Required Practical Revision Booklet

The document outlines the required practical investigations for AQA GCSE Physics 9-1, detailing experiments related to specific heat capacity, thermal insulation, resistance, I-V characteristics, density, force and extension, acceleration, waves, light, and radiation absorption. Each practical includes guidance on variables, methods, measurements, and safety precautions. Additionally, sample questions are provided to help students prepare for assessments.

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Required Practical Revision Booklet

Uploaded by

handryoutlook

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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AQA GCSE Physics 9-1 Required Practicals

Revision Booklet Name________________________

Specific Heat Investigation to determine the specific heat capacity of one or more
materials. The investigation will involve linking the decrease of one
Capacity energy store (or work done) to the increase in temperature and
subsequent increase in thermal energy stored.

Thermal Insulation Investigate the effectiveness of different materials as thermal

Paper 1 – 22nd May 2019

insulators and the factors that may affect the thermal insulation
properties of a material.

Resistance Use circuit diagrams to set up and check appropriate circuits to

investigate the factors affecting the resistance of an electrical circuit.
This should include: the length of a wire (at constant temperature);
combinations of resistors in series and parallel.

I-V characteristics Use circuit diagrams to construct appropriate circuits to investigate

the I-V characteristics of a variety of circuit elements including a
filament lamp, a diode and a resistor at constant temperature.

Density Use appropriate apparatus to make and record the measurements

needed to determine the densities of regular and irregular solid
objects and liquids. Volume should be determined from the
dimensions of regularly shaped objects and by a displacement
technique for irregularly shaped objects. Dimensions to be measured
using appropriate apparatus such as a ruler, micrometre or Vernier
callipers.

Force and Investigate the relationship between force and extension for a spring.

Extension
Paper 2 – 14th June 2019

Acceleration Investigate the effect of varying the force on the acceleration of an

object of constant mass and the effect of varying the mass of an
object on the acceleration produced by a constant force.

Waves Make observations to identify the suitability of apparatus to measure

the frequency, wavelength and speed of waves in a ripple tank and
waves in a solid and take appropriate measurements.

Light Investigate the reflection of light by different types of surface and the
refraction of light by different substances.

Radiation and Investigate how the amount of infrared radiation absorbed or

radiated by a surface depends on the nature of that surface.
Absorption
Go to http://tiny.cc/sapa and click on GCSE AQA Physics 9-1
and then on Required Practical Video Links

Some of the practicals have several videos with varying methods.

Watch them all and choose the one that is easiest to follow.
Make some rough notes and diagrams that cover:

• Variables
• Step by step method
• Labelled diagram of the set up
• Measuring instruments needed
• Measurements to make
• How to process the results
• Safety Precautions

Use your notes to complete the tables for each of the 10 required practicals.
The tables are general so you may not need to use all the rows in every table.

Practicals 1-5 may be tested on paper 1 and practicals 6-10 on paper 2.

Sample Questions

Density
A student wants to calculate the density of a lump of rock and a metal cube.
Describe the methods that the student should use to calculate the densities of the two objects.

Refraction
Describe an investigation into how the angle of incidence and angle of refraction are related for the
refraction of light at an air to glass boundary. Your answer should consider any cause of inaccuracy in the
data. A labelled diagram may be drawn as part of your answer.

Specific Heat Capacity

Describe how to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal such as copper. Include a labelled diagram
showing how the apparatus is set up. Suggest why the result could have a value greater than expected.

Acceleration
A teacher is demonstrating how the acceleration of a trolley depends on the force applied to the trolley.
She uses a sloping runway and a trolley. Write a list of the other equipment the teacher will need for the
demonstration. Describe a method she could use for the demonstration. Suggest why the teacher kept the
same trolley for all the demonstrations.

Radiation and Absorption

Describe how you would investigate the effect of surface colour on the emission of infra-red radiation from
a hot object. Include how you would make the investigation fair and how you would determine if the
results were reliable. Suggest a suitable resolution of each of the measuring instruments used.
Specific Heat Capacity – Paper 1
Independent Variable(s) Dependent Variable(s) Control Variables
The one you vary. The one you measure. Kept the same for a fair test.