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Practical 100
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Measuring -Part 1 and Part 2
Gear:
PART 1 -blocks of various shapes and sizes, micrometer, calipers
PART 2 -stopwatch, 60 glass slides, micrometer, calipers, electronic scales, string, meter ruler,
pendulum
Instructions
Record your data in a suitable table
Choose one of the blocks and sketch its shape (spend no more than 1 minute to do this)
Label each length, width and height; l, w and h
Measure each length with your ruler, caliper and micrometer
Calculate the volume and surface area of the block. Show your calculations.
Formulae
2
a=l
a=lw
a = bh
2
a = r
3
v=l
v = lwh
2
v = r h
PART 2
Instructions
Use the appropriate instrument or method to measure the following and explain why;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Practical 102
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Number of Oscillations of a Simple Pendulum
Gear: simple pendulum, retort stand, boss head, clamp, cork with slit, metre ruler, stopwatch
Instructions
1. Set up the gear as shown use a length of about 30 cm.
2. Record it. ______________________________________
3. Hold the bob about 5cm from vertical. Start the timer when you
release the bob at position a.
4. Stop the timer when it returns to the same point.
This is one oscillation. Record this as t and n = 1.
5. Repeat for n =2 (the bob makes two oscillations)
One oscillation occurs when the bob moves from a to b to c and back to a.
6. Repeat for other numbers of oscillations.
7. Complete a table as shown;
N (number of oscillations)
1
2
3
5
8
11
14
t- time (s)
Plot a graph of t (vertical axis) against n (horizontal axis). Plot a cross x at each point
Draw a line of best fit (best guess)
Use your graph to estimate the time for 10 oscillations
Practical 102
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
NAME ______________________________________________________
How does the number of oscillations compare with the time taken?
Is there a pattern?
Is there a formula you could write to relate N and t?
Can you use the formula to determine how many oscillations would occur if T = 20 s?
Can you use the formula to determine T for 30 oscillations (if possible)?
Practical 104
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Instructions
1. Read through these instructions before you begin
1. Set up the gear shown.
2. Set the length of the pendulum to 0.40 m
3. Record 10 oscillations in your table.
4. Calculate T, the period of one oscillation.
5. Repeat for a length of 0.25m
6. Repeat the above using different lengths and record the data on a table as shown
Length of
pendulum (m)
0.25
0.40
Time for 10
oscillations (s)
Practical 104
NAME ______________________________________________________
7. Draw a graph of Time for one oscillations(s) vertical axis against Length
8. Plot the points accurately with a small x for each point on the axes below
9. Draw a simple smooth curve to match the points. your curve does not need to touch
any points but an accurate data would)
Length (m)
10. Does your graph suggest that the time for an oscillation is proportional to the
length?
11. What you did to make your results as accurate as possible
LO
Practical 106
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Density
Gear: metal cubes, glass slides, electronic balance, 100 mL measuring cylinder, small items
(eg fishing sinkers or stainless steel nuts that fit into measuring cylinder), water, rags, beakers
metal
aluminium
2700
titanium
4500
zinc
7135
iron
7850
brass
8500
copper
8930
lead
11340
uranium
18900
gold
19320
tungsten
19600
Instructions
Copy and complete the table
Object
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
length/mm
width/mm
thickness/mm
mass/g
volume /cm-3
density
/g cm-3
Practical 106
NAME ______________________________________________________
LO
*Describe an experiment to determine the density of a liquid and of a regularly shaped solid
and make the necessary calculation
*Describe the determination of the density of an irregularly shaped solid by the method of
displacement, and make the necessary calculation
* use Density = mass / volume
Practical 200
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Describing motion
Gear ticker timer, ticker tape, power supply
Each student needs 4 x 25cm lengths of ticker tape
Produce dots on the tape that show (i) steady speed (ii) higher steady speed (iii)
increasing speed (iv) increasing then decreasing speed
Glue these tapes into your books and label them.
For each tape plot a distance-time graph for the first 20 dots (0.0s 0.40s).
Either; use a different colour for each tape or new graph paper
Extension
Produce speed time graphs for your tapes
Practical 202
NAME ____________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Calculating Average Speed
Gear: trolley, ramp, metre ruler, stopwatch
Aim To calculate average speed
1. Release a trolley from rest
2. Observe the motion.
trolley
ave
5. Write your method so that another y11 student can follow your instructions
6. Try it.
7. Write your results and explain how the average speed is related to the final speed.
Questions
A trolley is released from rest at the top end of a 1.8 m track. It has a final speed of 3.6 m/s at
the lower end of the track.
Qu 1 What was its speed at 0.9 m from the top end of the track?
Qu 2 What was the time of travel?
Qu 3 What assumption has been made to answer the above questions?
Practical 204
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Distance along a ramp
Gear: 1.2 m length ramp, block (10cm), trolley, stopwatch, 1m ruler
Instructions
Time /s
Acceleration / m s-2
Practical 205
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Measuring Acceleration
Gear: trolley, 1.2 ramp, ticker timer, 12 V a.c. supply, 1m ticker-tape, sticky tape, scissors
Aim To analyse acceleration using a ticker timer.
The ticker timer produces exactly 50
dots each second. Therefore the time
to make two adjacent dots is 0.02 s.
From the spacing of the dots, you
can work out the acceleration of the
trolley. The diagram shows a length
of ticker-tape fixed to a trolley. As
the trolley rolls down the ramp it
pulls the ticker tape.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
time (s)
Choose a fast section of tape. Use the above equation again to work out the average
speed over this section.
Work out the time between your slow and fast sections. It is 0.2 seconds for every
section. So this example shows 0.8 seconds.
Calculate the acceleration of the trolley using this equation:
acceleration
(m/s2)
Do either 8 or 9
8
Repeat with the ramp angle 2-5o steeper.
9
Describe and sketch a distance time graph if the acceleration was 1 m s-2
Practical 206
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Acceleration due to gravity
Gear: ticker timer, 12 V a.c. supply, 0.60 m ticker-tape (for each student), sticky tape, 50 g mass
Instructions
1. Set the gear as shown in the diagram (the ticker timer is about 0.5 m above the ground).
ticker timer
tape
mass
2. Do a trial run to see if the tape runs smoothly through the ticker timer.
3. Only when the mass is at the highest position and the tape is not twisted and clear of the gaps then turn on
the ticker timer. Then release the mass.
4. Repeat until each student has their own ticker tape to analyse
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Time /s
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Practical 206
v.
vi.
NAME ______________________________________________________
vii.
Plot average speed (vertical axis) against time (be neat, tidy, accurate)
Draw a line of best fit (best estimate of a line that passes through maximum number of points with minimum
spread)
Determine its gradient (use rise over run and include units)
viii.
Practical 207
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Finding acceleration from a ticker tape
Gear: trolley, 1.2 ramp, ticker timer, 12 V a.c. supply, 0.5 m ticker-tape, tape
Aim To determine acceleration using a ticker timer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Calculate the distance between each mark and enter into column 2.
Calculate average speed between marks ( v = (d 2 -d 1 )/0.1 =) and enter into column 3
Calculate the acceleration ( a = (v 2 -v 1 )/0.1 )and enter into column 4
Time
(s)
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Acceleration (m/s/s)
a = (v 2 -v 1 )/0.1
Practical 207
EXAMPLE
Time
(s)
NAME ______________________________________________________
Acceleration (m/s/s)
a = (v 2 -v 1 )/0.1
Ave v = d/ 0.1
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.009
0.022
0.031
0.043
0.053
0.067
0.09
0.22
0.31
0.43
0.53
0.67
1.3
0.9
1.2
1.0
1.3
In this example the acceleration fluctuates between 0.9 and 1.3 m/s/s ie approx. 1.1 m/s/s
Calculate your acceleration (and uncertainty) from your data
Practical 208
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Measuring g (the acceleration due to gravity)
Gear: steel ball bearing free fall adaptor and Pasco photo gate timer
Instructions
1. Read through these instructions before you begin
2. Set up a retort and clamp on a table to hold the free fall adapter
Release clamp
Height
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Practice dropping the ball bearing from the clamp so it hits the sensor pad every time
When you are ready then turn on the timer (check it reads zero)
Release the ball
Record the time and the height
Repeat and average
Use your average time in the equation s = ut + at2
u = initial speed = zero
9. Try three different heights
10. Make a conclusion
Practical 212
Practical 209
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Terminal velocity
Gear: 2 x 1 meter rulers, stopwatch, A4 paper, paper clips, sticky tape
Instructions
1. Read through these instructions before you begin
2. Construct a suitable table for all of your results
3. Measure 2.000 m height.
4. Drop a sheet of A4 paper from the height and record the time to reach the ground
5. Repeat this three times and average the results
6. Fold the paper in half and repeat the measurements
7. Fold again and repeat
8. Continue until you are no longer able to fold the paper (or upto 7 folds)
9. Repeat step 4 and 5 with a paper clip taped to the centre of the sheet
10. Repeat step 10 with the paper completely folded so it has very little surface
11. In each trial release the sheet parallel to the ground (where possible).
12. Write a conclusion for this experiment.
Extension
Either
Design a sheet of A4 paper to maximize the time for the paperclip to reach the ground
Explain how these images relate to this practical
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
A ball falls from a very high position from rest and reaches terminal velocity.
1. Describe its motion as it reaches terminal velocity
2. Explain how terminal velocity occurs in the ball.
Practical 212
Jumbled sentences
SORT THESE SENTENCES INTO TWO PARAGRAPHS TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
Some of the sentences are wrong and must be discarded
1) At terminal velocity friction is balanced by the weight of the object.
2) Initially the acceleration is 9.8m/s/s.
3) Initially the friction is much much smaller than the weight so acceleration is high
4) Initially the speed increases at a decreasing rate.
5) It eventually reaches terminal velocity which is its maximum speed.
6) Since friction is proportional to speed the friction grows and eventually it balances the weight
7) So the forces are no longer unbalanced
8) So unbalanced force = 0.
9) Terminal velocity is independent of the shape of the object
10) The acceleration drops to 0 when it is travelling at terminal velocity.
11) The speed remains constant throughout the whole journey
12) This occurs due to friction (this force is due to drag or air resistance)
velocity
Time
Without air resistance
velocity
time
with air resistance
Practical 212
Since friction is proportional to speed the friction grows and eventually it balances the weight
So the forces are no longer unbalanced
So unbalanced force = 0.
At terminal velocity friction is balanced by the weight of the object.
For a human terminal velocity is about 50 m/s
With a parachute this may be reduced to about 5 m/s
Link
Practical 220
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
f=ma
Mass (kg)
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
Weight (N)
0.2
0.4
height (m)
Acceleration ms-2
Practical 220
NAME ______________________________________________________
Weight
(N)
0.0
Acceleration (ms-2)
11. What can you conclude about the weight and acceleration of the trolley?
12. Explain how we could improve this experiment
LO
Plot extension/load graphs and describe the associated experimental procedure
Practical 221
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
A = f/m
Equipment: Trolley, pulley, string, 20 g slotted masses, 5x50 g slotted masses, stopwatch,
electronic balance
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
50 g masses
pulley
bench
20 g mass
height (m)
Time (s)
Acceleration ms-2
10. Plot a graph of acceleration (vertical axis) against total moving mass
Practical 221
NAME ______________________________________________________
Acceleration
(ms-2)
0.0
total moving mass (kg)
11. What can you conclude about the total moving mass and acceleration of the trolley?
12. Explain how we could improve this experiment
LO
Plot extension/load graphs and describe the associated experimental procedure
Practical 240
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Hookes law
Equipment: clamp, retort, spring, metre ruler, 50 g slotted masses
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Position (m)
Load (N)
0.5
spring
weight
Extension(m)
0
extension
(m)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
load (N)
Practical 240
NAME ______________________________________________________
11. What can you conclude about the load and extension of the spring?
12. Predict the extension if a load of 2.5N was used.
13. Predict the load required to give an extension of 0.095m
14. Predict the mass required to give an extension of 0.115m
15. Describe Hookes Law 3.03
16. Does a limit of proportionality exist for this spring?
17. Explain your answer
extension
(m)
LO
Plot extension/load graphs and describe the associated experimental procedure
Practical 248
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Equilibrium 1
Equipment: metre ruler, 50 g masses, pivot (thin card, two wooden blocks), electronic
balance, objects to weight (eg keys, pencil case, metal cubes (large), wooden block to support
larger objects
Instructions
1. Make up a table to enter your data
2. Balance the ruler on the pivot over the 50.0 cm mark (approx.)
(if necessary move the ruler until it balances or add tape at one end)
3. Place the 50 g mass at the 30.0 cm mark
4. Place your object on the rule and slide it left or right until it balances
5. Measure the length Y
6. Use the relationship m 1 d 1 = m 2 d 2 to determine the mass of the object
7. Measure objects with an electronic balance
8. Determine the percentage error using 100% x mass from calculation / mass from
balance
9. Repeat for 5 other items (eg pencil, scissors)
LO
Demonstrate understanding that weights (or masses) may be compared using a balance
Tabulating results
Practical 249
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Equilibrium 2
Equipment: metre ruler, 50 g slotted masses, pivot (thin card, two wooden blocks)
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Position of
150g 100g
50g
30cm 60cm ?
Total moment
zero
LO
Perform and describe an experiment (involving vertical forces) to show that there is no net
moment on a body in equilibrium
Practical 260
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Locating the Centre of gravity
Gear: card, scissors, pin or nail, plumb line
Aim: to determine the position of the centre of mass of a plane lamina (or card)
Instructions
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Cut out a shape on cardboard so that it has an area of about half a page
Make a hole near the edge of the card
Put the pin or nail through the hole so the card freely hangs from it
Hold a plumb line next to the hole.
Trace the vertical line on to the card.
Use a ruler to mark the line clearly
7) Make another hole in a different part of the card (try rotating 120o)
8) Repeat and obtain a different line on your card
9) Find their intersection this should be its cog
LO
Perform and describe an experiment to determine the position of the centre of mass of a plane lamina
Practical 280
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Explain the Toy
Gear: variety of toys, stopwatch, ruler, tape, 10g masses
Instructions
Choose a toy. Observe how it is used.
Spend a few minutes thinking about the energy used and produced.
For example Does it use elastic energy? If so where and what does it do? Where did it
originate? Was gravity needed? How many energy conversions were involved? What would
be needed to make the toy work better?
Prepare a 3-5 minute speech to explain the physics of the toy
Practical 282
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
1.
2.
Place the marble at the top of the track and release. It should roll and complete the
track. Repeat at a slightly lower starting height. Continue until the ball cannot finish
the whole length of the track. What is the minimum height for which the ball finishes
the track without leaving it? Try different marbles. Is the size important?
Give several reasons why the ball does not finish the track.
EXTENSION
3.
Determine a relationship between the radius of the circle and the minimum height
for which the ball can complete the track
Practical 284
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Newtons Cradle
Gear: Newtons Cradle, ruler
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Pull one ball back a few centimeters and release to strike the stationary set of balls.
Observe the first bounce only.
How many balls continued in the same direction?
Did it (they) rise to the same original height?
Measure and record both heights.
Try with different number of balls.
How do the heights compare?
Did the same number of balls leave compared to the original number of balls that
struck the stationary set?
Was there any occasion where a different number left the set?
Can you think of a reason why (e.g. if two balls strike a set why doesnt one leave)?
What would happen if the balls were made of putty instead of steel?
Animation
Practical 300
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Practical 310
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Thermometers & Ice
Aim: to observe temperature changes
Gear: Thermometer, ice, jug, stopwatch,
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Practical 330
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER
Gear: ammeter, power pack, stop watch, thermometer, polystyrene cup, polystyrene lid, measuring cylinder
and nichrome wire heating coil.
Aim: to find the specific heat capacity of water.
Specific heat capacity of water is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of water by
a degree Celsius
What to do:
1. Set up the equipment as shown below
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
0.01
Gear: 100mL measuring cylinder; 250mL beaker, scales, thermometer, ice cube, stopwatch
1. Measure the temperature of 100 mL water in a 250 mL beaker (or calorimeter)
2. Determine the mass of an ice cube (weigh on electronic balance)
3. Put the ice cube into the water and stir it until it completely disappears
(stir with a stirring rod not the thermometer)
4. Re-measure the temperature
5. Calculate T the difference in the temperatures
We know that c = 4200, m = 0.1 kg (= 100 mL)
6. Use H = mcT to determine the heat gained by the ice.
7. Use H = mL to determine L (the latent heat of fusion of ice)
Practical 400
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Sound and the oscilloscope
Gear: signal generator oscilloscope, microphone, connecter, tuning fork set, large speaker
cone (with out the box covering), connecting wires, alligator clips, balloon
Aim
To observe sound waves and some of their effects
Instructions
Connect the signal generator to the oscilloscope and speaker. Observe the wave forms
produced by different electrical signals and compare them to the sound that you hear.
1.
2.
List two ways that the electrical signal and sound are similar
List two ways that the electrical signal and sound are different
Connect the microphone to the oscilloscope and observe the wave forms produced by each
sound. These questions refer to the pattern seen on the oscilloscope screen
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The Oscilloscope
This is a useful device to measure the frequency and
voltage of an electrical signal. A spot sweeps from left to
right across the screen. A 1 V signal makes the spot move
up one 1V. This is found by the amplitude x gain. The
frequency can be found from the wavelength x timebase.
The gain is the number of squares from the middle of the
wave to the top.
The timebase is the time for the spot to move right one
square.
In this example the time base is 10 ms (per square) and the gain is 2 V
This signal then represents a peak voltage of 2.3 (squares) x 2 V = 4.6V and a period of 10
(squares) x 10 ms = 100 ms. Since f = 1/T then f = 1 / 0.1 s = 10 Hz
Set the timebase to 10 ms on the oscilloscope and set the frequency of the signal generator to
100 Hz. Accurately draw the wave on a grid (your graph paper will do) and state important
features.
Practical 410
NAME________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Types of wave
Gear: thin long slinky, wide slinky, stop watch, metre rule
Aim
To observe two different types of waves
Instructions
Make clear labelled diagrams in your practical books
1.
Hold one end of a thin slinky on the ground. Have your partner hold the other end on
the ground. Stretch it about 1 m.
2.
Wobble your end perpendicular to the slinky and horizontal with the ground. Make the
frequency about 1 Hz.
3.
Observe the slinky just before the wave reaches your partners hand.
4.
5.
Repeat with a slightly higher frequency it is important to get the same length of the
slinky.
6.
Repeat both several times so that you get an accurate measurement of the wavelengths.
7.
8.
Repeat the above and show the wave after the reflection off your partners hand.
9.
Repeat the above and use a stopwatch to determine the period of ten oscillations then
from this determine the frequency.
10.
11.
Repeat all of the above using the wide slinky except push it forwards and backwards
instead of side to side motions.
Extension
Determine the speed of the waves from the information that you have drawn and labelled.
Research: What is the speed of sound in air and water?
Practical 450
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Reflection
Gear: flat mirror, paper, drawing pin board, 2 optical pins, ruler
Aim: to determine the position of an image in a flat mirror
If you put a pin in front of a
flat mirror, you see an
image in the mirror. The
image appears to be behind
the mirror. To find its
position, you have to
point lines at it from two
different directions and
find out where they meet.
Instructions
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Practical 455
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Multiple Reflections
Gear: two flat mirrors, paper, protractor, optical pin, ruler
Aim: to determine the equation that relates the number of images, n, with the angle,
between two flat mirrors
Instructions
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
Practical 460
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Tracing light rays through a perspex block
Gear: power pack, ray box, perspex rectangular block, single slit, protractor
Aim: to observe the path of light in a transparent rectangular block
Instructions
1
Place the block in the middle of
the paper. Draw round the block
to mark its position.
2
Practical 460
d/cm
0.8
1.0
1.4
1.8
2.6
theta(degree)
21
28
38
47
57
sin (theta)
0.3583
0.4694
0.6156
0.7313
0.8386
d/cm
0.8
1.0
1.4
1.8
2.6
Practical 10a
Practical 465
NAME ______________________________________________________
Practical 10a
Practical 467
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Refractive index of a glass-block
Gear: power pack, ray box, perspex rectangular block, single slit, protractor, graph paper
Aim: to determine the refractive index of a glass rectangular block
Instructions
Copy and complete a table such as this
Angle of
incidence
10
25
30
40
45
60
75
85
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Angle of
refraction
Sin i
Sin r
Practical 470
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Total Internal Reflection
Gear: power pack, Light box single slit Glass blocks (perspex scatter too much light),
Students need protractor and paper
Aim: to observe total internal reflection by reflection in transparent blocks
In this experiment, you pass a ray of light in and out of a right-angled prism so that it reflects
off an inside face.
Instructions
1
Remove the prism and the ray box. Draw in the path of the ray going into, through and
out of the prism.
In this part of the experiment, you change the path of the ray so
that it reflects off two inside faces.
5
Repeat the steps above only this time make the ray meet
the prism as in diagram B.
Practical 475
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Critical Angle
Gear: power pack, light box (ray box, single slit), semi circular glass block, semi circular
(hollow plastic) dish with water. Students need their protractor.
Aim: to measure the critical angle of perspex
If a ray of light meets the inside face of a glass
block as in the top diagram, some of the light is
reflected and some is refracted. Increase the
angle of incidence and eventually the refracted
ray will disappear (90o to the normal) as in the
diagram below.
The angle
shown is called the critical angle. At greater angles
than this, there is no refracted ray. All the light is
reflected.
In this experiment, you will measure the critical
angle of glass, perspex and (possibly) water.
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Place the block in the middle of the paper. Draw round the block to
mark its position.
Find the centre of the semi-circle. Then draw in the normal in line
as shown in the diagram (right).
Set up the ray box as described in the previous two experiments.
Angle the ray as I diagram A, so that it goes straight through the
curved faced of the glass block and strikes the centre of the semicircle.
Increase the angle until the refracted ray has just disappeared. Mark the position of the
ray. The ray is now striking the surface of the block at the critical angle.
Remove the glass block and the ray box. Draw in the path of the ray. Measure the
critical angle.
Repeat the experiment and find an average value for the critical angle.
Practical 475
NAME ______________________________________________________
Marks
Label incident ray and refracted ray
Label block AND normal
Arrows go towards middle point AND away from middle point
Critical angle = 43 or 42 degrees
Practical 480
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics
Convex lens
Equipment: power pack, bulb, lens, lens holder, metre ruler and screen
Method:
1. Set up the following
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adjust the position of the lens to get a clear image on the screen.
Record x and y in a table as shown below
Repeat for five more values of x (caution: some x values may have very large y values).
Determine the reciprocal of x and the reciprocal of y
1 + 1
y )
1
1+1
7. Determine the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals ( x y )
Results
Copy and complete the table:
x
1/x
1/y
1 + 1
y
x
1
1+1
x y
Practical 485
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Focal length
Gear: thick convex lens, thin convex lens, lens holder, screen (white card), metre rule
When parallel rays of light go through a convex lens, they come together at
a point called the focus. The distance from this focus to the lens is the focal
length.
Instructions
1
Arrange the lens, screen and metre rule as in the diagram. Light from a window must
be able to pass through the lens and reach the screen. The experiment works best if the
lens and screen are in the darkest part of the room, opposite the window.
2
Move the screen backwards or forwards until you see a clear image of a distant tree or
building.
Measure the distance from the lens to the screen. This is the focal length of the lens.
Repeat the experiment at least three times. Find an average value for the focal length.
Find out by experiment which has the longer focal length, a thick lens or a thin lens.
find out by experiment which gives the bigger image on the screen, a thick lens or a thin
lens.
Practical 490
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Dispersion
Gear: triangular GLASS prisms, power pack, ray-box with single slit, paper, ruler, screen,
protractor
Aim
Each wavelength of light has a unique refractive index. When white light pass through
different material the individual colours can be separated. This is called dispersion. You are
to investigate this phenomenon.
Instructions
Copy the table into your practical book.
1.
2.
Shine a thin beam of white light into the prism so that dispersion is observed. You may
need to rotate either the prism or the ray box about the middle of the page.
3.
Carefully draw the outline of the prism and the path of the light rays entering and
emerging from the prism.
4.
Draw the probable path of the incident ray if the prism was absent (extend this to the
end of your page). This is called the straight through line.
5.
Carefully draw and extend the lines for the red, green and violet rays so they are 5-8 cm
in length.
6.
Use your protractor to measure their angles from the straight through line and record
the data into your practical book.
7.
Repeat the above using a different type of prism (either glass or perspex).
8.
Practical 500
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Electrostatics
Gear
Electroscope, woollen cloth, perspex, plastic, nylon or glass (rods or sheets), OHT sheets
Aim
To observe some phenomena related to electrostatic charge
These activities are weather dependent. They work best on dry days. Humid or damp days
give poor results.
Instructions
Extension
Explain what is meant by induced charges (p 180 Pople).
Practical 508
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Practical 508
NAME______________________________________________________________
Practical 510
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Combined resistance
Gear: Power packs, bulbs, voltmeter, ammeter, switch and connecting wires
Practical 510
NAME ______________________________________________________
Practical 510
(k)
NAME ______________________________________________________
Practical 511
NAME ______________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
IV graphs
Gear: power supply, resistors (lamp, 100 ohm, motor), ammeter, 3 connecting wires
Aim
To observe current-voltage characteristics for some resistors
Instructions
1.
Current
Current
Current
4
5
6
Check your current numbers have the same d.p . Include units in your table
Plot a graph of current (vertical) against voltage.
Repeat for different resistors
What can you say about the resistance of a lamp, motor, carbon resistor (?)
Practical 516
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Potential Divider
Gear: power pack, voltmeter (DMM), fixed resistor (approx 20 ohm), connecting wire, and
rheostat (large).
In this experiment you are to investigate the behaviour of a potential divider.
Instructions
1. Read the top right hand panel page 245 Pople.
2. Set up the lower circuit using the available rheostat and fixed resistor.
3. Make up a table showing the position of the slider on the rheostat and the output
voltage. Show six different positions for the length.
4. Swap the position of the fixed resistor and rheostat. The output voltmeter is across the
fixed resistor.
5. Repeat step 3 above.
6. Explain how a rheostat can be used as a potential divider.
Practical 521
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Magnet Field of a bar magnet
Aim: To observe magnetic field lines around bar magnets
Gear: 2 bar magnets, paper, iron filings, flat booklets
Instructions:
1. Place paper over a bar magnet as shown. Sprinkle iron filings. Tap paper.
2. Observe patterns
3. Record field lines
Bar magnet under
sheet of paper
(b)
(c)
(d)
Practical 525
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Magnetism 2
Aim: To plot magnetic field lines and show their directions using a plotting compass
Gear: bar magnet and charm (plotting) compass
Instructions:
1. Place bar magnet in the middle of your page & trace the edge
2. Place a charm compass touching the magnet on your page.
3. Slide the compass along the magnet. Observe the arrow changing directions
4. Slide the compass to one corner so that it points away from the magnet.
5. Mark that end of your compass N
6. Observe where the tip of the arrow would line up on your sheet.
7. Use a sharp pencil to mark your sheet with a dot . where the tip of the arrow would be.
8. Slide the compass so the tail of it is directly over the dot.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 until you are off the sheet or return back to the magnet.
10. Slide the compass to another position on the magnet
11. Repeat steps 6-10 until you have 5-6 curves on both sides of the magnet
12. Draw in the curves and show the direction of the field lines
Step 4
Step 6
Practical 540
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Mapping the field round a magnet
Gear: bar magnets, paper, small compass (plotting compass)
The space around a magnet where you can find its magnetism is
called a magnetic field. If you sprinkle iron filings around a
magnet, you can see the field pattern. You can also plot the field
pattern using a small compass.
Put the magnet in the middle of the paper. Draw round the magnet
to mark its position. Keep the magnet and paper in the same place
for the rest of the experiment.
Put a dot on the paper near one end of the magnet. Place the
compass so that one end of its needle is next to the dot. Mark the
position of the other end of the needle with another dot.
Move the compass so that the first end of the needle points to the last
dot you made and so on until you have a row of dots which
reaches the magnet again or the edge of the paper.
4
More things to do
6
(a)
(b)
Practical 542
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Practical 543
Electromagnetism 1
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Oerteds Experiment
Aim: To show that the magnetic field is at right angles to the current
Gear: long wire, short wire, power supply, charm compass, lamp
Instructions
Place a compass on the table.
Use one long wire (and a short wire) to connect a lamp to a DC power supply. Test that it works- Turn off.
Move the long wire over the compass so that the needle is parallel to it.
Turn on and determine the direction of the magnetic field.
Repeat with the compass above the wire.
Try different situations
Turn the long wire so it is vertical and place the compass as close as possible to it.
Determine the direction of the magnetic field
Reverse the polarity and repeat.
Does the magnetic field remain in the same direction?
Practical 560
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Electric Motor
Gear: crocodile clip, 2V power supply, Hodson Electric Motor Kit,
Check that the kit contents are complete before you start
Align and press the two halves of the rotor together until they click (fig.1)
Insert axle to ensure rotor spins freely
Remove axle and wind the coil with wire.
Form the commutator and hold in place with 2 rubber rings (fig. 2)
Thread wires through end plate and form the brushes with red and black wire (fig. 3).
Fit the two ends to the metal frame with the elastic band (fig. 4).
Fit the two magnets with opposite poles facing each other (fig. 5).
Fit the axle and fit the rotor between the ends and between the brushes
Check that the brushes press gently against the commutator loops.
Check that the rotor rotates freely 360o
Connect to a 2V DC supply (you may need to give an initial flick to start).
Extension
Using a small piece of adhesive tape attach a length of thread 1500 mm long to the rotor tube
(opposite end to the commutator). Hold the motor on its side on the edge of a bench so that
the string hangs down to the floor and free from obstructions. Tie a small mass to the end of
the thread and connect the motor to the power supply. Have some slack in the thread and start
the motor.
As soon as the mass begins to lift from the floor use a stopwatch to measure the time it takes
to raise a mass (eg 10 g) a height of (1 metre, perhaps).
Calculate the power of the motor in watts.
Practical 560
NAME______________________________________________________________
fig. 1
fig. 2
fig. 3
fig. 4
fig. 5
Practical 561
Efficiency of a motor
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Gear: DC motor, ammeter, switch (or double throw switch), power supply, spool with cotton and mass,
retort stand etc.
Instructions
1. Set up a motor in series with an ammeter, switch and 6V DC supply
2. Clamp to a retort stand on a bench.
3. Tape a 1.2 m length of cotton with 10 g mass.
4. Switch on to wind up the mass.
5. Stop immediately
6. Unwind by reversing the terminals (or use a double throw switch)
7. Record the current and voltage as the mass rises
(repeat a few times if necessary)
8. Measure the height the mass can travel.
9. Time how long it takes to rise to that height
10. Use E = mgh to calculate work output
11. Use E = VIt to calculate work input
x 100%
DC Supply
Practical 570
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Capacitor
Gear: Y10 electronics kit (with resistors, transistor, capacitors and 9V battery), iron wool
In this experiment you are to investigate the behaviour of a capacitor.
Instructions
1. Read the bottom half of page 246 Pople.
2. Set up the circuit using an LED instead of the 6V lamp
3. Draw this circuit diagram carefully and label the parts.
4. Observe the LED when the switch is turned on.
5. Reset the capacitor and repeat a few times
6. Record your observations.
7. Explain how the capacitor is used in this circuit.
8. Change the capacitor and explain how the different capacitor affects the circuit.
Practical 571
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
LDR
Gear: Y10 electronics kit (with resistors, transistor, LDR and 9V battery), iron wool
In this experiment you are to investigate the behaviour of a light dependent resistor.
Instructions
1. Read the top half of page 246 Pople.
2. Set up the circuit using an LED instead of the 6V lamp
3. Draw this circuit diagram carefully and label the parts.
4. Observe the LED when the LDR is in bright light (under lights) and in the dark.
5. Record your observations.
6. Swap the LDR with the 10 k ohm resistor.
7. Explain how this affects the LED.
8. Draw the circuit diagram carefully and label the parts.
Practical 572
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Thermistor
Gear: Y10 electronics kit (with resistors, transistor, thermistor and 9V battery), iron wool,
beaker of water, hair dryer
In this experiment you are to investigate the behaviour of a thermistor.
Instructions
1. Read page 247 Pople. Do not set up the circuit.
2. Copy the top circuit diagram on page 247 Pople using an LED instead of the 6V lamp,
a 9V battery instead of the 6V supply, a thermistor instead of the LDR and add an
ammeter in series with the LED.
3. Set up your circuit and record observations.
4. Use cold water and a hair dryer to change the temperature of the thermistor.
5. Explain how a thermistor changes with temperature.
Practical 573
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Transistors
Gear: power pack, ammeter, connecting wire, iron wool, npn transistors (mounted), 6-12V
lamp, 2 x 1.5 V cells
In this experiment you are to investigate the behaviour of a transistor.
Instructions
1. Read page 244 Pople.
2. Set up circuit A on Page 244 Pople and add an ammeter in series with the lamp.
3. Record your observations.
4. Draw circuit B with ammeter.
5. Set up circuit B and turn on then off the 1.5V supply to the base of the transistor.
Repeat until you know what that part of the circuit does.
6. Record your observations.
7. Use the terms baseemitter and collectoremitter to explain the behaviour of an
npn transistor.
Practical 580
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Electronic Circuits 1
Set up your circuit with a 1K variable resistor - Draw a circuit diagram for it
LED
Red (Up)
Black (Down)
Resistor
BrownBlackRed
(Gold)
Variable Resistor
Transistor
White (left)
Red (Up)
Black (Down)
The transistor turns on when the voltage across Vbe > 0.6V
The total V across the fixed resistor and variable resistor is 9V
If the resistance of the variable resistor greater than about 84 ohms the voltage is greater than 0.7 V
This will cause the transistor to turn on so the LED lights up.
If the resistance of the variable resistor less than about 84 ohms the voltage is less than 0.7 V
This will cause the transistor to turn off so the LED is off.
Set up this second circuit- use your hand to darken the LDR / use a lamp to provide more light
2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
EXPLAINATIONS
LDR has low resistance in light and high resistance in the dark
In the classroom the light level is low (darkish)
So LDR has high resistance
So VLDR = VBE is high (>0.6V)
So Transistor turns on
So LED is on
Shine light (from torch) onto LDR lowers the resistance and may drop V BE below 0.6V so LED turns
off
3 With 22K replacing 1K then VLDR has a much smaller V BE so LED probably off or needs less light (from
torch) to turn off -
In dark (or in classroom), the LDR has high resistance, so its voltage is > 0.6V so transistor is turned on so LED
is on.
In bright light (use 12V lamp), the LDR has low resistance, so its voltage < 0.6V so transistor is turned off so
LED is off.
Summary: LED is on unless LDR in bright light
Replacing the 1k resistor with the 22000 resistor means that V LDR has lower voltage initially
{it must be much darker so that the LDR resistance is much higher to allow it to get more than 0.6V or more as
its share in the potential divider.
e.g. 1000 : 100 = 8.2V : 0.8V
22000 : 100 = 8.9V : 0.1V (so not enough)}
4 Temperature control
Replace the capacitor with a thermistor
Use a hairdryer to turn off the LED.
Explain how we can use the hairdryer to turn on the
LED.
5 Courtesy light
Push the button for 2 seconds. What
happens after you release the switch?
6 Delay
Replace the yellow wire with the 100k potentiometer. Time it to light up.
This does not work the second time as the capacitor is now charged up.
Discharge it by connecting the + to of the capacitor for a second (any bare wire will do)
Repeat with the potentiometer dial in different positions. Draw a circuit diagram and explain what happens.
8 Relay
These will be phased out when ssr (solid state relays)
become more easily assessable.
Press your finger on the battery switch - the relay clicks
and both grain of wheat lamps glow.
The lamp in the yellow circuit is dim while the other
lamp is bright.
Take your finger off and the relay clicks off.
Repeat slowly and the same happens but repeat quickly
and it doesnt.
The relay acts as a latch for the white circuit.
Initial push opens the latch so white circuit is open.
When the switch is open the white circuit stays off until
inductor (relay discharges).
Resistor
1k
LED
Resistor
1k
LED
Transistor
LDR
Resistor
22k
1000F
LED
Resistor
22k
Relay
Transistor
Transistor
1000F
Motor
Practical 600
NAME______________________________________________________________
Macleans College
IGCSE Physics Practical
Radioactivity
Gear: drawing pins
Radioactive material transforms into different nuclei. In doing so it releases energy in the
form of kinetic energy or electromagnetic waves.
We will investigate the decay pattern by using drawing pins. The pins that point upwards
can be considered as radioactive atoms and the pins that point down (angle) can be
considered as decayed atoms.
Instructions
1. Count the number of pins supplied to you (approx. 100-200). This is throw 0
2. Pour them onto your table top. This is throw number 1.
3. Count the number of pins that are pointing upwards (radioactive
atoms)
4. Remove all pins that face down (decayed atoms)
5. Throw again using only radioactive atoms. This is throw number
2.
6. Repeat several times until all of the pins are used up.
7. Continue the table for as many throws necessary.
Throw
number
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Number of
radioactive
atoms
Practical 600
NAME______________________________________________________________
8. Graph the classs number of Number of radioactive atoms on the vertical axis against
the Throw number.
9. Determine the half life of this by halving the initial number of pins and finding the
corresponding time.
10. Repeat for different initial values and finding the corresponding time interval.