HARD
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
Earn 100

A student releases a toy car to roll down a ramp, as shown.

Question Image

The student measures the distance l from the middle of the car as it is released to the bottom of the ramp and the distance s travelled along the straight section before the car stops. He also measures the time t taken to travel the distance s. He then repeats the experiment using a different value of l.

The student obtained readings with l=40 and 60 cm, taking each reading for s and t twice. The readings were:

l=40.0 cm : values for s were 124 &130 cm; values for t were 4.6 & 4.8 s

l=60.0 cm: values for s were 186 & 194 cm; values for t were 4.9 & 5.2 s.

(d) Describe four sources of uncertainty or limitations of the procedure for this experiment.

Important Questions on Practical Skills at AS Level

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
What quantities do all these instruments measure: protractor, 30 cm ruler, metre rule, micrometer screw gauge, calipers, newton-meter balance, measuring cylinder, thermometer, stopwatch, ammeter and voltmeter?
EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

protractor, 30 cm ruler, metre rule, micrometer screw gauge, calipers, newton-meter balance, measuring cylinder, thermometer, stopwatch, ammeter and voltmeter.

Can you suggest, for each instrument in the list, what is its range and its smallest scale division, and suggest a simple experimental problem in using it?

 

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

You are investigating how the current through a resistor depends on its resistance when connected in a circuit. You are given resistors of the following values:

50Ω,100Ω,150Ω,200Ω,250Ω,300Ω,350Ω,400Ω,450Ω,500Ω

You are asked to take measurements with just six of these resistors. Which six resistors would you choose? Explain your choice.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

Look at Figure. Draw similar diagrams to represent:

Question Image

The left-hand diagram represents readings that are precise but not accurate; the right-hand diagram represents readings that are accurate but without precision.

 A target where the holes are both precise and accurate

HARD
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

This apparatus shows a resistor in some water.

Question Image

A student measures the rise in temperature θ of the water in 100 s using two different values of voltage.

The student wrote:

'When the voltage was set at 6.0 V, the rise in temperature of the water in 100 s was 14.5°C. The voltmeter reading decreased by about 0.2 V during the experiment, and so the final voltmeter reading was 5.8 V. 'The reading fluctuated from time to time by about 0.2 V. The smallest scale division on the thermometer was 1°C, but I could read it to 0.5°C. I did not have time to repeat the reading.

'When the voltage was set at 12.0 V, the rise in temperature in 100 s was 51.0°C and the voltage was almost the same at the end, but fluctuated by about 0.2 V ''

(a) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in the measurement of the first voltage.

MEDIUM
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

This apparatus shows a resistor in some water.

Question Image

A student measures the rise in temperature θ of the water in 100 s using two different values of voltage.

The student wrote:

'When the voltage was set at 6.0 V, the rise in temperature of the water in 100 s was 14.5°C. The voltmeter reading decreased by about 0.2 V during the experiment, and so the final voltmeter reading was 5.8 V. 'The reading fluctuated from time to time by about 0.2 V. The smallest scale division on the thermometer was 1°C, but I could read it to 0.5°C. I did not have time to repeat the reading.

'When the voltage was set at 12.0 V, the rise in temperature in 100 s was 51.0°C and the voltage was almost the same at the end, but fluctuated by about 0.2 V ''

(b) It is suggested that θ is related to V according to the formula θ=kV2, where k is a constant.

(ii) Justify the number of significant figures you have given for your value of k.

HARD
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

This apparatus shows a resistor in some water.

Question Image

A student measures the rise in temperature θ of the water in 100 s using two different values of voltage.

The student wrote:

'When the voltage was set at 6.0 V, the rise in temperature of the water in 100 s was 14.5°C. The voltmeter reading decreased by about 0.2 V during the experiment, and so the final voltmeter reading was 5.8 V. 'The reading fluctuated from time to time by about 0.2 V. The smallest scale division on the thermometer was 1°C, but I could read it to 0.5°C. I did not have time to repeat the reading.

'When the voltage was set at 12.0 V, the rise in temperature in 100 s was 51.0°C and the voltage was almost the same at the end, but fluctuated by about 0.2 V ''

(b) It is suggested that θ is related to V according to the formula θ=kV2, where k is a constant.

(iii) Explain whether the results support the suggested relationship.