Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

Before using a radioactive source, the teacher should check that:

Accepted Answer

it is stored, labelled and handled with tongs

Answer

it is kept in a pocket

Answer

it is held by hand

Answer

students take it home

Question 2

A V–I graph for a resistor is a straight line through the origin with gradient 12 V/A. The resistance is:

Accepted Answer

12 Ω

Answer

1.2 Ω

Answer

24 Ω

Answer

0.083 Ω

Question 3

If a graph has a false origin on the x-axis, the y-intercept:

Accepted Answer

cannot be read directly where the line meets the left edge

Answer

is always zero

Answer

is the gradient

Answer

is where the line meets the left edge

Question 4

For v = u + at, a graph of v against t has gradient:

Accepted Answer

a

Answer

v

Answer

t

Answer

u

Question 5

A limitation in a refraction experiment with a ray box may be:

Accepted Answer

the ray being too wide to mark its position precisely

Answer

light travelling straight

Answer

the protractor being round

Answer

the block being transparent

Question 6

Which is the best precaution against electric shock in a mains-powered experiment?

Accepted Answer

use an RCD and check insulation

Answer

work with wet hands

Answer

use bare wires

Answer

remove fuses

Question 7

Using the largest possible range of the independent variable makes the percentage uncertainty in each reading:

Accepted Answer

smaller at the large values

Answer

larger at all values

Answer

unchanged

Answer

zero

Question 8

A measurement is (9.8 pm 0.2). The percentage uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

2.04%

Answer

49%

Answer

20.4%

Answer

20%

Question 9

A graph of stress against strain has a gradient of 2.0 10^11 Pa. This gives the:

Accepted Answer

Young modulus

Answer

breaking stress

Answer

spring constant

Answer

density

Question 10

When the bench is cluttered during an experiment, you should:

Accepted Answer

stop and tidy away items you no longer need

Answer

work faster

Answer

push things to the edge

Answer

ignore it

Question 11

While a projectile launcher is being used, others should:

Accepted Answer

stand behind the launcher, not in the firing direction

Answer

try to catch the projectile

Answer

lie on the floor in front

Answer

stand in front of it

Question 12

To obtain an appropriate quantity of data, the readings should:

Accepted Answer

cover the full range and be suitably spaced

Answer

be clustered at one end

Answer

be all the same

Answer

be random guesses

Question 13

For a pendulum, T = 2pi lg. A straight line through the origin is obtained by plotting:

Accepted Answer

T^2 against l

Answer

T against l

Answer

T against l^2

Answer

T against l

Question 14

Values of T^2l are 4.02, 4.05, 3.98, 4.01 s^2/m. This supports the relationship T^2 = kl with k about:

Accepted Answer

4.0 s^2/m

Answer

1 s^2/m

Answer

0.25 s^2/m

Answer

16 s^2/m

Question 15

In y = mx + c, c is the:

Accepted Answer

y-intercept

Answer

constant of proportionality only if m = 0

Answer

gradient

Answer

x-intercept

Question 16

A line sloping downward from left to right has a:

Accepted Answer

negative gradient

Answer

zero gradient

Answer

infinite gradient

Answer

positive gradient

Question 17

A measurement of 2.0 ± 0.1 mm (5%) and another of 50.0 ± 0.1 cm (0.2%). The most significant is:

Accepted Answer

the 2.0 mm measurement

Answer

the 50.0 cm measurement

Answer

both equal

Answer

neither

Question 18

A rectangle with a line through its length represents:

Accepted Answer

a fuse

Answer

a lamp

Answer

a thermistor

Answer

a resistor

Question 19

The y-intercept with a false origin is found using:

Accepted Answer

c = y1 - mx1 for a point on the line

Answer

c = m

Answer

c = y1x1

Answer

c = y1x1

Question 20

To improve the measurement of a pendulum's period, you could:

Accepted Answer

time 20 oscillations and use a fiducial marker at the centre of the swing

Answer

use a very large amplitude

Answer

time 1 oscillation

Answer

release the bob with a push

Question 21

The lab instructor can help you by:

Accepted Answer

explaining the correct use and the safety precautions

Answer

removing all hazards forever

Answer

changing your results

Answer

doing all your work

Question 22

When a wire is being loaded in a Young modulus experiment, observers should:

Accepted Answer

stand back and keep feet away from the loads

Answer

hold the wire

Answer

stand directly under the loads

Answer

lean on the clamp

Question 23

If all the points lie on a straight line that does not pass through the origin when it is expected to, this suggests:

Accepted Answer

a systematic error (e.g. zero error)

Answer

random error

Answer

no error

Answer

too many points

Question 24

In a circuit diagram, the symbol of a long thin line and a short thick line represents:

Accepted Answer

a cell

Answer

a switch

Answer

a lamp

Answer

a resistor

Question 25

Long hair and loose clothing near apparatus should be:

Accepted Answer

tied back

Answer

ignored

Answer

left loose

Answer

spread on the bench

Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs — Physics (page 13)

301. Before using a radioactive source, the teacher should check that:

302. A V–I graph for a resistor is a straight line through the origin with gradient 12 V/A. The resistance is:

303. If a graph has a false origin on the x-axis, the y-intercept:

304. For v = u + at, a graph of v against t has gradient:

305. A limitation in a refraction experiment with a ray box may be:

306. Which is the best precaution against electric shock in a mains-powered experiment?

307. Using the largest possible range of the independent variable makes the percentage uncertainty in each reading:

308. A measurement is (9.8 pm 0.2). The percentage uncertainty is:

309. A graph of stress against strain has a gradient of 2.0 10^11 Pa. This gives the:

310. When the bench is cluttered during an experiment, you should:

311. While a projectile launcher is being used, others should:

312. To obtain an appropriate quantity of data, the readings should:

313. For a pendulum, T = 2pi lg. A straight line through the origin is obtained by plotting:

314. Values of T^2l are 4.02, 4.05, 3.98, 4.01 s^2/m. This supports the relationship T^2 = kl with k about:

315. In y = mx + c, c is the:

316. A line sloping downward from left to right has a:

317. A measurement of 2.0 ± 0.1 mm (5%) and another of 50.0 ± 0.1 cm (0.2%). The most significant is:

318. A rectangle with a line through its length represents:

319. The y-intercept with a false origin is found using:

320. To improve the measurement of a pendulum's period, you could:

321. The lab instructor can help you by:

322. When a wire is being loaded in a Young modulus experiment, observers should:

323. If all the points lie on a straight line that does not pass through the origin when it is expected to, this suggests:

324. In a circuit diagram, the symbol of a long thin line and a short thick line represents:

325. Long hair and loose clothing near apparatus should be:

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