Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 1 of 12

DEPARTMENT FOR CURRICULUM,

LIFELONG LEARNING AND EMPLOYABILITY

Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes

Educational Assessment Unit

Annual Examinations for Secondary Schools 2019

YEAR 10 PHYSICS TIME: 2 hours

Name: _____________________________________ Class: _______________

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

• Where necessary take acceleration due to gravity ‘g’ to be 10 m/s2.

• The use of a calculator is allowed.

• The number of marks for each question is given in brackets at the end of

each question.

• You may find these equations useful.

Force F = m a W = m g

Motion Average Speed=

total distance

total time s =

(u + v) t

2 s = ut +

1

2at

2

v = u + at v2 = u2 + 2as Momentum = mv

Electricity

Q = I t V = I R E = Q V

R ∝ L/A E = I V t

RTOTAL = R1 + R2 + R3 1

RTOTAL

= 1

R1

+1

R2

Waves

η = real depth

apparent depth η =

speed of light in air

speed of light in medium

v = f λ

f = 1

T

magnification = hi

ho

= image height

object height

Others Area of triangle = 1

2bh Area of Trapezium =

1

2(a+b)h

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

• Use blue or black ink. Pencil should be

used for diagrams only.

• Read each question carefully and make

sure that you know what you have to do

before starting your answer.

• Answer ALL questions.

• All working must be shown.

For Examiner’s Use Only

Question Max Mark

1 8

2 8

3 8

4 8

5 8

6 15

7 15

8 15

Written 85

Practical 15

Total 100

This document consists of 12 printed pages.

Track 3

Page 2 of 12 Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019

SECTION A

Each question carries 8 marks.

This section carries 40 marks of the total marks for this paper.

Kelsey would like to do some research about

the properties of an LDR and sets up the circuit

shown in Figure 1.

What does LDR stand for?

_____________________________ [1]

Add an ammeter to Figure 1 to measure

the current passing through the circuit.

[1]

If the resistance of the LDR is 400 kΩ when the LDR is in a dark room and

the fixed resistor has a resistance of 4000 Ω, find:

The total resistance of the LDR and the fixed resistor.

_____________________________________________________ [2]

The current passing through the circuit.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [2]

Kelsey opens the door of the room and the LDR is no longer in the dark. What

will happen to the current flowing in the circuit? Explain.

____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________ [2]

A hovercraft travels from Valletta to Pozzallo in Sicily. The hovercraft and

passengers have a total mass of 3.0 × 104 kg.

Calculate the value (size) of the upward force as it travels at constant height.

_________________________________________________________ [2]

The graph in Figure 2 shows how the speed varies with time from when the

hovercraft leaves Valletta till when it arrives in Pozzallo.

Figure 2

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 7000

Velo

city in m

/s

Time in seconds

A graph of Velocity against Time

16 V

LDR Fixed resistor

4000 Ω

Figure 1

Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 3 of 12

Use the graph in Figure 2 to:

calculate the acceleration of the hovercraft.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [2]

find the total distance moved.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [2]

work out the average speed of the hovercraft.

_____________________________________________________ [1]

draw the average speed on the graph in Figure 2. [1]

Figure 3 below shows two buoys which are floating 3 m apart.

Figure 3

Calculate:

the wavelength of the sea waves shown in Figure 3.

_____________________________________________________ [2]

the frequency of the waves given that ten complete waves pass in 20 s.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [1]

the speed of the sea waves.

_____________________________________________________ [2]

The sea waves approach a wall as

shown in Figure 4.

On Figure 4 draw the three

wavefronts and their direction

after the wall reflects them.

[2]

After hitting the wall, the

waves have a smaller

amplitude. Explain.

________________________

_____________________ [1]

3 m buoy

wall wavefronts

N

Figure 4

Page 4 of 12 Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019

The wavelengths of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum range from

approximately 10−13 m for gamma to 103 m for radio waves as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Name the radiation in the regions A and B.

____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ [2]

Name TWO properties common to all waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.

____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ [2]

State one use of:

ultraviolet rays.

______________________________________________________ [1]

gamma rays.

______________________________________________________ [1]

infrared rays.

______________________________________________________ [1]

Visible light is divided into a spectrum of colours of different wavelengths.

Red, orange, violet and green are part of the visible spectrum. Red has the

longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength of the visible

spectrum. Complete the table shown below with the appropriate colour

(orange or green) for each wavelength. [1]

Colour Approximate Wavelength (× 10−7 m)

Violet 4.0

5.5

6.0

Red 7.0

A B

m

Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 5 of 12

Andrew, of mass 65 kg, skates with a velocity of 5 m/s towards Alexandra who is

momentarily at rest, as shown in Figure 6. He joins Alexandra, of mass 55 kg.

After joining, Andrew and Alexandra move together for a short distance.

Figure 6

Calculate Andrew’s momentum before joining Alexandra.

____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________ [2]

What is the value of Alexandra’s momentum before Andrew joins her?

__________________________________________________________ [1]

Determine the value of their total momentum after joining.

__________________________________________________________ [1]

Find the common initial velocity as they start moving off together.

____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________ [2]

Later, Andrew and Alexandra come to rest. They decide to face each other

and push each other apart. Andrew moves off with a speed of 3 m/s in one

direction whilst Alexandra moves off in the opposite direction. Does Alexandra

move off with a smaller speed, the same speed or a larger speed than

Andrew? Explain your reasoning.

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________ [2]

m = 55 kg

(at rest) m = 65 kg

v = 5 m/s

Page 6 of 12 Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019

SECTION B

Each question carries 15 marks. This section carries 45 marks of the total marks for this paper.

This question is about light rays.

Figure 7 shows a mirror M1 fixed on the side of a road so that a car X has a

better view of oncoming cars.

Figure 7

On Figure 7, draw a ray of light to show how the driver of car X can see

car Z. Label the incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal. [2]

On the diagram show the position of the image and label it as ‘I’. [1]

Compare the size of the object distance with the image distance.

______________________________________________________ [1]

What type of image is seen in the mirror?

______________________________________________________ [1]

Explain what is meant by the term ‘lateral inversion’.

______________________________________________________ [1]

Draw another mirror and label it M2 so that car X can see car Y. [1]

car Z

car Y

mirror M1

car X

Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 7 of 12

Figure 8 shows a ray of light travelling through an optical fibre made of glass.

Figure 8

What happens to the speed of light when it passes from a less dense

medium to a denser medium?

______________________________________________________ [1]

Why is the ray of light at A not refracted?

______________________________________________________ [1]

One condition for total internal reflection to occur is that the light ray

must travel from a dense to a less dense medium. State the other

condition.

______________________________________________________ [1]

Fibre optic cables are replacing copper wires in telecommunication links.

What advantage do you think optical fibre cables have over copper

cables?

______________________________________________________ [1]

The ray diagram below shows the lens set up for a simple projector.

Complete the ray diagram to show the position of the image and label it

‘I’. [3]

Use your ray diagram to find the magnification of the lens.

_____________________________________________________ [1]

optical fibre

ray of light

air

A

Page 8 of 12 Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019

This question is about electricity.

Nathan and Kaya are in the family garage and find a box full of copper wires, a

16 V battery, some resistors, a rheostat, crocodile clips and a switch.

Nathan wants to investigate the voltage-current characteristics of one of the

resistors. They set up a circuit as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9

They measure the current and voltage of resistor R. They then repeat the

experiment each time changing the resistance of the rheostat. The measurements

of voltage and current of resistor R are shown in the table below.

I (A) 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

V (V) 0 2.0 4.2 6.0 7.8 10.0 12.0

Plot a graph of Voltage V on the y-axis against Current I on the x-axis.

Draw the best straight line through your points. [4]

Explain why Nathan and Kaya can conclude that resistor R is an ohmic

conductor.

_____________________________________________________ [1]

Calculate the resistance R by finding the gradient of the graph.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [2]

Calculate the resistance of the rheostat when the current through the

circuit is 0.5 A.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ [3]

R

16 V battery switch

rheostat

Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 9 of 12

Page 10 of 12 Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019

Kaya notices that the wires have different thicknesses. She thinks that the

thicker the wire, the more current will pass through it. They decide to test

this idea. They cut the wires into equal lengths and then measure the

thickness of each wire. They set up the circuit shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10

Why do they cut the wires to make them all of the same length?

______________________________________________________ [1]

What is the purpose of the fixed resistor in the circuit?

______________________________________________________ [1]

Describe the experiment Nathan and Kaya should carry out to see

whether Kaya’s idea is correct. Mention also any other additional

apparatus needed to perform this experiment.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [3]

crocodile clips

battery fixed resistor

switch

Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 11 of 12

This question is about motion.

Cars are tested for safety in special laboratories using dummies instead of

persons in simulated accidents, as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11

A car which is at rest is hit from the back, making the car move suddenly

forward. The dummy’s head hits the headrest. Explain why this happens.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [1]

When a car stops suddenly, seat belts stretch slightly before stopping

the passenger from moving forward. Explain the advantage of having an

such a seat belt.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [2]

Mention one other safety feature in modern cars.

______________________________________________________ [1]

If the seat belt is removed and the car is made to crash into a wall, the

dummy will continue to move forward during the crash. State which of

Newton’s laws of motion explains the dummy’s motion.

______________________________________________________ [1]

dummy

headrest

seat belt

Page 12 of 12 Physics – Year 10 – Track 3 – 2019

A person driving a car at a uniform velocity of 20 m/s saw a cat 31 m away,

as shown in Figure 12. The car did not stop in time to avoid hitting the cat.

Figure 12

Given that the person’s reaction time was 0.3 s, find the thinking

distance.

______________________________________________________ [1]

Find the velocity of the car with which it hit the cat, given that the car

decelerated at 7 m/s2 for 1.85 s before it hit the cat.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [2]

If the car was travelling at the speed limit of 40 km/h (11.1 m/s) when

the driver first saw the cat, would the car have stopped in time and not

hit the cat? Assume that the driver’s reaction time was 0.3 s and the car

decelerated at 7 m/s2. Support your answer with the appropriate

calculations.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________ [5]

Mention ONE factor which increases the thinking distance.

______________________________________________________ [1]

Mention ONE factor which affects the braking distance.

______________________________________________________ [1]

31 m

cat