Practicals ( IDK If They Are Required Or Not )

Question 1

P2 specific heat capacity RP not needed

Answer 1

1. Wrap isukation around base and sides of block
2. Put water into thermometer hole to increase thermal contact
3. Connect power pack to ammeter and ammeter to block, connect volt meter to power pack seperately
4. Turn on power pack and record temperature every 10 mins
   Plot graph of temperature ( x axis ) against work done on the y axis ( energy supplied ). Calculate gradient of the line
5. Specific heat capacity is gradient divided by mass of block.
6. Mass is 1kg so specific heat capacity = inverse gradient

Question 2

P10 force amd extension of a spring RP not needed

Answer 2

1 Attach spring to clamp stand by hanging it off a clamp, allow spring to hang freely
2 Use G-clamp to fasten the clamp stand to the bench.
3 Use the other two clamps to hold ruler vertically, close to but not touching the spring (use this to measure the length of the spring)
4 Measure the length of the spring with no force acting on it.
5 Hang the mass holder from the spring. Check the mass of the holder, and measure the new length of the spring. Record the length of the spring and the mass suspended from it.
6 Add a 50 g (0.5 N) mass and measure the length of the spring.
7 Repeat step 6 until a total of 250 g (including the mass holder) is hanging from the spring. Each time, record the length of the spring and the total mass suspended from the spring.
8 Remove a 50 g mass.
9 Measure the length of the spring.
10 Repeat steps 8 and 9 until there is no mass hanging from the spring.
11 Record all your results in a table.

Question 3

P10 force and acceleration RP not needed

Answer 3

1. Set up clamp holding light gate where the interrupt card will pass through
2. Use ramp to compensate for friction
3. Set up data logger to record acceleration or speed
4. Set up a pully with mass on one end and the trolley on the other
5. Put equal mass on the pulley and trolley ( you may want to tape the mass onto the trolley ) and let trolley go
6. Record what the data logger said and remove a mass from the trolley and add it to the pulley and let the trolley go
7. Repeat step 6 until all masses are on the pulley
8. Use your results to plot a graph of mass on x axis and acceleration on y axis
9. The two should be proportional to prove newtons second law Force = Mass x Acceleration

Question 4

P2 RP insulators

Answer 4

1. Set up your containers: leave one unwrapped, and wrap each of the others in a different material, using elastic bands or tape to hold the material in place. Try to make the different wrappings roughly the same thickness.

2 Prepare lids for the containers, made out of the same material as the wrapping if possible, or else made of aluminium foil or cling film.

3 Make a hole in each lid which is just big enough for the thermometer to fit through.

4 Use the measuring cylinder to pour equal amounts of hot water into each container.

5 Put the lids onto the containers, with a thermometer fitted through each lid so that it rests near the
bottom of the water.

6 Start the stopwatch, and measure the starting temperature of the water.

7 After 15 minutes, use the thermometer to gently stir and then measure the temperature of the water in each beaker.

Question 5

RP P6

Answer 5

Measure the mass of an object using a balance
Record this mass on a results table
Fill the eureka can with water until it overflows from the spout, make sure to collect the water so it doesn’t spill causing a slip hazard
Tie a piece of string round the object and drop it in the eureka can
Collect the water that comes out in a measuring cylinder
Record the reading in a results table
Repeat steps 1 - 7 for other objects
For regular objects use a vernier’s caliper
Calculate the density using mass/volume for each of the objects

Question 6

P14 investigating reflection and refraction of light by different surfaces

Answer 6

Place transparent rectangular block onto paper and trace round it
Use a ray box or laser to shine a ray of light at the middle of one side of block
Trace incident rayand mark where light ray emerges on other side
Remove block and join up incident ray and emerging point with straight line
This shows path of refracted ray
Draw normal at point where light entered block, use protractor to measure angle of incidence and angle of refraction
Repeat experiment using different rectangular blocks amd keep incident ray same throughout

Question 7

How to improve P2

Answer 7

Use a data logger attached to a thermometer

Question 8

How to improve P6

Answer 8

Make sure balance is zeroed 
Avoid paralex error
Do not knock bench 
Make sure eureka is full
Use appropriate measurinf cylinder

Question 9

How to improve P14

Answer 9

Use a sharper pencil

Draw line around/ blue tack block of material