Past Paper Questions

Question 1

Identify three potential errors you could have made that could affect your results. (A question asked after the prac)

Answer 1

Any valid answers you believe are correct are correct, below are some examples: (ensure you have memorized three)
- Throwing it down instead of dropping it.
- Looking at inches instead of centimetres.
-The person dropping the ball may not consistently drop it from the same height each time.
-The person measuring the bounce height with their eye may not react quickly enough to accurately determine the highest point reached by the ball.
-The observer’s eye might not be directly in line with the ruler, leading to parallax errors in measuring the bounce height.
- The ruler used may not be calibrated accurately, leading to incorrect measurements of the bounce height.

Question 2

Why was it necessary to squat down and be a eye level with the ruler?

Answer 2

Squatting down and being at eye level with the ruler helps reduce parallax errors, ensuring more accurate measurements of the bounce height.

Question 3

What is an appropriate conclusion for this experiment?

Answer 3

In conclusion, by systematically dropping a ball from a height of 100cm and measuring its bounce height at eye level with a ruler, we have gained insights into the relationship between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy, demonstrating principles of conservation of mechanical energy.

or

In conclusion, by consistently dropping 3 different balls at 100cm and measuring its rebound height at eye level with the ruler, we have discovered the elationship between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy, demonstrating principles of conservation of mechanical energy.

Question 4

A. When the ball is at 100cm, it is what type of energy?

B. What energy is it then converted to once the ball is dropped?

Answer 4

[A] The ball when at 100cm is an example of Gravitational Potential Energy. [B] Once dropped it is converted to kinetic energy.