Physics Required Practicals Flashcards
Resistance v Length of a wire (ext - resistance v thickness of wire)
Independent Variable: Length of wire (Thickness of
wire)
Range: 1cm - 100cm
Dependent Variable: Resistance of wire
How it was measured: Resistance was found from R=V/I
Control Variable: Voltage
Additional Facts: Length - The longer the wire the
higher resistance (length is directly
proportional)
Thickness - The thicker the wire the
lower the resistance (Thickness is
inversely proportional)
I-V characteristics (Filament bulb, resistor and a diode)
Independent Variable: Object being powered
Range: Filament Bulb, Resistor & Diode
Dependent Variable: I-V Characteristics
How it was measured: Voltage and current was found
from the circuit and a graph was
made.
Control Variable: Voltage and current
Additional Facts: Filament Bulb - (Ohmic conductor
when temperature is constant)
Resistor - Higher the voltage higher
the current (directly proportional)
(Ohmic conductor)
Diode - Higher the voltage the higher
the current but when 0.6V is reached
current shoots up.
Specific Heat Capacity
Independent Variable: Material
Range: N/A
Dependent Variable: Specific Heat Capacity
How it was measured: Plot a graph of temperature
against energy transferred and
find gradient of line.
Control Variable: Thermometer, Voltage
Additional Facts: Energy will be lost to the environment
meaning more energy is needed which
results in less accurate results.
Thermal insulation
Independent Variable: Insulators
Range: N/A
Dependent Variable: Temperature change
How it was measured: degrees C
Control Variable: Volume of water, beaker, lid, start
temp, time.
Additional Facts: A data logger can be used instead of
a thermometer because it has a
greater resolution and can measure
smaller intervals.
Density of solids
Independent Variable: Solid and how volume is
measured
Range: N/A
Dependent Variable: Density
How it was measured: density = mass/volume
Control Variable: Volume of water
Additional Facts: To find the volume of water in an
irregular object you need to displace
water and calculate the volume from
final volume - initial volume
Force and extension of a spring
Independent Variable: Mass/Force
Range: 0g - 800g or 0N - 8N
Dependent Variable: F/E
How it was measured: Force divided by extension
Control Variable: Spring, starting position of spring, ruler
Additional Facts: The spring over stretches after 8N
Force and acceleration
Independent Variable: Mass/Force
Range: 0g - 500g or 0N - 5N
Dependent Variable: Force/Acceleration
How it was measured: F/A
Control Variable: Trolley, start position, distance to
travel, friction
Additional Facts: To measure velocity from ticker tape,
measure the length and then find the
time by doing number of dots/50.
Then do velocity = distance/time
Waves in a ripple tank
Independent Variable: frequency
Range:
Dependent Variable: Wave speed
How it was measured: frequency x wavelength
Control Variable: water tank, water, ruler
Additional Facts:
Waves in a stretched spring
Independent Variable: frequency Range: Dependent Variable: wave speed How it was measured: frequency x wave length Control Variable: weight, ruler Additional Facts:
Emission of infra-red radiation by different surfaces
Independent Variable: Surface
Range: Matt black, gloss black, matt white, gloss white/silver
Dependent Variable: Amount of heat emitted
How it was measured: Thermopile
Control Variable: Temperature of water inside, distance of themopile form surface
Additional Facts:
Reflection and refraction of light
Independent Variable: Angle of Incidence
Range: 0 - 180 degrees
Dependent Variable: Angle of reflection (to see if it is the same as the angle of incidence)
How it was measured: Protractor
Control Variable: position of the mirror, light intensity
Additional Facts:
