02 AL Physics/M.C./P.

2002 Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination

AL Physics
Multiple Choice Questions

1. 4.
A

Y B

X
A block of mass m falls from rest at A
Two identical blocks X and Y are onto a vertical light spring of force
connected by a light spring and the constant k firmly fixed to the ground.
system is suspended from a fixed support When the block reaches B, it starts to
by a light cord as shown. The system is compress the spring until it reaches the
in static equilibrium. If the cord is lowest position C as shown. Neglecting
suddenly cut, what is the magnitude of the air resistance and considering the motion
acceleration of each block at that instant? of the block from A to C, which of the
following statement is/are correct?
Acceleration of X Acceleration of Y
A. g g (1) The kinetic energy of the block is at a
B. g 2g maximum when it is at B.
C. zero g (2) The resultant force acting on the
D. zero 2g block is zero when it is at C.
(3) The maximum compression of the
mg
2. Two small identical objects P and Q are spring is greater than .
k
released from rest from the top of a
building 80 m above the ground. Q is
released 1 s after P. Neglecting air A. (1) only
resistance, what is the maximum vertical B. (3) only
separation between P and Q in the air? C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only
A. 5m
B. 10 m
C. 35 m 5.
D. 45 m

3. The SI unit of length, metre, is defined as 

n times the wavelength of a certain
orange-red light emitted from a krypton-
86 atom. The number n is of the order

A. 104.
B. 106. A bob of mass m is suspended from a
C. 108. fixed support by a light string. A force F
D. 1010. is applied to the bob (F is not shown in
the figure) so that the string makes an
angle  with the vertical. What is the
minimum value of F required to keep the
bob in static equilibrium as shown?

A. mg sin 
B. mg cos 
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.2

C. mg sin  cos  energy is E. What is the displacement of

D. mg sin2 the object from the equilibrium position
3E
when its kinetic energy is ?
4
6.
P X Q Y R Z A
A.
2
A
P, Q and R are three identical spheres B.
4
moving with the same speed along a
smooth horizontal track. They undergo 3A
C.
head-on elastic collisions with spheres X, 4
Y and Z respectively which are initially at 3A
rest. After collision, P continues to move D.
in its original direction, Q becomes 2
stationary while R reverses its motion.
After collision, which sphere (X, Y or Z)
has the greatest magnitude of 10.
y
(1) momentum
(2) kinetic energy?

(1) (2)
x
A. Y Z 0
B. Y Y
C. Z X
D. Z Y The graph describes the motion of a
simple harmonic oscillator. Which pair of
physical quantities is most likely
7. The impulse experienced by an object is represented by variables y and x?
equal to its change in
y x
A. momentum. A. Displacement Acceleration
B. kinetic energy. B. Force Displacement
C. velocity. C. Kinetic energy Displacement
D. acceleration. D. Speed Displacement

8. A particle P is moving in a horizontal 11.

circle in a clockwise direction as shown
(top view). The following diagrams show

the direction of the acceleration a of the
particle. Which of them is/are possible?

(1) (2) (3)

A thin uniform rod of mass 0.1 kg and

length 0.3 m is smoothly hinged at its
P P P lower end as shown. It is then released
from rest from the vertical position. What
is its angular speed, in radian per second,
A. (1) only
when it becomes horizontal? (Moment of
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only inertia of the rod about one end is 3  10-3
D. (2) and (3) only kg m2.)

A. 6.3
9. An object undergoes a simple harmonic B. 10
motion with an amplitude A, and its total C. 14
D. 50
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.3

first-order
12. Due to air resistance, changes may occur maximum
grating
to a satellite orbiting the earth (assuming
nearly circular orbit). Which of the  central
changes below is incorrect? maximum
incident
A. The total mechanical energy of the light
first-order
satellite will decrease.
maximum
B. The angular momentum of the
satellite about the earth’s center will
decrease. When a certain monochromatic light is
C. The linear speed of the satellite will passed through a diffraction grating, a
increase. pattern of maxima and minima is
D. The time needed for the satellite to observed as shown. Which of the
complete one revolution will following combinations would produce
increase.
the largest angle  between the first-order
maxima?
13.
Grating Colour of
(lines per mm) light used
Q
A. 200 blue
B. 200 red
time C. 400 blue
P
D. 400 red
The waveforms in the figure show the
time variation of two physical quantities 16.
P and Q. What is the phase relationship
between P and Q? L1 L2


A. P leads Q by .
2

B. P leads Q by .
4
 20 cm
C. Q leads P by .
2
 In the figure, L1 and L2 are two thin lenses
D. Q leads P by . with the same focal length 40 cm placed
4
coaxially 20 cm apart. A beam of light
originating from a distant object is
14. In which of the following the incident on L1. Which of the following
phenomenon of polarization cannot be statements about the final image formed
observed? by the system of lenses is correct?

A. Light reflected from the surface of A. It is real and formed on the right of
water. L2.
B. Microwaves emitted from a B. It is real and formed between L1 and
transmitter. L2.
C. Light scattered from a clear sky. C. It is virtual and formed between L1
D. Ultrasonic waves used in sonar. and L2.
D. It is virtual and formed on the left of
L1.
15.
17. A stretched string is 1 m long and is fixed
at both ends. Stationary waves of 400 Hz
and 450 Hz but no other intermediate
frequency can be formed. What is the
speed of the mechanical waves along the
string?
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.4

20.
A. 25 ms-1
B. 50 ms-1 X
C. 100 ms-1
D. 200 ms-1

18. When a source emitting sound waves of a

fixed frequency moves towards a
stationary observer in air, the pitch of the
sound heard by the observer is different
from that when the source is at rest. This
is due to a change in the
(1) number of waves emitted per second
from the source.
(2) speed of sound in air.
(3) wavelength of sound in air.
Y
In the above figure the solid lines
represent part of an electric field due to a
fixed point charge Q (not shown in the
figure). A charge particle q, subjected
only to electric force in the field, travels
along the dotted curve shown. Which of
the following conclusions can be drawn?

A. (1) only A. q is traveling from X to Y.

B. (3) only B. The charge of q has the same sign as
C. (1) and (2) only that of Q.
D. (2) and (3) only C. q has a greater speed at X than at Y.
D. The electric potential at X due to Q is
higher than that at Y.
19. The spectra produced by element X, one
on earth and the other on a distant star,
are compared. 21.

Spectrum form element X on earth:

Red Green Violet

Spectrum from element X on the distant

star:
The above figure shows an electron
entering a uniform field which may be
electric or magnetic. Which of the
following descriptions about the
What is the most probable reason for the subsequent motion of the electron is
difference in the spectra readings? correct?

A. The universe is expanding. A. Only in a magnetic field can the

B. The star is approaching the earth. electron be deflected by more than
C. The star is receding from the earth. 90.
D. The star is spinning about its axis. B. Only in an electric field does the
force depend on the magnitude of the
charge on the electron.
C. Whether the field is electric or
magnetic, the speed of the electron
will increase.
D. Whether the field is electric or
magnetic, the magnitude and
direction of the force acting on the
electron are constant.

22.
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.5

negligible. V1, V2 and V3 are three

voltmeters with the same finite internal
resistance. If V1 reads 4 V, find the
X Y reading of V3 and the potential difference
across resistor R.

Voltmeter reading Potential

Three identical capacitors, each of of V3 difference across R
capacitance C, form a network as shown. A. 3V 1V
What is the equivalent capacitance B. 5V 1V
between terminals X and Y? C. 1V 5V
D. 1V 3V
A. C
3
B. C 25. A d.c. supply of constant e.m.f. and
2 internal resistance is connected to a
2 variable resistor of resistance R. Which
C. C
3 of the following graphs best shows how
D. 3C the total power P delivered by the supply
varies with R?

23. A.
P

0 R
A parallel-plate capacitor is first charged
by connecting it to a battery. After
disconnecting the battery, one of the B.
plates of the capacitor is shifted upward P
slightly as shown. What would happen to
each of the following quantities?

V: the potential difference between the

plates
Q: the magnitude of the charge on each
0 R
plate
C: the capacitance of the capacitor
C.
V Q C
P
A. decreased unchanged increased
B. unchanged decreased decreased
C. increased decreased decreased
D. increased unchanged decreased

24. 0 R
9V

R S

V3
V1 V2

In the above circuit, the d.c. supply has an

e.m.f. of 9 V and its internal resistance is
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.6

D. A circular frame and a square frame,

P made from the same type of insulated
metal wires, are placed in a uniform
magnetic field as shown. When the flux
density of the field is increased at a steady
rate, the ratio of the induced current in
the circular frame to that in the square
frame is
0 R
A. 1:1
B. 1:
26. A capacitor is discharged through a C. :4
resistance of 1 k. If the time constant of D. 2:
the discharging circuit is 2 ms, what is
the capacitance of the capacitor?
29.
A. 0.5 F P
B. 1 F
C. 2 F
D. 5 F

Q R
27.

P Q Three long straight parallel wires P, Q

and R carrying currents of the same
60 magnitude are situated at the vertices of
l v an equilateral triangle as shown. The
currents in wires P and R are directed out
R S of the paper. Which of the following
indicates the direction of the force acting
on wire P?
A metal rod of length l is inclined at 60
to rail PQ as shown. It is moved across a A. →
uniform magnetic field along the B. ↓
direction of the two horizontal rails PQ C. ↑
and RS. If the rod moves with a uniform D. ↗
velocity v and the flux density of the field
is B, the e.m.f. induced in the rod is
30. A steadily running motor draws a current
Blv of 2 A from a battery of e.m.f. 5 V. The
A. .
2 internal resistance of the battery is
B. Blv. negligible. If the resistance of its
2Blv armature coil is 0.5 , estimate the
C. . efficiency of the motor.
3
3Blv A. 60%
D. . B. 70%
2
C. 80%
D. 90%
28.

uniform
magnetic
field
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.7

31.
33.
I

Y1 E Y2
V
In the circuit shown, the voltages across
the resistor and capacitor are respectively
fed to the input terminals Y1 and Y2 of a Which of the following combinations of a
dual trace CRO where E is the common cell, an ideal diode and a resistor will give
earth terminal. Which of the following the above I-V relationship, where I and V
pairs of traces could be obtained? (The are the applied current and voltage
trace of Y1 is represented by a solid curve respectively?
and the trace Y2 is represented by a dotted
one.) A.
A.

B.
B.

C.
C.

D.

D.

34. Which of the following is/are the

advantage(s) of using negative feedback
in an operational amplifier for voltage
amplification?

(1) greater stability

32. To produce an X-ray photon of energy 3.6
(2) larger voltage gain
 10-15 J, the bombarding electrons in the (3) no distortion of the output
X-ray tube must be accelerated through a
potential difference of at least A. (1) only
(Given: electronic charge = 1.6  10-19 C) B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
A. 11.3 kV. D. (2) and (3) only
B. 22.5 kV.
C. 28.8 kV.
D. 57.6 kV. 35. A beam of red light falls on one electrode
of a photocell and electrons are emitted.
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.8

The red beam is then replaced by a blue 38.

one that has the same intensity. Which of P
the following physical quantities would
decrease as a result of this change?
B
A. The maximum kinetic energy of the
photoelectrons emitted A
B. The energy of each photon striking T
the electrode 0
C. The number of photons striking the
electrode per second The graph shows the relation between the
D. The magnitude of the potential pressure P and the absolute temperature T
difference across the photocell of a fixed mass of an ideal gas, which
required to reduce the photo-electric changes from state A to state B along the
current to zero path AB. Which of the following
statements is/are correct?

36. In which of the following calculations is it (1) The graph shows that P is directly
necessary to use the Planck constant? proportional to T.
(2) The volume V of the gas increases.
(1) Finding the momentum of an electron (3) All the points on straight line AB
from its kinetic energy PV
(2) Finding the energy of a photon satisfy the relation = constant.
T
emitted as a result of the transition of
an electron between two energy levels A. (1) only
in an atom B. (3) only
(3) Finding the maximum kinetic energy C. (1) and (2) only
of photoelectrons from the D. (2) and (3) only
wavelength of incident radiation

A. (1) only 39. What is the order of magnitude of the

B. (3) only number of molecules in 1 cm3 of air in an
C. (1) and (2) only atmospheric pressure of 105 Pa and at
D. (2) and (3) only room temperature?
(Given: Universal gas constant = 8.31 JK -
1
mol-1
37. A hydrogen atom absorbs a photon of Avogrado constant = 6.02  1023 mol-1)
wavelength  such that the electron in the
ground state (energy level corresponding A. 1025
to n = 1) is brought to an excited state B. 1019
(energy level corresponding to n = 3). C. 1016
What is the maximum wavelength of a D. 1013
photon that can cause ionization of a
hydrogen atom in the ground state?
40. At 80 C, the r.m.s. speed of the
8 molecules in a fixed mass of an ideal gas
A.
9 is c. If the temperature is increased to
9 160 C, the r.m.s. speed of the gas
B. molecules would become
8
3 A. 2c.
C.
2 B. 1.4c.
2 C. 1.2c.
D. D. 1.1c.
3
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.9

41. normally on a quiescent collector current

ln(A/Bq) of 3 mA and with the base-emitter
junction voltage VBE = +0.6 V. What
5 should be the value of the base-bias
resistor RB?

A. 128 k
t/s B. 144 k
0 400 C. 160 k
The graph above shows how the D. 176 k
logarithm of the activity A of a radioactive
isotope varies with time t. What is the
half-life of the isotope? 44.
50 k
A. 200 s
B. 55 s +15 V
10 k
C. 24 s
D. 0.42 s
10 k
V1 P
- 15 V V0
42. Which of the following situations cannot V2 50 k
be explained by using Bernoulli’s
equation?
0V
(1) An object falling with terminal
velocity in air The figure shows an operational amplifier
(2) The curved path described by a circuit. When V1 = +2.7 V and V0 = -0.9
spinning tennis ball V, what is the potential at P?
(3) The flow of water out of a tank
through a small hole near its bottom A. 0V
B. 0.6 V
A. (1) only C. 2.1 V
B. (3) only D. 2.4 V
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only
45. The diameter of the bore of a capillary
tube can be determined by introducing a
43. small quantity of mercury into the
+ 6V capillary. It is possible to measure the
length of the mercury thread to within 2%
and the mass of the mercury used to
RB within 4%. Assuming negligible error in
C the density of mercury, the percentage
error in the calculated diameter of the
B E capillary bore is at most
0V
A. 2%.
B. 3%.
C. 4%.
The figure shows a typical voltage- D. 6%.
amplifier circuit built from a transistor
with current gain 80. It operates

- End of Paper -
 02 AL Physics/M.C./P.10

Question No. Key Question No. Key

1. D (17) 26. C (88)

2. C (58) 27. D (69)
3. B (55) 28. A (18)
4. B (25) 29. A (43)
5. A (66) 30. C (88)

6. D (43) 31. C (38)

7. A (89) 32. B (88)
8. C (20) 33. C (30)
9. A (36) 34. A (53)
10. C (75) 35. C (51)

11. B (43) 36. B (30)

12. D (33) 37. A (46)
13. A (51) 38. D (23)
14. D (81) 39. B (72)
15. D (52) 40. D (48)

16. A (26) 41. B (75)

17. C (40) 42. A (66)
18. B (69) 43. B (70)
19. D (33) 44. C (52)
20. C (25) 45. B (37)

21. A (31)
22. B (91)
23. D (61)
24. D (29)
25. C (34)