UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL
1st SEMESTER EXAMINATION: 2nd June 2012
Subject, Course and Code: Physics Foundation PHYS199
DURATION: 3 HOURS
TOTAL MARKS: 180
INTERNAL EXAMINERS:
Ms B. Adams, Ms W. Dlamini, Mr S Jaganath, Mr E Obaga , Mr R Webber
EXTERNAL EXAMINER: Dr V. Couling
STUDENT NUMBER: _________________________SEAT NUMBER: ___________
INSTRUCTIONS
 Write your student number in the space above.
 Please do not tear any pages out of this book.
 Please write legibly and clearly.
 Pencil is acceptable, if dark and clear.
 Answer all questions on these sheets.
 Show your working for all calculations.
 For rough work you may use the plain backs of the paper.
 This paper consists of 13 pages plus a Multiple Choice answer sheet. Please make sure that
you have them all.
You may need to make use of the following:
v = u + at,
s = ut + ½at2, v2 = u2 + 2as
Use magnitude of acceleration due to gravity; g = 9.80 m s-2
QUESTION
MCQ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Total
FOR MARKING USE ONLY
Mark internal
Mark external
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
SECTION A
Multiple Choice Questions.
Answer on the multiple choice answer sheet provided. Each question is worth 3 marks.
1
What is the length and the uncertainty in the measurement of the block shown in the diagram
below?
0 cm
(a)
10
20
30
40
55.1 cm  0.5 cm (b) 61.1 cm  0.5 cm
50
60
70
80
90
100
(c) 49.1 cm  1.0 cm (d) 49.1 cm  0.5 cm
2
Sipho attends a secondary school which is 6 km away from his home. How many metres does he
travel to and from school in five days?
(a)
60 m
3
A rectangular block of plasticine has the dimensions 5.00 cm x 2.00 cm x 2.00 cm. It is now
gently dropped into a cylinder with 32.1 ml of water. What would be the new reading of the water
level in the measuring cylinder?
(a)
52 ml
4
The density of mercury is 13.6 g cm-3. What is the mass of 20.0 cm3 of mercury?
(a)
272 g
5
For orientation day Ms Keke has made 25.0 litres of cool drink. Each student will get a cup of
250 millilitres of juice. How many students can get cool drink?
(a)
6
10 students
(b) 12000 m
(b) 12.1 ml
(b) 0.680 g
(b) 100 students
(c) 6000 m
(c) 52.1 ml
(c) 1.471 g
(c) 6250 students
(d) 60000 m
(d) 12.0 ml
(d) 33.6 g
(d) 25 students
(a)
Two candles are made from the same kind of wax. The second candle has a mass that is half that of
the first candle. If the volume of the first candle is 15 cm3, what is the volume of the second
candle?
30 cm3
(b) 0.133 cm3
(c) 7.5 cm3
(d) 15 cm3
7
What is the percent uncertainty in the measurement 2.58 ± 0.15 cm?
(a)
8.7%
(b) 2.9%
(c) 5.8%
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(d) 12%
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
The velocity-time graph for a skateboarder on
a frictionless ramp is shown in the adjacent
diagram. Use it to answer questions 8.
v
t
8
Which of the following acceleration-time
graphs corresponds to the given velocity
time graph above?
a
a
a)
a
b)
c)
t
9
a
d)
t
t
t
Which of the following position-time graphs show two runners running at the same velocity?
x
x
x
b)
a)
t
10
x
c)
d)
t
t
An impala moving with a constant velocity passes a lion at rest. The lion starts off in pursuit of
the impala and moves with a constant acceleration. When the lion catches the impala the lion’s
velocity is twice the velocity of the impala. Which of the graphs below describes the chase?
v
v
lion
v
v
lion
lion
lion
a)
impala
b)
c)
impala
d)
impala
impala
t
11
t
t
t
t
The areas marked A and B in the graph below represent
A
B
_________________
(a)
a.t2
u.t
(b)
u.t
a.t2
(c)
½ a.t2
u.t
(d)
u.t
½ a.t2
v
u
A
B
0
t
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University of KwaZulu-Natal
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
The velocity-time graph for a skateboarder on a frictionless ramp is given below.
Use this to answer questions 12 and 13.
v
t
12
Which of the following ramps would cause this motion?
b)
a)
13
x
x
b)
t
a)
b)
c)
d)
15
a)
b)
c)
d)
d)
Which of the following position-time graphs corresponds to the motion of the skateboarder?
a)
14
c)
x
x
c)
d)
t
t
t
A vector has a magnitude of 17 metres and makes an angle of 20o below the positive x-axis. The
magnitude of the horizontal component of this vector is
16 metres
4.1 metres
5.8 metres
12 metres
As the angle between a given vector and the horizontal increases from 0o to 90o, the magnitude of
the vertical component of this vector
decreases
increases then decreases
remains the same
increases
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University of KwaZulu-Natal
16
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
Three forces act simultaneously on a point P as shown in the diagram.
Which vector represents the resultant force acting on point P ?
a)
b)
c)
d)
17
Vector A has a magnitude of 10.5 cm and makes an angle of 30.0o above the negative x-axis.
What is the magnitude of the vertical component of A?
a)
b)
c)
d)
9.09 cm
6.06 cm
5.25 cm
5.00 cm
Answer Questions 18, 19 and 20 with the aid of the information shown below.
At t0, two cars (#1 and #2) moving along a highway are side-by-side as they pass a third car (#3) which is
stationary on the side of the road. At this moment, the first car slows down, car #2 continues at a constant
speed while the stationary car begins to speed up. The diagram below shows the positions of EACH car
for the next 5 seconds.
18
During which time interval would cars # 2 and # 3 be moving at the same average speed ?
a) t0 to t1
b) t1 to t2
c) t2 to t3
d) t4 to t5
19
Which car/s of the three cars had the greatest average speed during these 5 seconds ?
a)
Car # 1
b)
Car # 2 and car # 3
c)
Car # 2
d)
All three cars had the same average speed.
20
What is the velocity of car #2?
a) 20 m s-1
b) 10 m s-1
c) 5 m s-1
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d) 2 m s-1
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
2nd June 2012 Examination
SECTION B: ANSWER THE REMAINING QUESTIONS IN THE SPACES PROVIDED
Properties of Matter
Question 1
(4 marks)
A carpenter had three pieces of wood with length measurements: 2.1 m, 42 cm and 315 m. The carpenter
then joined the three pieces end to end so that he had one long piece.
(a)
What will be the length of the final piece in cm? (Neglect uncertainties but give the correct
number of decimal places)
(b)
How many significant figures are there in answer to (a)?
Question 2
(9 marks)
In the first column, write each number in Standard Scientific Notation, then convert each and
write the answer in the second column.
a)
0.038 ng = ______________________ ng = ________________________ kg
b)
550.0 m = ______________________ m = ________________________ nm
c)
23 ml = ________________________ ml = ________________________ m3
Question 3
(7 marks)
A farmer estimates that a field has a perimeter (the distance around the edge of the field) of
2400 m ± 10 m. There is a roll of wire in the barn which is labelled 2420 m ± 50 m. Will this
wire be enough for the farmer to put a fence all around the field (without using a gate)? Explain
your answer with the aid of a labelled number line below.
(7)
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(3)
(1)
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Question 4
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
(15 marks)
Estimate the readings necessary to find the required quantities.
a) Write down the measurement and uncertainty in each of the following readings.
i) The volume of the stone (3)
100
ii)
b)
ml
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
60
60
50
50
40
40
30
30
The mass of the stone (2)
ml
Find the density of the stone. (3)
36.8
g
Smallest div:
0.2g
c)
What is the uncertainty in the density of the stone? (7)
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20
20
10
10
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
Question 5 (7 marks) Proportional Reasoning
Use a Diagram and explain your reasoning for every step in this problem. Do NOT use an equation.
3
A brick has a volume of 180 cm and a mass of 350 g.
a) What is the volume of 1.00 g of the brick? (4)
Diagram
b) What is the volume of 6.00 g of the brick? (3)
Graphs of motion
Question 6
(8 marks)
Complete the graphs below by drawing in the missing graphs, where each row represents the same
motion.
(4)
x
a
v
t
x
t
v
t
a
t
t
t
(4)
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University of KwaZulu-Natal
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
2nd June 2012 Examination
Question 7
(15 marks)
The graph below shows the motion for three runners competing in a race.
x(m)
A
100
B
C
80
60
40
20
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
time (s)
a) Which runner won the race? - Give a reason for your answer.
(2)
b) Which runner stopped for a rest? - For how many seconds did they stop?
(2)
c) How much more time did runner C take than runner B to finish the race?
(2)
d) Which runner ran part of the journey at a constant velocity? Calculate this velocity.
(4)
e) Which of the runners ran the whole race with a constant, non-zero acceleration? Give a reason for
your answer.
(2)
f) Describe the motion of runner A.
(3)
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University of KwaZulu-Natal
Question 8
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
(13 marks)
The graph below shows how the velocity of a taxi
changes during its journey.
v(m.s-1)
B
12
10
a) Describe the motion of the taxi during
i)
Stage B
8
(1)
A
C
6
4
2
D
4
8
12
16
20
24
-2
-4
E
-6
-8
ii)
Stage E
(1)
-10
b) At what time did the taxi first stop?
(1)
c) For how many seconds was it stationary?
(1)
d) What is the acceleration of the taxi?
During:
i)
Stage D
(1)
ii)
(4)
Stage C
e) What is the displacement of the taxi between 12 s and 32 s?
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(4)
28
32
t(s)
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
2nd June 2012 Examination
Vectors
Question 9
(7 marks)
After a long day, Wendy drives 3.25 km NORTH, then 4.75 km WEST, then 1.50km SOUTH To finally
reach her destination.
a) Draw a head to tail diagram showing her resultant displacement
(2)
b) Find the magnitude and direction of her resultant displacement
Question 10
(8 marks)


Vector A is 2.80cm long and is 60.0 above the x-axis. Vector B is 1.90cm
long and is 60.0 below the x –axis, as shown in the diagram.


Using components, find the magnitude of A - B
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(5)
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
2nd June 2012 Examination
Kinematics
Question 11
(6 marks)
A aeroplane, staring from rest, accelerates along a runway which is 280 m long for 8.00 s before taking off.
What is the speed of the aeroplane as it takes off?
Question 12
(8 marks)
A lion drops from a tree in order to catch a zebra in the field below. The tree is 10.0 metres above the field.
a) Assuming the lion starts from rest, how long does it take the lion to fall 10.0 metres?
(4)
b) What is the magnitude of the lion’s final velocity after this time?
(4)
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University of KwaZulu-Natal
Question 13
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
2nd June 2012 Examination
(13 marks)
A long jumper leaves the ground at an angle
of θ = 40.00 to the horizontal at a speed of
11.0 m s-1 (as shown in the diagram). Take
“up” and to the “right” as positive.
a)
Calculate the maximum height the jumper reaches.
(4)
b)
What is her velocity at her maximum height ?
(2)
c)
Calculate how far she jumps.
(5)
d)
What is her final velocity as she hits the ground?
(2)
TOTAL = 180 marks
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University of KwaZulu-Natal
2nd June 2012 Examination
Foundation Physics PHYS 199
STUDENT NUMBER ___________________________________
SEAT NUMBER ______
SECTION A - Multiple Choice Answer Sheet
Mark the letter for best answer with a cross as shown below:
1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Question
Answer (put a cross over the correct letter)
(d)
1
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
4
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
5
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
6
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
7
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
8
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
9
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
10
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
11
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
12
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
13
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
14
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
15
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
16
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
17
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
18
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
19
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
20
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
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