Centre Candidate

Surname
Number Number
First name(s) 2

GCE A LEVEL

A420U10-1 Z22-A420U10-1

THURSDAY, 26 MAY 2022 – AFTERNOON

PHYSICS – A level component 1

Newtonian Physics
2 hours 15 minutes For Examiner’s use only
Maximum Mark
Question
Mark Awarded
1. 11
2. 10

A 42 0 U101
3. 13

01
Section A 4. 9
5. 17
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
6. 9
In addition to this examination paper, you
will require a calculator and a Data Booklet. 7. 11
Section B 8. 20
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Total 100
Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Do not use gel pen or correction fluid.
You may use a pencil for graphs and diagrams only.
Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the spaces at the top of this page.
Answer all questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet. If you run out of space, use the
additional page(s) at the back of the booklet, taking care to number the question(s) correctly.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

This paper is in 2 sections, A and B.
Section A: 80 marks. Answer all questions. You are advised to spend about 1 hour 35 minutes on
this section.
Section B: 20 marks. Comprehension. You are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this section.
The number of marks is given in brackets at the end of each question or part-question.
The assessment of the quality of extended response (QER) will take place in question 7(c).

JUN22A420U10101 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. BE/JS*(S22-A420U10-1)

 2
Examiner
only
SECTION A

Answer all questions.

1. A uniform plank, AB, of length 2.00 m and weight 232 N rests in equilibrium against a wall, at
an angle of 55° to the horizontal, as shown in the side view. The wall exerts a horizontal
force, H, on the plank. The floor is rough and exerts a force, P, on the plank.

wall

A H

2.00 m
P
floor
55°
B

(a) (i) Show the plank’s weight on the diagram using a correctly placed arrow. [1]

(ii) Show that H is approximately 80 N, giving a brief explanation of your method. [4]

02 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 3
Examiner
only
(iii) Write down the horizontal and vertical components of force P, and hence
determine its magnitude and direction. [3]

(b) The maximum frictional force that the floor can exert on the plank is 90 N. Show that the
plank could not be in equilibrium at an angle of 45°. [3]

A 42 0 U101
03
11

03 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 4
Examiner
2. Fatima investigated the proportionality between force and acceleration using 7 metal discs, only
each of mass 0.100 kg, and a trolley. The runway was slightly tilted to compensate for friction.

‘spare’ discs string pulley

trolley

discs making up
hanging mass, m

She made measurements to determine the system’s acceleration, a, with different numbers
of discs hanging from the string. She put the spare discs (those not hanging from the string)
securely on the trolley, so that the system’s mass, M, was always the same. She plotted her
values of acceleration, together with error bars, against hanging mass, m, on the grid opposite.
g
(a) Explain why a is expected to be related to m and M by the equation: a = m. [1]
M

(b) Using the graph, determine the mass, M, of the system, along with its absolute
uncertainty. [6]

04 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 5
Examiner
only
Acceleration / m s–2

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

A 42 0 U101
05
2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Hanging mass, m / kg

05 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 6
Examiner
only
(c) Describe the measurements and calculations that Fatima might have made to determine
the acceleration (for any one value of m). Do not consider uncertainties. [3]

10

06 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 7

BLANK PAGE

A 42 0 U101
07
PLEASE DO NOT WRITE
ON THIS PAGE

07 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 8
Examiner
only
3. (a) (i) State the principle of conservation of momentum. [2]

(ii) A metal disc of mass 0.150 kg is sliding to the right at 2.40 m s–1 on a horizontal
surface. It collides head-on with a disc of mass 0.300 kg which is initially
stationary. See diagram.

2.40 m s–1

0.150 kg 0.300 kg

View from above

After the collision the 0.300 kg disc has a velocity of 1.40 m s–1 to the right.

I. Determine the speed and direction of the 0.150 kg disc after the collision. [3]

II. Calculate the kinetic energy lost in the collision. [2]

III. Explain how the principle of conservation of energy applies to this collision.
[2]

08 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 9
Examiner
only
(b) Cedric wishes to investigate the collision experimentally. He plans to release the
0.150 kg disc from a distance, l, up a ramp. See diagram.

25°

View from side

He calculates that l needs to be greater than approximately 0.7 m for the disc to reach
a speed of 2.40 m s–1 by the bottom. Evaluate whether he is correct. [4]

A 42 0 U101
09
13

09 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 10
Examiner
only
4. (a) Explain why an object moving in a circular path requires a resultant force to act on it,
even when it is travelling at constant speed. [2]

(b) Behind a safety screen in an engineering laboratory, a metal sphere of mass 0.200 kg is
whirled in a horizontal circle on the end of a thin steel rod.

0.200 kg

0.250 m

View from above

(i) The breaking stress of the steel under tension is 450 MPa and the rod’s diameter
is 1.2 mm. Show that the greatest force that the rod can exert is roughly 500 N. [2]

(ii) Calculate the greatest rotation frequency (number of revolutions per second) at
which the sphere can be whirled before the rod breaks. [3]

10 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 11
Examiner
only
(iii) I. State an assumption that you have made (or factor that you have ignored) in
your calculation for part (b)(ii). [1]

II. Bearing in mind your previous answer, will the greatest rotation frequency
before the rod breaks be larger or smaller than your calculated value?
Justify your answer briefly. [1]

A 42 0 U101
11

11 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 12
Examiner
only
5. (a) The three springs, A, B, C, shown in the diagrams are identical and of negligible mass.
Each spring has spring constant k.

A B

mass m
period T1
C

mass 2m
period T2

For the system on the left, the period of natural oscillations is T1. For the system on the
T2
right, the period is T2. Calculate the ratio T , giving your reasoning. [3]
1

(b) In a separate experiment a mass hanging from a spring is displaced upwards by 30 mm

from its equilibrium position and released at time t = 0. It performs simple harmonic
motion with a period of 1.20 s.

(i) Show that the maximum velocity of the mass is approximately 0.16 m s–1. [2]

12 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 13
Examiner
only
(ii) Sketch a velocity-time graph for the mass on the grid provided. [2]

0.20

Velocity
upwards
/ m s –1

0
0 1.0 2.0
t /s

– 0.20

(iii) Calculate the speed of the mass at t = 3.50 s. [2]

(iv) Ursula thinks that the kinetic energy of the mass varies at a frequency of 1.67 Hz.
Evaluate this claim. [2]

13 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 14
Examiner
only
(c) Ursula modified the mass-spring system in part (b) so that its oscillations are
significantly damped.

(i) Suggest what practical modification she might have made. [1]

(ii) Ursula measured the amplitude of the oscillations at equal time intervals. Here are
her results:

Amplitude / mm 30 24 19 15

Evaluate whether or not these results are consistent with an exponential decay of
the amplitude. [2]

(d) The physics of damping has been used in designing car suspensions and suspension
bridges for pedestrians. Compare the purposes that damping serves in these two
cases. [3]

17

14 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 15
Examiner
6. (a) Define pressure. [1] only

(b) A sealed canister contains 0.200 mol of oxygen (relative molecular mass: 32.0). An
identical canister contains 0.200 mol of nitrogen (relative molecular mass: 28.0) at the
same temperature. Giving your reasoning, determine these ratios:
pressure of oxygen
(i) [2]
pressure of nitrogen

rms speed of oxygen molecules

(ii) [2]
rms speed of nitrogen molecules

(c) (i) At the centre of the Sun the pressure is estimated to be 2.5 × 1016 Pa, and the
density, 1.6 × 105 kg m –3. Calculate the rms speed of the particles in that region,
treating them as molecules of an ideal gas. [2]

(ii) State two reasons why the ideal gas kinetic theory is not likely to give accurate
results in this case. [2]

15 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 16
Examiner
only
7. The diagram shows three ways (AX, AY and AZ) in which 0.90 mol of an ideal gas can expand
from a volume of 0.020 m3 to a volume of 0.060 m3.

120 A X
Pressure
/ kPa constant
temperature
80

40 Y
Z
no heat into
0 or out of gas
0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Volume / m3

(a) Calculate the temperatures at A and at X. [3]

(b) Calculate the work done over AX. [2]

16 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 17
Examiner
only
(c) For both AY and AZ compare the work done, internal energy change and heat flow with
those for AX. Calculations are not wanted, but you must give your reasoning. [6 QER]

11

17 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 18

SECTION B

Answer all questions.

8. Read through the following article carefully.

Laser Doppler Cooling Paragraph

Here, the laser and the humble Doppler shift combine to produce an incredibly cool 1
effect, but what is Laser Doppler Cooling?

Perhaps the most obvious place to start is with the A level Doppler shift equation. 2

v Δλ _ Δ f
= = Equation 1
c λ f
This equation gives us the wavelength shift of light due to a moving source or a moving
Δλ Δf
observer. The fractional change in wavelength, , (or frequency, ) is just the ratio of
λ f
v
the source’s speed to the speed of light, . So, if a light source is moving at 1% of the 3
c
speed of light, we get a 1% change in both the wavelength and the frequency of the light.
This equation also applies to observers moving away or toward a light source and starts
to get particularly exciting when the observer just happens to be an atom.

As an example, we can take a calcium atom in an ideal gas of calcium atoms at 300 K. 4
So, the rms speed of a calcium atom can be calculated from the kinetic theory.
1
2 mc2 = 32 kT Equation 2

Knowing that the mass of a calcium atom is 40 u, you get a speed of around 400 m s–1.
This means that when light approaches a calcium atom head-on, the calcium atom 5
400
typically sees the light as being blue-shifted by a fraction .
3 × 108

Another important thing we just happen to know about calcium is that it has a red line in
its emission (and absorption) spectrum. The frequency of this red line is 456 000.6 GHz. 6
We will then calculate the blue-shifted frequency that a 400 m s–1 calcium atom sees
when the atom has a head-on collision with light of this frequency.
400
Δf = × f ≈ 0.6 GHz Equation 3
3 × 108
So, when a calcium atom has a head-on collision with light of frequency 456 000.6 GHz,
the calcium atom says that the frequency of the light is 456 001.2 GHz. It might seem
that such a tiny difference would be completely unimportant. However, this difference is
enough to stop the atom from absorbing the light. The light passes straight through the 7
atom and no momentum is transferred to the atom. But when the frequency of the light
is exactly right, you can get absorption. To get this frequency exactly right we use light of
frequency 456 000.0 GHz. Then, when the calcium atom has a head-on collision with this
light it says that the frequency is:

456 000.0 GHz + 0.6 GHz = 456 000.6 GHz.

This is the exact frequency for a calcium atom to absorb a photon of our light. 8

18 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 19

So how do we actually do the cooling? First, we shine light of frequency 456 000.0 GHz
at our calcium gas and remember that only head-on collisions will lead to absorption
of photons. Then, you have to remember that photons have momentum and absorbing 9
a head-on photon will slow down the atom which means that the gas has cooled. The
momentum of a photon is given by the following equation:

p = h Equation 4
λ
So how much does one photon slow down a calcium atom? Conservation of momentum
tells us that it’s a rather disappointing 1.5 cm s–1. What?? All that theory and all we did
was slow down a calcium atom by 1.5 cm s–1??? But then you have to think to yourself, 10
“What happens if we can persuade the calcium atom to absorb 26 000 photons?”
Fortunately for us, a 50 mW laser tends to send out a lot of photons so that absorbing
26 000 photons only takes about a millisecond.

But what happens if a photon comes from behind and tries to accelerate our atoms? An
important thing to remember about this technique is that if the atom is hit from behind
by the photon, the atom will see the light as being red-shifted. This means that the 11
frequency has changed the wrong way and the photon will not be absorbed (it no longer
fits our exact frequency requirement). So, our atoms will only be slowed down and never
accelerated as long as we choose the frequency of light carefully.

Are there any problems that have to be overcome? Of course, there are, otherwise I 12
wouldn’t be asking the question:

1. What happens to the excited atom when it emits a photon? Doesn’t it gain the
momentum it just lost? The answer to that is “No”. When atoms emit photons, they
do so in random directions. These photons, on average, do not change the 13
rms speed of the gas because the photon has a 50:50 chance of being emitted
with a velocity component in the direction of motion of the atom or opposite to the
direction of motion. However, the recoil of a calcium atom after emitting a photon
means that you can’t really slow the atoms below around 1.5 cm s–1.

2. How do we stop the atoms from hitting the sides of the container? The answer is 14
that we use a magnetic trap – it even works on neutral atoms!!

3. Does the frequency of the laser have to change as the atoms slow down? Yes, as
the atoms slow down, the blue-shift decreases and we have to use frequencies that
are closer to 456 000.6 GHz. We can actually do this by oscillating our laser mirrors 15
using piezoelectric crystals. The frequency change of the laser is equal to the
frequency of oscillation of the mirrors.

Finally, does this actually work or is it just another thought experiment that works only in
Einstein’s brain (if he were still alive)? The answer to that question is “Yes, since 1978!!!” 16
Furthermore, temperatures as low as 1 pK may be reachable using the Cold Atom
Laboratory which is already on board the International Space Station.

19 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 20
Examiner
only
Answer the following questions in your own words. Direct quotes from the original article will
not be awarded marks.

(a) Explain why there is a negative sign in Equation 1. [2]

v Δλ _ Δ f
= =
c λ f

(b) (i) Explain why a calcium atom travelling at 400 m s–1 will absorb a photon coming
directly toward it when the frequency of the photon is 456 000.0 GHz (see
paragraphs 6–8). [2]

(ii) Explain why a calcium atom travelling at 400 m s–1 will not absorb a 456 000.0 GHz
photon if the photon and atom are moving in the same direction (see paragraphs
6–8 and 11). [1]

(iii) Hence, explain very briefly how calcium atoms can be cooled using light of this
frequency (see paragraphs 6–11). [1]

20 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 21
Examiner
(c) Helium has a rms speed of 1 350 m s–1 and an emission line of wavelength only
587.56148 nm. Calculate the best laser wavelength for slowing down helium atoms.
Give your answer to 8 significant figures (see Equation 1 and paragraphs 6–11). [4]

(d) Show that, when a calcium atom of mass 40 u absorbs a photon of frequency
4.56 × 1014 Hz, its velocity decreases by approximately 1.5 cm s–1. [4]

Before interaction After interaction

400 m s–1
ν

Ca atom Ca atom
photon of frequency
4.56 × 1014 Hz

TURN OVER FOR THE LAST

PARTS OF THE QUESTION

21 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1) Turn over.

 22
Examiner
only
(e) The author states that a calcium atom will absorb 26 000 photons in about a millisecond.
Discuss whether or not this is possible, given the power of the laser and given that the
lifetime of the excited calcium atom is a few nanoseconds. You should reinforce your
answer with calculations (see paragraph 10). [3]

(f) Rhian claims that the random re-emission of photons by excited atoms means that
the lowest temperature achievable by this method is approximately 0.1 μK. Determine
whether she is correct (see Equation 2 and paragraphs 10 and 13). [3]

20
END OF PAPER

22 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 23

Question Additional page, if required. Examiner

number Write the question number(s) in the left-hand margin. only

23 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)

 24

BLANK PAGE

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE

ON THIS PAGE

24 © WJEC CBAC Ltd. (A420U10-1)