required practicals

Question 1

Describe an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal block (RP1)

Answer 1

1. Measure mass of block using a mass balance.
2. Measure initial temperature of block using a thermometer.
3. Turn on power supply for a few minutes. Switch off. Measure energy supplied using the joulemeter, and the final temperature of the block.
4. Calculate the specific heat capacity using c = ΔE/(m x Δθ)

Question 2

A student wants to investigate how the thickness of a material affects its thermal insulation properties.

They are provided with 10 layers of wallpaper cut into strips.

Describe how the student would safely carry out the experiment. (RP2)

Answer 2

1. Use kettle to boil water and then use measuring cylinder to pour 100 ml of water into beaker.
2. Measure temperature of water with thermometer and start stopwatch at 80°C. (Optional: add a lid at this point)
3. Measure temperature of water after 10 minutes.
4. Add a layer of insulating material and repeat steps 1-3.
5. Continue until 10 layers have been added.

Question 3

Determine the density of a regular solid (RP3)

Answer 3

1. Measure mass using mass balance
2. Measure length of each block side using a ruler.
3. Calculate volume by multiplying each side length together.
4. Density = mass/volume

Question 4

determine the density of an irregular solid (RP3)

Answer 4

1. Measure mass using mass balance
2. Fill displacement can up to spout
3. Place object in displacement can and collect displaced water in measuring cylinder.
4. Volume of displaced water = volume of object
5. Density = mass/volume

Question 5

determine the density of a liquid (RP3)

Answer 5

1. Measure mass of empty measuring cylinder using mass balance
2. Fill cylinder with 100 cm3 of liquid
3. Measure new mass
4. Mass of liquid = mass of full cylinder - mass of empty cylinder
5. Density = mass/volume

Question 6

Investigate the relationship between the applied force and the extension of the spring (RP6)

Answer 6

1. Set up clamp stand with clamp
2. Hang spring from clamp
3. Use second clamp and boss to fix (half) metre rule alongside spring
4. line up top of ruler with bottom of spring
5. hang 1 N / a known weight from the bottom of the spring
6. measure extension of spring with ruler
7. add further weights to spring so the force increases 1 N at a time up to 5 N
8. for each new force measure extension

Question 7

determine the speed of water waves (RP8)

Answer 7

To find frequency

1. Record video with stopwatch in view.
2. Replay video in slow motion and count number of waves passing a point in 30 seconds. Divide the number by 30 to calculate the frequency.

To find wavelength

1. Take photo of the wave shadows with ruler in view. The metre ruler must be parallel to the direction of the wave motion (Alternative phrasing: at 90° to the wave shadows).
2. Use ruler to measure distance between 11 shadows and divide by 10 to find mean wavelength.

Wave speed = frequency x wavelength

Question 8

determine the wave speed of waves on a rubber cord (RP8)

Answer 8

1. Add a mass to the end of the string
2. Adjust frequency using signal generator until a steady wave pattern is produced
3. Measure the wavelength with a metre ruler and record frequency from signal generator.
4. Wave speed = frequency x wavelength

Question 9

Describe an experiment to determine how the block material affects the angle of incidence and angle of refraction. (RP9)

Answer 9

1. Place the block on plain paper and draw around it.
2. Remove the block and use a protractor to draw a normal line in the middle of the long side.
3. Replace the block. Use the ray box to direct a ray of light at the point where the normal meets the block.
4. Mark the path of the incident ray, reflected ray and transmitted ray with two crosses in the centre of each ray.
5. Remove the block.
6. Draw the incident, reflected and transmitted rays by drawing straight lines through each pair of crosses. Connect the incident and transmitted rays to get the refracted ray.
7. Use the protractor to measure:

a. the angle of incidence

b. the angle of reflection

c. the angle of refraction.

8. Repeat using a block made of a different material. The angle of incidence must be the same.

Question 10

How does the type of surface affect the amount of infrared radiation emitted? (RP10)

Answer 10

1. Pour hot water into the Leslie cube.
2. Point the detector at one of the faces of the Leslie cube
3. Measure the infrared emitted using the detector.
4. Point the detector at a different face and keep the distance between the detector and the face the same as before.
5. Carry out the experiment quickly so the temperature of the water does not change significantly.