Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

Calculated values of a 'constant' differ by 2%, and the estimated uncertainty is 5%. Conclusion:

Accepted Answer

the relationship is supported

Answer

the uncertainty is wrong

Answer

the relationship is disproved

Answer

the experiment failed

Question 2

Readings should be recorded in:

Accepted Answer

a table with headings and units

Answer

your memory

Answer

a graph only

Answer

random places on paper

Question 3

The main reason for keeping a safe distance from other investigators is to:

Accepted Answer

prevent accidents involving their apparatus

Answer

get more space for yourself only

Answer

copy their results

Answer

avoid talking

Question 4

A false origin on a graph is used when:

Accepted Answer

the data values are far from zero, so starting the axes at zero would squash the points

Answer

there are no data

Answer

the graph passes through the origin

Answer

the values are negative only

Question 5

A limitation in a cooling experiment might be:

Accepted Answer

the room temperature changing during the experiment

Answer

the water being too pure

Answer

the thermometer being too accurate

Answer

the clock being digital

Question 6

If the x-axis scale is 2 cm per 1 unit, a point 7 cm from the origin (true origin) along x represents:

Accepted Answer

3.5 units

Answer

1.4 units

Answer

7 units

Answer

14 units

Question 7

A gap in a line with a hinged line represents:

Accepted Answer

an open switch

Answer

a lamp

Answer

a closed switch

Answer

a fuse

Question 8

A reading that is very different from the others in a repeated set is called:

Accepted Answer

an anomaly (outlier)

Answer

the mean

Answer

the gradient

Answer

the range

Question 9

A straight line has gradient 2.5 and passes through (4, 13). The graph uses a false origin, so the y-intercept is found by calculation. It is:

Accepted Answer

3

Answer

13

Answer

23

Answer

3.25

Question 10

A micrometer screw gauge has a smallest division of 0.01 mm. The absolute uncertainty is about:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.01 mm

Answer

pm 1 cm

Answer

pm 0.1 mm

Answer

pm 1 mm

Question 11

Data loggers are useful when:

Accepted Answer

many readings are needed quickly or over a long time

Answer

only one reading is needed

Answer

no data are needed

Answer

measurements are by eye

Question 12

A student finds g = 9.5 m/s^2; the accepted value is 9.8 m/s^2. The percentage difference from the accepted value is about:

Accepted Answer

3%

Answer

30%

Answer

97%

Answer

0.3%

Question 13

For mathcalE = I(R + r), plotting 1I against R gives a gradient of:

Accepted Answer

1mathcalE

Answer

mathcalE

Answer

rmathcalE

Answer

r

Question 14

The y-intercept of a tangent to a curve can be found by:

Accepted Answer

finding the tangent's gradient, then c = y - mx using the point of contact

Answer

using the curve's end point

Answer

it can't be found

Answer

reading the curve at x = 0

Question 15

Repeating readings and averaging improves:

Accepted Answer

the reliability (reduces random error)

Answer

the units

Answer

systematic error

Answer

the hypothesis

Question 16

Extrapolation is less reliable than interpolation because:

Accepted Answer

the relationship may not continue beyond the measured range

Answer

it is always wrong

Answer

the units change

Answer

graphs can't be extended

Question 17

Absolute uncertainty is best described as:

Accepted Answer

the range within which the true value is likely to lie

Answer

a mistake

Answer

the difference from the textbook value

Answer

a percentage

Question 18

The independent variable should be varied:

Accepted Answer

over as large a range as possible with evenly spaced values

Answer

over the smallest range

Answer

only at one value

Answer

randomly

Question 19

A graph of 1I against R has gradient 0.50 A^-1 Ω^-1 and intercept 0.25 A^-1. The e.m.f. of the cell is:

Accepted Answer

2.0 V

Answer

0.50 V

Answer

0.25 V

Answer

4.0 V

Question 20

For s = 12gt^2 (from rest), a straight line through the origin is obtained by plotting:

Accepted Answer

s against t^2

Answer

s^2 against t

Answer

s against t

Question 21

A student measures the time for 10 swings as 15.6 s. The period is:

Accepted Answer

1.56 s

Answer

156 s

Answer

0.156 s

Answer

15.6 s

Question 22

A description of insulating a calorimeter should include:

Accepted Answer

the material used and where it is placed

Answer

the colour

Answer

only 'insulate it'

Answer

the cost

Question 23

A tangent to a curve at a point:

Accepted Answer

touches the curve at that point and has the same slope there

Answer

crosses the curve twice

Answer

passes through the origin

Answer

is always horizontal

Question 24

A pendulum experiment uses lengths of 0.95, 0.96, 0.97 and 0.98 m. This is poor because:

Accepted Answer

the range is too narrow to show the relationship

Answer

the lengths are too long

Answer

the readings are too precise

Answer

there are too many points

Question 25

Using a false origin does NOT change:

Accepted Answer

the gradient of the line

Answer

the starting value on the axis

Answer

the scale spacing

Answer

the position of points on the paper

Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs — Physics (page 11)

251. Calculated values of a 'constant' differ by 2%, and the estimated uncertainty is 5%. Conclusion:

252. Readings should be recorded in:

253. The main reason for keeping a safe distance from other investigators is to:

254. A false origin on a graph is used when:

255. A limitation in a cooling experiment might be:

256. If the x-axis scale is 2 cm per 1 unit, a point 7 cm from the origin (true origin) along x represents:

257. A gap in a line with a hinged line represents:

258. A reading that is very different from the others in a repeated set is called:

259. A straight line has gradient 2.5 and passes through (4, 13). The graph uses a false origin, so the y-intercept is found by calculation. It is:

260. A micrometer screw gauge has a smallest division of 0.01 mm. The absolute uncertainty is about:

261. Data loggers are useful when:

262. A student finds g = 9.5 m/s^2; the accepted value is 9.8 m/s^2. The percentage difference from the accepted value is about:

263. For mathcalE = I(R + r), plotting 1I against R gives a gradient of:

264. The y-intercept of a tangent to a curve can be found by:

265. Repeating readings and averaging improves:

266. Extrapolation is less reliable than interpolation because:

267. Absolute uncertainty is best described as:

268. The independent variable should be varied:

269. A graph of 1I against R has gradient 0.50 A^-1 Ω^-1 and intercept 0.25 A^-1. The e.m.f. of the cell is:

270. For s = 12gt^2 (from rest), a straight line through the origin is obtained by plotting:

271. A student measures the time for 10 swings as 15.6 s. The period is:

272. A description of insulating a calorimeter should include:

273. A tangent to a curve at a point:

274. A pendulum experiment uses lengths of 0.95, 0.96, 0.97 and 0.98 m. This is poor because:

275. Using a false origin does NOT change:

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