BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, AJMAN
Practical Skills
NAME: _________________________ DATE:
SUBJECT: Physics GRADE & SECTION: 11 B/G
1. In this experiment, you will investigate an electrical circuit.
(a) • Place the 10 Ω resistor in component holder P.
• Place the 22 Ω resistor in component holder Q.
• Set up the circuit shown in Fig. 1.1.
• K and L are crocodile clips.
The resistor in component holder Q has resistance R.
Place L approximately half-way along the wire.
• The distance between K and L is d, as shown in Fig. 1.1.
Record R and d.
R = ...............................................................
d = ...............................................................
• Close the switch.
• Record the voltmeter reading V.
V = ...............................................................
• Open the switch. [1]
(b) • Change the resistor in Q. Do not change the resistor in P.
• Record the new value of R.
R = ...............................................................
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• Close the switch.
• Change the position of L on the wire so that the voltmeter reading is as close as possible
to the value for V in (a).
• Record d.
d = ...............................................................
• Open the switch. [1]
(c) • Write down your value of V from (a).
V = ...............................................................
• Repeat (b) until you have six sets of readings of R and d. Include your readings from (a) and (b).
R
Record your results in a table. Include values of
d in your table.
[10]
R
(d) (i) Plot a graph of on the y-axis against R on the x-axis. [3]
d
(ii) Draw the straight line of best fit. [1]
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(iii) Determine the gradient and y-intercept of this line.
gradient = ...............................................................
y-intercept = ...............................................................
[2]
(e) It is suggested that the quantities R and d are related by the equation
where A and B are constants.
Using your answers in (d)(iii), determine values for A and B.
Give appropriate units.
A = ...............................................................
B = ...............................................................
[2]
[Total: 20]
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2. In this experiment, you will investigate the motion of an interrupted pendulum.
(a) Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2.1.
• Adjust the string in the split cork so that the distance L between the bottom of the split cork and the
centre of the bob is approximately 55 cm.
• Measure and record L.
L = ...............................................................
L
• Calculate
2
L
= ...........................................................[1]
2
(b) (i) • Attach the other boss and clamp and the wooden rod to the stand as shown in Fig. 2.2.
• Adjust the position of the wooden rod so that, when the string is touching the rod, the angle A
between the vertical and the string is approximately 14°, as shown in Fig. 2.2.
• Without changing the length of the pendulum, ensure the distance between the wooden rod and the
L
centre of the bob is .
2
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• Measure and record angle A.
A = ...........................................................[1]
(ii) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value of A.
percentage uncertainty = ...........................................................[1]
(c) (i) • Pull the bob away from the wooden rod so that the angle between the string and the
vertical is 45°, as shown in Fig. 2.3.
• Release the bob. The bob will oscillate and hit the wooden rod.
• Determine the period T of these oscillations.
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T = ...........................................................[2]
(ii) Calculate d where
d = ...........................................................[1]
(iii) Justify the number of significant figures that you have given for your value of d.
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................[1]
(d) • Move the position of the wooden rod so that angle A is approximately 28°.
• Without changing the length of the pendulum, ensure the distance between the wooden
L
rod and the centre of the bob is
2
.
• Measure and record angle A and repeat (c)(i) and (c)(ii).
A = ...............................................................
T = ...............................................................
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d = ...............................................................
[3]
(e) It is suggested that the relationship between T and d is
T = k (d + 1.707)
where k
(i) Using your data, calculate two values of k.
first value of k = ...............................................................
second value of k = ...........................................................[1]
(ii) Explain whether your results support the suggested relationship.
...........................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................[1]
(f) (i) Describe four sources of uncertainty or limitations of the procedure for this experiment.
1. .........................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
2. .........................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
3. .........................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
4. .........................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................[4]
(ii) Describe four improvements that could be made to this experiment. You may suggest the use of
other apparatus or different procedures.
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1. ...........................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................
2. ..........................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
3. ..........................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................
4. ..........................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................
[4]
[Total: 20]
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