physics assignment question hsc 2021

Select a year to see courses

Learn online or on-campus during the term or school holidays

• OC Test Preparation
• Selective School Test Preparation
• Maths Acceleration
• English Advanced
• Maths Standard
• Maths Advanced
• Maths Extension 1
• English Standard
• Maths Extension 2

Get HSC exam ready in just a week

• UCAT Exam Preparation

Select a year to see available courses

• English Units 1/2
• Maths Methods Units 1/2
• Biology Units 1/2
• Chemistry Units 1/2
• Physics Units 1/2
• English Units 3/4
• Maths Methods Units 3/4
• Biology Unit 3/4
• Chemistry Unit 3/4
• Physics Unit 3/4
• UCAT Preparation Course
• Matrix Learning Methods
• Matrix Term Courses
• Matrix Holiday Courses
• Matrix+ Online Courses
• Campus overview
• Castle Hill
• Strathfield
• Sydney City
• Year 3 NAPLAN Guide
• OC Test Guide
• Selective Schools Guide
• NSW Primary School Rankings
• NSW High School Rankings
• NSW High Schools Guide
• ATAR & Scaling Guide
• HSC Study Planning Kit
• Student Success Secrets
• Reading List
• Year 6 English
• Year 7 & 8 English
• Year 9 English
• Year 10 English
• Year 11 English Standard
• Year 11 English Advanced
• Year 12 English Standard
• Year 12 English Advanced
• HSC English Skills
• How To Write An Essay
• How to Analyse Poetry
• English Techniques Toolkit
• Year 7 Maths
• Year 8 Maths
• Year 9 Maths
• Year 10 Maths
• Year 11 Maths Advanced
• Year 11 Maths Extension 1
• Year 12 Maths Standard 2
• Year 12 Maths Advanced
• Year 12 Maths Extension 1
• Year 12 Maths Extension 2

Science guides to help you get ahead

• Year 11 Biology
• Year 11 Chemistry
• Year 11 Physics
• Year 12 Biology
• Year 12 Chemistry

Year 12 Physics

• Physics Practical Skills
• Periodic Table
• VIC School Rankings
• VCE English Study Guide
• Set Location
• 1300 008 008
• 1300 634 117

Change your location

To ensure we are showing you the most relevant content, please select your location below.

2021 HSC Physics Exam Paper Solutions

The 2021 HSC Physics Exam Paper Solutions are out! See them here with full explanations and working out.

Guide Chapters

• HSC Physics Solutions

Get free study tips and resources delivered to your inbox.

Join 75,893 students who already have a head start.

" * " indicates required fields

You might also like

• Tim Li’s ATAR Hacks: How I Overcame Poor Time Management to Ace Year 12
• How To Effectively Study for the English HSC Trial Exams
• Julia’s Hacks: How I Scored An ATAR Of 96.20 With 4 Units Of English
• How To Manage Your Time Effectively
• Ragulan’s Hacks: How I Achieved a Band 6 in HSC Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Related courses

Vce physics units 3 and 4.

Have you seen the 2021 HSC Physics exam paper yet?

In this post, we will give you the full working out and solutions to the 2021 HSC Physics Exam, written by our Head of Science Dr Alex Argyros and his team.

Find out how to answer all of the 2021 questions below!

Section 1. Multiple Choice

Still confused about these questions.

Physics doesn't need to be confusing

Expert teachers, detailed feedback, one-to-one help! Learn from home with Matrix+ Online Courses.

Question 21

b) The torque is given by \( \tau = nIAB \sin{\theta} \). It will be maximum at the position shown, it will reduce to 0 after a quarter of a turn, and then increase to the maximum value after another quarter of a turn.

Question 22

The angular velocities \( \omega \) of \( X \) and \( Y \) are the same.

The instantaneous velocity of \( X \) is twice that of \( Y \), since \( X \) is twice as far away from the centre as \( Y \) and \( v = r \omega \).

Question 23

Thomson used an electric field to accelerate electrons and passed them through a magnetic field which deflected them. He then used a second electric field to balance the magnetic force on the electrons such that they did not deflect. The original amount of deflection and the strength of the electric and magnetic fields allowed him to calculate the electron’s charge-to-mass ratio.

Millikan suspended drops of oil as part of his experiment, using the electric force (from an electric field) to balance the weight of the drops (from the Earth’s gravitational field). This allowed him to measure the charge of the drops, from which he calculated the electron’s charge.

Question 24

Question 25.

a) The kinetic energy will increase as it accelerates to its orbital velocity.

The potential energy will increase as its altitude increases.

b) In order to stay above one position on Mars, the orbital period of the satellite must be equal to the rotation period of Mars.

Using Kepler’s 3rd Law:

Question 26

b) The student should use the line of best fit to calculate Planck’s constant. Since the equation of the graph is \( V = \frac{hf}{q_e} \), with \( V \) on the vertical axis and \( f \) on the horizontal axis, the value of the gradient will be equal to \( \frac{h}{q_e} \). The charge of an electron is known and so h can be calculated.

This method will be more reliable because the line of best fit reflects the outcome of all measurements instead of a single one.

Question 27

(Alternatively, the magnetic field could be into the page, and the current could be flowing to the right.)

b) The upwards force on the current-carrying rod is given by \( F = LIB \sin \theta \). Since the field is perpendicular to the current, \( \sin \theta = 1 \) and the force per unit length will be \( \frac{F}{L} = BI \).

The downwards force on the rod is its weight. The weight per unit length must equal the upwards force per unit length in order for the rod to levitate, and hence \( \frac{mg}{L} = BI \).

This gives a mass per unit length of \( \frac{m}{L} = \frac{BI}{g} \).

Substituting \( B = 1.2 \text{ T} \), \( I = 2.3 \text{ A}\), and \( g = 9.8 \text{ms}^{-2} \) gives the required value of \( 0.282 \text{ kgm}^{-1} \).

Question 28

a) The proper time for the trip is 9.4 years, and the dilated time is 15 years. \( t_v = \frac{t_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} \) \( 15 = \frac{9.4}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} \) which gives \( v = 0.779c \)

According to an observer on Earth, the spaceship travelled \( 0.779c \times 15 \text{ years} = 11.69 \text{ light years} \) to reach the star.

b) According to special relativity, the spaceship will experience mass dilation as its speed increases, \( m_v = \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} \). As its speed approaches the speed of light, its mass approaches infinity.

Hence, the acceleration arising from any force applied to it will approach zero and its maximum velocity will be limited to the speed of light.

Question 29

Bohr’s model of the atom was semi-classical. Even though this model introduced the concept of quantised energy levels, the electron itself was still considered to be a negatively charged particle travelling around the nucleus in circular motion.

De Broglie hypothesised that all matter including electrons had a dual wave-particle nature, with the wavelength given by \( \lambda = \frac{h}{mv} \). Electrons within an atom formed a standing wave around the nucleus, with the allowed modes corresponding to the quantised electron energy levels.

In Schrodinger’s model of the atom, electrons exist within orbitals and are described by their wavefunction. The wavefunction describes the three-dimensional probability distribution of the individual electron’s location around the nucleus. Overall the electrons behave like a cloud surrounding the nucleus.

Question 30

a) The electron is stationary at the beginning, meaning it has zero kinetic energy. As the potential energy decreases it is converted to kinetic energy.

b) The electron is negatively charged, so it would accelerate upwards instead of downwards in the electric field. The magnitude of the electron’s acceleration would also be greater than the proton’s. This is because the acceleration of a charged particle in an electric field is given by \( a = \frac{qE}{m} \). While the particles have the same magnitude of charge, the electron’s mass is significantly smaller. Hence, it will complete the motion in a shorter time compared to the proton.

Question 31

When the switch on cart 1 is closed, a direct current begins to flow through the circuit on that cart, passing from left to right through \( G_1 \). According to the right hand coil rule, this will result in a magnetic south pole forming on the right hand side of the cart 1 solenoid.

The solenoid on cart 2 experiences an increase in magnetic flux that points to the left. This will result in an induced EMF and current in this solenoid, according to Faraday’s Law. According to Lenz’s Law, the direction of the induced current will be such that the flux it produces opposes this increase. As a result, the second solenoid produces magnetic flux that points to the right, with an induced current that will pass right to left through \( G_2 \). A south magnetic pole is formed on the left of this solenoid.

As the two solenoids produce south magnetic poles facing each other they will repel. The forces on each cart will be equal and opposite, causing them to begin moving away from each other in opposite directions. However, since cart 1 has double the mass of cart 2, Newton’s Second law predicts that its acceleration will have half the magnitude.

Question 32

Hubble’s Law states that the recession velocity of distant objects measured from Earth is proportional to their distance from Earth, due to the expansion of space.

This model successfully demonstrates why more distant objects in space appear to be moving away from Earth at a higher velocity due to the expansion of the underlying space. If we consider \( d_1 \) to be the Earth, the distance \( (d_3 – d_1) \) will increase by a greater amount than \( (d_2 – d_1) \) in the same time frame. This will result in a larger recession velocity for the point a larger distance away, proportional to that distance.

One significant limitation of this model is that it only represents the expansion in one dimension, whereas the expansion of the universe takes place in three spatial dimensions. Another limitation is that the elastic expands within existing space, rather than representing the expansion of space itself.

Question 33

Experiment A supports the wave model of light, as it provides evidence of light undergoing diffraction and interference, which are phenomena exhibited by waves.

When the light is incident on the slits, it diffracts through each of the slits, causing curved wavefronts to emerge from both. Since the curved wavefronts now cross over one another (superimpose), the result is interference between the diffracted waves. At the screen, the places where the waves arrive in phase appear bright due to constructive interference, while places where waves arrive out of phase appear dark due to destructive interference.

Given that we know the separation of the slits and the distance to the screen, we can calculate the spacing between adjacent bright bands on the screen.

The diffraction equation is \( d \sin \theta = m \lambda \). Since the angle is small, \( \sin \theta \approx tan \theta \), and the equation becomes \( d \frac{h}{L} = m \lambda \) with \( d \) being the slit separation, \( h \) being the spacing between adjacent bright bands when \( m = 0, 1, 2… \) and \( L \) being the distance to the screen.

Experiment B supports the particle model of light, in which the energy carried by light is concentrated into discrete energy packets called photons with energy \( E = hf \). For light with a wavelength of \( 400 \text{ nm} \), this corresponds to a photon energy of \( E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} = 4.97 \times 10^{-19} \text{ J} \).

This can be used to explain why incident light is able to eject photoelectrons from calcium but not nickel. In the particle model of light, absorption of energy from photons only takes place if each photon has an energy above the metal’s work function (the minimum energy required to release an electron from the metal). For calcium, when these photons hit the surface, each one transfers all its energy to a single electron which can then escape with a maximum kinetic energy given by

For nickel, individual photons have an energy that is lower than the work function, so they will never be absorbed and the electrons stay within the metal.

Question 34

a) The kinetic energy at \( t_0 \) is dependent on the launch velocity of the projectile. It initially decreases as the projectile travels vertically upwards, because gravity does negative work on the object and kinetic energy is converted to gravitational potential energy. The minimum kinetic energy occurs at the highest point on the trajectory; this is where the vertical component of velocity reaches zero, leaving the projectile with its lowest speed overall. Finally, the projectile accelerates downwards again and the magnitude of its vertical velocity increases beyond the initial value, giving the highest kinetic energy at \( t_2 \).

b) The horizontal velocity is \( 13.76 \text{ms}^{-1} \). We can use this in conjunction with the kinetic energy to calculate the initial and final vertical velocities.

The horizontal velocity always contributes \( K = \frac{1}{2}mv_x^2 = 284 \text{ J} \).

Initially at \( t_0 \) the vertical velocity must contribute \( 864-284 = 580 \text{ J} \).

Since \( v = \sqrt{\frac{2K}{m}} \) the vertical component is \( 19.67 \text{ms}^{-1} \) upwards.

Similarly, at \( t_2 \) the vertical velocity contributes \( 1393-284 = 1190 \text{ J} \) of kinetic energy, which corresponds to a velocity of \( 27.20 \text{ ms}^{-1} \) downwards.

Now using \( v = u + at \) we can calculate the time of flight.

Therefore \( t = 4.78 \text{ s} \).

Question 35

Written by Matrix Science Team

© Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au, 2023. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Start improving your Physics marks and confidence with structured courses online or on-campus.

Learning methods available

Related articles

2019 Year 11 Physics: Dynamics Practice Questions

Are your yearly exams around the corner? Well, we've put together ten questions for you to test your skills on!

2022 HSC Biology Exam Solutions

Want to see how you went in the 2022 Biology HSC exam? Read on!

Mod B: The Ultimate Emma Study Guide | Pt 1: Understanding Emma

Are you struggling to make sense of Jane Austen's comedy of manners? Don't worry, in part 1 of our ultimate Emma study guide, we'll explain the plot, characters, and key features.

• Search forums
• Best of luck to the class of 2024 for their HSC exams. You got this! Let us know your thoughts on the HSC exams here
• YOU can help the next generation of students in the community! Share your trial papers and notes on our Notes & Resources page
• Secondary Education

PHYSICS HSC Questions Sorted by Topic (Based on New Syllabus) (1 Viewer)

• Thread starter jazz519
• Start date Sep 16, 2019

Hi I have gone through some of the HSC papers from the old syllabus and placed them into the new respective module it relates to in the new syllabus Here is the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wEcXGeBBhvhOATFzfoq_rU8pg-LEtKun?usp=sharing Module 5 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 6 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 7 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 8 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Hope this resource helps with your studies  

Active Member

Not doing my HSC this yr but thank you for posting this for future years.  

jazz519 said: Here is the link: Click to expand...

Great resource! Thanks  

jazz519 said: Hi I have gone through some of the HSC papers from the old syllabus and placed them into the new respective module it relates to in the new syllabus Here is the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wEcXGeBBhvhOATFzfoq_rU8pg-LEtKun?usp=sharing Currently I have only sorted through the 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 (partially) papers. I don't have time to fully sort the rest of papers yet so I will just be sorting all of module 5 for now and then I will do module 6, 7, 8 progressively throughout the year as I tutor my current physics student Hope this resource helps with your studies Click to expand...

Balajanovski

jazz519 said: Hi I have gone through some of the HSC papers from the old syllabus and placed them into the new respective module it relates to in the new syllabus Click to expand...

jazz519 said: Hi I have gone through some of the HSC papers from the old syllabus and placed them into the new respective module it relates to in the new syllabus Here is the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wEcXGeBBhvhOATFzfoq_rU8pg-LEtKun?usp=sharing Module 5 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 6 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 7 (2018-2013) Module 8 (2018-2013) I don't have time to fully sort the rest of papers yet so I will do module 7, 8 progressively throughout the year as I tutor my current physics student Hope this resource helps with your studies Click to expand...

also for mod 5, should question 1 be A, as in position Y the vertical acceleration will be 0 along with the horizontal acceleration thanks  

shmitler said: also for mod 5, should question 1 be A, as in position Y the vertical acceleration will be 0 along with the horizontal acceleration thanks Click to expand...

Drdusk said: Are you telling me gravity doesn't exist? Click to expand...

Bump! Module 7 and 8 will be finalised sometime today or tomorrow  

ALL MODULES are now released, best of luck in your studies to everyone doing HSC Physics this year  

Thanks for this @jazz519 ! Is there a link or if you haven't, can you please do one for chemistry  

JTran02 said: Thanks for this @jazz519 ! Is there a link or if you haven't, can you please do one for chemistry Click to expand...

Bump! A useful resource for any students studying HSC physics this year or next year  

dam thats awesome thanks man  

Billy_marcell98

jazz519 said: Module 6 is now complete guys Will update when I do module 7 and 8 (most likely not for a while though) Click to expand...

justletmespeak123

jazz519 said: Hi I have gone through some of the HSC papers from the old syllabus and placed them into the new respective module it relates to in the new syllabus Here is the link: Module 5 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 6 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 7 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Module 8 is now complete (2001-2018 + NEW Syllabus Practice Questions Released) Hope this resource helps with your studies Click to expand...

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

• banglan3 A moment ago