Student Number _________________
2024 HSC PHYSICS
Non-assessable Module 6 Topic Test
Answers
General Instructions
Time allowed: 55 minutes
Total Marks: 35
Section A – Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
o Write your responses on the separate M/C answer sheet
provided.
Section B – Written Response Questions, Q 11 to Q 15 (25 marks)
o Attempt all questions and write all answers in the spaces
provided.
Show full working for all calculation questions.
NESA-approved calculators may be used
A data/formula sheet is provided.
Section A - Multiple Choice (Questions 1 – 10)
Record your response to each question on the multiple choice answer sheet.
1. A coil of wire is in a uniform magnetic field between two magnets. The coil is rotated about an
axle. In which of the following diagrams is the magnetic flux through the coil the least?
Answer: B
2. A 15 cm length of conductor, carrying a current of 4.0 A is placed in a magnetic field. If the
force on the conductor is measured to be 1.2 x 102 N, which of the following is the correct
magnitude of the magnetic field?
(A) 0.0002 T
(B) 0.0020 T
(C) 0.020 T
(D) 0.72 T
3. A coil consists of three turns of wire. Each turn encloses an area of 8·0 × 10–4 m2. The plane of
the coil is positioned at 60° to the direction of a magnetic field of 0·25 T as shown in the
diagram.
What is the value of the magnetic flux through the coil?
(A) 1·0 × 10–4 Wb
(B) 1·7 × 10–4 Wb
(C) 3.0 × 10–4 Wb
(D) 5·2 × 10–4 Wb
4. A circular coil of wire with diameter 5·0 cm is placed so that its plane is at right angles to a
magnetic field of flux density 3·0 × 10–3 T.
The coil is then rotated through 90° so that its plane is parallel to the magnetic field.
What is the magnitude of the change of magnetic flux through the coil due to this rotation?
(A) 1·2 × 10–6 Wb
(B) 2·4 × 10–6 Wb
(C) 4·7 × 10–6 Wb
(D) 5·9 × 10–6 Wb
5. Two parallel conducting rods are connected by a wire as shown and carry a current, I. The rods
are separated by a distance d, and repel each other with a force F.
Which graph below best shows how the current I would need to be varied with distance d to keep
the force F constant?
Answer: D
A
6. Two charged particles travelling with identical velocities enter a region of constant magnetic
flux density as shown in the diagram below.
The particles travel along different curved paths on entering the region. Which of the following is a
correct statement regarding the two particles?
(A) Particle A has a smaller mass than particle B.
(B) Particle A has a smaller charge to mass ratio than particle B.
(C) A and B are both positively charged particles.
(D) Particle A experiences a greater centripetal acceleration than particle B.
7. Which of the following options best describes the difference between an AC and DC generator?
AC generator DC generator
(A Uses a split-ring commutator Uses slip rings
)
(B) Armature is on the stator Armature is on the rotor
(C) Armature is on the rotor Armature is on the stator
(D Uses slip rings Uses a split-ring commutator
)
8. A simple electrical generator is shown in the diagram below. When the coil is rotated, the
output voltage across the slip rings is measured. The graph shows how the output voltage varies
with time.
The frequency of rotation of the generator is now doubled. Which one of the following graphs
best represents the output voltage measured across the slip rings?
Answer: C
9. The diagrams below depict a small permanent magnet being dropped down a brass tube and the
currents induced in the tube below and above the falling magnet.
Which option shows the correct directions of the induced currents?
(A (B)
)
(C) (D
)
Answer: C
10. Which of the following options correctly lists the functions of step-up and step-down
transformers?
Transformer Type Change in Voltage Change in Current
(A) Step-up Increases Increases
(B) Step-up Increases Decreases
(C) Step-down Increases Decreases
(D) Step-down Decreases Decreases
Answer: B
END OF SECTION A
Section B: Total Marks (25)
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
Question 11. (4 marks)
A rectangular coil of 200 loops is positioned between the poles of two adjacent bar magnets. The plane of
the coil makes an angle of 30° with the direction of the magnetic field as shown. The side AB measures
20 cm while the side BD measures 15 cm.
The magnetic field is 100 mT and the current through the coil is 2.5 A.
30 o
D
C
B
A
S
N
(a) Calculate the magnitude and direction of the force on side CD.
2
n = 200, B = 100 mT = 0.1 T, I = 2.5 A, L = 0.2 m, = 90° (as CD is oriented perpendicular to the
B-field)
F = BIL sin 0.10 x 2.5 x 0.20 = 0.050 N down
∴ Force on side CD = 200 x 0.050 N = 10 N downwards
Marking Scheme:
Correct value and correct direction: 2 marks
Correct value and incorrect or missing direction: 1.5 marks
Correct approach but with math error and correct direction: 1.5 marks
Correct approach but with math error and incorrect direction: 1 mark
Incorrect approach but with correct direction: 0.5 mark
(b) Calculate the torque acting on the coil when it is at the same angle of 30° to the direction
of the magnetic field as shown.
2
= nIAB sin where A = the loop’s area and = 60° (following convention of formula)
= 200 x 2.5 x 0.20 x 0.15 x 0.10 x 0.866
= 1.3 Nm clockwise (as seen from the front)
Marking Scheme:
Correct value and correct sense of rotation: 2 marks
Correct value and incorrect or missing sense of rotation: 1.5 marks
Correct approach but with math error and correct sense of rotation: 1.5 marks
Correct approach but with math error and incorrect sense of rotation: 1 marks
Incorrect approach but with correct sense of rotation: 0.5 marks
Question 12. (4 marks)
The diagram shows two conducting rings A and B, connected to a balancing arm which swings freely
on a pivot. Ring A has a split in it as shown.
When a bar magnet is pushed into one of the rings, the whole balancing arm begins to rotate on the
pivot. When the magnet is pulled out, the balancing arm begins to rotate in the opposite direction.
When the magnet is pushed in and out of the other ring, the apparatus does not move at all.
Account for these observations using Lenz’s Law.
An approaching magnet induces an emf in Loop B following Faraday’s law ( = -n d /dt), since the
magnetic flux is increasing. According to Lenz’s law, which is a re-statement of the law of
conservation of energy, the current in the loop “flows to oppose change”, so a like magnetic pole is
produced by the moving charges flowing in the loop. Therefore, loop B is repelled, and the apparatus
rotates anticlockwise as seen from above. When the magnet is pulled back out of loop B, again a
current flows in the loop following Faraday’s law. Again, according to Lenz’s law, an opposite
magnetic pole is set up by the moving charges in the loop, so now the loop is attracted, and the
apparatus rotates clockwise as seen from above.
When the magnet is pushed into or pulled out of Loop A the apparatus does not move. This is
because even though the changing magnetic field induces an emf, no current can flow in the loop as
it has a split in it, so no magnetic field can be generated around the loop, and hence there is no force
between loop and bar magnet.
Marking Scheme:
Response makes reference to both loops A and B. Response refers to a changing magnetic
field which induces a current (Faraday’s law), and uses Lenz’s law to clearly make
predictions on the direction (or sense of rotation) of the apparatus. (4 marks)
Response makes reference to both loops A and B. Response refers to induced currents
(Faraday’s law) and uses Lenz’s law to make a general comment on the movement of the
apparatus. (2 - 3 marks)
Response refers to induced currents (Faraday’s law) and uses Lenz’s law to clearly make
predictions on the direction (or sense of rotation) of the apparatus (4 marks) but only for ONE
of the loops. (2 marks)
Provides some relevant information. (1 mark)
Question 13. (7 marks)
(a) An ideal DC motor is connected to a direct current power supply at constant voltage. Explain why
the current increases immediately after switching on, before dropping to a lower value as the motor
reaches operating speed. Use mathematical equations to justify your answer. 4
Motors can act as generators, producing back emf as they rotate; the current flows to oppose the
rotation, a consequence of Lenz’s law. As the motor first starts, its rotation speed (i.e. angular
velocity) is relatively low, and not much back emf ( ) is induced, as the rate of change of magnetic
flux is low (since from Faraday’s law, = –n d / dt). Hence, the net voltage (Vnet = Vsupply – ) in the
motor loop is relatively high. For an approximately constant (and low) resistance, R, the current, I,
is also high, as calculated from Ohm’s law, V = IR. This is called the in-rush current.
As the motor spins up to its maximum operating speed, the rate of change of flux in the coil increases
proportionally, so the back emf is greater (again from Faraday’s law). The supply voltage is
constant, so this means the net voltage is less, and so the current in the motor decreases (assuming R
is the same).
Marking scheme:
Clear and concise response which refers to Faraday’s law, back emf (which depends on motor’s
rotational speed), supply voltage and net voltage to correctly explain how the current in the motor
changes as it spins up to operating speed. (4 marks)
A less-clear response which refers to Faraday’s law, back emf and/or net voltage to explain how
the current in the motor changes as it spins up to operating speed. (2.5 – 3.5 marks)
A response which makes some reference to Faraday’s law and/or back emf to state how the current
in the motor changes as it spins up to operating speed. (1.5 - 2 marks)
Provides some relevant information, but without mathematical equations. (0.5 – 1.5 marks)
(b) A load is then placed on the motor. Describe how the current in the motor changes and explain why
the change occurs using physical principles.
3
As a load is placed on a motor, the motor does work on the load, and so the power drawn by the motor
increases (since P = W / t). Since power, P = VI, as power increases, current will also increase.
If the load is large, the motor’s operating speed decreases, which then reduces the back emf and increases
the net voltage, which also contributes to a higher current through the coils (and higher torque, since =
nIAB sin ).
Marking scheme:
Clear and concise response which refers to work and power (and/or back emf, net voltage, and/or
torque), relates the power to the product of voltage and current, and correctly predicts that the
current will increase. (3 marks)
A less clear response which makes some reference to back emf or work and power to state how the
current in the motor changes as a load is placed on it. (1.5 – 2.5 marks)
Provides some relevant information. (0.5 - 1 mark)
Question 14. (4 marks)
A simple transformer with primary and secondary coils having 5 turns and 10 turns respectively was
constructed as shown. An AC voltage of 120 volts was applied to the primary coil.
Rs
Vp
(a) The total load resistance (Rs) of the secondary circuit is 10.0 Ω. Assuming the flux linkage is
ideal, what is the current in the secondary circuit? 2
Vp/Vs = np/ns
Vp = 120 V, np = 5, ns = 10, Vs = ?, Is = ?
Vs = 10/5 x 120 = 240 V
Is = Vs/Rs = 240/10.0 = 24.0 A
Marking scheme:
Correct answer: 2 marks
Correct approach but with math / substitution error: 1 mark
Note: further 0.5 mark deduction for missing/incorrect unit.
(b) The transformer is found to be 90% efficient. What is the current in the primary coil? 2
Power in secondary circuit, Ps = VsIs
Ps = 240 x 24 = 5760 W
Efficiency = 90%, therefore power in primary coil = 5760 / 0.9 = 6400 W
Current in primary coil,
Ip = 6400/120 = 53.3 A (3 sig. fig.)
Marking scheme:
Correct answer: 2 marks
Correct approach but with math error: 1 mark
Note: further 0.5 mark deduction for missing/incorrect unit.
Question 15. (6 marks)
A 400 kV transmission line carries current from an AC generator to the consumer over a distance
of 200 km. The generator’s power output is 400 MW and the transmission line has total power
losses of 5%.
(a) Calculate the current in the power line. 2
P = VI
I = P/V = 400 x 106 / 400 x 103 = 1000 A
Marking scheme:
Correct answer: 2 marks
Correct approach but with math error: 1 mark
Note: further 0.5 mark deduction for missing/incorrect unit.
(b) How much power (in W) is lost in the line? 2
Ploss = 400 x 106 x 5% = 400 x 106 x 0.05
Ploss = 2.0 x 107 W (or 20 MW)
Marking scheme:
Correct answer: 2 marks
Correct approach but with math error: 1 mark
Note: further 0.5 mark deduction for missing/incorrect unit.
(c) If the same amount of power was delivered over the same line but at a voltage of 250 kV, what
impact would this have on the efficiency of the transmission? 2
I = P/V = 400 x 106 / 250 x 103 = 1600 A (i.e. current has increased)
P = I2R
Since power losses are proportional to current squared, losses will increase (by a factor of 2.6),
since the line resistance is the same. Thus, the efficiency would decrease.
Marking scheme:
Correct answer justified with formula/mathematical model: 2 marks
Correct answer but not justified, OR, some relevant information provided: 0.5 – 1.5 marks
