5054/41 · May/June 2024
Download PDFA student finds the volume of a small glass ball (marble) by two different methods.



method 1 The student: • places six small glass balls by the side of a metre rule as shown in Fig. 1.1 • makes sure that there are no gaps between the balls. Take readings on the metre rule of the positions of points A and B shown in Fig. 1.1. Give your readings to the nearest 0.1 cm. position of point A = .......................................................... cm position of point B = .......................................................... cm
The length on Fig. 1.1 is the distance between points A and B. The average diameter of one ball can be found using the equation: Use your answers to (a)(i) to calculate the length and diameter . Give your answers to the nearest 0.1 cm. .......................................................... cm .......................................................... cm
The average volume of one glass ball using this method, is given by the equation: Calculate . ..................................................
method 2 • The student pours water into a measuring cylinder. The volume of water in the measuring cylinder is shown in Fig. 1.2. Write down the reading . ..................................................
• The six glass balls are carefully added to the water in the measuring cylinder. The new reading on the measuring cylinder is shown in Fig. 1.3. The volume of the six balls is given by Calculate . Show your working. ..................................................
Calculate the average volume of one ball using this method. Give your answer to the nearest . ..................................................
Suggest whether method 1 or method 2 gives the more accurate value for the volume of the ball. Explain your answer. method giving more accurate value .......................................................................................... explanation ............................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................
The student now uses the six glass balls to find the average mass of one glass ball using a small beaker and a top pan (electronic) balance. Describe the method the student uses.
A student investigates how the temperature of the surroundings affects the rate of cooling of water.


The student: • pours of hot water into a beaker • uses a thermometer to take the temperature of the water at time . The thermometer reading at time is shown in Fig. 2.1. Record the temperature of the water at time in Table 2.1.
The student then records the temperature of the water every for . The results are recorded in Table 2.1. Before taking each temperature reading, the student carefully stirs the water in the beaker. Explain why.
Calculate the average cooling rate of the water for the first of the experiment. Use the readings in Table 2.1 and the equation: where is the temperature of the water at , is the temperature at and is the time of . Give the unit for . .................................. unit ...............
Calculate the average cooling rate of the water for the final of the experiment. Use the equation: where is the temperature of the water at , is the temperature of the water at and is the time of . .................................. unit ...............
Compare your values of and . Explain any difference in these values.
The student repeats the procedure described in (a)(i) but this time he places the beaker inside a larger beaker containing iced water. The arrangement is shown in Fig. 2.2. The student reads the temperature of the hot water, records the reading and immediately starts the stop-watch. Table 2.2. shows the temperature at times , , , and . Calculate the average cooling rate of the hot water for the . Use the readings in Table 2.2 and the equation: .................................. unit ...............
Describe how differs from . Explain your answer.
The recorded readings show that this experiment is not a valid comparison of and . By referring to the results recorded in Table 2.1 and Table 2.2, explain why this is not a valid comparison.
State one other variable that should be kept constant to make a valid comparison.
A student measures the focal length of a lens. Fig. 3.1 shows the apparatus she uses and the position of the lens when a clearly focused image is formed on the screen. The student: • places the screen a distance from the illuminated object • places the lens between the object and the screen so that the lens is very close to the illuminated object • moves the lens slowly away from the illuminated object until a clearly focused image is formed on the screen.


Measure and record distance on Fig. 3.1. .................................................... cm
Fig. 3.1 is drawn to a scale of one fifth full size. Use your answer to (a)(i) to calculate the actual object distance from the lens. .................................................... cm
Deduce the image distance , the distance from the lens to the screen when a clear image is seen. .................................................... cm
Fig. 3.2 shows the shape of the illuminated object and Fig. 3.3 shows the image seen on the screen. Describe two differences between the illuminated object and its image on the screen. 1 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... 2 ................................................................................................................................................ ...................................................................................................................................................
The student moves the screen away from the illuminated object and repeats the procedure for values of , , and . Table 3.1 shows the values recorded. Add your values for and from (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) to Table 3.1 on page 12. Complete Table 3.1 by calculating the value of for each value of . Give your answers to 3 significant figures.
Use the grid provided in Fig. 3.4 on page 13 to plot a graph of on the y-axis against on the x-axis. You do not need to start your axes at the origin (0,0). Draw the straight line of best fit.
The focal length of the lens is numerically equal to the gradient of the line. Calculate the gradient of the line. Show all working and indicate on your graph in Fig. 3.4 the values you use. .................................................... cm
The lens manufacturer states that the focal length of the lens is . Decide, with a calculation, whether your value of agrees with this statement and tick the box that shows your answer. calculation: [ ] My value for agrees with the manufacturer’s statement. [ ] My value for does not agree with the manufacturer’s statement.
Plan an experiment to investigate how the thickness of a metal wire affects its resistance. The resistance of a wire can be found using the equation: The following apparatus is available: • six lengths of metal wire, each of different thickness • an ammeter • a voltmeter • a power supply • several connecting leads • a micrometer. Other apparatus normally available in a school laboratory can also be used. In your plan, you should: • draw a circuit diagram to show how you will use the apparatus • explain briefly how to carry out the investigation • state the key variables to keep constant • draw a table, with column headings, to show how to display readings (you are not required to enter any readings in the table) • explain how to use these readings to reach a conclusion.






