Physics practical tips

[FRENZYAMU]

isnt all of this cheating.... there is such a thing as fair play too

 

[mnk2a2]

One major confusion am dealing with in P3 is if in the question paper the values are given in 'cm' should we continue the rest of the calculations and draw the graph by converting the values into 'm' or leave it to 'cm'?

 

[sam1234]

limitations and suggestions for moments:

-two readings not enough to draw conclusion
-difficult to balance WITH REASON (eg.g. unstable becoz of afans/draughts)
-difficult to judge when wooden strip horizontal/parallel(to bench)
-difficult of keeping x constant/weights move
-difficult to measure angle BECAUSE hard to judge vertical/movement of hand
-friction betwwn nail and strip
-mass (values) not accurate

suggestions
-take more readings AND plot a graph AND compare k values
-switch off fans/close windows
-METHOD of ensuring strip horizontal/parallel to bench (e.g. DETAILED use of set square)
-METHOD of fixing constant to rule(e.g. tape, glue)
-use clamped ruler/clamped protractor
-use lubricant/method of reducing friction
-use balance/method of weighing masses

these are a few for moments from past papers.. hope this helps!

Do you have more limitations and suggestions for other topics aswell? if so please help. thanks

 

[SexyFag]

Guys on a multimeter there are usually three input holes and two connectors, to which holes do we put it in?
Also, TO what do we turn the thing in the middle to read ? Like 200mA and voltage and whatnot, an explnaation if possible

 

[Gimmick]

One major confusion am dealing with in P3 is if in the question paper the values are given in 'cm' should we continue the rest of the calculations and draw the graph by converting the values into 'm' or leave it to 'cm'?

That depends on the question. If the answer line at the end says something like "cm s^-1" then best leave it at centimetres; if it's "m s^-1" then convert it.

 

[abruzzi]

http://papers.xtremepapers.com/CIE/Cambridge International A and AS Level/Physics (9702)/9702_w12_qp_31.pdf
Could anyone please tell me why the absolute uncertainty in qn no. 2(a)iii is 2 - 6mm? Isn't it supposed to be 1mm? Since thats the least count of the meter rule..

 

[twisty twinkle]

heyyyyyyyy pls pls tell me na now if 0.01cm is the zero error in the vernier doeesn dat mean the whole reading taken in the vernier is in cm
and dat of micrometer in mm

 

[dennis grinsby]

Okay firstly, DO NOT write about reaction time, repeat readings, micrometer, or parallax because examiners will not give marks for these errors.

Here's a link that might help you for practicals:
http://mypages.iit.edu/~rcoleman/apmanual.html

Oscillations

* Perform 3 sets of measurements for each different oscillation, (you will get more marks if you do 2 sets of repeats).
* Measure at least 30 periods in total.
* Preferably make each measurement 20 periods long.
* Precaution: minimize oscillations in any other plane other than the one being observed
* Always write times to two d.p., never to the nearest second.
* Precaution: do small amplitude oscillations
* Precaution: say that you did several periods at once to minimize reaction time errors.
Moments

* Precaution: balance the ruler being used first.
* Use distances from the pivot of greater than 25 cm (250 mm).
* Weigh the unknown and known masses in your hands before using the ruler, and place the lighter mass as far from the pivot as possible.
* Measure distances from the pivot to the centre of mass of the object.
* All measurements should be to 1 mm accuracy.
* To make sure the rule is balanced, pull each end down. If it comes up again then the rule must have equal moments acting on it on either end.


Density Measurements

* When using a micrometer, one full rotation of the barrel is 0.5 mm (50 on the barrel scale).
* The micrometer reads to 0.01 mm accuracy.
* Vernier calipers can read to 0.05 mm accuracy. However, it is advisable to quote the figure to 0.1 mm accuracy, as this will give a larger uncertainty, which will make comparisons in later parts of the question easier.
* If measuring a very small dimension, measure several "thicknesses" of it. Remember to divide by the number of thicknesses after the measurement!
* Precaution: check the zero error on the micrometer and/or Vernier calipers. Wipe the jaws of the micrometer to remove grease.
* Give answers to 2 or 3 s.f. : it is meaningless to write, for example, "density is 7785.654 kg m-3"!
* Always take at least 3 readings for each measurement, and take an average.
* When measuring string diameters or foil thicknesses (or similar), use a minimum of 10 thicknesses.


Uncertainties

* % Uncertainty =
* When multiplying or dividing quantities, add their % uncertainties together.
* When adding or subtracting quantities, add their absolute errors together, then divide by the result of the addition/subtraction of the measurement, e.g. for , where , and , the absolute errors added = 0.102 mm. Therefore the % uncertainty is:
* If you have to calculate the error in, e.g. , the absolute error in d must be multiplied by pi and then added to the absolute error in x. The percentage uncertainty is this total error divided by the calculated and the result multiplied by 100.
* If a measurement is to be raised to a power, then multiply the % uncertainty in the measurement by the power to get the % uncertainty in the overall term.
* If two values, for say, a density are available, calculate the % difference between them. If a value is given by the examiner, then use this as the "correct" value, and calculate the % difference the following way: where x is your measured value, and c is the examiner's value. If you have obtained two values, then the expression changes: where x1 and x2 are your measured values, and is the median of the two, (not necessarily the mean!).
* Compare the % difference with your % uncertainty. Any relationship suggested, such as that the two densities should be equal, can be considered correct if your % difference is less than your % uncertainty. This will gain you marks!
* If your % uncertainties look small, check that you have multiplied by 100!

Electrical Experiments

* With capacitor discharges, either take readings every 5 seconds for the first part of the discharge, or I think that every 10 seconds is sufficient.
* If a range is specified over which you should take measurements, do not exceed it: you will be penalised.
* With an analogue ammeter, use the top scale. This reads (generally), from 20, to 0, to 10. These are in fact divisions of 10 m A, and the meter actually reads from -20 to 100 m A. If you are out by a factor of 10, (e.g. you get a calculated cell voltage of 0.15 V), check that you have read the meter correctly. Always remember that the polarity on the meter must be correct.
* Any small discrepancy in your results can be explained by "electrical resistance at the contacts in the circuit".
* With most electrical experiment where a curve will be obtained (e.g. the V/I characteristic of a diode), 9 points on a smooth curve are sufficient.

Graphs

* With any graph, a minimum of 6 to 8 points are needed, and you must have at least 4 points on a curve.
* When measuring the gradient of a graph, carry your tangent on to the sides of the graph paper, however big your graph. The triangle you use should be greater than 10 cm in length and height, although in some mark schemes 100 cm2 is fine.
* Your graph does not have to go through the origin. If the data does not indicate that it does so, do not force it to. Comment on the fact that there must have been a systematic error.
* When choosing values to read of a graph, it is better to take them from the middle part of the curve, as this is where you will have more points per change in y co-ordinate.
* When describing your "plan" in Experiment C, state that the graph you plot will be a straight line through the origin (if this is the case!), of gradient = to an expression which will help you confirm the relationship suggested by the examiner.
* Turning points on graphs require at least 4 points.
* If points near the origin deviate substantially from your line of best fit, point out that for small measurements there is a greater uncertainty.

Experiments Involving Temperature

* Readings should be accurate to fractions of a degree.
* Stir any liquid being heated.
* Insulate the apparatus if possible.
* The thermometer should not be touching the sides of the container it is in, and should be in the middle of the liquid you are measuring the temperature of.
* Precaution: read the thermometer at eye level to avoid parallax error.
* The bulb of the thermometer should be completely submerged.
* Comment on the result obtained being the right order of magnitude.

Thanks to user for this:

*How to use a Vernier Caliper
http://www.animatedscience.co.uk/00-introduction-to-gce-physics

View attachment 11607


* The uncertainty on a vernier caliper is either 0.1 mm or 0.01 cm.
* The smallest value on a newton meter is usually 0.2 N so its uncertainty will be 0.1 N
* One of the age old precaution and improvement in every paper is that 2 values or reading are not sufficient for a conclusion. Its improvement will be take a set of readings and plot a graph.
* When ever you're given two values of k and asked if the relation is proportional, if the difference is within 10% then it is proportional.

Hope that helps.
Will be posting more tips ASAP.

guys do u have any limitations and improvement when performing oscillations?

 

[sodiumchloride]

how to measure uncertainty?

 

[Gimmick]

how to measure uncertainty?

http://www2.fiu.edu/~dbrookes/ExperimentalUncertaintiesCalculus.pdf

 

[Atiqa asl]

iss there a ecf for otheres questions after the gradient as my gradient is wrong

 

[Alicee]

iss there a ecf for otheres questions after the gradient as my gradient is wrong

yep dere is..dnt wrry

 

[sandwich147]

Hi everyone. Just want to ask anyone knows what will come out for paper 34 on this 30th? Need helppp, I'm really bad at practical

 

[sara kamal]

guys please let me know wat do they mean when they ask"justify the number of significant figures you have given to write a certain value to record that value as accurately as possible"???I just wanna ask hw do we answer such questions,wats the correct format?

 

[TheBeast]

hey fellas, when drawing a graph, can u plot points on the axis? and can u draw the graph in landscape?

 

[Sughontha]

what are the terminals in the battery box?will it be marked +/- ?

 

[sandwich147]

Okay guys.
Physics 33 Tomorrow will have an electricity experiment. And another simple one.
The electricity one will consist of -Variable Resistor, switch, battery, a sample wire, connecting wires, an ammeter and voltmeter. You`d have to measure the V & I after setting the apparatus after changing placing of the rheostat on the variable and most probably make a graph.
The second one has a clamp stand, a banta ( I dunno whats that called in english ). stopwatch. And you need to slide down a ball from a certain height, note the time. I may have missed out on something, so apologies.
Note : These are not the confirm experiments. However these instruments are confirmed, and probably the experiments will be somewhat the same as above. Don`t ask about the validity, for sure these will be there tomorrow.

Hi, do you know what will come out in paper 34 too?

 

[khoshi]

I m having Problems Understanding the diagram and Making the circuits can anyone help me

 

[bital]

i

Electricity is coming for 31.

zahraahmed then cal your teacher and tell there's something wrong. Trust me she'll help you and the invigilator won't mind, provided you don't ask her how to set up the whole thing or any answer.

if we even ask them to setup whole apparatus its just one mark for help and save us alooot of time!

 

[urvi kapoor]

Electricity is coming for 31.

zahraahmed then cal your teacher and tell there's something wrong. Trust me she'll help you and the invigilator won't mind, provided you don't ask her how to set up the whole thing or any answer.

What is coming for p34? Anybody any clue?