Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

Repeated readings: 15.2, 15.6, 15.4, 15.0. Using half the range, the absolute uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.3

Answer

pm 15.3

Answer

pm 0.6

Answer

pm 0.15

Question 2

A clamp stand holding a heavy load should be:

Accepted Answer

clamped to the bench or counterweighted

Answer

free to move

Answer

placed on the edge of the bench

Answer

held by a student

Question 3

A limitation when measuring the extension of a spring with a ruler is:

Accepted Answer

parallax error and difficulty reading small extensions

Answer

the ruler is too accurate

Answer

the load is too precise

Answer

the spring is too elastic

Question 4

To identify the most significant uncertainty, compare:

Accepted Answer

the percentage uncertainties of the measured quantities

Answer

the number of readings

Answer

the absolute values

Answer

the units

Question 5

In a V–I graph for a cell, the y-intercept gives:

Accepted Answer

the e.m.f.

Answer

the internal resistance

Answer

the current

Answer

the power

Question 6

Repeated readings of 12.1, 12.3, 15.8 and 12.2 s: the anomalous reading is:

Accepted Answer

15.8 s

Answer

12.3 s

Answer

12.1 s

Answer

12.2 s

Question 7

Why do we use half the range rather than the full range?

Accepted Answer

the true value is likely to be within about half the spread either side of the mean

Answer

full range is always zero

Answer

it makes results look better

Answer

half the range is the mean

Question 8

A length is recorded as (25.0 pm 0.1) cm. The absolute uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

0.1 cm

Answer

0.4%

Answer

25.0 cm

Answer

25.1 cm

Question 9

Identifying limitations is useful because:

Accepted Answer

it leads to suggestions for improving the experiment

Answer

it changes the results

Answer

it isn't needed

Answer

it lowers marks

Question 10

In measuring g with a falling ball and light gates, the most significant uncertainty may be:

Accepted Answer

the distance between the gates if small

Answer

the colour of the ball

Answer

the time, measured electronically to 0.001 s

Answer

the value of pi

Question 11

When choosing the range of values, you must also consider:

Accepted Answer

safety and the limits of the apparatus

Answer

only the time available

Answer

only the colour of the graph paper

Answer

nothing

Question 12

If the points clearly follow a curve, you should draw:

Accepted Answer

a smooth curve of best fit

Answer

no line

Answer

short straight segments between points

Answer

a straight line anyway

Question 13

A graph of extension against load is a straight line through the origin with gradient 0.02 m/N. The spring constant is:

Accepted Answer

50 N/m

Answer

2 N/m

Answer

0.02 N/m

Answer

500 N/m

Question 14

In the example above, the student's percentage uncertainty is 5%. Conclusion:

Accepted Answer

the result agrees with the accepted value within uncertainty

Answer

the result disagrees

Answer

g is 9.5 m/s^2 exactly

Answer

the uncertainty is wrong

Question 15

A chemical hazard might come from:

Accepted Answer

mercury in an old thermometer if it breaks

Answer

a stopwatch

Answer

a metre rule

Answer

a pendulum string

Question 16

After setting up a circuit, before switching on, you should:

Accepted Answer

check it against the circuit diagram

Answer

add extra wires

Answer

remove the meters

Answer

switch on immediately

Question 17

The half-range method is a simple estimate of:

Accepted Answer

random uncertainty

Answer

systematic error

Answer

the true value

Answer

zero error

Question 18

If the gradient of T^2 against l is 4.0 s^2/m, then g is about:

Accepted Answer

9.9 m/s^2

Answer

39.5 m/s^2

Answer

4.0 m/s^2

Answer

0.25 m/s^2

Question 19

To reduce friction in a trolley experiment, you could:

Accepted Answer

tilt the runway slightly to compensate for friction

Answer

add sandpaper

Answer

push the trolley harder

Answer

use heavier wheels only

Question 20

Points (2, 7) and (6, 19) lie on a line. Its y-intercept is:

Accepted Answer

1

Answer

7

Answer

3

Answer

-1

Question 21

On a velocity–time graph, the gradient gives:

Accepted Answer

the acceleration

Answer

the velocity

Answer

the force

Answer

the displacement

Question 22

A relationship y = kx^2 can be tested by checking whether:

Accepted Answer

yx^2 is constant

Answer

y + x^2 is constant

Answer

yx is constant

Question 23

Instructions say lengths of 20 cm to 80 cm. A student uses 20 cm to 40 cm only. The problem is:

Accepted Answer

the range is too small

Answer

the range is too large

Answer

the units are wrong

Answer

there is no problem

Question 24

Why must uncertainty be considered when testing whether a quantity is constant?

Accepted Answer

experimental values will never be exactly equal, so we check if differences are within uncertainty

Answer

constants have no uncertainty

Answer

it isn't needed

Answer

uncertainty makes values equal

Question 25

Before using a laser in an experiment, you should check that:

Accepted Answer

it is a low-power class suitable for school use and never pointed at eyes

Answer

the room is completely dark

Answer

it is the most powerful available

Answer

it is pointed at a mirror facing you

Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs — Physics (page 16)

376. Repeated readings: 15.2, 15.6, 15.4, 15.0. Using half the range, the absolute uncertainty is:

377. A clamp stand holding a heavy load should be:

378. A limitation when measuring the extension of a spring with a ruler is:

379. To identify the most significant uncertainty, compare:

380. In a V–I graph for a cell, the y-intercept gives:

381. Repeated readings of 12.1, 12.3, 15.8 and 12.2 s: the anomalous reading is:

382. Why do we use half the range rather than the full range?

383. A length is recorded as (25.0 pm 0.1) cm. The absolute uncertainty is:

384. Identifying limitations is useful because:

385. In measuring g with a falling ball and light gates, the most significant uncertainty may be:

386. When choosing the range of values, you must also consider:

387. If the points clearly follow a curve, you should draw:

388. A graph of extension against load is a straight line through the origin with gradient 0.02 m/N. The spring constant is:

389. In the example above, the student's percentage uncertainty is 5%. Conclusion:

390. A chemical hazard might come from:

391. After setting up a circuit, before switching on, you should:

392. The half-range method is a simple estimate of:

393. If the gradient of T^2 against l is 4.0 s^2/m, then g is about:

394. To reduce friction in a trolley experiment, you could:

395. Points (2, 7) and (6, 19) lie on a line. Its y-intercept is:

396. On a velocity–time graph, the gradient gives:

397. A relationship y = kx^2 can be tested by checking whether:

398. Instructions say lengths of 20 cm to 80 cm. A student uses 20 cm to 40 cm only. The problem is:

399. Why must uncertainty be considered when testing whether a quantity is constant?

400. Before using a laser in an experiment, you should check that:

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