The activity of a radioactive substance is measured every 200 s by means of a Geiger counter. The results are as follows.

Time/s 0 200 400 600
Count 1600 802 399 205

  • Estimate the error in the initial count.
  • Determine the initial count rate if counting is done for 10 s.
  • Determine the half-life of the substance.
  • Determine the activity of a sample of the substance containing 106 active nuclei.

View Answer

a. ∇N = √N = √1600 = 40.0
b. The count rate is 1600 counts / 10s = 160 count/s.
c. The activity decreases by half every 200 s do the half-life is 200 s
d. Activity = ∇n = 0.693T1/2 = 0.693 × 106 / 200 S = 3465 Bq

Pesticides can travel great distances through the environment. When sprayed on crops or in gardens, pesticides can be blown by the wind to other areas. They can also flow with rain water into nearby streams or can sleep through the soil into ground water.

Some pesticides can remain in the environment for many years and pass from one organism to another. The figure below shows the amount of pesticide in ppm at different levels in a food chain.

  1. If the concentration of the pesticide in the water surrounding the algae was 0.02ppm. determine the concentration factor for the pesticide from water into:
    • Producers
    • Herbivorous fish
    • Predatory fish
    • Hawk
  2. From your answers in 'a' comment on the metabolism of the pesticide.
  3. State the trophic level at which the pesticide is likely to have the most marked effect.
  4. Which tropic level would the pesticide be easily detected.
View Answer

1.   a. producers
0.08 = 4
0.02.

b. herbivorous fish
20 = 1,000
0.02

c. predatory fish
60 = 3,000
0.02

d. hawk
90 = 4,500
0.02

2. The concentration factor keeps increasing and larger and larger as you move up and as such it can be concluded that it is a persistence chemical it is not easily broken down it is stored rather than metabolising that is why it keeps getting a higher and higher concentration.

3. 4th trophic level (Top carnivore)
4. 4th trophic level

A projectile is fired horizontally from the top of a 20.0 m high cliff.

  1. Calculate the firing speed required to fall 200.0 m from the foot of the cliff.
  2. Determine the speed of the projectile when it falls 200.0 m from the foot of the cliff.
  3. If the mass of the projectile is 0.100 kg determine the average force required to it in 5.00 s when it hits the ground 200.0 m from the cliff.
View Answer

a.  suppose the speed is u and the fall time is t ; then ut = 200 m. the time to fall h = 20 m from rest is t = √2h/g = 2.00 s so u = 200.0 m / (2.00 s) = 0.100 kms-1

b.   the vertical component of the velocity at the foot of the cliff vy = uy + gt = 10m s-2 × 2 s = 20.0 m s-1 (or vy = √2gh = 20.0 m s-1) whereas the horizontal component is the firing speed. So the speed at the foot of the cliff V = √v 2/x + v 2/y = √(100. M s-1)2 + (20.0 m s-1)2 = 102 m s-1

c.  The impulse on the impact has a magnitude | = mv = 0.100kg × 02 m s-1 = 10.2N s so the average stopping force is |/t = 2.04 N

  • Given that logx = p, express logxn in terms of p
  • Consider the sequence logx, logx2, logx3,..,.., and show that it is a linear sequence. Find the first term a and the arithmetic difference d in terms of p.
  • Given that the sum of the first ten terms of the sequence is kp, find k.
View Answer

a.  Logxn = nlogx = np

b.  Logx, logx2, logx3,…,… are simply p, 2p, 3p, 4p, … a linear sequence with first term a=p and arithmetic difference d = p

c.  Logx + logx2 + logx3 + …+ logx10 = p + 2p + 3p + 5p + . . . + 10p =p(1 + 2 + 3 + . . . + 10)
=p(10/2)(1 + 10) = 55p

Hence k = 55

An acid of phosphorus HXPYOZ contains 47.0% phosphorus, and 4.5% hydrogen. Determine the empirical formula of the acid

H = 1.0, O = 16.0, P = 31.0

View Answer

With phenolphthalein, the reaction in the titration is as follows;
HCI + Na2Ca3NaHCO3 + NaCl

Molar mass of Na2Ca3 = 46 +12 + 48 = 106

Moles of Na2Ca3 weighed = 0.106/106 = 0.001 mmole of Na2Ca3 weighed = 1.0

Since HCI and Na2Ca3 react in a 1:1 ratio, mmole of HCI used = 1.0
But mmole = moldm-3 × V in cm3

Therefore, concentration of HCI = 1.0 mmol/20 cm3
= 0.050 moldm-3

You have been provided with the following materials:

  1. A pot containing a small watered plant
  2. Plastic sheet
  3. Knife
  4. Glass tubing
  5. Rubber tubing
  6. Eosin solution
  7. Describe an experiment one can perform with these materials to demonstrate the phenomenon of root pressure.
View Answer

1.  The pot containing the small watered plant is covered up to the base of the stem with the plastic sheet to prevent evaporation.

2.  The pot is cut across the stem just above the soil level with the knife

3.  The glass tubing is attached to the cut end of the stem using the rubber tubing.

4.  The eosin solution is poured into the glass tube and the level is marked.

5.  The setup is left for several hours after which the final level of the eosin solution is measured.

6.  The difference between the first level and the final level of the eosin solution gives the column of water supported by the root pressure.

The van der Waals equation of state for n moles of gas at pressure p, volume v, and temperature T is given as (p + n2a/v)(v/n - b) = RT or as (p + n2a/v2)(v - nb) = Nrt

  • State the physical phenomena that are accounted for by the parameters a and b.
  • What does the symbol R represent?
  • For ammonia, a = 4.17 J m3 mol-2 and b = 3.71 * 10-5 m3 mol-1
    • Determine the temperature at which 2 mol of ammonia gas exerts a pressure of 140kPa in a vessel of volume 0.025m3.
    • Determine what the temperature would be if ammonia were an ideal gas under these conditions.
View Answer

a)  The parameter a accounts for interactions between the molecules of the gas. The parameter b accounts for non-zero volume of the molecules of the gas.

b)  R is the universal gas constant (R = NAkB = 8.314 J K-1 mol-1).

c)  i)  Substitute the given values of the parameters to obtain T = ( p + n2 a/V2) (V/n - b) / R = (140000 Pa + (2 mol)2 × 4.17 J m3 / (0.025 m3)2) × (0.025 m3 / 2 mol – 3.71 × 10-5 m3 mol-1) / 8.314 J K-1 mol-1 = 250 K

ii)  An ideal gas at the same volume and pressure will have a temperature of Pv / nR = 210 K.

The solar constant, the mean intensity on the earth's surface of radiation from the sun, is 1000 W m-2. A solar power installation comprises five solar panels with a conversion efficiency of 20% installed in such a manner that each panel measuring, 2 m long and 1 m wide, can receive direct sunlight.

  • Calculate the maximum electrical power per unit area each panel can deliver.
  • Calculate the maximum power the five-panel installation can provide.
  • Estimate the maximum energy the installation can provide in 2 hours of the maximum sunshine.
View Answer

a)  Maximum power density equals solar constant times efficiency, that is, 200 W ms-2.

b)  Each panel has 2 m2, so each panel can give 400 W. all five can give 2000W.

c)  Maximum energy the installation can deliver in 2 h is the product of power and time, which is 2000 W × 7200 s = 14400 kJ.

A parcel of land is rectangular and measures 300 m long and 250 m wide. A perimeter wall 2 m high is to be built using concrete bricks of width 20 cm and density 2500 kg m-3 .

  • Calculate the total length of the wall.
  • Calculate the mass of the wall.
  • Determine the pressure the wall exerts on the ground.

View Answer

a.  The perimeter of a rectangle is twice the sum of its length and breadth, giving 1100m.

b.  The volume of the wall equals its perimeter times its height times its thickness, that is, 1100 m × 2 m × 0.2 m = 440 m3 ; so its mass, given by its density multiplied by its volume, is 1.1 × 106 kg.

c.  Pressure equals weight of wall divided by base area: P = F/A =mg/A = 1.1 × 106 kg × 10 ms2 / ( 1100 m × 0.2 m) = 50 000 Nm-2

A potted plant was watered and the pot enclosed in a plastic bag. A rubber band was used to tie the bag securely round the base of the stem. The plant was weighed at 7am and at 5pm. During this time it lost 40g in mass.

  • From these results, what was the plants rate of transpiration?
  • Why might this calculated rate be slightly inaccurate
    • In daylight?
    • In darkness?
  • What was the point of watering the plant?
  • Why was the pot enclosed in a plastic bag?

M = 40g, t = 17hr -7hr, t = 10hr

View Answer

a.  The plant lost 40g in 10 hours, so its rate of transpiration was 40/10 = 4g per hour.

b.  I)  in daylight, the mass loss due to transpiration will be reduced by a gain in mass resulting from photosynthesis.

ii)  In darkness some of the decrease in mass will be due to the loss of water and carbon dioxide produced by respiration

c.  If the plant had been short of water, this might have restricted the rate of transpiration.

d.  The plastic bag prevented evaporation taking place from the pot or the soil. Had this evaporation not been prevented, the mass loss could not have been attributed solely to transpiration.

An experiment was performed to investigate Graham's law of diffusion. For this experiment, samples of the following gases were assembled: Hydrogen, helium, neon, argon, ammonia and bromine. The rate of diffusion of neon was determined first and was found to be X ms-1.
The temperature and pressure were kept constant throughout the experiment. Calculate the anticipated rates of diffusion of the rest of the gases relative to that of neon.

H = 1.0; He = 4.0; Ne = 20.0; Ar = 40.0; Br = 80.0; N = 14.0

View Answer

Graham's law; rate is proportional to 1/√(molar mass)

Therefore R2/R1 = √(M1 /M2); and

R2 = R1 √(M1 /M2)

Where R1 and M1 are the rate and molar mass of gas-1 respectively and R3 and M2 for gas-2

(1) For hydrogen gas, M = 2 RH2 = X√(20 /2) = X√10

(2) For Helium; RHe = X√(20 /4) = X√5

(3) For argon; RAr = X√(20 /40) = X/√2

(4) For bromine; RBr = X√(20 /160) = X/2√2

(5) For ammonia; RNH3 = X√(20 /17) = X√(20/17)

The traits in certain race of mammals are described below. Use your knowledge in genetics to complete the worksheet.

Trait Dominant Recessive gene
Body Size Muscular (M) Skinny (m)
Body Colour Dark (D) Yellow (d)
Eye Shape Round (R) Oval (r)
Nose type Long (L) Stubby (i)
  1. Phenotypes
    • LL …………
    • Dd…………
    • Mm……….
    • RR………….
    • Rr…………..
    • II……………….
    • MM…………..
    • DD……………..
  2. Write the genotypes for each of the following
    • Yellow body……………..
    • Skinny body………………
    • Oval eyes………………….
    • Long nose…………………
    • Stubby nose…………………
    • Round eyes…………………..
    • Muscular body………………..
    • Dark body…………………………
    • Heterozygous round eyes………….
    • Homozygous long nose………………
View Answer

i.   1.  LL – Long nose

2.  Dd – Dark body

3.  Mm – Muscular body

4.  RR – Round eye

5.  Rr – Round eye

6.  II - Stubby nose

7.  MM - Muscular body

8.  DD - Dark body


ii. Write the genotypes for each of the following

k.  Yellow body – dd

l.  Skinny body – mm

m.  Oval eyes – rr

n.  Long nose – LL and LI

o.  Stubby nose – II

p.  Round eyes – RR and Rr

q.  Muscular body – MM and Mm

r.  Dark body - DD and Dd

s.  Heterozygous round eyes - Rr

t.  Homozygous long nose - LL

Given that (1 + kx)6 = 1 + 12x + px2 + qx3 + …., Find the values of

  • k,
  • p
  • q.
  • Find the coefficient of x4.
View Answer

(1 + kx)6 = 1 + 6(kx) + 15(kx)2 + 20(kx)3 + ….
(Pascal's triangle)
= 1 + 12x + px2 + qx3 + …

Comparing coefficients i) For x, 6k = 12, hence k =2

ii) For x2, 15k2 = p, hence p = 15(4) = 60

iii) For x3, 20k3 = q, hence q = 20(8) = 180

iv) The term in x4 is 15(kx)4 = 15(2)4x4

The coefficient of x4 = 15(16) = 240

Three masses, m1, m2 and m3 , on a horizontal frictionless surface are connected by inextensible strings so that m1 is connected to m2 and m2 is connected to m3. A horizontal force F pulls on mass m1 . Find the tension in each of the strings.

View Answer

The total mass is M = m1 + m2 + m3 and the acceleration of each of them is a=F/M. The only forces acting on m3 is the tension T1 in the string attaching it to m2 so, by Newton's second law,
m3a = T1 = m3F / (m1 + m2 + m3).

The forces acting on m2 are the tension T1 in the string connecting it to m1 and the tension T1 in the string connecting it to m3. By Newton's second law, T2 – T1 = m2a + T1 = (m2 + m3)a = (m2 + m3) F / (m1 + m2 + m3)

The equation of a curve is given by y = x3 – 27x.

Find:
  • The coordinates of the stationary points and distinguish them.
  • The coordinates of the point of inflexion.
View Answer

a)  Y = x3 – 27x (stationary points) dy/dx = 3x2 – 27 = 0 X2 – 9 = 0, x = ±3

For x = 3, y = 33- 27(3) = 27 – 81 = -54 i.e. (3, -54) (stationary point)

for x = -3, y = -27 + 81 = 54, i.e.(-3, 54) (stationary point) d2y/dx2 = 6x,

for x = 3, d2y/dx2 = 3(6) = 18 > 0, hence (3, -54) is a minimum point.

For x = -3, d2y/dx2 = 6(-3) = -18 < 0. Hence (-3, 54) is a maximum point. b.  point of inflexion

d2y/dx2 = 6x = 0, hence x = 0 for x = 0, y = 0, hence point of inflexion is (0, 0)

Consider the following enthalpies of formation given in kJmol-1

C6H6(I) 49.0; CO2(g) -394.0; H2O(g) -242.0

Use the data given to calculate the enthalpy change for the combustion of mole of benzene.

View Answer

C6H6 + 7½O2 ⟶ 6 CO2 + 3 H2O
Δ H combustion = Σ ΔHf(products) − Σ ΔHf(reactants)

= (−6 × 394− 3 × 242) − 49 = (− 2364 − 726) − 49
= −3139 or −3.14×103 kJmol-1

In order to determine the concentration of an HCI solution, 0.1060 g of anhydrous Na2CO3 was weighed and dissolved in some deionized water. When the whole solution was titrated against HCI using phenolphthalein as indicator, the titre was 20.0 cm3. Use this information to determine the concentration of the HCI solution.

Na = 23.0; O = 16.0; C = 12.0

View Answer

With phenolphthalein, the reaction in the titration is as follows;

HCI + Na2Ca3 ⟶ NaHCO3 + NaCl Molar mass of Na2Ca3 = 46 + 12 + 48 = 106

Moles of Na2Ca3 weighed = 0.106/106 = 0.001 mmole of Na2Ca3 weighed = 1.0
Since HCI and Na2Ca3 react in a 1:1 ratio, mmole of HCI used = 1.0

But mmole = moldm-3 × V in cm3
Therefore, concentration of HCI = 1.0 mmol/20 cm3 = 0.050 moldm-3

The diagram below represents a simplified water cycle. Use it to answer the following questions.

  1. Provide labels for a, b and c.
  2. Give three points on the diagram at which humans are likely to interfere with the life cycle.
  3. For each of the points listed above, state one human activity that interferes with the cycle.
View Answer

  1. a.  Clouds  b. Plants/Vegetation  c.Sea
  2. Humans are likely to interrupt the water cycle
    • Between rivers and the sea
    • Between soil and rivers
    • Beween plants and clouds
    • By irrigation and domestic and industrial use
    • By drainage schemes, afforestation or deforestation
    • By deforestation