Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

The y-intercept of a straight line is the value of y when:

Accepted Answer

x = 0

Answer

the line ends

Answer

x = 1

Answer

y = 0

Question 2

A line of best fit should be drawn with:

Accepted Answer

a sharp pencil and a ruler (for straight lines)

Answer

a thick pen freehand

Answer

a crayon

Answer

a marker

Question 3

When another group is heating liquids, you should:

Accepted Answer

keep a safe distance from their apparatus

Answer

move their burner

Answer

lean over to watch closely

Answer

help by holding the beaker

Question 4

A biological hazard might occur when:

Accepted Answer

sharing mouthpieces or handling unclean equipment

Answer

using a spring

Answer

measuring length

Answer

using a voltmeter

Question 5

A circle with the letter V inside it represents:

Accepted Answer

a voltmeter

Answer

an ammeter

Answer

a motor

Answer

a variable resistor

Question 6

A spring can safely take loads up to 10 N. A good set of loads is:

Accepted Answer

1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 N

Answer

1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 N

Answer

10, 10, 10 N

Answer

0.1, 0.2, 0.3 N

Question 7

A voltmeter has a range 0–5 V; the supply can give up to 12 V. The largest p.d. you should apply to the voltmeter is:

Accepted Answer

5 V

Answer

10 V

Answer

12 V

Answer

6 V

Question 8

For Boyle's law p = kV, a straight line is obtained by plotting:

Accepted Answer

p against 1V

Answer

p against V

Answer

pV against V^2

Answer

p^2 against V

Question 9

A suitable precaution when using a stroboscope is:

Accepted Answer

checking no-one present is affected by flashing lights (e.g. epilepsy)

Answer

using the fastest flash rate

Answer

looking directly at it for long periods

Answer

using it in bright light only

Question 10

The 'half the range' method gives the uncertainty as:

Accepted Answer

largest - smallest2

Answer

largest + smallest2

Answer

largest - smallest

Answer

mean 2

Question 11

A dot at a junction of two wires in a circuit diagram means:

Accepted Answer

the wires are connected

Answer

a switch

Answer

the wires cross without connection

Answer

a cell

Question 12

Measuring a small time interval with a stopwatch gives a large percentage uncertainty because:

Accepted Answer

the absolute uncertainty (reaction time) is large compared with the interval

Answer

stopwatches are inaccurate

Answer

time is not measurable

Answer

the interval is long

Question 13

An anomalous point on a graph should be:

Accepted Answer

identified and ignored when drawing the line of best fit

Answer

deleted from the table without comment

Answer

joined to the line

Answer

given the most weight

Question 14

The main hazard when using a laser pointer is:

Accepted Answer

eye damage

Answer

electric shock

Answer

burns to hands

Answer

infection

Question 15

Heavy objects should be placed:

Accepted Answer

near the centre of the bench, not near the edge

Answer

on the bench edge

Answer

on top of glassware

Answer

on stools

Question 16

A straight line through the origin shows that y is:

Accepted Answer

directly proportional to x

Answer

independent of x

Answer

proportional to x^2

Answer

inversely proportional to x

Question 17

Labels on a diagram should:

Accepted Answer

name the important parts and use clear lines to point to them

Answer

be in random places

Answer

overlap the drawing

Answer

be omitted

Question 18

A measurement is (25.0 pm 0.1). The percentage uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

0.4%

Answer

10%

Answer

4%

Answer

250%

Question 19

Spilled water on the floor should be:

Accepted Answer

wiped up immediately

Answer

ignored

Answer

covered with paper

Answer

left to dry

Question 20

When drawing a line of best fit, roughly equal numbers of points should be:

Accepted Answer

above and below the line

Answer

on the axes

Answer

above the line only

Answer

outside the graph

Question 21

A clear description of a modification should state:

Accepted Answer

what is changed, how it is done and why it improves the experiment

Answer

only 'do it better'

Answer

only the title

Answer

only the result

Question 22

Which is the BEST statement of a limitation?

Accepted Answer

The time for one oscillation (about 1 s) is small, so the reaction time of ±0.2 s gives a large percentage uncertainty

Answer

The results were wrong

Answer

The experiment was difficult

Answer

Human error occurred

Question 23

If the percentage difference is greater than the percentage uncertainty, the conclusion is that:

Accepted Answer

the results do not support the relationship (or errors were underestimated)

Answer

the relationship is proved

Answer

nothing can be said

Answer

the data are perfect

Question 24

Hypothesis: 'doubling the current doubles the magnetic force'. Data show 0.10 N at 1.0 A and 0.19 N at 2.0 A, with ±0.01 N uncertainty. This:

Accepted Answer

supports the hypothesis within experimental uncertainty

Answer

shows no relationship

Answer

shows force halves

Answer

disproves it

Question 25

A metre rule is used to measure lengths from 10 cm to 90 cm. The range is:

Accepted Answer

80 cm

Answer

90 cm

Answer

100 cm

Answer

10 cm

Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs — Physics (page 2)

26. The y-intercept of a straight line is the value of y when:

27. A line of best fit should be drawn with:

28. When another group is heating liquids, you should:

29. A biological hazard might occur when:

30. A circle with the letter V inside it represents:

31. A spring can safely take loads up to 10 N. A good set of loads is:

32. A voltmeter has a range 0–5 V; the supply can give up to 12 V. The largest p.d. you should apply to the voltmeter is:

33. For Boyle's law p = kV, a straight line is obtained by plotting:

34. A suitable precaution when using a stroboscope is:

35. The 'half the range' method gives the uncertainty as:

36. A dot at a junction of two wires in a circuit diagram means:

37. Measuring a small time interval with a stopwatch gives a large percentage uncertainty because:

38. An anomalous point on a graph should be:

39. The main hazard when using a laser pointer is:

40. Heavy objects should be placed:

41. A straight line through the origin shows that y is:

42. Labels on a diagram should:

43. A measurement is (25.0 pm 0.1). The percentage uncertainty is:

44. Spilled water on the floor should be:

45. When drawing a line of best fit, roughly equal numbers of points should be:

46. A clear description of a modification should state:

47. Which is the BEST statement of a limitation?

48. If the percentage difference is greater than the percentage uncertainty, the conclusion is that:

49. Hypothesis: 'doubling the current doubles the magnetic force'. Data show 0.10 N at 1.0 A and 0.19 N at 2.0 A, with ±0.01 N uncertainty. This:

50. A metre rule is used to measure lengths from 10 cm to 90 cm. The range is:

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