Physics atp questions

Made by: freeguy

 Possible precautions to take in experiments involving
image formation on a screen to obtain reliable results

• clamp rule or place on bench

• use area away from direct sunlight/dark room/bright object
• (centre of) lens and object same vertical height from bench
• mark on lens holder to show position of centre of lens
• screen and lens perpendicular to bench/aligned/in straight
line/on principle axis
• move lens slowly back and forth to obtain clearest image
• repeat the measurements
• Avoid parallax while measuring the distance using scale
• readings/except repeated and average taken(for experiments
involving measurements of length and height)
 Methods to measure the height of the image on the
screen without the hand obstructing the rays

• scale drawn on paper on screen/graph paper

on screen
• mark on screen (then) measure/clamp ruler
on scale
• use translucent screen and measure from
other side
Describe briefly one precaution that you would take to
obtain accurate length measurements of a spring

• avoidance of parallax error explained

• use of horizontal aid
• measuring to same point each time
• repeats
• wait for springs to stop moving
 For statements including state whether your results
support this theory

• If statement = yes, then justification should be

the values are nearly equal or too close within
the limits of experimental accuracy
• If statement = no, then justification should be
the values are too different and are
outside/beyond limits of experimental
accuracy
 In experiments of light involving pins

• Pins should be at least 5 cm apart but not

more than 30 cm
• Reason – For greater accuracy
 State one precaution that you would take in
order to obtain accurate readings of
V(potential difference across a component)

• check for zero error

• avoidance of parallax error explained
• switch off between readings
• repeats
Explain why the student takes the time for ten
swings and then calculates the time for one
swing, rather than just measuring the time for
one swing.(for pendulum experiments)

• accuracy/
• reducing uncertainty/
• sensible comment on reaction time
 To make a fair comparison between the rates of
cooling of the hot water in the two containers(with
diff SA) it is important to control other experimental
conditions. Suggest two conditions that should be
controlled in this experiment.

• same starting temperature

• stir/same thermometer position
• same interval time
• constant room temperature/carry out at same time
• same volume/amount/mass of water
• avoid draughts
• (NOT reference to container, insulation, precaution)
 The force meter shows a reading when no mass has been added to
the metre rule. Assuming that the force meter has no zero error,
suggest a reason for the reading.

• Weight/mass/force of rule
Conditions to be controlled in an experiment involving
the effect of insulation on the rate of cooling

• initial temperature/starting temperature/temperature

of hot water
• (constant) room temperature/ correct named reference
to environmental condition
• tube size/same test-tube
• thickness of glass
• volume/amount/level of water
• thickness of cotton wool
• depth (of immersion) of thermometer
• (rate of) stirring
 Suggest two alternative insulating materials
that could be used in place of cotton wool.
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Glass wool
• Foam
 It is known that changes in temperature affect the
resistance of the wire. State how you can limit the
temperature changes when carrying out this
experiment.

• Switch off between readings

• Use of low current
Assuming that the experiment is carried out with care,
suggest one possible cause of inaccuracy using the
optical pin method and one using the ray box method.

• Pin: pins not vertical/not straight OR pins too

close OR thickness of lines/size of holes
• Ray Box: thickness of ray
Suggest two variables that the student should
keep constant in an experiment involving the
use of springs made from different metals
• Same diameter/thickness/cross-sectional
area/cross-section
• Same length
• (Room) temperature
• Viewing line directly in front of card
• Brightness changes
• Thickness of lines
• Thickness of mirror
• Protractor can only be read to +/- 1o OR
protractors are not that precise
• Thickness of pins
 State the properties of the line that would
indicate that F is directly proportional to d.
• It would be a straight line
• Passes through the origin
• Would change force meter reading/change
mass on rule
 Describe briefly how you would check that the rule is
horizontal in this experiment. You may draw a diagram.

• Check distance from bench is the same at two

points
• Line up by eye with windowsill (or suitable
horizontal reference)
 Experiment for rate of cooling

• Room temperature/humidity/sun through

window/air conditioning
• Draughts
• Initial water temperature
 • Change/control current/voltage

(ii)

• To obtain range of readings

 Suggest one precaution that you would take in
experiments involving refraction using pins to obtain
readings that are as accurate as possible.

• Pins well spaced

• Pins at least 5 cm apart
• View bases of pins
• Ensure pins vertical
• Use thin lines
• Sharp pencil
• Use thin pins
• Centre of mass marked close to centre of
cylinder
• Clear indication of how centre of mass is
placed above the 90.0 cm mark (Draw a line
from its centre at the top all the way to the
bottom and then mark this line on the scale
with the line coinciding with the 90 cm mark
• Rule unlikely to exactly balance/ difficult to
balance
• rule could slide on pivot
• mass could slide
• centre of mass of rule not at 50.0 cm mark
• rule not uniform
• Repeat readings
• a reference to finding exact position of centre
of mass of metre rule
• a reference to dealing with centre of mass of
rule not being at 50.0 cm mark
• Good/ fine/ reasonable/ same to 3 significant
figures
• Within limits of experimental accuracy
• Too many significant figures in experimental
result
• Draughts
• Room temperature/humidity
 Continuation of previous slide question

• Relevant avoidance of parallax explained, in

using rule or thermometer
• Waiting time between readings
• Wait for steady thermometer reading
• Allow lamp to cool/warm up
• Repeats and average
• Finger increases V3 / tube not pushed in far enough
• Some water in test-tube/air is compressed

• Water remaining in tube

• Water remaining in measuring cylinder
• Tube overfilled, (surface tension effect)

Either VA or VW (accept only once):

• Measuring cylinder readings not very sensitive
•
• does not go through the origin

• d not measured from 0oC mark

 Suggest a precaution that you would take, when
placing the pins, in order to obtain reliable results.

• large spaces between pins

• make sure pins are vertical
• observe bases of pins
Suggest a reason for the student using a range of m values.
• accuracy / reliability / check readings / spot anomaly
Continuation of previous question

• practical difficulty - rule never quite balances

• way to overcome the difficulty - take average
position / nearest to balance
The IGCSE class is determining the mass of a metre rule using balancing method and
force meter

• centre of mass of rule not at 50.0 cm

• mass X not uniform / of varying density
• reference to difficulty in obtaining balance implied
• mass of pan
• mass not exactly 100g

• mark line through the centre of the mass (can award from diagram)
• use position of edges of mass on rule
The rate of cooling of hot water is compared by how
much cold water should be added to obtain the same
temperature drop in an experiment

• room / surrounding temperature / other environmental

condition
• initial hot water temperature
• initial cold water temperature
• volume / mass / amount of hot water
• time delay on adding cold water / same time for cooling
• The bulb will be brighter
 Suggest a reason for measuring the time for twenty
oscillations rather than just one.

• gives a more accurate value of T

• gives an average value (of T)
• reduces (effect of ) human reaction error
• reaction time less significant
• T too small / oscillations are too quick / bob swings
too fast

• avoidance of parallax error explained

• blocks arranged parallel either side of bob and
touching bob
• rule correctly placed, touching the blocks and
spanning the gap
 Experiment involving measuring the
temperature of water at different temperature

• Precaution - stir before reading / keep

thermometer at same depth
• Explanation - ensure temperature is the same
throughout / temperature different at
different depths
• Difficulty -blurred edge / hand in way of light
• Solution - ensure focused properly / screen
etc. vertical / attach scale/rule to screen /
use translucent screen, measure at back
• take reading with eye line perpendicular to rule / use set square to ensure rule
vertical
 The IGCSE class is investigating the oscillation
of a pendulum.

• repeat readings for each length (and take

average) / greater no. of oscillations
Explain why measuring the time for 20 swings, rather than for 1 swing,
gives a more accurate value for T.
 reduce (percentage) uncertainty OR reduce (the effect of) error due to
starting/stopping
Suggest a possible practical cause of inaccuracy in this method.

• object not dried before measuring mass

• mass measured after immersion
• measuring cylinder not read at eye-level / parallax explained
• measuring cylinder not read at meniscus
• zero reading on balance not allowed for
 Describe how you would use a length of string
and a rule to determine the circumference c of
the unsharpened section of the pencil.
• use of at least 3 turns
• (mark string and) measure distance (between marks)
and divide by number of turns
Suggest a source of inaccuracy in determining the
circumference of the pencil.
• stretching of string
• thickness of string
• thickness of mark
• gaps between turns
• winding of turns at an angle
• making marks/lines on track for start and finish
• repeats/find average time
• constant starting positions
• not pushing car
• time from same point on car
• use light gates/data logger/automatic timer for timing
• method for avoiding parallax error when judging finishing point/ stand level with
finish
one magnified, other diminished
one brighter than the other

both inverted/both real

distance between object and screen/D/ change position of screen

• balance not at zero/test-tube catches on side of
measuring cylinder
• ρ greater as mass reading larger/ρ greater as
volume smaller
• switch off between readings
• only switch on for short time
• use smaller currents /p.d.s
• suitable means of dissipating thermal energy
• w and h not always the same (NOT ‘increase at different rates’) (need
reference to square shape – NOT just ‘distorted’)
• difficult to measure shadows / edges not distinct
• card might not be perpendicular/ card might be tilted
• lamp is not a point source
• improve reliability
• large gap between plots for 25 and 15cm
• allow gaps becoming larger/ to ensure curve is consistent

• shadow would be too big (for screen)

• difference between w and h becomes larger
• shadows become less distinct/ more blurred/ too distorted
Suggest one practical reason why it is difficult to
obtain exact results with this experiment.

• difficulty in achieving balance OR difficulty in

positioning load exactly, e.g. load
• covers rule markings or uncertainty about
position of centre of mass of load
• voltage or p.d., accept current

• adjust power supply OR add resistor/ variable

resistor
Suggest two factors, other than the volume and
temperature of the cold water added, that affect the
decrease in temperature of the hot water.
• room temperature/other environmental statement
• initial hot water temperature
• heat loss to surroundings /evaporation/conduction
through sides of beaker
• time delays in adding water
Suggest why, when this experiment is carried out carefully,
the points plotted may not all lie on the graph line.

• difficulty in aligning pins

• pins too thick
• thickness of mirror
• upside down/inverted
• size/bigger
• brightness/brighter/dimmer
• colours seen round edge/edges blurred
 Explain how you could ensure that the loop is
horizontal in (b). You may draw a diagram.
• measure height (from bench)/distance from rule
at two places
• line up with rule or suitable horizontal surface
• use of spirit level

• repeat with different (sized) loops/different

values (of dA, dB) and then plot a graph to check
if it is a straight line which passes through the
origin.
State two precautions that you would take in
this experiment to ensure that the temperature
readings are as reliable as possible.
• stir before reading
• keep thermometer at same depth
• read thermometer 90o to scale/with reading at
eye level
• wait until thermometer has stopped rising (at
the start)
• thermometer in middle of water/not touching
beaker
• use of plumb line
• measure from line of stand
• use of spirit level
• attach protractor behind solar panel
 Previous question continued

• ambient light
• zero error on meter

• do experiment in complete darkness

• subtract zero reading (from each voltage
measurement)
 Previous question continued

• same distance between panel and lamp

• lamp at same height
• panel at constant height
• same pd across lamp OR same current in lamp
OR same brightness of lamp