REQUIRED PRACTICALS

Question 1

RP1 - motion method

Answer 1

• mark a starting/finish line using tape
• measure distance round track using trundle wheel
• start stopwatch when runner leave, stop when crosses
• have three different people time to find mean
• calculate average using speed = distance/time

Question 2

ticker tape

Answer 2

• 50 dots in a second
• speed = distance/time

Question 3

RP2 - hookes law

Answer 3

• measure initial length of spring using set square and a ruler
• hang 10N mass and measure extended length
• calculate extension
• repeat using increasing mass of 10N each time
• plot a graph of extension against load to see if it creates a straight line through the origin meaning it obeys hooke’s law

Question 4

RP3 - electrostatics

Answer 4

• charge polythene rod by rubbing it with cloth
• hang from clamp using strong so it can swing
• charge a second polythene rod with cloth
• hold it near hanging rod - repel since the same
• do the same with acetate rod - attract as different charge

Question 5

RP4 - critical angle

Answer 5

if angle of incidence is SMALLER than critical angle it will reflect out
if angle of incidence is GREATER, it will undergo TIR

Question 6

RP5 - refractive index

Answer 6

• place rectangular block on piece of paper and draw round it
• shine a light from ray box through it
• trace pathway of ray
• remove block and draw in normal with protractor
• measure incidence and refracted angle
• calculate sin i/sin r or plot a graph and gradient is RI

Question 7

RP6 - speed of sound in air

Answer 7

• measure 100m using a trundle wheel
• at one end, having someone make loud noice by hitting sticks together
• at other end have other person start stopwatch from when they hear the sound to when they see it
• repeat 5 times and find mean
• calculate by using speed = distance/time

Question 8

RP7 - frequency of sound

Answer 8

• connect microphone to the CRO (oscilloscope) using the leads
• create a steady sound using a speaker
• adjust time base so one complete wave is on screen
• count number of divisions for one complete wave
• calculate the time period by divisions x time base
• calculate frequency by using f = 1/T

Question 9

RP8 - thermal energy transfer (conduction)

Answer 9

• Bunsen burner heats up end of rod
• particles at hot end vibrate more
• wax melts and paper clips fall from 4 - 1

Question 10

RP9 - density

Answer 10

• measure mass using balance
• fill a measuring cylinder halfway with water
• record initial volume from eye leaves at meniscus
• lower rock into measuring - cylinder and measure final volume
• take initial away from final
• use equation density = mass/volume

Question 11

RP10 - specific heat capacity

Answer 11

• measure mass of block using a balance
• measure initial temp of block using thermometer
• record current and voltage supplied to the heater
• heat to 20 degrees
• turn off heater and start stopwatch
• record highest temp of block
• calculate temp change
• calculate energy supplied to block by using E = IVt
• calculate specific heat capacity by c = energy supplied/mass x change in T

Question 12

RP11 - magnetic fields (iron fillings)

Answer 12

• place magnet under paper
• sprinkle iron fillings evenly around paper
• tap to get filings to line up to show field

Question 13

RP12 - radiation (background count)

Answer 13

• remove any sources from near the GM tube
• turn on counter and record for 10 minutes
• calculate the counts per second

Question 14

RP 13 - IV graphs

Answer 14

• vary the voltage across component using variable resistor
• record voltage across component
• record current through component
• repeat and find means
  plot graph of current against voltage

Question 15

RP14 - changes of state

Answer 15

• remove test tube of stearic acid from hot water bath
• place test tube into a beaker of warm water
• record the initial temp of stearic acid
• start stopwatch and record the temperature of the stearic acid every minute until it falls to 50 degrees
• plot graph of temp against time