10–9 m [1 mark]

From the data page:

Speed of light in free space, c = 3.00 × 108 m s-1

Recall the metric multiplier:

Nano = × 10–9

Recall and rearrange the wave speed equation:

 c = fλ

c
f= [1 mark]
λ

Calculate the frequency:

3 . 0 × 108
f= − 9
= 3.75 × 1016 Hz [1 mark]
8 . 0 × 10

Write answer to an appropriate number of significant figures:

f = 3.8 × 1016 Hz [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]

Make sure you read the question correctly, so you write your final answer in the
correct form. 8.0 nm is the only quantity in the question. This is written to 2
significant figures. So, the final answer must also be written to 2 significant figures.
(3 marks)

(c) X–rays from the nearest pulsar PSR J0109–1431 take 8.82 Gs to travel to Earth.

Calculate the number of oscillations of the X–rays from the pulsar to the surface of the
Earth. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.

Answer

List known quantities and expand the multipliers:

Time from pulsar to Earth = 8.82 Gs = 8.82 × 109 s [1 mark]

Frequency, f = 3.75 × 1016 Hz (from part (b))

Calculate the time period for one oscillation:

1
T=
f

1
T= = 2.7 × 10–17 s [1 mark]
3 . 75 × 1016
 Find the number of oscillations:

Total time of journey

Number of oscillations =
Time for 1 oscillation

8 . 82 × 109
Number of oscillations = = 3.26667 × 1026 oscillations
2 . 7 × 10−17

State to an appropriate number of significant figures:

The final answer is 3.27 × 1026 oscillations (3 s.f) [1 mark]

[Total: 3 marks]

Use the metric multipliers to correctly calculate the value of the giga prefix in
standard form. Use your knowledge of time period and frequency to find the time for
one oscillation of the pulsar. 8.82 Gs is the only quantity given in the question. This
is to 3 significant figures, so the final answer must also be to 3 significant figures.
(3 marks)

(d) Show the distance from Earth to PSR J0109–1431 is around 280 light years.

Answer

To show that the distance is around 280 light years:

List known quantities:

Time = 8.82 × 109 s (from part (c))

Distance = 280 light years

From the data page:

Speed of light in free space, c = 3.00 × 108 m s-1

Calculate the distance in m:

Distance = speed of light × time

Distance = (3 × 108) × (8.82 × 109) [1 mark]

 Distance = 2.646 × 1018 m [1 mark]
Convert distance in m to light years:

1 light year = c × 1 year =

(3 . 00 × 108) × ( 60 × 60 × 24 × 365) = 9 . 46 × 1015 m [1 mark]

Divide the total distance by the distance in one light year

2 . 646 × 1018
= 279.704 = 280 light years [1 mark]
9 . 46 × 1015

[Total: 4 marks]

Don't forget that light years are a unit of distance not time.
Remember to use previous parts of the question for quantities that appear missing
from the question.
(4 marks)
3 (a) Define the term physical quantity.

Answer

A physical quantity is...

A physical property that can be measured and quantified; [1 mark]

[Total: 1 mark]

An example of a physical quantity is mass which is measured in kg.

(1 mark)

(b) State one example of a quantity which is not a physical quantity.

Answer

An example of a quantity which is not a physical quantity is...

Any one from:

Happiness; [1 mark]

Sadness; [1 mark]
Love; [1 mark]
Hate; [1 mark]
[Total: 1 mark]

Any reasonable suggestion would gain the mark.

(1 mark)

(c) Physical quantities have symbols and units. Write a tick (✓) in all the boxes which are not
valid physical quantities.
 □
E measured in J

φ measured in J kg−1
□

□
Φ measured in Pa

□
τ measured in s

c measured in J kg−1
□
W measured in J N−1
□

Answer

The quantities which are not valid physical quantities are...

Φ measured in Pa; [1 mark]

Φ = magnetic flux, measured in Wb (Webers)

Φ = work function energy measured in J (joules)

Pa (pascals) are the units for:

Pressure (P)

stress (σ)

Young modulus (E)

 c measured in J kg−1; [1 mark]
c = specific heat capacity, measured in J kg−1 K−1

c = speed of light in free space measured in m s−1

J kg−1 (joules per kilogram) are the units for:

φ = gravitational potential, measured in J kg−1

L = specific latent heat

W measured in J N−1; [1 mark]

W = weight, measured in N

W = work done measured in J or N m

J N−1 is not a valid unit

[Total: 3 marks]

The correct physical quantities were:

E = energy, measured in J (joules)
φ = gravitational potential, measured in J kg−1 (joules per kilogram)

τ = time constant measured in s (seconds)

You do not need to memorise all the symbols and units listed in the specification,
but you do need a good level of recognition and understanding of which units
belong to which quantity. Knowing the units will help you with the maths in physics,
because the units tell you some of the physical quantities that you need in the
calculation. For example the units for latent heat, L, are joules per kilogram, so you
know you need energy divided by mass in that calculation.
In other courses and textbooks you may find different symbols used for different
quantities. It is important that you use the symbols given in the CIE IAL specification.
(3 marks)
(d) Complete the table providing reasonable estimates for some physical quantities.

quantity estimated magnitude

Weight of an adult human

3600 s

Wavelength of green light

20 °C

Answer

A table scoring 4 marks:

quantity estimated magnitude

Weight of an adult human 700 N (±100 N) [1 mark]

Seconds in an hour; [1 mark] 3600 s

Wavelength of green light 550 nm OR 550×10−9 m; [1 mark]

Room temperature; [1 mark] 20 °C

[Total: 4 marks]

The CIE IAL specification states that you should be able to make reasonable
estimates of physical quantities included within the syllabus. The ones in this
question are common ones.
To estimate you can use the nearest order of magnitude, or choose rounded
numbers to use in your calculation. For example, an estimate for the mass of an
adult human is 70 kg, an estimate for the acceleration of freefall is 10 m s−2,
therefore an estimate of weight is 70 × 10 = 700 N.
(4 marks)
Hard Questions
1 Complete the following table by giving the SI base units. Then estimate the order of
magnitude for each of the physical quantities.

Physical Quantity SI Base Unit Order of Magnitude

Acceleration of freefall Earth (g) m s−2

Stephan-Boltzmann constant (σ) 10−7

Speed of a β particle

Specific heat capacity of water (c)

Answer

The correct SI base units and estimates for order of magnitude are:

One mark for each correct row:

Quantity SI Base Unit Order of Magnitude

Acceleration of freefall Earth (g) m s−2 101

Stephan-Boltzmann constant (σ) kg s−3 K−4 10−7

Speed of a β particle m s-1 108

Specific heat capacity of water (c) m2 s−2 K−1 103

[Total: 4 marks]

The acceleration of freefall on Earth, g, is 9.81 m s−2. This quantity is already given
in SI base units and the order of magnitude is 101 as 101 = 10.

The Stephan-Boltzmann constant σ is given in the data booklet as 5.67 × 10−8 W

m−2 K−4. Rounded to the nearest power of ten, the order of magnitude is 10−7
The units of the Stephan-Boltzmann constant σ are:

The speed of a β particle can be approximated to the speed of light since a β particle
is a high-speed electron. The speed of light in a vacuum c is given in the data
booklet as 3.00 × 108 m s−1

Metres and seconds are already SI base units, and rounded to the nearest power of
10, the order of magnitude is 108
The specific heat capacity c of water is not given in the data booklet, but you should
be familiar with it from practising calculations. The specific heat capacity of water is
about 4200 J kg−1 K−1, or 4.2 × 103 J kg−1 K−1
Rounded to the nearest power of 10, the order of magnitude is 103 and the units
are:

(4 marks)