MITIHANI POPOTE EXAMINATION SERIES PHYSICS 2 (With Comprehensive Solutions)

Instructions: This paper consists of six (6) questions. Answer any five (5) questions. Each question carries twenty (20) marks. Mathematical tables and non-programmable calculators may be used.

Acceleration due to gravity: \( g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)
Speed of light: \( c = 3 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s} \)
Charge of electron: \( e = 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{C} \)
Atmospheric pressure: \( 1.013 \times 10^5 \, \text{Pa} \)
Young's modulus of steel: \( 2.0 \times 10^{11} \, \text{N/m}^2 \)
Boltzmann's constant: \( k = 1.38 \times 10^{-23} \, \text{JK}^{-1} \)
1
Fluid Dynamics and Properties
(a) (i) State the principle on which Bernoulli's theorem is based.
Solution

Bernoulli's theorem is based on the principle of conservation of energy for a flowing fluid. It states that in a steady, incompressible, and non-viscous flow, the sum of pressure energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy per unit volume remains constant along a streamline.

(a) (ii) Why does the speed of a liquid increase and its pressure decrease when a liquid passes through a constriction in a pipe?
Solution

According to the continuity equation:

\( A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2 \)

When the cross-sectional area decreases at a constriction, the velocity must increase to maintain the same flow rate. From Bernoulli's principle:

\( P + \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2 + \rho gh = \text{constant} \)

An increase in kinetic energy (velocity) leads to a decrease in pressure energy to keep the total energy constant.

(b) (i) If two ships are moving parallel and close to each other, they experience an attractive force. Why?
Solution

Due to the Bernoulli effect: The water flowing between the ships moves faster than on the outer sides, creating lower pressure between them. The higher pressure on the outer sides pushes the ships together, resulting in an attractive force.

(b) (ii) Water flows into an open vessel at 1.5 cm³/s. A horizontal capillary tube (length 20 cm, radius 1.00 mm) protrudes from the side wall just above the base. At what depth does the water level stop rising?
Solution

Using Poiseuille's equation for laminar flow through a capillary:

\( Q = \frac{\pi r^4 \Delta P}{8 \eta L} \)

Where \( \Delta P = \rho g h \), \( Q = 1.5 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m}^3/\text{s} \), \( r = 0.001 \, \text{m} \), \( \eta = 1.0 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{N·s/m}^2 \), \( L = 0.2 \, \text{m} \), \( \rho = 1000 \, \text{kg/m}^3 \).

Substituting values:

\( 1.5 \times 10^{-6} = \frac{\pi (0.001)^4 (1000 \times 9.8 \times h)}{8 \times 1.0 \times 10^{-3} \times 0.2} \)

Solving for \( h \):

\( h \approx 0.078 \, \text{m} = 7.8 \, \text{cm} \)
(c) (ii) A cylindrical tank filled with water to depth D = 0.3 m. A hole of area A = 6.5 cm² at the bottom allows drainage. Find drainage rate and distance below tank where stream area is half of hole area.
Solution

Using Torricelli's theorem:

\( v = \sqrt{2gD} = \sqrt{2 \times 9.8 \times 0.3} \approx 2.42 \, \text{m/s} \)

Drainage rate:

\( Q = A v = (6.5 \times 10^{-4}) \times 2.42 \approx 1.57 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{m}^3/\text{s} \)

For the stream area \( A_s = \frac{1}{2} A \), continuity gives \( A v = A_s v_s \) ⇒ \( v_s = 2v \).

Energy equation from hole to point below:

\( \frac{1}{2} v^2 + gD = \frac{1}{2} v_s^2 + g(D + y) \)

Substitute \( v_s = 2v \), \( v = \sqrt{2gD} \):

\( gD = 2gD + g(D + y) \) ⇒ \( y = -D \)

This indicates the area contraction occurs at the hole itself (vena contracta effect).

Drainage rate \( \approx 1.57 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{m}^3/\text{s} \), area halves at the hole location.
2
Sound and Wave Optics
(a) (i) Why can two astronauts not talk on the moon as they do on Earth?
Solution

Sound requires a medium to propagate. The moon has no atmosphere, so sound waves cannot travel. Communication must be via electromagnetic waves (e.g., radio).

(b) (ii) Ultrasound frequency 5.0 MHz, incident angle 30°, Doppler shift 4.4 kHz, ultrasound speed 1.5 km/s, vessel diameter 1.0 mm. Calculate blood velocity and volume flow rate.
Solution

Doppler shift formula:

\( \Delta f = \frac{2 f v \cos\theta}{c} \)

Given: \( \Delta f = 4400 \, \text{Hz} \), \( f = 5.0 \times 10^6 \, \text{Hz} \), \( c = 1500 \, \text{m/s} \), \( \theta = 30^\circ \)

Solve for \( v \):

\( v = \frac{\Delta f \cdot c}{2 f \cos\theta} = \frac{4400 \times 1500}{2 \times 5.0 \times 10^6 \times \cos 30^\circ} \approx 0.762 \, \text{m/s} \)

Volume flow rate:

\( Q = A v = \pi \left( \frac{0.001}{2} \right)^2 \times 0.762 \approx 5.98 \times 10^{-7} \, \text{m}^3/\text{s} \)
Blood velocity \( \approx 0.76 \, \text{m/s} \), volume flow rate \( \approx 5.98 \times 10^{-7} \, \text{m}^3/\text{s} \)
(c) (ii) Angular separation between sodium lines 5890 Å and 5896 Å using grating with 6000 lines/cm in first order.
Solution

Grating spacing:

\( d = \frac{1}{6000 \times 100} = 1.667 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m} \)

Grating equation: \( \sin\theta = \frac{m \lambda}{d} \)

For \( \lambda_1 = 5.890 \times 10^{-7} \, \text{m} \):

\( \sin\theta_1 = \frac{1 \times 5.890 \times 10^{-7}}{1.667 \times 10^{-6}} \approx 0.3533 \) ⇒ \( \theta_1 \approx 20.69^\circ \)

For \( \lambda_2 = 5.896 \times 10^{-7} \, \text{m} \):

\( \sin\theta_2 = \frac{1 \times 5.896 \times 10^{-7}}{1.667 \times 10^{-6}} \approx 0.3537 \) ⇒ \( \theta_2 \approx 20.71^\circ \)

Angular separation:

\( \Delta\theta \approx 20.71^\circ - 20.69^\circ \approx 0.02^\circ \)
Angular separation ≈ 0.02°
3
Surface Tension, Kinetic Theory, and Elasticity
(a) (ii) An air bubble of radius 1 mm is formed at a depth of 5 cm inside a large container of soap solution. Calculate the pressure inside the bubble.
Solution

Given: \( r = 1 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{m} \), \( h = 0.05 \, \text{m} \), \( \rho = 1200 \, \text{kg/m}^3 \), \( \gamma = 0.05 \, \text{N/m} \), \( P_0 = 1.013 \times 10^5 \, \text{Pa} \)

Pressure due to depth:

\( P_{\text{depth}} = \rho g h = 1200 \times 9.8 \times 0.05 = 588 \, \text{Pa} \)

Excess pressure inside bubble due to surface tension:

\( \Delta P = \frac{2\gamma}{r} = \frac{2 \times 0.05}{0.001} = 100 \, \text{Pa} \)

Total pressure inside bubble:

\( P = P_0 + P_{\text{depth}} + \Delta P = 1.013 \times 10^5 + 588 + 100 \approx 1.0199 \times 10^5 \, \text{Pa} \)
Pressure inside bubble ≈ 1.020 × 10⁵ Pa
(b) (ii) In a certain region of space, there are 5 molecules per cm³ on average, and the temperature is 3 K. What is the average pressure of this very dilute gas?
Solution

Using the ideal gas law: \( P = n k T \)

Where: \( n = 5 \times 10^6 \, \text{molecules/m}^3 \), \( k = 1.38 \times 10^{-23} \, \text{J/K} \), \( T = 3 \, \text{K} \)

\( P = (5 \times 10^6) \times (1.38 \times 10^{-23}) \times 3 \approx 2.07 \times 10^{-16} \, \text{Pa} \)
Average pressure ≈ 2.07 × 10⁻¹⁶ Pa
(c) (ii) A 45 kg traffic light is supported by two steel wires of equal lengths and radii 0.5 cm. The wires make an angle of 15° with the horizontal. What is the fractional increase in their length due to the weight of the traffic light?
Solution

Given: \( m = 45 \, \text{kg} \), \( r = 0.5 \times 10^{-2} \, \text{m} \), \( \theta = 15^\circ \), \( Y = 2.0 \times 10^{11} \, \text{N/m}^2 \)

Weight supported by each wire:

\( T \sin\theta = \frac{mg}{2} \) ⇒ \( T = \frac{mg}{2 \sin\theta} = \frac{45 \times 9.8}{2 \times \sin 15^\circ} \approx 850.5 \, \text{N} \)

Cross-sectional area:

\( A = \pi r^2 = \pi (0.005)^2 \approx 7.854 \times 10^{-5} \, \text{m}^2 \)

Stress:

\( \sigma = \frac{T}{A} = \frac{850.5}{7.854 \times 10^{-5}} \approx 1.083 \times 10^7 \, \text{Pa} \)

Strain:

\( \epsilon = \frac{\sigma}{Y} = \frac{1.083 \times 10^7}{2.0 \times 10^{11}} \approx 5.415 \times 10^{-5} \)
Fractional increase in length (strain) ≈ 5.42 × 10⁻⁵
4
Electric Fields and Capacitance
(a) Two tiny spheres carrying charges 1.5 µC and 2.5 µC are located 30 cm apart. Find the electric field at the midpoint.
Solution

At the midpoint, fields due to each charge are opposite. Let \( q_1 = 1.5 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{C} \), \( q_2 = 2.5 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{C} \), distance to midpoint = 0.15 m.

\( E_1 = \frac{k q_1}{r^2} = \frac{9 \times 10^9 \times 1.5 \times 10^{-6}}{(0.15)^2} = 6.0 \times 10^5 \, \text{N/C} \) (toward q₂)
\( E_2 = \frac{k q_2}{r^2} = \frac{9 \times 10^9 \times 2.5 \times 10^{-6}}{(0.15)^2} = 1.0 \times 10^6 \, \text{N/C} \) (toward q₁)

Net field:

\( E_{\text{net}} = E_2 - E_1 = (1.0 \times 10^6 - 6.0 \times 10^5) = 4.0 \times 10^5 \, \text{N/C} \) (toward q₁)
Electric field at midpoint = 4.0 × 10⁵ N/C toward the 1.5 µC charge
(b) (ii) An 8 µF capacitor connected in series with 0.5 MΩ resistor across 200 V d.c. Calculate current and potential difference after 4 seconds.
Solution

Time constant:

\( \tau = R C = (0.5 \times 10^6) \times (8 \times 10^{-6}) = 4 \, \text{s} \)

At \( t = 4 \, \text{s} = \tau \):

\( V_C = V (1 - e^{-t/\tau}) = 200 (1 - e^{-1}) \approx 200 \times 0.6321 = 126.42 \, \text{V} \)
\( I = I_0 e^{-t/\tau} = \frac{200}{0.5 \times 10^6} \times e^{-1} \approx 0.4 \times 0.3679 = 0.147 \, \text{mA} \)
\( V_C \approx 126.4 \, \text{V} \), \( I \approx 0.147 \, \text{mA} \)
(c) (ii) How much work must be done to transfer a charge of +500 µC from point C to point D?
Solution

From part (i): \( V_C = 4.5 \times 10^6 \, \text{V} \), \( V_D = 7.5 \times 10^6 \, \text{V} \)

Work done:

\( W = q (V_D - V_C) = (500 \times 10^{-6}) \times (7.5 \times 10^6 - 4.5 \times 10^6) = 1500 \, \text{J} \)
Work required = 1500 J
5
Electromagnetism and Induction
(a) (ii) Magnetic flux through a coil of resistance 6.5 Ω varies as φ = (3t² + 5t + 2) mWb. Find induced current at t = 10 s.
Solution

Faraday's law: \( \mathcal{E} = -\frac{d\phi}{dt} \)

\( \frac{d\phi}{dt} = \frac{d}{dt}(3t^2 + 5t + 2) \times 10^{-3} = (6t + 5) \times 10^{-3} \)

At \( t = 10 \, \text{s} \):

\( \mathcal{E} = -(6 \times 10 + 5) \times 10^{-3} = -0.065 \, \text{V} \)

Induced current:

\( I = \frac{|\mathcal{E}|}{R} = \frac{0.065}{6.5} = 0.01 \, \text{A} = 10 \, \text{mA} \)
Induced current at t = 10 s = 10 mA
(b) (ii) A toroid of 1200 turns with air core has radius 15 cm and cross-sectional area 12.0 cm². Find self-inductance.
Solution

For a toroid:

\( L = \frac{\mu_0 N^2 A}{2\pi r} \)

Where: \( N = 1200 \), \( A = 12.0 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{m}^2 \), \( r = 0.15 \, \text{m} \), \( \mu_0 = 4\pi \times 10^{-7} \, \text{H/m} \)

\( L = \frac{(4\pi \times 10^{-7}) \times (1200)^2 \times (12 \times 10^{-4})}{2\pi \times 0.15} \approx 2.30 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{H} \)
Self-inductance ≈ 2.30 mH
(c) (ii) A coil of 100 turns, each of area 20 cm², has resistance 5 Ω. Magnetic flux density 3×10⁻² T is at right angles to the coil. Find charge if field is removed and if field is reversed.
Solution

Initial flux:

\( \Phi_i = N B A = 100 \times (3 \times 10^{-2}) \times (20 \times 10^{-4}) = 6 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{Wb} \)

If field removed: \( \Phi_f = 0 \) ⇒ \( \Delta\Phi = 6 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{Wb} \)

If field reversed: \( \Phi_f = -6 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{Wb} \) ⇒ \( \Delta\Phi = 12 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{Wb} \)

Induced charge: \( Q = \frac{N |\Delta\Phi|}{R} \)

Case 1: \( Q = \frac{100 \times 6 \times 10^{-3}}{5} = 0.12 \, \text{C} \)
Case 2: \( Q = \frac{100 \times 12 \times 10^{-3}}{5} = 0.24 \, \text{C} \)
Charge = 0.12 C (removed), 0.24 C (reversed)
6
Nuclear Physics
(a) (ii) Half-life of U-235 against alpha decay is 4.5×10⁹ years. How many disintegrations per second occur in 1 g of U-235?
Solution

Number of atoms in 1 g:

\( N = \frac{1}{235} \times 6.02 \times 10^{23} \approx 2.56 \times 10^{21} \)

Decay constant:

\( \lambda = \frac{\ln 2}{T_{1/2}} = \frac{0.693}{4.5 \times 10^9 \times 3.15 \times 10^7} \approx 4.88 \times 10^{-18} \, \text{s}^{-1} \)

Activity:

\( A = \lambda N = 4.88 \times 10^{-18} \times 2.56 \times 10^{21} \approx 1.25 \times 10^4 \, \text{Bq} \)
Activity ≈ 1.25 × 10⁴ disintegrations/s
(c) (i) In Rutherford experiment, alpha particle of kinetic energy 8 MeV makes head-on collision with sodium nucleus. Compare collision radius to that from R = R₀A¹ᐟ³.
Solution

Closest approach distance \( r_0 \) from energy conservation:

\( r_0 = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{Ze \cdot 2e}{K} = \frac{9 \times 10^9 \times 11 \times 2 \times (1.6 \times 10^{-19})^2}{8 \times 10^6 \times 1.6 \times 10^{-19}} \approx 6.34 \times 10^{-14} \, \text{m} \)

Using \( R = R_0 A^{1/3} \) with \( R_0 = 1.2 \times 10^{-15} \, \text{m} \), \( A = 23 \):

\( R \approx 1.2 \times 10^{-15} \times 23^{1/3} \approx 3.53 \times 10^{-15} \, \text{m} \)
Collision radius \( r_0 \) ≈ 6.34×10⁻¹⁴ m, Nuclear radius R ≈ 3.53×10⁻¹⁵ m
The collision radius is much larger than the nuclear radius because the alpha particle never touches the nucleus due to Coulomb repulsion.

Pre-National Examination Series | Physics 2 – Series 5 | Solutions

Note: These are comprehensive solutions. In the actual exam, show all working for full marks.

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