Measurements and their Errors: Depth and Exam Drill - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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A-Level · Physics

AP1D Measurements and their Errors: Depth and Exam Drill

AQA 7408 · Calculator allowed · about 145 minutes
Total Marks
Name: _______________________________    Date: ____ / ____ / ______
Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.
1
SI units, prefixes and estimation are the basis of every physical quantity used in this course.
(a)State the SI base unit of: (i) thermodynamic temperature, (ii) amount of substance, (iii) luminous intensity.(3)
(b)A telecommunications signal has a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Write this frequency in hertz, using standard form.(1)
(c)Estimate, to one significant figure, the mass of a single mosquito in kilograms. State the order of magnitude of your estimate.(2)
(Total for Question 1 is 6 marks)
2
Significant figures indicate how precisely a value is known; recognising them correctly, and rounding calculated results appropriately, is an essential exam skill.
(a)State the number of significant figures in the measurement 0.070060 m.(1)
(b)A calculation gives a result of 143.7568 N, using two measured quantities that were each quoted to 3 significant figures. State this result to an appropriate number of significant figures.(1)
(c)A student measures a potential difference V = 6.0 V (2 significant figures) across a resistor and a current I = 0.24 A (2 significant figures) through it. Calculate the resistance R = V / I, giving your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.(2)
(d)Explain the difference between the number of decimal places and the number of significant figures in a measured value, using 0.070060 m as your example.(2)
(Total for Question 2 is 6 marks)
3
Measurements are always subject to systematic and/or random error.
(a)A top-pan balance is not zeroed before use and reads 0.05 g with nothing on the pan. Every subsequent mass measured with this balance is too high by the same 0.05 g. Identify the type of error this illustrates, and state how the student should correct the affected readings.(2)
(b)A student reads the position of a pointer on an analogue ammeter scale from an angle, rather than looking directly along the pointer from directly above the scale. Name the type of error this introduces, and state one way to reduce it.(2)
(c)The student re-zeros the balance from part (a) correctly, then measures the same mass 6 times, obtaining slightly different readings each time because of air currents disturbing the balance. Explain whether this variation is a systematic or a random error, and describe how the student could reduce its effect on the reported mean value.(3)
(Total for Question 3 is 7 marks)
4
Reading an instrument scale correctly is a fundamental practical skill.
(a)A micrometer screw gauge has a resolution of 0.01 mm. For a particular reading, the main scale shows 5.5 mm and the rotating thimble scale, on which each division represents 0.01 mm, is aligned with the line labelled 23. Calculate the diameter reading shown, and state the absolute uncertainty in this single reading.(3)
(b)A vernier caliper has a resolution of 0.02 mm. For a particular reading, the main scale shows 12 mm and the 4th line on the vernier scale is the one that aligns exactly with a main scale line. Calculate the diameter reading shown, and state the absolute uncertainty in this single reading.(3)
(Total for Question 4 is 6 marks)
5
Uncertainties combine differently depending on whether quantities are added, subtracted, multiplied or divided.
(a)In a titration, a burette of resolution 0.10 cm3 is used. The initial reading is 2.40 ± 0.05 cm3 and the final reading is 27.65 ± 0.05 cm3 (the uncertainty in each reading is taken as half the resolution). Calculate the titre (volume delivered) and its absolute uncertainty.(3)
(b)Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the titre found in part (a), giving your answer to 2 significant figures.(2)
(c)A thermometer of resolution 1 degree C is used to record the temperature of a water bath before and after heating. The initial temperature is 19.5 ± 0.5 degrees C and the final temperature is 84.0 ± 0.5 degrees C (the uncertainty in each reading is taken as half the resolution). Calculate the temperature rise and its absolute uncertainty.(3)
(Total for Question 5 is 8 marks)
6
The percentage uncertainty in a calculated quantity depends on how that quantity is combined mathematically from its measured inputs: percentage uncertainties are added for a product or quotient, and multiplied by the power for a term raised to a power (including a square root, which multiplies the percentage uncertainty by 1/2).
(a)A heating element has a potential difference V = 6.0 ± 0.1 V across it and a resistance R = 15.0 ± 0.3 ohm. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in V and the percentage uncertainty in R.(2)
(b)The power dissipated is given by P = V2 / R. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in P, and hence state the power P with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.(3)
(c)A mass m = 0.250 ± 0.005 kg is attached to a spring of spring constant k = 18.0 ± 0.5 N/m. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in m and the percentage uncertainty in k.(2)
(d)The period of oscillation is given by T = 2 x π x m/k. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in T, and hence state the period T with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.(3)
(Total for Question 6 is 10 marks)
7
Required practical: A student determines the Young modulus of a metal wire. A mass of 1.200 ± 0.001 kg is hung from a wire of original length L = 2.000 ± 0.002 m and diameter d = 0.32 ± 0.005 mm (measured with a micrometer). The resulting extension of the wire is e = 1.40 ± 0.05 mm. Take g = 9.81 m/s2 (treated as exact). The Young modulus is given by E = F x L / (A x e), where F is the force applied and A is the cross-sectional area of the wire.
(a)Show that the force applied to the wire is 11.8 N.(2)
(b)Calculate the cross-sectional area, A, of the wire, using A = π x d2 / 4 and d = 0.32 mm. Give your answer in m2.(3)
(c)Calculate the percentage uncertainty in F, in L, in A (using your value from part b), and in e, and hence find the percentage uncertainty in the Young modulus E.(4)
(d)Calculate the Young modulus, E, and express it with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.(3)
(Total for Question 7 is 12 marks)
8
Required practical: A student investigates how the pressure, P, of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume varies with temperature. The gas is held in a sealed rigid flask connected to a pressure sensor, and is heated in a water bath. The student records the following pressure at five temperatures: θ = 20.0 degrees C, P = 107 kPa; θ = 40.0 degrees C, P = 114 kPa; θ = 60.0 degrees C, P = 121 kPa; θ = 80.0 degrees C, P = 128 kPa; θ = 100.0 degrees C, P = 135 kPa. A best-fit straight line through these points has a gradient of 0.350 kPa per degree C and a pressure-axis intercept of 100 kPa. The steepest and shallowest straight lines that can still be drawn through all the error bars on the data points have gradients of 0.380 kPa per degree C and 0.320 kPa per degree C, and pressure-axis intercepts of 92 kPa and 108 kPa, respectively.
(a)Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the gradient of the best-fit line.(3)
(b)Using the same method, calculate the percentage uncertainty in the pressure-axis intercept of the best-fit line.(3)
(c)Using the gradient and intercept of the best-fit line, calculate the temperature, in degrees C, at which the extrapolated line predicts the pressure would fall to zero. This value is an experimental estimate of absolute zero.(3)
(d)The extrapolated temperature in part (c) is found from a quotient of the intercept and the gradient. Using your percentage uncertainties from parts (a) and (b), calculate the absolute uncertainty in this extrapolated temperature, and comment on whether the accepted value of absolute zero (-273 degrees C) is consistent with the student's result.(3)
(Total for Question 8 is 12 marks)
9
Required practical: A student determines the density of a small cube cut from a sample of pine wood. The side length of the cube is measured five times, at different points and orientations, using vernier calipers of resolution 0.02 mm. The readings obtained are: 40.00 mm, 40.08 mm, 39.96 mm, 44.50 mm, 40.04 mm. The mass of the cube, measured on an electronic balance of resolution 0.1 g, is 28.3 ± 0.05 g.
(a)Identify the anomalous reading in the table of side-length measurements, and suggest one possible cause for it.(2)
(b)Calculate the mean side length of the cube, excluding the anomalous reading.(2)
(c)Estimate the absolute uncertainty in the mean side length using half the range of the four valid readings, and hence calculate the percentage uncertainty in the side length.(2)
(d)Calculate the volume of the cube in m3, and the percentage uncertainty in this volume.(3)
(e)Calculate the density of the cube in kg/m3, and express it with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.(4)
(f)The accepted density range for this species of pine is 350-600 kg/m3. Comment on the accuracy of the student's result, and suggest why a wooden sample might reasonably have an accepted density range rather than a single fixed value.(2)
(Total for Question 9 is 15 marks)
10
A student determines the terminal velocity of steel ball bearings falling through a viscous oil held in a tall, wide measuring cylinder. Two rubber bands are placed around the outside of the cylinder to mark two points a measured 400 mm apart, positioned well below the point at which each ball reaches terminal velocity. For each of five different ball bearing diameters, the student drops one ball bearing into the oil near the centre of the cylinder, starts a hand-held stopwatch by eye as the ball passes the upper band, and stops it as the ball passes the lower band. Each ball is timed once only. The terminal velocity for each ball is then calculated as 400 mm divided by the measured time. The student's five calculated terminal velocities are all slightly, but consistently, higher than a set of accepted reference values for oil of this viscosity. Evaluate the procedure described for a systematic weakness that could explain why the calculated terminal velocities are consistently too high, propose an improved procedure, and justify how your improvement would reduce this systematic uncertainty.
(Total for Question 10 is 6 marks)
11
Synoptic question. A trolley of mass m = 0.842 ± 0.002 kg (found using a top-pan balance) is released from rest on a horizontal, effectively frictionless air track and passes through a single light gate fitted with an opaque interrupt card of length d = 50.0 ± 0.5 mm. The light gate's electronic timer records a time of t = 24.4 ± 0.3 ms for the card to pass through the light beam. Assume the trolley's speed does not change significantly over this short interval, so its instantaneous speed at the light gate is v = d / t.
(a)Calculate the speed, v, of the trolley at the light gate.(2)
(b)Calculate the percentage uncertainty in v.(3)
(c)The kinetic energy of the trolley is given by Ek = 1/2 x m x v2. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in Ek, explaining how the power in the formula affects your calculation.(2)
(d)Calculate the kinetic energy, Ek, of the trolley and express it with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.(3)
(Total for Question 11 is 10 marks)
Mark scheme · AP1D Measurements and their Errors: Depth and Exam Drill

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11