Required Practicals

Question 1

Investigating thermal insulators.

Answer 1

1. Rods of different materials but same lengths and thickness
2. Coat one end of each rod with a thin layer of wax
3. Heat the uncoated ends at the same time
4. Record which rods melt the wax first.

Question 2

Measuring specific heat capacity.

Answer 2

1. 1kg block of material surrounded by insulation with a slot for heater and a slot for thermometer.
2. Connect joule meter to heater.
3. Heat the block and use the joule meter and thermometer to record energy supplied and temp. change.
4. Use specific heat capacity formula to work out specific heat capacity of block.

Question 3

Investigating resistance of a wire.

Answer 3

1. Set up a circuit, with a voltmeter wired in parallel and an ammeter wired in series.
2. Set up a wire on a metre ruler and connect the wire into the circuit using crocodile clips (at different lengths)
3. Turn on power supply and work out resistance using R = V/I with changing wire lengths.
4. Do the same using a diode, filament lamp and a resistor.

Question 4

Resistors in series.

Answer 4

1. Set up a circuit with a voltmeter wired in parallel across the resistors and an ammeter wired in series.
2. Current = Potential difference/Sum of resistors

Question 5

Resistors in parallel

Answer 5

1. Set up a circuit with a voltmeter wired in parallel across the resistors and an ammeter wired in series.
2. Total resistance is less than resistance of the smallest resistor.

Question 6

Measuring density.

Answer 6

1. Measure the mass of an object using an electronic balance that starts at 0kg.
2. For a regular object, measure the lengths of the sides and work out the volume. Then use the formula D=M/V to work out density. For an irregular object: fill a Eureka can, place the object in the can and allow the water to flow out into a measuring cylinder. Read the volume of water displaced into the cylinder at eye level and use these figures to work out density.