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9702/41

Physics 9702/41 — May/June 2019

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

12
questions
100
marks
120
minutes

Topics Alternating Currents · Magnetic Fields · Gravitational Fields · Ideal Gases · Thermodynamics · Oscillations · +6 more

Q1Gravitational FieldsFree sample
(a)

Two point masses are isolated in space and are separated by a distance xx.

State an expression relating the gravitational force FF between the two masses to the magnitudes MM and mm of the masses. State the name of any other symbol used.

1M
(b)

A spacecraft is to be put into a circular orbit about a spherical planet.

The planet may be considered to be isolated in space. The mass of the planet, assumed to be concentrated at its centre, is 7.5×1023 kg7.5 \times 10^{23}\ \text{kg}. The radius of the planet is 3.4×106 m3.4 \times 10^6\ \text{m}.

(i)

The spacecraft is to orbit the planet at a height of 2.4×105 m2.4 \times 10^5\ \text{m} above the surface of the planet. At this altitude, there is no atmosphere.

Show that the speed of the spacecraft in its orbit is 3.7×103 m s−13.7 \times 10^3\ \text{m s}^{-1}.

2M
(ii)

One possible path of the spacecraft as it approaches the planet is shown in Fig. 1.1.

The spacecraft enters the orbit at point A with speed 3.7×103 m s−13.7 \times 10^3\ \text{m s}^{-1}.

At point B, a distance of 5.00×107 m5.00 \times 10^7\ \text{m} from the centre of the planet, the spacecraft has a speed of 4.1×103 m s−14.1 \times 10^3\ \text{m s}^{-1}. The mass of the spacecraft is 650 kg650\ \text{kg}.

For the spacecraft moving from point B to point A, show that the change in gravitational potential energy of the spacecraft is 8.3×109 J8.3 \times 10^9\ \text{J}.

3M
(c)

By considering changes in gravitational potential energy and in kinetic energy of the spacecraft, determine whether the total energy of the spacecraft increases or decreases in moving from point B to point A. A numerical answer is not required.

2M

The rest of this paper

11 more questions
  • Q2Ideal Gases · Thermodynamics10M
  • Q3Oscillations10M
  • Q4Communication10M
  • Q5Electric Fields8M
  • Q6Capacitance · Alternating Currents7M
  • Q7Electronics8M
  • Q8Magnetic Fields10M
  • Q9Magnetic Fields5M
  • Q10Alternating Currents4M
  • Q11Quantum Physics11M
  • Q12Nuclear Physics9M
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