laboratory manual

Grade 10 Physics

Habtamu Worku
 UNIT-1

Virtual Experiment 1
Virtual Lab
On the soft copy of the book, click on the following link to per
Form virtual experiment on vector quantities unit under the guidance of your teacher.
1. Vector Addition PhET Experiment.
 UNIT-2

Virtual Experiment 2
Virtual Lab
 UNIT-3

Activity 3.3: Determining Density

Objectives:
1. Measure the mass and volume of iron and copper blocks.
2. Calculate the density of each block using the formula ρ = m/V.
3. Compare the experimental densities with standard values.
Purpose: To determine the density of iron and copper blocks and compare the results with
standard values.
Apparatus:
 An iron block and a copper block.
 (Tools for measuring mass and volume.
Procedure:
i. First, measure the masses and volumes of the two blocks.
ii. Then, calculate their densities using the formula ρ = m/V.
iii. Finally, compare your results with the standard densities provided for iron (7.86
g/cm³) and copper (8.92 g/cm³).

Activity 3.4: Floating and Sinking

Objectives:
1. Observe whether the brass and wood blocks float or sink in water.
2. Explain why objects of the same mass have different buoyant behaviors.
3. Relate the observations to the concept of density.
Purpose: To observe which block floats and which sinks when placed in water.
Apparatus:
 A block of brass,
 a block of wood, and
 a tank of water. It is specified that the two blocks have exactly the same mass.
Procedure:
i. Drop both the block of brass and the block of wood into the tank of water.
ii. Observe which one floats and which one sinks. Then, explain why this happens.
 UNIT-3

Activity 3.6: Stretching a Copper Wire

Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the elastic property of copper wire by stretching it.
2. Observe whether the wire returns to its original length after stretching.
3. Discuss how Young’s modulus could be calculated from this experiment.
Purpose: To observe the elastic property of a copper wire when stretched.
Apparatus:
 A copper wire. (Tools for stretching the wire and potentially measuring length are
implied).
Procedure:
i. Stretch the copper wire.
ii. Upon removing the stretching force, observe if the wire regains its original length.
iii. The activity then poses a question about calculating the Young modulus in this
situation.

Virtual Experiment 3
Virtual Labs
On the soft copy of the book, click on the following link to perform virtual experiments on
elasticity and static equilibrium of a rigid body unit under the guidance of your teacher.
1. Density PhET Experiment.
2. Balancing Act PhET Experiment.
 UNIT-4

Activity 4.2: Charging by Rubbing

Objectives:
1. Generate static charge by rubbing different materials (comb, plastic ruler).
2. Observe electrostatic attraction between charged objects and paper pieces.
3. Explain why charged objects attract or repel neutral materials.
Purpose: To demonstrate charging processes by rubbing and observe electrostatic attraction.
Apparatus:
 A piece of silk fabric,
 a piece of woollen fabric,
 a comb, a plastic rule, and
 small pieces of paper.
Procedure:
i. Rub the comb with the silk fabric and the plastic rule with the woollen fabric.
ii. Bring each charged object near the pieces of paper and describe what you observe.
iii. List the materials you charged.
iv. Explain why the paper pieces are attracted and why some fall off.
v. Explain why paper "jumps" off a conducting sphere with a large charge.

Activity 4.3: Constructing a Simple Electroscope

Objectives:
1. Design a simple electroscope using available materials.
2. Construct the electroscope in groups.
3. Test the electroscope’s ability to detect electric charge.
Purpose: To design or construct a simple electroscope using easily available materials.
Apparatus: Easily available materials. (Based on the description of an electroscope, this
would likely include:
 a glass container,
 metal rod, and
 thin pieces of gold foil or similar material).
Procedure: Work in groups to design and construct a simple electroscope.
 UNIT-4

Project 4.1: A Series Lamp Circuit.

Objectives:
1. Assemble a series circuit using batteries, wires, and lamps.
2. Measure voltage across each lamp using a multimeter.
3. Analyze the effect of removing one lamp on the circuit.
Purpose: To build a simple series circuit with lamps and measure the voltages across
components.
Apparatus:
 A small head screw driver,
 wire cutters,
 wire strippers,
 a multimeter,
 two AA batteries,
 one battery holder,
 two lamp holders,
 two 3V flashlight lamps, and
 one 6-inch length of 22-gauge stranded wires.
Procedure:
i. Cut and strip a wire.
ii. Attach battery holder leads to lamp holder terminals.
iii. Use the 6-inch wire to connect the unused terminals of the two lamp holders.
iv. Insert batteries and observe the lamps.
v. Remove one lamp and observe the other.
vi. Replace the lamp.
vii. Set the multimeter to DC voltage and measure the voltage across each lamp and
across both lamps combined.
 UNIT-4

Project 4.2: A Parallel Lamp Circuit.

Objectives:
1. Build a parallel circuit with two lamps.
2. Compare the brightness of lamps in parallel vs. series.
3. Measure voltage across each lamp to verify consistency.
Purpose: To build a simple parallel circuit with lamps and measure the voltages across
components.
Apparatus:
 A small head screw driver,
 wire cutters,
 wire strippers,
 a multimeter,
 two AA batteries,
 one battery holder,
 two lamp holders,
 two 3V flashlight lamps, and
 two 6-inch length 22-gauge stranded wires.
Procedure:
i. Cut and strip two wires.
ii. Attach battery holder leads to the terminals of the first lamp holder.
iii. Use the two wires to connect the terminals of the first lamp holder to the terminals of
the second lamp holder, wiring them in parallel.
iv. Insert batteries and observe the lamps. Remove one lamp and observe the other.
Replace the lamp.
v. Set the multimeter to DC voltage and measure the voltage across each lamp.
 UNIT-4

Project 4.3: Electric House Project.

Objectives:
1. Design a model house with different circuit types (series, parallel, combination).
2. Construct and wire the circuits using appropriate materials.
3. Test the independent operation of each circuit.
Purpose: To design, construct, and wire a model house with separate series, parallel, and
combination circuits.
Apparatus:
 Materials for house construction (available in your area),
 AAA, AA, D, or 9V batteries (multiple types are required),
 insulated wire,
 lights,
 scissors,
 wire cutters, and
 wire strippers.
 (Brads and paper clips can be used for switches).
Procedure:
i. Design and construct a model house with specified areas (bedroom, bathroom,
kitchen, front door, living room/dining room).
ii. Illuminate each room with its own light.
iii. Wire the house with specific circuits: a single outside light with a switch, a series
"chandelier" with at least two lights and a switch in the living room, a parallel circuit
with a switch and at least three lights, and a combination circuit with two switches
and at least three lights.
iv. Ensure circuits work independently and use different battery types.
v. Decorate the building neatly.
vi. Provide a complete, labelled circuit diagram using accurate symbols.

Virtual Experiment 4
Virtual Labs
On the soft copy of the book, click on the following link to perform virtual experiments on
static and current electricity unit under the guidance of your teacher.
1. Coulomb’s Law PhET Experiment.
2. Circuit Construction Kit: DC- Virtual Lab PhET Experiment.
3. Circuit Construction Kit: DC PhET Experiment.
4. Charges and Fields PhET Experiment.
5. Balloons and Static Electricity PhET Experiment.
6. Ohm’s Law PhET Experiment.
7. Resistance in a Wire PhET Experiment.
 UNIT-5

Activity 5.1: Magnetic Field Around Bar Magnets.

Objectives:
1. Visualize magnetic field lines using iron filings.
2. Compare field patterns for attracting and repelling magnets.
3. Sketch the observed magnetic field configurations.
Purpose: To observe the pattern of magnetic field lines around bar magnets.
Apparatus:
 Two bar magnets,
 a sheet of white paper, and
 some iron filings.
Procedure:
i. Place the two bar magnets a short distance apart (repelling, then attracting, then side-
by-side).
ii. Place a sheet of white paper over the magnets.
iii. Sprinkle iron filings onto the paper and shake to distribute them evenly.
iv. Observe and draw the pattern formed by the iron filings for each arrangement.
v. Note the shape, size, and direction of the lines.

Virtual Experiment 5
Virtual Labs
On the soft copy of the book, click on the following link to perform virtual experiments
on magnetism unit under the guidance of your teacher.
1. Magnet and Compass PhET Experiment.
2. Generator PhET Experiment.
3. Magnets and Electromagnets PhET Experiment.
 UNIT-6

Activity 6.1: Pencil Refraction.

Objectives:
1. Observe the apparent bending of a pencil in water.
2. Describe how refraction changes the pencil’s appearance.
3. Explain why light bends at the water-air interface.
Purpose: To observe the apparent displacement of a pencil partly immersed in water due to
refraction.
Apparatus:
 A large, opaque drinking glass or cup,
 water, and
 a pencil.
Procedure:
i. Fill the cup with water.
ii. Place the pencil in the water at an angle.
iii. Look directly down into the cup from above and observe the pencil where it touches
the water.
iv. Position yourself so the pencil angles to your left or right, slowly back away about
1m, and observe the pencil above, at, and below the water surface.
v. Describe the pencil's appearance from above and compare the appearance above and
below the water surface.

Activity 6.2: Dispersion of Light Through a Prism.

Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the separation of white light into a spectrum.
2. Identify the sequence of colors in the dispersed light.
3. Explain how a prism causes dispersion.
Purpose: To observe how white light splits into a band of visible colors when passed through
a prism.
Apparatus:
 A thick sheet of cardboard with a small hole or narrow slit,
 a glass prism.
 (Sunlight or a source of white light is needed).
Procedure:
i. Make a narrow beam of white light by allowing sunlight to fall on the slit in the
cardboard.
ii. Allow the light from the slit to fall on one face of the glass prism.
iii. Turn the prism slowly until the light coming out of it appears on a wall or screen (not
explicitly mentioned but implied for viewing the spectrum).
iv. Observe the band of visible colors.
 UNIT-6

Activity 6.3: Image Formation in a Plane Mirror.

Objectives:
1. Observe the characteristics of a plane mirror image (size, distance).
2. Compare the movement of the image when stepping back.
3. Verify the left-right inversion in mirror reflections.
Purpose: To understand how a plane mirror forms an image.
Apparatus: A large mirror.
Procedure:
i. Stand one step away from the mirror and observe your image.
ii. Note the image size and distance from you and the mirror.
iii. Take one step backwards and observe how your image moves and your distance from
it.
iv. Lift your left arm and see which arm your image lifts.

Activity 6.5: Image Formation by a Convex Mirror.

Objectives:
1. Determine whether the image is erect or inverted.
2. Observe how image size changes with object distance.
3. Relate image position to the mirror’s focal properties.
Purpose: To study the image formation by a convex mirror.
Apparatus:
 A convex mirror and
 a pencil.
Procedure:
i. Hold the convex mirror in one hand and a pencil upright in the other.
ii. Observe the image of the pencil in the mirror, noting if it is erect or inverted,
diminished or enlarged.
iii. Move the pencil away from the mirror slowly and observe if the image becomes
smaller or larger.
iv. Repeat and state whether the image moves closer to or farther away from the focus as
the object (pencil) moves away from the mirror.
 UNIT-6

Activity 6.6: Focusing Sunlight with a Convex Lens.

Objectives:
1. Concentrate sunlight to a focal point using a convex lens.
2. Explain how the lens converges light rays.
3. Discuss the practical applications of lens focusing.
Purpose: To demonstrate how a convex lens converges parallel rays of light to a point.
Apparatus:
 A convex lens and
 a sheet of paper.
 (Sunlight is needed).
Procedure:
i. Hold the convex lens in your hand and direct it towards the Sun.
ii. Focus the sunlight onto the sheet of paper to obtain a sharp, bright image of the Sun.
iii. Hold the paper and lens in the same position for a while and observe what happens to
the paper.
iv. (Caution: Do not look directly at the Sun or through the lens as it may damage your
eyes).

Activity 6.7: Image Formation by Convex Lenses (Observation Part).

Objectives:
1. Investigate how object distance affects image properties.
2. Classify images as real/virtual, erect/inverted, enlarged/diminished.
3. Record image positions relative to lens focal points.
Purpose: To observe the nature, position, and relative size of the image formed by a convex
lens for different object positions.
Apparatus:
 A convex lens,
 a long table, and
 an object (like a lighted candle). (A screen is implied for observing real images).
Procedure:
i. Place the object (candle) at various positions relative to the convex lens (e.g., beyond
2F1, at 2F1, between F1 and 2F1, at F1, between F1 and O).
ii. Use a screen to find the image (for real images).
iii. Note down the nature (real/virtual, erect/inverted), position, and relative size
(enlarged, diminished, same size) of the image formed.
 UNIT-6

Activity 6.8: Image Formation by Concave Lenses.

Objectives:
1. Attempt to form a real image using a concave lens.
2. Describe the virtual nature of concave lens images.
3. Compare concave lens images with convex lens images.
Purpose: To study the nature, position, and relative size of the image formed by a concave
lens.
Apparatus:
 A concave lens,
 a lighted candle (as the object), and
 a screen.
Procedure:
i. Try to get the image of the candle flame on the screen by placing the screen behind
the lens.
ii. Move the screen to see if a sharp image is formed.
iii. Try this for various positions of the object.
iv. Observe if you get a real image on the screen.
v. Try placing the object very far away from the lens.

Virtual Experiment 6
Virtual Labs
On the soft copy of the book, click on the following link to perform virtual experiments
on electromagnetic waves and geometrical optics unit under the guidance of your teacher.
1. Geometric Optics PhET Experiment.
2. Bending Light PhET Experiment.
3. Color Vision PhET Experiment.
4. Radio Waves & Electromagnetic Fields PhET Experiment.