Physics 9702/42 — May/June 2010

Cambridge A-Level · A Level Structured Questions · worked solutions for every part, with the mark scheme

questions

100

marks

105

minutes

Topics Electronics · Gravitational Fields · Oscillations · Temperature · Electric Fields · Capacitance · +5 more

Q1Gravitational FieldsFree sample

(a)

Define gravitational potential at a point.

(b)

The Earth may be considered to be an isolated sphere of radius $R$ with its mass concentrated at its centre.
The variation of the gravitational potential $\phi$ with distance $x$ from the centre of the Earth is shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

The radius $R$ of the Earth is $6.4 \times 10^{6}\ \text{m}$ .

(i)

By considering the gravitational potential at the Earth’s surface, determine a value for the mass of the Earth.

mass = ______ $\text{kg}$

(ii)

A meteorite is at rest at infinity. The meteorite travels from infinity towards the Earth.

Calculate the speed of the meteorite when it is at a distance of $2R$ above the Earth’s surface. Explain your working.

speed = ______ $\text{m s}^{-1}$

(iii)

In practice, the Earth is not an isolated sphere because it is orbited by the Moon, as illustrated in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2

The initial path of the meteorite is also shown.

Suggest two changes to the motion of the meteorite caused by the Moon.

______
______

The rest of this paper

11 more questions

Q2Oscillations9M
Q3Temperature9M
Q4Electric Fields9M
Q5Capacitance9M
Q6Magnetic Fields9M
Q7Alternating Currents7M
Q8Nuclear Physics7M
Q9Electronics10M
Q10Electronics6M
Q11Medical Physics6M
Q12Communication8M

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