Required practicals practice paper: Methods, variables, graphs and evaluation — question paper

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. 1

   In the specific-heat-capacity practical, a joulemeter measures

   1. Athe current only
   2. Bthe temperature
   3. Cthe energy supplied
   4. Dthe resistance
   ( )
2. 2

   In the thermal-insulation practical, the best insulator is the material giving

   1. Athe largest temperature drop
   2. Bthe smallest temperature drop
   3. Cthe highest starting temperature
   4. Dthe thickest wrapping
   ( )
3. 3

   For the resistance-of-a-wire practical you should plot

   1. Aresistance against length
   2. Blength against resistance
   3. Cvoltage against current for a lamp
   4. Dcurrent against time
   ( )
4. 4

   The current–voltage graph of a filament lamp

   1. Ais a straight line through the origin
   2. Bsteepens as voltage rises
   3. Clevels off as the gradient falls at higher voltage
   4. Dis a horizontal line
   ( )
5. 5

   To find the volume of an irregular object for a density measurement you should

   1. Aweigh it twice
   2. Bmeasure its sides
   3. Cheat it gently
   4. Ddrop it into water and measure the displaced volume
   ( )
6. 6

   On a force–extension graph, the spring constant is found from

   1. Athe area under the line
   2. Bthe y-intercept
   3. Cthe gradient of the straight region
   4. Dthe x-intercept
   ( )
7. 7

   In the acceleration practical, the resultant force on the trolley is provided by

   1. Athe trolley’s motor
   2. Bfriction from the bench
   3. Cthe push of a hand
   4. Dthe weight of the hanging masses
   ( )
8. 8

   To measure the wavelength of water waves in a ripple tank you should

   1. Atime one wave with a stopwatch
   2. Bfreeze or photograph the pattern and measure across several waves with a ruler
   3. Ccount the waves by eye in one second
   4. Dmeasure the depth of the water
   ( )
9. 9

   In the light practical, a ray entering a glass block bends

   1. Atowards the normal
   2. Baway from the normal
   3. Cin a circle
   4. Dnot at all
   ( )
10. 10

    In the infrared practical, the radiation emitted by a surface depends on

    1. Athe material of the container only
    2. Bthe temperature and nature of the surface
    3. Cthe volume of the container
    4. Dthe room lighting
    ( )

Section B: Structured questions[50 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

1. 11

   This question is about the specific-heat-capacity practical. A student heats a 0.50 kg metal block with an electric heater and measures the temperature rise.

   1. (a)

      Describe how the student should carry out the investigation.

      [3]
   2. (b)

      State the dependent variable and one control variable.

      [2]
   3. (c)

      The heater works at 10 V, draws 3.0 A, and runs for 5.0 minutes. The block’s temperature rises by 20 °C. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal.

      [3]
   4. (d)

      The student’s value is higher than the accepted value. Explain the main systematic error and one improvement.

      [2]
2. 12

   This question is about the resistance-of-a-wire practical. A student measures the resistance of different lengths of wire.

   1. (a)

      Describe a suitable method.

      [3]
   2. (b)

      State one quantity to control and explain why.

      [2]
   3. (c)

      The results show R = 3.2 Ω at a length of 0.80 m. Calculate the resistance per metre.

      [2]
   4. (d)

      The plotted graph does not pass through the origin. Give one likely cause and one improvement.

      [3]
3. 13

   This question is about the density practical.

   1. (a)

      Describe how to find the volume of a regular metal cube accurately.

      [2]
   2. (b)

      Describe how to find the volume of a small irregular stone.

      [2]
   3. (c)

      A metal object has mass 0.24 kg and volume 30 cm³. Calculate its density in g/cm³ and kg/m³.

      [3]
   4. (d)

      The stone is still wet when weighed. Explain the effect on the calculated density.

      [3]
4. 14

   This question is about the force-and-extension practical.

   1. (a)

      Describe the measurements to take when hanging loads on a spring.

      [2]
   2. (b)

      A 4.0 N load stretches the spring 0.080 m. Calculate the spring constant.

      [2]
   3. (c)

      Calculate the energy stored in the spring at this extension.

      [2]
   4. (d)

      Describe what the graph shows when the spring passes its limit of proportionality.

      [2]
   5. (e)

      State one safety precaution and one way to improve the accuracy of the readings.

      [2]
5. 15

   This question is about the wave, light and infrared practicals.

   1. (a)

      In a ripple tank, a student measures a frequency of 6.0 Hz and a wavelength of 2.5 cm. Calculate the wave speed.

      [3]
   2. (b)

      Describe how to investigate refraction using a rectangular glass block.

      [4]
   3. (c)

      Describe how to compare the infrared emitted by different surfaces using a Leslie cube.

      [3]