Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

When using a false origin, you cannot read the y-intercept directly because:

Accepted Answer

the axis does not start at x = 0

Answer

the scale is logarithmic

Answer

the gradient is zero

Answer

the graph has no y-axis

Question 2

To improve the accuracy of locating the landing point of a projectile, you could:

Accepted Answer

use carbon paper on the floor to record the impact

Answer

guess where it lands

Answer

use a heavier floor

Answer

use a dark room

Question 3

During an experiment with a rotating flywheel, observers should:

Accepted Answer

stand clear of the rotating parts

Answer

stop it with their hands

Answer

lean over it

Answer

touch it to feel the speed

Question 4

Repeated readings of a quantity are 15.2, 15.6, 15.4, 15.0. The mean is:

Accepted Answer

15.3

Answer

15

Answer

61.2

Answer

15.6

Question 5

When someone carries hot or heavy apparatus past you, you should:

Accepted Answer

move aside and give them space

Answer

block their path

Answer

ask them to hand it to you

Answer

touch it

Question 6

Two values of a constant are 15.0 and 18.0. The stated percentage uncertainty is 10%. The percentage difference (relative to the mean) and the conclusion are:

Accepted Answer

18%; the relationship is not supported

Answer

36%; the relationship is supported

Answer

3%; the relationship is not supported

Answer

18%; the relationship is supported

Question 7

If the maximum current a resistor can safely carry is 0.5 A, readings should be taken:

Accepted Answer

up to about 0.5 A, not beyond

Answer

well above 0.5 A

Answer

at 0.5 A only

Answer

only up to 0.05 A

Question 8

In an experiment varying length from 10 cm to 100 cm, a sensible number of different lengths is:

Accepted Answer

6 to 8

Answer

2

Answer

100

Answer

1

Question 9

A meter's needle does not rest on zero before a measurement. You should:

Accepted Answer

adjust it to zero (correct the zero error) before starting

Answer

start anyway and guess

Answer

ignore it

Answer

tap the meter hard

Question 10

Parallax error when reading a scale can be reduced by:

Accepted Answer

viewing the scale at eye level, perpendicular to it

Answer

using a mirror at 45°

Answer

viewing from an angle

Answer

closing both eyes

Question 11

Predictions from data are most reliable:

Accepted Answer

within the range of the measured data

Answer

using one point

Answer

far outside the range

Answer

when there is no data

Question 12

For a time period measurement of a pendulum, you should time:

Accepted Answer

a number of oscillations (e.g. 20) rather than one

Answer

the release only

Answer

one oscillation only

Answer

half an oscillation

Question 13

Readings of 4.2, 4.6 and 4.4 s are recorded. The result should be stated as:

Accepted Answer

(4.4 pm 0.2) s

Answer

(4.4 pm 0.4) s

Answer

(4.4 pm 0.1) s

Answer

(4.6 pm 0.2) s

Question 14

For v^2 = u^2 + 2as, plotting v^2 against s gives a gradient of:

Accepted Answer

2a

Answer

a

Answer

a2

Answer

u^2

Question 15

A curve of best fit should be:

Accepted Answer

a single smooth line, not a series of joined segments

Answer

drawn with a ruler in pieces

Answer

dotted

Answer

zig-zag

Question 16

Two values of a constant are 9.6 and 10.4. The stated percentage uncertainty is 3%. The percentage difference (relative to the mean) and the conclusion are:

Accepted Answer

8%; the relationship is not supported

Answer

8%; the relationship is supported

Answer

0.8%; the relationship is not supported

Answer

16%; the relationship is supported

Question 17

Describing modifications clearly in words or diagrams demonstrates the skill of:

Accepted Answer

scientific communication

Answer

guessing

Answer

memorising

Answer

calculation only

Question 18

A limitation caused by friction in a dynamics trolley experiment is that:

Accepted Answer

the measured acceleration is less than expected

Answer

there is no effect

Answer

the force increases

Answer

the trolley gets heavier

Question 19

Readings are repeated in order to:

Accepted Answer

reduce the effect of random errors and identify anomalies

Answer

remove systematic errors

Answer

make the experiment longer

Answer

change the result

Question 20

Describing a modification in words is helpful because:

Accepted Answer

another person can repeat it exactly

Answer

it hides the method

Answer

words are always better than diagrams

Answer

it shortens the report

Question 21

A cooling curve is read at t = 3.0 min, giving 64 °C. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

interpolation

Answer

anomaly

Answer

repetition

Answer

extrapolation

Question 22

If yx steadily increases as x increases, then y = kx:

Accepted Answer

is not supported

Answer

is supported

Answer

has a constant k

Answer

is proven

Question 23

A measurement is (2.5 pm 0.05). The percentage uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

2%

Answer

50%

Answer

20%

Answer

5%

Question 24

If you are not sure whether an electrical circuit is safe before switching on, you should:

Accepted Answer

ask the instructor to check it

Answer

use a higher voltage

Answer

touch the wires

Answer

switch on and see

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 3)

51. When using a false origin, you cannot read the y-intercept directly because:

52. To improve the accuracy of locating the landing point of a projectile, you could:

53. During an experiment with a rotating flywheel, observers should:

54. Repeated readings of a quantity are 15.2, 15.6, 15.4, 15.0. The mean is:

55. When someone carries hot or heavy apparatus past you, you should:

56. Two values of a constant are 15.0 and 18.0. The stated percentage uncertainty is 10%. The percentage difference (relative to the mean) and the conclusion are:

57. If the maximum current a resistor can safely carry is 0.5 A, readings should be taken:

58. In an experiment varying length from 10 cm to 100 cm, a sensible number of different lengths is:

59. A meter's needle does not rest on zero before a measurement. You should:

60. Parallax error when reading a scale can be reduced by:

61. Predictions from data are most reliable:

62. For a time period measurement of a pendulum, you should time:

63. Readings of 4.2, 4.6 and 4.4 s are recorded. The result should be stated as:

64. For v^2 = u^2 + 2as, plotting v^2 against s gives a gradient of:

65. A curve of best fit should be:

66. Two values of a constant are 9.6 and 10.4. The stated percentage uncertainty is 3%. The percentage difference (relative to the mean) and the conclusion are:

67. Describing modifications clearly in words or diagrams demonstrates the skill of:

68. A limitation caused by friction in a dynamics trolley experiment is that:

69. Readings are repeated in order to:

70. Describing a modification in words is helpful because:

71. A cooling curve is read at t = 3.0 min, giving 64 °C. This is an example of:

72. If yx steadily increases as x increases, then y = kx:

73. A measurement is (2.5 pm 0.05). The percentage uncertainty is:

74. If you are not sure whether an electrical circuit is safe before switching on, you should:

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

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