Physics

Formative Assessment 1
Mr. Alessandro de Lara
11th Year 1 - 2025/2026

Version C

Student Information

Name: Date: Class:

Instructions:

• This assessment consists of 40 multiple-choice questions.

• Each question is worth 1 mark.

• Total time allowed: 1 hour (60 minutes).

• This is an individual activity.

• You are permitted to use a scientific calculator and a clean Physics Data
Booklet.

• Choose the best answer for each question and mark it clearly on the answer
sheet provided at the end.

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 1. What is the result of 2.5 + 1.35 with the correct number of significant figures?

(a) 3.8
(b) 3.9
(c) 3.85
(d) 4.0

2. How many significant figures are in the measurement 0.00250 kg?

(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 4
(d) 5

3. Which of the following is an SI base unit?

(a) Joule
(b) Newton
(c) Second
(d) Watt

4. Convert 500 g to kilograms.

(a) 0.05 kg
(b) 0.5 kg
(c) 5 kg
(d) 50 kg

5. What is the prefix for 10−3 ?

(a) Kilo
(b) Centi
(c) Milli
(d) Micro

6. Express 15000 m in scientific notation with three significant figures.

(a) 1.5 × 104 m

(b) 1.50 × 104 m
(c) 1.500 × 104 m
(d) 15 × 103 m

7. Round 12.345 s to two significant figures.

(a) 12 s
(b) 12.3 s
(c) 12.35 s
(d) 12.34 s

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 8. A systematic error typically affects the:

(a) Precision of measurements

(b) Randomness of results
(c) Accuracy of measurements
(d) Number of significant figures

9. What is the SI unit for electric current?

(a) Volt
(b) Ohm
(c) Ampere
(d) Watt

10. Convert 2.5 meters to centimeters.

(a) 0.025 cm
(b) 25 cm
(c) 250 cm
(d) 2500 cm

11. A student measures the length of a desk multiple times and gets values that are all very
close to each other, but consistently different from the known true length. This indicates:

(a) High accuracy, low precision

(b) Low accuracy, high precision
(c) High accuracy, high precision
(d) Low accuracy, low precision

12. Calculate (4.0 × 103 ) × (2.5 × 10−1 ) with the correct number of significant figures.

(a) 1.0 × 103

(b) 1.00 × 103
(c) 1000
(d) 1 × 103

13. The speed of light is approximately 3.0 × 108 m/s. How many kilometers per second is
this?

(a) 3.0 × 105 km/s

(b) 3.0 × 106 km/s
(c) 3.0 × 1011 km/s
(d) 3.0 × 1014 km/s

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 14. A derived unit for force is the Newton (N). Which of the following expresses the Newton
in terms of SI base units? (Hint: Force is mass times acceleration)

(a) kg · m · s−1
(b) kg · m2 · s−2
(c) kg · m · s−2
(d) kg · m−1 · s−2

15. When adding 12.3 m and 4.567 m, what is the sum with the correct number of significant
figures?

(a) 16.867 m
(b) 16.87 m
(c) 16.9 m
(d) 17 m

16. A measurement is recorded using an analogue instrument as 2.45 cm. If the measuring
instrument has a precision of ±0.01 cm, what is the absolute uncertainty?

(a) ±0.005 cm
(b) ±0.01 cm
(c) ±0.02 cm
(d) ±0.05 cm

17. Stating that π ≈ 3.14 for a calculation is an example of:

(a) An exact measurement

(b) An estimation
(c) An approximation
(d) A random error

18. A student consistently reads a voltmeter from an angle, leading to readings that are always
slightly higher than the true value. This is an example of a:

(a) Random error

(b) Systematic error
(c) Human mistake
(d) Reading uncertainty

19. The volume of a cube is 125 cm3 . If each side is measured to 2 significant figures, how
should the volume be reported?

(a) 1.2 × 102 cm3

(b) 1.3 × 102 cm3
(c) 1.25 × 102 cm3
(d) 1.250 × 102 cm3

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 20. Calculate (7.0 × 105 ) − (3.0 × 104 ) with the correct number of significant figures.

(a) 6.7 × 105

(b) 6.70 × 105
(c) 4.0 × 105
(d) 4.00 × 105

21. When might you primarily rely on an estimation rather than an exact measurement?

(a) When calibrating a scientific instrument.

(b) When determining the precise mass of a chemical reactant.
(c) When quickly judging if a large object will fit through a doorway.
(d) When calculating the exact trajectory of a projectile.

22. Four students measure the mass of a 10.00 g standard weight. Which set of measurements
shows high precision?

(a) 9.50 g, 10.50 g, 10.00 g

(b) 9.98 g, 10.01 g, 9.99 g
(c) 10.00 g, 10.00 g, 10.00 g
(d) 10.20 g, 10.25 g, 10.30 g

23. The area of a rectangle is calculated from length L = 5.0 cm and width W = 2.00 cm.
What is the area with the correct number of significant figures?

(a) 10 cm2
(b) 10.0 cm2
(c) 1.0 × 101 cm2
(d) 1.00 × 101 cm2

24. Four students measure the mass of a 10.00 g standard weight. Which set of measurements
shows high accuracy?

(a) 9.50 g, 10.50 g, 10.00 g

(b) 9.98 g, 10.01 g, 9.99 g
(c) 10.20 g, 10.25 g, 10.30 g
(d) 9.00 g, 9.01 g, 9.02 g

25. Which of the following prefixes represents 106 ?

(a) Giga
(b) Kilo
(c) Mega
(d) Micro

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 26. A pendulum’s length is measured as L = 0.95±0.01 m. What is the percentage uncertainty
in L?

(a) 0.01%
(b) 0.95%
(c) 1.05%
(d) 1%

27. The volume of a sphere is given by V = 43 πr3 . If the radius r is measured with a percentage
uncertainty of 2%, what is the percentage uncertainty in the volume V ?

(a) 2%
(b) 4%
(c) 6%
(d) 8%

28. A current of I = 2.5 A flows through a resistor with resistance R = 10.0 Ω. The power
dissipated is P = I 2 R. If the uncertainty in I is 0.1 A and in R is 0.2 Ω, what is the
percentage uncertainty in P ?

(a) 4%
(b) 5%
(c) 6%
(d) 10%

29. A student measures the mass of an object as m = 12.34 g and its volume as V = 5.6 cm3 .
Calculate the density (ρ = m/V ) with the correct number of significant figures.

(a) 2.2 g/cm3

(b) 2.20 g/cm3
(c) 2.204 g/cm3
(d) 2.2036 g/cm3

30. Which of the following statements about errors and uncertainties is correct?

(a) Random errors can be completely eliminated by careful experimental design.

(b) Systematic errors primarily affect the precision of measurements.
(c) Uncertainty quantifies the range within which the true value is likely to lie.
(d) Errors are always mistakes made by the experimenter.

31. A car travels a distance of 125.0 ± 0.5 m in a time of 5.0 ± 0.1 s. Calculate its average
speed, v = distance
time , and its absolute uncertainty.

(a) 25.0 ± 0.5 m/s

(b) 25.0 ± 0.6 m/s
(c) 25.0 ± 0.7 m/s
(d) 25.0 ± 0.8 m/s

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 q
L
32. The period of a simple pendulum is given by T = 2π g. If L = 1.00 ± 0.02 m and
2
g = 9.8 ± 0.1 m/s , calculate the absolute uncertainty in the period T .

(a) ±0.01 s
(b) ±0.02 s
(c) ±0.03 s
(d) ±0.04 s

33. An object has an initial velocity of u = 2.0 ± 0.1 m/s and accelerates at a = 0.5 ± 0.1 m/s2
for a time t = 4.0 ± 0.2 s. Calculate the final velocity v = u + at and its absolute
uncertainty.

(a) 4.0 ± 0.2 m/s

(b) 4.0 ± 0.3 m/s
(c) 4.0 ± 0.4 m/s
(d) 4.0 ± 0.5 m/s

34. A student measures the diameter of a wire using a micrometer, obtaining d = 0.50 ±
0.01 mm. The length of the wire is L = 1.00 ± 0.01 m. Calculate the cross-sectional area
A = π( d2 )2 of the wire in m2 and its percentage uncertainty.

(a) 1.96 × 10−7 m2 , 2%

(b) 1.96 × 10−7 m2 , 4%
(c) 7.85 × 10−8 m2 , 2%
(d) 7.85 × 10−8 m2 , 4%

35. A measurement of voltage is V = 12.0 ± 0.2 V and current is I = 2.0 ± 0.1 A. Calculate
the resistance R = V /I and its absolute uncertainty.

(a) 6.0 ± 0.2 Ω

(b) 6.0 ± 0.3 Ω
(c) 6.0 ± 0.4 Ω
(d) 6.0 ± 0.5 Ω

36. (19M.1.SL.TZ1.1) A student wants to determine the angular speed ω of a rotating object.
The period T is 0.50 s ± 5%. The angular speed ω is given by the equation: ω = 2π T .
What is the percentage uncertainty of ω?

(a) 0.2%
(b) 2.5%
(c) 5%
(d) 10%

37. (22N.1.SL.TZ0.1) A rectangular sheet of paper has dimensions of (30.0 ± 0.5) cm and
(20.0 ± 0.5) cm. What is the percentage uncertainty of the perimeter of the paper?

(a) 1%
(b) 2%
(c) 2.5%
(d) 4%

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 38. (22M.1.SL.TZ2.1) The radius of a circle is measured to be (10.0 ± 0.5) cm. What is the
area of the circle?

(a) (314.2 ± 0.3) cm2

(b) (314 ± 1) cm2
(c) (314 ± 15) cm2
(d) (314 ± 31) cm2

39. (21N.1.SL.TZ0.2) A ball of mass (50 ± 1) g is moving with a speed of (25 ± 1) m · s−1 .
What is the fractional uncertainty in the momentum of the ball? (Hint: Momentum is
mass times velocity)

(a) 0.02
(b) 0.04
(c) 0.06
(d) 0.08

40. (23M.1.SL.TZ1.X) A set of five measurements for the period of a pendulum are recorded
as: 1.52 s, 1.55 s, 1.53 s, 1.52 s, 1.80 s. What is the most appropriate measure of central
tendency to represent this data, and what is its value?

(a) Mean, 1.52 s

(b) Median, 1.53 s
(c) Mode, 1.52 s
(d) Mean, 1.56 s

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Assessment Rubric: Physics DP Year 1
This rubric outlines the criteria for evaluating your performance on Formative Assessment 1.
Each question is worth 1 mark.

Category Criteria for Full Mark (1 Point)

SI Units, De- Correctly identifies SI base units, understands derived units in terms
rived Units, of base units (e.g., Newton), and accurately converts between units
Prefixes using prefixes (e.g., kilo, milli, mega).
Significant Fig- Applies rules for significant figures correctly in direct measure-
ures ments (counting significant figures) and in calculations (addi-
tion/subtraction, multiplication/division, powers).
Scientific Nota- Accurately converts numbers to and from scientific notation, and per-
tion forms calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
involving scientific notation with correct handling of exponents and
significant figures.
Experimental Demonstrates understanding of the definitions and characteristics of
Uncertainties random and systematic errors, and their impact on accuracy and pre-
(Errors) cision. Correctly identifies examples of each type of error.
Precision, Ac- Clearly differentiates between precision and accuracy. Understands
curacy, Estima- when estimation and approximation are appropriate and can identify
tion, Approxi- examples.
mation
Propagation of Applies the correct rules for propagating absolute and frac-
Uncertainties tional/percentage uncertainties through various mathematical oper-
ations (addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, powers/roots)
as outlined in the Physics Data Booklet.

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 Answer Sheet

Name: Date: Class:

1. (A) (B) (C) (D) 28. (A) (B) (C) (D)

2. (A) (B) (C) (D) 29. (A) (B) (C) (D)

3. (A) (B) (C) (D) 30. (A) (B) (C) (D)

4. (A) (B) (C) (D) 31. (A) (B) (C) (D)

5. (A) (B) (C) (D) 32. (A) (B) (C) (D)

6. (A) (B) (C) (D) 33. (A) (B) (C) (D)

7. (A) (B) (C) (D) 34. (A) (B) (C) (D)

8. (A) (B) (C) (D) 35. (A) (B) (C) (D)

9. (A) (B) (C) (D) 36. (A) (B) (C) (D)

10. (A) (B) (C) (D) 37. (A) (B) (C) (D)

11. (A) (B) (C) (D) 38. (A) (B) (C) (D)

12. (A) (B) (C) (D) 39. (A) (B) (C) (D)

13. (A) (B) (C) (D) 40. (A) (B) (C) (D)

14. (A) (B) (C) (D)

15. (A) (B) (C) (D)

16. (A) (B) (C) (D)

17. (A) (B) (C) (D)

18. (A) (B) (C) (D)

19. (A) (B) (C) (D)

20. (A) (B) (C) (D)

21. (A) (B) (C) (D)

22. (A) (B) (C) (D)

23. (A) (B) (C) (D)

24. (A) (B) (C) (D)

25. (A) (B) (C) (D)

26. (A) (B) (C) (D)

27. (A) (B) (C) (D)

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