Exam Questions (Redos, Techniques, Facts) Flashcards
Questions wrong from question packs that need repeating
In an experiment which involved measuring time, a student used a stopwatch - describe how different apparatus could be used to measure the time so that the % uncertainty is reduced
Either use a light gate and data logger for a more accurate determination of time
Or a video camera which can be analysed frame by frame
Describe one safety precaution when carrying out the speed of stationary wave on string practical
Wear suitable footwear (to protect from falling masses)
Wear safety glasses (in case teh string breaks)
When using a micrometer, give 1 technique for measuring stuff well
Look at the micrometer from different orientations along the wire
As the wire diameter may not be uniform
OR
Check for 0 error
As zero error reduces the accuracy of measurement
When describing how a vibrating string causes pressure variations in the air: how do you describe how the molecules oscillate?
Molecules are displaced from equilibrium positions
Never say antibodies have larger amplitude (when describing standing waves) instead say ____amplitude
Maximum
Explain why waves need to be coherent to produce a standing wave
Coherent means the waves have a constant phase relationship
If the relationship is not constant, a point could be sometimes constructive and sometimes destructive
If the number of slits per mm in the diffraction grating increases, does d increase or decrease?
d = the slit separation
So it decreases
REMEMBER WHAT when writing your final answer
Units
What do you do to ensure accuracy of an experiment (increasing the likelihood of accuracy)
Decrease % uncertainty
(By increasing measumrent size or increasing resolution)
Things with longer ___ diffract more
Wavelengths
What is the unit of sin theta - how should you write the units for sin theta?
Sin (theta/little zero for degrees)
How can you check whether a diffraction grating with a certain spacing is appropriate to measure d sin theta = n lambda?
There should be a significant difference in the angles for each of the maximas
- diffraction occurs when light is reflected from the CD surface
- each ring on the CD acts as a diffraction centre scattering light in all directions
- interference occurs
- in directions in which there is a phase difference equal to an even multiply of pi radians (or a who,e number of wavelengths) there is constructive interference
- white light is a range of wavelengths
- each wavelength of light reinforces in a different direction which explains why a spectrum is seen
Criticise these results
Inconsistent number of decimal places for resistance (resistance should be to 3dp)
Inconsistent intervals in temperature (large jump in temperature from 38 to 55)
Should you include units for calculations of gradients?
Yes
Give 3 things you could do to improve the accuracy of measumrents of your (y intercept) or (gradient)?
(Things in brackets would be replaced with the specific context of the question)
- take a measurement at 0 (with units) to measure (y intercept) accurately
- take (resistance) measurements for smaller increments (of temperature) - to improve accuracy of gradient
- use a digital (thermometer) - to avoid parallax error
- take (resistance) measurements for a wider range of (temperatures) - wider range of independent variable - to improve the accuracy of the gradient
What two errors should you be careful to avoid when using a micrometer or vernier calliper/two ways of making the experiment more accurate
- check for zero error
- take readings in different orientations/positions
Describe how a student can accurately determine the radius of the first bring ring/distance to maxima point of a diffraction pattern
- use vernier callipers
- measure the diameter of teh first ring and divide by 2 (or distance from first order maxima on left to maxima on right and divide by 2)
- measure in multiple orientations and calculate the mean
- measure to the middle/brightest part of the ring