YIJC 2026 JC2 H2 Prelim Paper 4 QP

YISHUN INNOVA JUNIOR COLLEGE JC 2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION Higher 2 CANDIDATE NAME CG INDEX NO PHYSICS Paper 4 Practical You must answer on the question paper. Additional Materials: As listed in the apparatus list. 9478/04 18 August 2026 2 hours 30 minutes INSTRUCTIONS This document consists of 7 printed pages and 1 blank page. This - Blank Page - This document consists of 20 printed pages. Any blank pages are indicated. Shift Laboratory For Examiner’s Use 1 / 12 2 / 14 3 / 24 Total / 50 ● Answer all questions. ● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs. ● Write your name, centre number and index number in the boxes at the top of the page. ● Write your answer to each question in the space provided. ● Do not use an erasable pen. Do not use correction fluid or tape. ● Do not write on any bar codes. ● You may use an approved calculator. ● You may use a spreadsheet to process and analyse data. ● Write the details of the shift and laboratory in the boxes provided. ● You will be allowed to work with the apparatus for a maximum of 1 hour 15 minutes for each section. INFORMATION ● The total mark for this paper is 50. ● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ]

©YIJC 9478/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 2 Section A 1 In this experiment, you will investigate a balanced metre rule. You have been provided with three springs and a metre rule with masses attached to its centre. (a) The unstretched length of the single spring is S1, as shown in Fig. 1.1. The unstretched length of the connected springs is S2, as shown in Fig. 1.2. Measure and record S1 and S2. S1 = ………………………. S2 = ………………………. [1]

©YIJC 9749/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 [Turn over 3 (b) (i) Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.3. Two string loops A and B are supporting the rule. Loop A should be placed 10.0 cm from one end of the rule. The distance between this end of the rule and loop B is x. Move loop B until x is approximately 75 cm. Measure and record x. x = ............................................ Without changing the positions of the string loops, adjust the apparatus until the rule is parallel to the bench and the springs and the string loops are vertical. The extended length of the single spring is L1. The extended length of the connected springs is L2. Measure and record L1 and L2. L1 = ......................................... L2 = ......................................... [1] (ii) Calculate e1 and e2, where e1 = L1 – S1 and e2 = L2 – S2. e1 = ................................. e2 = ................................. [1] rod of clamp

©YIJC 9478/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 4 (c) Vary x by changing the position of loop B. Loop B must remain on the right -hand side of the masses. Keep loop A in the same position. For each value of x, adjust the apparatus until the rule is parallel to the bench and the springs and the string loops are vertical. Measure x, L1 and L2. Repeat until you have five more sets of values. Record your results in a table. [3]

©YIJC 9749/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 [Turn over 5 (d) The quantities e1, e2 and x are related by the equation 2 1 e Cx De =− where C and D are constants. (i) Plot a suitable graph using a spreadsheet to determine C and D. Sketch the graph in the space below. Write down the equation of the trendline. C = .......................................... D = .......................................... [4] (ii) From your graph, deduce the value of x for which the total extension of the connected springs is equal to the extension of the single spring. x = .......................................... [1]

©YIJC 9478/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 6 (e) The distance between the string loop A and the centre of the rule is w, as shown in Fig. 1.4. C and D are each inversely proportional to w. A student repeats the experiment with loop A placed nearer to the left -hand end of the rule. Sketch a second line on the graph to show the expected results. Label this line W. [1] [Total: 12]

©YIJC 9749/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 [Turn over 7 2 This investigation considers the current in a cell whose value depends on the position of a jockey on an adjacent bare wire. Set up the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1. The switch is initially open. (a) (i) Place the jockey on the bare wire about half-way along the metre rule. The distance between the end of the wire and the jockey is y, as shown in Fig. 2.1. (ii) Close the switch. Record y and the corresponding current I. y = ……………………… I = ..…………………….. Open the switch. [1]

©YIJC 9478/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 8 (iii) Repeat (a)(ii) for different jockey positions until you have five more readings of y and I, whereby I should have both positive and negative values. Present all your results clearly. [2] (iv) Plot a graph of I against y using a spreadsheet. Sketch the graph in the space below. Write down the equation of the trendline. [1] (v) Deduce from your graph the value of y when no current flows through cell A. y = …………………… [1] (b) In a separate experiment, a student placed a specialized GM tube that encapsulates a radioactive source. This GM tube is connected to a ratemeter and the variation with time (in minutes) of the counts per minute (CPM) was obtained. The data is recorded in the digital file: datasetQ2b.xlsx.

©YIJC 9749/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 [Turn over 9 Imagine you are the student. (i) Determine the count rate due to background radiation. background count rate = ............................................ cpm [1] (ii) Use the student’s data to estimate the total counts detected due to the source from t = 0 to t = 240 min. number of counts detected = ............................................ [1] (iii) It has been shown that the count rate C detected varies with time t according to the expression: o e tCC −= where Co is the initial count rate and  is the decay constant. Plot a suitable graph using a spreadsheet to determine the decay constant of the source. Sketch the graph in the space below. Write down the equation of the trendline. decay constant = ………………….. [3]

©YIJC 9478/04/YIJC/PRELIM/2026 10 (c) A radioactive source of a given activity emits -particles uniformly in all directions. A GM tube is situated a distance x from the source, as shown in Fig. 2.2. Fig. 2.2 It is suggested that the number of −particles entering the tube per unit time is given by bN kx= where k and b are constants. Plan an investigation to determine the value of b. You are not required to do this experiment. Include in your plan: • the procedure to be followed • the method of determining b • any precautions that should be taken to improve the accuracy and/or the safety of the investigation. You may suggest the use of any additional app