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AS Phys Prac Errors & Improvements

R

RatJumper

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Guys we all know how frustrating those errors and improvements can be on the last page of a physics prac lol
Have you guys got any tips or certain things to remember when writing down these errors and improvements? I've looked at a lot of past paper questions and there seems to be a variety of different things in each practical that you can write, but the thing is, i would have never thought about some of those in an exam. So if you have anything that would help please share!

Thankx :)
 
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tweez11

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okay,so here it goes..
Its better always to first check the mark scheme,it'll help but since you face difficulty still then...
Whenever have such an experimemt of using a (metre)rule for measuring a distance, say,of a string of the pendulum or of sumthing else placed vertical,the error would you write will be the "parallelex error" where there are chances to view the reading from the top or bottom,so the improvement is always "eyes shud be in the level of reading"..and always try to write the improvement of the same point as that of the error one!

If,there is question in which you only have to take the readings two times and not to make a table of many repeated readings,and thus no graph plotting(which usually comes in questions),so the error must be,"two readings only aren't enuf to draw conclusion" and therfore the improvement you say is "repeat it many times,plot a graph and find k constant"

And,suppose,usually in oscillation, where there is a use of pendulum,(or in any other type of qs where there is a movement lyk this)the error is.. difficulty in timing the the no. of swings it oscillates since it moves very fast,
improvement:...to use a motion sensor or a light gate used at the centre with the timer or a high speed camera to show slow motion.

Whatever the practical,try to think while you are performing, what error in this point is lykly to occur and what else i shud need/do so that the reading is more accurate...just remember this while you are doing and then write these down...but you shud be aware of what type of limitations/improvements to include in that specific practical question!
 
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