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Section A

Answer all questions. Answers must be written within the answer boxes provided.

1. In an experiment to measure the acceleration of free fall a student ties two different blocks of
masses m1 and m2 to the ends of a string that passes over a frictionless pulley.

pulley

m1

m2

The student calculates the acceleration a of the blocks by measuring the time taken by the
m − m2
heavier mass to fall through a given distance. Their theory predicts that a = g 1 and
m + m2 m1 + m2
this can be re-arranged to give g = a 1 .
m1 − m2
(a) In a particular experiment the student calculates that a = (0.204 ±0.002) ms–2 using
m1 = (0.125 ±0.001) kg and m2 = (0.120 ±0.001) kg.

(i) Calculate the percentage error in the measured value of g. [3]

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(ii) Deduce the value of g and its absolute uncertainty for this experiment. [2]

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(Question 1 continued)

(b) There is an advantage and a disadvantage in using two masses that are almost equal.

State and explain,

(i) the advantage with reference to the magnitude of the acceleration that is obtained. [2]

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(ii) the disadvantage with reference to your answer to (a)(ii). [2]

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2. In an investigation a student folds paper into cylinders of the same diameter D but different
heights. Beginning with the shortest cylinder they applied the same fixed load to each of the
cylinders one by one. They recorded the height H of the first cylinder to collapse.

this cylinder is
about to collapse

fixed load
H

They then repeat this process with cylinders of different diameters.

The graph shows the data plotted by the student and the line of best fit.

H 3 × 10 −4 m3
70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 D 2 × 10 −4 m2

2
Theory predicts that H = cD 3 where c is a constant.

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(Question 2 continued)

(a) Suggest why the student’s data supports the theoretical prediction. [2]

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(b) Determine c. State an appropriate unit for c. [3]

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(c) Identify one factor that determines the value of c. [1]

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 –2– M19/4/PHYSI/SP3/ENG/TZ2/XX

Section A

Answer all questions. Answers must be written within the answer boxes provided.

1. A student investigates the electromotive force (emf) ε and internal resistance r of a cell.

ε
r
A

The current I and the terminal potential difference V are measured.

For this circuit V = ε - Ir .

The table shows the data collected by the student. The uncertainties for each measurement
are shown.

I / mA V/V
± 1 mA ± 0.02 V
97 1.55

193 1.50

304 1.45

395 1.40

487 1.35

598 1.30

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(Question 1 continued)

The graph shows the data plotted.

1.70

1.60

1.50

V/V
1.40

1.30

1.20
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
I / mA

(a) The student has plotted error bars for the potential difference. Outline why no error bars
are shown for the current. [1]

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(Question 1 continued)

(b) Determine, using the graph, the emf of the cell including the uncertainty for this value.
Give your answer to the correct number of significant figures. [3]

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(c) Outline, without calculation, how the internal resistance can be determined from this graph. [2]

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2. An experiment is conducted to determine how the fundamental frequency f of a vibrating wire

The data are shown in the graph, the uncertainty in the tension is not shown.

400

300

f / Hz

200

100

0
0 5 10 15
T/N

(a) Draw the line of best fit for the data. [1]

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(Question 2 continued)

(b) It is proposed that the frequency of oscillation is given by f 2 = kT where k is a constant.

(i) Determine the fundamental SI unit for k. [1]

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(ii) Write down a pair of quantities that, when plotted, enable the relationship f 2 = kT
to be verified. [1]

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(iii) Describe the key features of the graph in (b)(ii) if it is to support this relationship. [2]

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3. A student uses a Young’s double-slit apparatus to determine the wavelength of light emitted by a
monochromatic source. A portion of the interference pattern is observed on a screen.

The distance D from the double slits to the screen is measured using a ruler with a smallest
scale division of 1 mm.

The fringe separation s is measured with uncertainty ± 0.1 mm.

The slit separation d has negligible uncertainty.

sd
The wavelength is calculated using the relationship λ = .
D
(a) When d = 0.200 mm, s = 0.9 mm and D = 280 mm, determine the percentage uncertainty
in the wavelength. [2]

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(b) Explain how the student could use this apparatus to obtain a more reliable value for λ. [2]

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Section A

Answer all questions. Answers must be written within the answer boxes provided.

1. A student investigates how the period T of a simple pendulum varies with the maximum
speed v of the pendulum’s bob by releasing the pendulum from rest from different initial
angles. A graph of the variation of T with v is plotted.

2.16

2.15

2.14

T/s 2.13

2.12

2.11

2.10

2.09
0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25
v / m s–1

(a) Suggest, by reference to the graph, why it is unlikely that the relationship between T
and v is linear. [1]

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(b) Determine the fractional uncertainty in v when T = 2.115 s, correct to one

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(Question 1 continued)

(c) The student hypothesizes that the relationship between T and v is T = a + bv2, where a
and b are constants. To verify this hypothesis a graph showing the variation of T with v2
is plotted. The graph shows the data and the line of best fit.

2.16

2.15

2.14

T/s 2.13

2.12

2.11

2.10

2.09
0 1 2 3 4 5
2 2 –2
v /m s

Determine b, giving an appropriate unit for b. [3]

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(Question 1 continued)

(d) The lines of the minimum and maximum gradient are shown.

2.16

2.15

2.14

T/s 2.13

2.12

2.11

2.10

2.09
0 1 2 3 4 5
v 2 / m2 s–2

Estimate the absolute uncertainty in a. [2]

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2. The resistance R of a wire of length L can be measured using the circuit shown.

V
length L of wire

(a) In one experiment the wire has a uniform diameter of d = 0.500 mm. The graph shows
data obtained for the variation of R with L.

0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
L/m

The gradient of the line of best fit is 6.30 Ω m–1.

(i) Estimate the resistivity of the material of the wire. Give your answer to an
appropriate number of significant figures. [2]

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(Question 2 continued)

(ii) Explain, by reference to the power dissipated in the wire, the advantage of the
fixed resistor connected in series with the wire for the measurement of R. [3]

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(b) The experiment is repeated using a wire made of the same material but of a larger
diameter than the wire in part (a). On the axes in part (a), draw the graph for this
second experiment. [2]

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Section A

Answer all questions. Answers must be written within the answer boxes provided.

1. A spherical soap bubble is made of a thin film of soapy water. The bubble has an internal air
pressure Pi and is formed in air of constant pressure Po. The theoretical prediction for the
variation of (Pi − Po) is given by the equation

4g
(Pi − Po ) =
R

where γ is a constant for the thin film and R is the radius of the bubble.

Data for (Pi − Po) and R were collected under controlled conditions and plotted as a graph
1
showing the variation of (Pi − Po) with .
R

3.00

2.50

2.00

(Pi − Po)
/ Pa
1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
10.00 12.50 15.00 17.50 20.00 22.50 25.00
R –1 / m–1

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(Question 1 continued)

(a) Suggest whether the data are consistent with the theoretical prediction. [2]

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(b) (i) Show that the value of γ is about 0.03. [2]

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(ii) Identify the fundamental units of γ . [1]

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(iii) In order to find the uncertainty for γ , a maximum gradient line would be drawn.
On the graph, sketch the maximum gradient line for the data. [1]

(iv) The percentage uncertainty for γ is 15 %. State γ , with its absolute uncertainty. [2]

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(v) The expected value of γ is 0.027. Comment on your result. [1]

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2. A student studies the relationship between the centripetal force applied to an object
undergoing circular motion and its period T.
The object (mass m) is attached by a light inextensible string, through a tube, to a weight
W which hangs vertically. The string is free to move through the tube. A student swings the
mass in a horizontal, circular path, adjusting the period T of the motion until the radius r
is constant. The radius of the circle and the mass of the object are measured and remain
constant for the entire experiment.

hollow
m r plastic
tube

The student collects the measurements of T five times, for weight W. The weight is then
doubled (2W) and the data collection repeated. Then it is repeated with 3W and 4W.
The results are expected to support the relationship

42 mr
W  .
T2
(a) State why the experiment is repeated with different values of W. [1]

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In reality, there is friction in the system, so in this case W is less than the total centripetal
force in the system. A suitable graph is plotted to determine the value of mr experimentally.
The value of mr was also calculated directly from the measured values of m and r.

(b) Predict from the equation whether the value of mr found experimentally will be larger,
the same or smaller than the value of mr calculated directly. [2]

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(Question 2 continued)

(c) (i) The measurements of T were collected five times. Explain how repeated
measurements of T reduced the random error in the final experimental value of mr. [2]

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(ii) Outline why repeated measurements of T would not reduce any systematic
error in T. [1]

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