1

Name : _____________________ ( ) Class : _____ Date : _________

9749 H2 Physics Paper 4: Term 4 Timed Practice (SG 2021)

Total Marks = ______+______+_____ + _____ = _________ /55

1 In this experiment, you will investigate the centre of gravity of a suspended card shape.

(a) You have been provided with a card shape, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

b card

Fig. 1.1

Measure and record the lengths b and c.

12.0 cm
b = …………………………………….………….
b1 = 12.0 cm c1 = 16.0 cm
b2 = 12.0 cm c2 = 16.0 cm
16.0 cm
c = …………………………………….………….
b = 12.0 cm c = 16.0 cm
[1]

(b) Use the pin to make two small holes in the card, as shown in Fig. 1.2.

holes

Fig. 1.2
 2

Suspend the card as shown in Fig. 1.3. The pin should be held firmly in the clamp and the
card should hang freely. The loop of string at the end of the pendulum should be attached to
the pin.
clamp boss

pin

card

stand
string

pendulum bob

bench

Fig. 1.3
Use the pencil to draw a line on the card along the path of the string in Fig. 1.3, as shown in
Fig. 1.4.

Fig. 1.4
Repeat the procedure using the other hole in the card. The two lines will cross at the centre
of gravity G, a distance y above the longest edge of the card, as shown in Fig. 1.5.

G
y

Fig. 1.5

Measure and record y.

y1 = 4.9 cm
y 2 = 4.9 cm 4.9 cm
y = …………………………………….………[2]
y = 4.9 cm
 3

(c) (i) Reduce c by 6 cm by cutting the card at right-angles to its longest edge.

Measure and record c.

c1 = 10.0 cm c = 10.0 cm
c = …………………………………….………
10.0 cm [1]
c2 = 10.0 cm
(ii) Repeat the procedure from page 3.
y1 = 5.2 cm y = 5.2 cm 5.2 cm
y = …………………………………….……… [1]
y 2 = 5.1 cm
(d) Theory suggests that

b 2 bc
+
y= 2 8
c
b+
2

where b remains constant.

(i) Calculate the value of y when c is reduced by another 6 cm.

b 2 bc (12.0 ) (12.0 )( 4.0 )

2

+ +
y= 2 8 = 2 8 = 5.57 cm ( 3 s.f.)
c 4.0
b+ 12.0 + 5.57 cm
2 2 y = …………………………………….……… [1]

(ii) The experiment is repeated for more values of c.

State the graph to plot to obtain a straight line assuming that the theory is correct.
( 4b + c )   b + 
b c
y=
8  2
 4b + c 
( 4b + c ) 
b 2  Plot a graph of y against 
y=  .
8  2b + c   2b + c 
b  4b + c 
y=
4  2b + c 
|[1]
(iii) State expressions for the gradient and y-intercept of the line.

b/4
gradient = …………………………………….………….
0
y-intercept = …………………………………….………….
[2]
(e) Explain, without calculation, why the value of y is equal to 6 cm when c = 0.
Shape will be a square of sides of length 12.0 cm. Centre of gravity will be located in the

geometric centre of the square, which is half of 12.0 cm, that is 6.0 cm along both sides.

|[1]
[Total: 10]
 4

Question 2 continues on the next page.

 5

2 In this experiment, you will investigate an electrical circuit.

(a) Set up the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1.

A
Y

• • X

Fig. 2.1

The value of the resistance of Y is RY . Its value should be 10  .

Record RY .

10 
RY = …………………………………….………….
Close the switch.

Measure and record the ammeter reading I1 .

I1,1 = 61.6 mA I1 = 61.7 mA
I1,2 = 61.7 mA 61.7 mA
I1 = …………………………………….………….
Open the switch.

Change the positions of the resistors Y and X, as shown in Fig. 2.2.

A
X

• • Y

Fig. 2.2
Close the switch.

Measure and record the ammeter reading I2 .

I 2,1 = 72.7 mA I 2 = 72.7 mA
I 2,2 = 72.6 mA 72.7 mA
I2 = …………………………………….………….

Open the switch. [1]

 6

(b) Vary RY and repeat (a).

Present your results clearly.

I1
RY /  I11, / mA I1,2 / mA I1 / mA I2,1 / mA I2,2 / mA I2 / mA
I2

10 61.6 61.7 61.7 72.7 72.6 72.7 0.849

12 59.5 59.5 59.5 66.6 66.7 66.7 0.893

15 57.7 57.8 57.8 60.6 60.7 60.7 0.952

22 54.4 54.4 54.4 48.1 48.2 48.2 1.13

27 52.8 52.8 52.8 41.8 41.9 41.9 1.26

33 51.2 51.3 51.3 36.1 36.2 36.2 1.42

[3]

(c) I1 , I2 and RY are related by the expression

I1 R 1
= Y +
I2 2RX 2

where RX is the resistance of resistor X.

Plot a graph and use the gradient to determine RX .

I1 1 1
Plot of against RY should yield a straight line with gradient and y-intercept .
I2 2RX 2

y1 − y 2 1.39 − 0.86
gradient = = = 0.0250
x1 − x2 32.2 − 11.0
1
RX =
2 ( gradient )
1
=
2 ( 0.0250 )
= 20.0 

20.0 
RX = …………………………………….………….
 7

I1
I2

1.5

(32.2, 1.39)
1.4

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0 W

0.9 (11, 0.86)

0.8
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32
 8

I1
(d) By considering the value of when RY = RX , describe another way in which the graph can
I2
be used to determine RX .
I
When RY = RX , 1 = 1, so read off the RY which gives RX = 16.6 
I2

|[1]
(e) The experiment is repeated with a larger value of RX .

Sketch a line on your graph grid on page 7 to show the expected result.

Label this line W. [1]

I1  1  1 [Total: 11]
Equation is =  RY + so expect
I2  2RX  2
gentler gradient with same y-intercept
 9

3 A ride in a playground consists of a plank of wood supported by two loops of rope.

In this experiment, you will investigate a model of this ride.

You have been provided with two sets of string loops and two half-metre rules.

(a) (i) Use the shorter loops of string to set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3.1.

clamp d

boss rule l

rule
string loops
stand

bench

Fig. 3.1

Adjust the heights of the bosses until the top rule is parallel to the bench and both rules
have their scales facing upwards.

The distance between the string loops is d.

Adjust the positions of the string loops until d is approximately 40 cm.

The string loops should be vertical and the same distance from the centre of the bottom
rule.

Measure and record d.

d1 = 40.0 cm
d 2 = 40.0 cm 40.0 cm
d = …………………………………….…… [1]
d = 40.0 cm
(ii) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value of d.

d
percentage uncertainty  100%
d
0 .3
 100% = 0.75% ( 2 s.f.)
40.0

0.75%
percentage uncertainty in d = …………………………………….…… [1]
 10

(iii) The distance between the bottom face of the top rule and the top face of the bottom rule
is l, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Measure and record l.

l1 = 28.0 cm
l2 = 28.2 cm
l = 28.1 cm 28.1 cm
l = …………………………………….…… [1]

(iv) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value of l.

l
percentage uncertainty  100%
l
0.6
 100% = 2.2% ( 2 s.f.)
28.1
2.2 %
percentage uncertainty in l = …………………………………….…… [1]

(b) Move one end of the bottom rule towards you. Move the other end of the rule away from you.
Release the rule. The ruler will oscillate about a vertical axis.

Determine the period T of these oscillations.

Let the number of complete oscillations be N.

N = 14 t1 = 10.70 s T = 0.7614 s
t 2 = 10.61 s
t = 10.66 s
0.7614 s
T = …………………………………….…… [1]

(c) Set up the apparatus using the larger loops of string and a smaller value of d.
Repeat (a)(i), (a)(iii) and (b).

d1 = 30.0 cm
d 2 = 30.0 cm 30.0 cm
d = …………………………………….…….…
d = 30.0 cm

l1 = 43.0 cm l = …………………………………….…….…
43.0 cm
l2 = 43.0 cm
l = 43.0 cm

N =8 t1 = 10.22 s T = 1.282 s
1.282 s
t 2 = 10.29 s T = …………………………………….……….
t = 10.26 s [2]
 11

(d) It is suggested that

kl
T2 =
d2
where k is a constant.

(i) Use your values from (a)(i), (a)(iii), (b) and (c) to determine two values of k.

T 2d 2
k=
l
( 0.7614 ) ( 40.0 )
2 2

k1 = = 33.0 s2 cm
28.1
(1.282 ) ( 30.0 )
2 2

k2 = = 34.4 s2 cm
43.0

33.0 s2 cm
first value of k = …………………………………….………….
34.4 s2 cm
second value of k = …………………………………….………….
[2]

(ii) State whether or not the results of your experiment support the suggested relationship.
Justify your conclusion by referring to your values in (a)(ii) and (a)(iv).

k
percentage difference =  100 %
k smaller k 2T 2d l
= + +
34.4 − 33.0 k T d l
=  100%
33.0 k 2d l
 +
= 4 .2 % k d l

(Assume that the percentage uncertainty in the measurement of T is small compared to

that of d and l.)

Since percentage difference in k of 4.2% is larger than the sum of 2 times the

percentage uncertainty of d (2 x 0.75%) and the percentage uncertainty of l (2.2%),

which is 3.7%, the result does not support the suggested relationship. |[1]
 12

(e) Using the larger loops of string, add two 50 g masses to the bottom rule, as shown in Fig. 3.2.
Each mass represents a child on the ride.

50 g masses

Fig. 3.2

Vary d and find values of T with and without the masses in place.

Present your results clearly.

Use your results to estimate a value for d where the value of T is the same with and without
the masses.

Let subscripts “w/o” refer to the situation without masses and “with” to the situation with
masses.

d / cm N t w/o / s Tw/o / s t with / s Twith / s

40.0 12 11.56 0.9633 14.45 1.204

35.0 10 11.09 1.109 12.22 1.222

30.0 8 10.26 1.283 10.65 1.331

25.0 8 12.07 1.509 11.17 1.396

20.0 8 15.02 1.878 12.24 1.530

The values of T would have been the same in between

d = 30.0 cm and d = 25.0 cm
so estimate as 27.5 cm

27.5 cm
d = …………………………………….…….…
[4]
 13

(f) You have been provided with some other masses. Use these masses to determine the effect
on T of one or more children sitting at the centre of the ride while a child is seated at each
string.

Present your results and conclusion clearly.

Let mC be mass at centre for

d = 27.5 cm

mc / g N t /s T /s

50 12 10.73 0.8942

100 15 11.21 0.7473

150 17 11.47 0.6747

200 20 12.15 0.6075

250 20 10.97 0.5485

300 21 10.92 0.5200

As mass at centre increase, period decreases at a decreasing rate.

|[3]
 14

(g) The behaviour of the oscillating system depends on the length of bottom plank.

It is suggested that the period T is directly proportional to the length L of the plank.

Explain how you would investigate this relationship.

Your account should include:

•your experimental procedure

•control of variables
•how you would use your results to show direct proportionality
•why you might have difficulties using planks with very small lengths and very large
lengths.
Procedure
1) Measure length of bottom rule L using metre rule.

2) Set bottom ruler oscillating about its centre of gravity in a plane parallel to the bench surface.

3) Measure multiple oscillations using a stopwatch and obtain the average period T by dividing

the time measurement by the number of complete oscillations.

4) Vary length L by changing bottom rules of different lengths and repeat (1) to (3).

Analysis

• A plot of period T against bottom length L should yield a straight line graph passing through

origin if T is proportional to L.

Control of Variables

• Keep distance between loops d constant

• Keep l constant by using the set of longer loops.

• Model the bottom plank using rules of same material, same width and thickness but different

lengths L.

Limitations

For longer bottom rulers, it may take too long to complete an oscillation.

For shorter ones, periods may be too short, making the judgement of a complete oscillation

inaccurate.
|[5]
[Total: 22]
 15

4 Fig. 4.1 shows a beaker filled with water and ice cubes all at 0 C .

beaker

ice cube
water
bench

Fig. 4.1

When a constant source of heat is applied to the contents of the beaker, the ice melts.

The initial volume of each ice cube is the same and the number of ice cubes is n. The total mass
of the contents of the beaker is m.

The time taken for the ice to melt is given by t = k na mb

where k, a and b are constants.

Design an experiment to determine the values of a and b.

You are provided with trays and a freezer to produce ice cubes at 0 C .

Draw a diagram to show the arrangement of your apparatus. Pay particular attention to

• the equipment you would use

• the procedure to be followed
• the control of variables
• any precautions that should be taken to improve the accuracy of the experiment.
 16

stand

temperature sensor

boss clamp

insulation
V
A
bench
data
logger
Procedure heater ice-water mixture

1) Measure the mass of the contents using electronic top pan balance:

a. Measure the mass of empty dry beaker, mempty .

b. Measure the mass of beaker with ice and water, mfull .

c. Mass of contents m = mfull − mempty

2) Count the number of ice cubes n.

3) Measure the temperature of the ice-water mixture using a temperature sensor connected to a data

logger. Switch on the heater and track the variation of temperature with time.

4) Start the timer once the mixture of ice (taken out of the freezer at 0 C ) and water (at a

temperature of 0 C ) is formed. Let the experiment continue until the temperature is well above

0 C at 5 C

5) Time taken t is the duration when the ice-water mixture remains constant at 0 C

Run 1

7) Keep the number of ice cubes n constant, vary the mass m by adding water that is of temperature

0 C . Repeat for 10 different mass values, collect t using steps 1 through 6.

Run 2

8) Keep mass m constant by topping up water that is of temperature 0 C , vary the number of ice

cubes submerged in water. Repeat for 10 different number of ice cubes, collect t using steps 1

through 6.
 17

Analysis

Run 1) t = k n a mb

log t = log k + a log n + b log m

Plot of log t against log m yields a straight line graph of gradient b (and y-intercept log k + a log n  )

Run 2)

Plot of log t against log n yields a straight line graph of gradient a (and y-intercept log k + b log m )

Control of Variables

• Maintain constant room temperature by using a thermostat-controlled air conditioner and use a
thermometer to check room temperature.

• Keep power supplied to heater constant by using the same voltage and current.

• Use pure distilled water so that ice melts at a constant temperature of 0 C

Extra Details

• Insulate the beaker to prevent heat supplied by the environment.

• Water at temperature 0 C can be prepared by taking ice ( 0 C ) out of the freezer and allowing it

to melt in a large beaker. The melting ice can be stirred and poured through a fine sieve to remove

the ice to obtain only water at 0 C .

• Ensure the temperature probe is well-submerged by ice-water mixture away from walls of beaker.

• Use a stirrer to ensure that the temperature in the whole mixture is the same.

• Perform preliminary trials to find out minimum mass of water to completely submerge temperature

probe and maximum mass of water not to overfill the beaker

Safety

• Use a large towel to clean up spillage as water is transferred.

• Use thermal insulating gloves to shift the heater when necessary.

[Total: 12]
 18

Appendix A
Deriving the equation in Q2(c)

from Fig. 2.1:

 R X RY 
V = I1  RX + 
 R X + RY 

from Fig. 2.2 :

 R 
V = I2  R Y + X 
 2 

 R 
I2  R Y + X 
( 2) : 1 =  2 
(1) 
I1  RX +
R X RY 

 R X + RY 

 R   RX + 2RY 
 RY + X   
I1
= 
2   2 
=
I2  R X R Y   R X ( R X + RY ) + R X R Y 
 RX +   
 R X + RY   R X + RY 
 R + 2RY   R X + RY   RX + 2RY   RX + RY 
= X   =   R 2 + 2R R 
 2   RX ( RX + RY ) + RX RY   2  X X Y 

 RX + 2RY   R X + RY  1 
=   =  1 + RY  = RY + 1

  RX ( RX + 2RY )  2 
2   RX  2RX 2

 19

Appendix B
Additional Notes for Q3(e)

We estimated that the point at which the two T values

intersect as the mid-point between d = 30.0 cm and d =
25.0 cm

With the benefit of more time, we can do smooth curves:

1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

0.8
19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41
 20

Appendix C
Additional Notes for Q3(f)

As guided by the question, we choose the estimated length for which period is the
same regardless if there are weights at the sides - so that we can have six data
points (50 g to 300 g) for this experiment.

Within time constraint, it is likely that all that is expected, is the (i) general trend in
T and the (ii) gradient, whether the trend is occurring at an increasing rate or
decreasing rate.

With the benefit of more time, we can check using general equation :
T = kmCn
log T = n log mC + log k
Plot of log T against log mC should yield a straight line with gradient n and y-
intercept log k. Gradient is about -0.305, so if we have even more time we can
test for T = k 3 mC

0
-0.02 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5
-0.04
-0.06
-0.08
-0.1
-0.12
-0.14
-0.16
-0.18
-0.2
-0.22
-0.24
-0.26
-0.28 y = -0.3045x + 0.4777
-0.3