Chapter 1 Practice Paper: The Scientific Endeavour — question paper

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Answer all questions. For each question, write the letter (A, B, C or D) of the correct answer in the brackets provided.

1. 1

   Which part of a Bunsen burner controls the amount of air that mixes with the gas?

   1. Abase
   2. Bcollar
   3. Cgas jet
   4. Dbarrel
   ( )
2. 2

   A pencil is measured with a ruler marked in millimetres. Which length is recorded correctly?

   1. A14 cm
   2. B14.2 cm
   3. C14.25 cm
   4. D142 cm
   ( )
3. 3

   Which hazard symbol warns that a substance catches fire easily?

   1. Aa flame
   2. Ba flame over a circle
   3. Can exploding bomb
   4. Da skull and crossbones
   ( )
4. 4

   What is the SI unit of temperature?

   1. Adegree Celsius (°C)
   2. Bjoule (J)
   3. Cdegree Fahrenheit (°F)
   4. Dkelvin (K)
   ( )
5. 5

   When a liquid is heated in a test tube, the mouth of the tube should point

   1. Astraight up at the ceiling.
   2. Btowards yourself, so that you can watch the liquid.
   3. Ctowards the person next to you.
   4. Daway from everyone, with the tube tilted.
   ( )
6. 6

   An electronic balance shows the mass of a beaker of water as 0.25 kg. What is this mass in grams?

   1. A250 g
   2. B25 g
   3. C2.5 g
   4. D2500 g
   ( )
7. 7

   Why should you not touch the barrel of a Bunsen burner during a strike-back?

   1. AIt is covered in a poisonous coating.
   2. BIt can give an electric shock.
   3. CIt becomes very hot and can cause burns.
   4. DIt gives off harmful rays.
   ( )
8. 8

   A parallax error happens when

   1. Athe eye is not level with the mark being read.
   2. Bthe instrument is faulty.
   3. Cthe liquid evaporates during the experiment.
   4. Dthe wrong unit is written down.
   ( )
9. 9

   A student investigates how the area of a paper parachute affects the time it takes to fall. Which must be kept the same?

   1. Athe area of the parachute
   2. Bthe time taken to reach the floor
   3. Cthe mass hanging from the parachute and the drop height
   4. Dthe speed at which it hits the floor
   ( )
10. 10

    A scientist records all her results honestly, including those that do not support her prediction. Which attitude does this show?

    1. Acuriosity
    2. Bcreativity
    3. Cintegrity
    4. Dperseverance
    ( )

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided. Show your working for calculations.

1. 1

   Fig. 1.1 shows part of a measuring cylinder containing water.

   1. (a)

      State the volume of water shown in Fig. 1.1.

      volume =cm³[1]
   2. (b)

      Describe where the student’s eye should be when she reads the volume.

      [1]
   3. (c)

      A small stone is lowered gently into the water. The reading rises to 47 cm³. Calculate the volume of the stone.

      volume of stone =cm³[2]
   4. (d)

      Suggest why the stone is lowered gently instead of being dropped into the cylinder.

      [1]
2. 2

   A student investigates how the mass of salt added to 100 cm³ of water affects the boiling point of the water.

   1. (a)

      Identify the independent variable.

      [1]
   2. (b)

      Identify the dependent variable.

      [1]
   3. (c)

      State two variables that must be kept the same.

      [2]
   4. (d)

      Explain why the student repeats each measurement three times.

      [2]
3. 3

   A Bunsen burner is used for heating in the school laboratory.

   1. (a)

      Name the flame produced when the air hole is fully closed, and explain why it is not used for heating glassware.

      [2]
   2. (b)

      Describe the appearance of the flame when the air hole is fully open, and compare its temperature with the flame in (a).

      [2]
   3. (c)

      State the first thing the student must do if the burner strikes back.

      [1]
4. 4

   A bottle of liquid carries two hazard symbols: a flame, and liquid dripping from test tubes onto a hand and a metal bar.

   1. (a)

      State what each symbol warns about.

      [2]
   2. (b)

      Suggest two precautions the student should take when using this liquid.

      [2]