Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

Why compare percentage difference with percentage uncertainty rather than just looking at the numbers?

Accepted Answer

it gives an objective criterion for agreement

Answer

uncertainty doesn't matter

Answer

it looks more scientific only

Answer

numbers are always equal

Question 2

Before using a glass thermometer, you should check that:

Accepted Answer

the thread is continuous and the bulb is not cracked

Answer

it is as long as possible

Answer

it reads exactly 0 °C in air

Answer

it is warm

Question 3

A value of 3.2 has a percentage uncertainty of 5%. The absolute uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.16

Answer

pm 5

Answer

pm 0.64

Answer

pm 1.6

Question 4

Electrical leads should be arranged so that:

Accepted Answer

they don't trail across walkways or near water

Answer

they cross over hot plates

Answer

they hang off the bench

Answer

they lie in sinks

Question 5

A cooling curve's tangent at t = 2 min has a gradient of −5 °C/min. This means:

Accepted Answer

the temperature is falling at 5 °C per minute at that moment

Answer

the temperature is 5 °C

Answer

the temperature is rising

Answer

the cooling has stopped

Question 6

A value of 50.0 has a percentage uncertainty of 2%. The absolute uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

pm 1

Answer

pm 10

Answer

pm 25

Answer

pm 2

Question 7

If you break something, you should:

Accepted Answer

inform the instructor straight away

Answer

leave it for the next class

Answer

hide it

Answer

blame another student

Question 8

Using a wide range of values helps to:

Accepted Answer

check whether a relationship holds over all values

Answer

make all readings equal

Answer

avoid drawing graphs

Answer

increase random error

Question 9

Before switching on a circuit, you should:

Accepted Answer

check the connections and that meters are connected the right way round

Answer

touch the bare wires

Answer

remove the switch

Answer

switch on at maximum current

Question 10

To reduce the most significant uncertainty in timing oscillations, you should:

Accepted Answer

time more oscillations

Answer

time half an oscillation

Answer

use a heavier bob

Answer

use a shorter string

Question 11

Before using a micrometer screw gauge, you should:

Accepted Answer

close the jaws gently and check for a zero error

Answer

tighten it as hard as possible

Answer

oil the scale

Answer

heat it

Question 12

A spring balance should be checked for zero and held:

Accepted Answer

vertically

Answer

upside down

Answer

horizontally

Answer

at 45^circ

Question 13

Keeping a safe distance applies especially when others use:

Accepted Answer

heat, sharp objects, moving parts, chemicals or high voltage

Answer

pencils only

Answer

rulers only

Answer

paper only

Question 14

Which is the clearest description of a modification?

Accepted Answer

Use two light gates 0.50 m apart connected to a timer to measure the ball's time of fall

Answer

Do it again

Answer

Be more careful

Answer

Use better equipment

Question 15

When written instructions say 'record the reading every 30 s for 5 minutes', the number of readings (including at 0 s) is:

Accepted Answer

11

Answer

10

Answer

30

Answer

5

Question 16

Broken glass is a:

Accepted Answer

physical hazard (cuts)

Answer

radiation hazard

Answer

electrical hazard

Answer

biological hazard

Question 17

When repeating a reading, you should:

Accepted Answer

repeat it under the same conditions

Answer

change the units

Answer

use a different quantity

Answer

change the method each time

Question 18

A tangent drawn at the peak of a curve is:

Accepted Answer

horizontal (gradient zero)

Answer

vertical

Answer

undefined always

Answer

at 45°

Question 19

A diagram of a light-gate set-up should show:

Accepted Answer

the position of the gates, the falling object and the timer connections

Answer

only the timer

Answer

only the object

Answer

nothing important

Question 20

A student investigating how the period of a pendulum depends on amplitude should keep amplitudes:

Accepted Answer

small (within the equipment and theory limits), but spread over that range

Answer

all equal

Answer

random

Answer

very large

Question 21

A graph of voltage (2.1–2.9 V) against current (0.10–0.50 A) — a suitable choice is:

Accepted Answer

a false origin on the voltage axis

Answer

no axes

Answer

current axis from 0 to 100 A

Answer

voltage axis from 0 to 100 V

Question 22

A ray box and protractor for refraction experiments should be set up so that:

Accepted Answer

the normal is drawn at the point of incidence on the block's outline

Answer

the protractor is upside down

Answer

the ray is at random angles

Answer

the block moves during the experiment

Question 23

The main advantage of a false origin is that:

Accepted Answer

plotted points occupy most of the grid, improving precision

Answer

it removes uncertainties

Answer

the graph looks empty

Answer

it changes the gradient

Question 24

Resistance R = V/I with V having 2% and I 3% uncertainty. The uncertainty in R is:

Accepted Answer

5%

Answer

6%

Answer

1%

Answer

1.5%

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 6)

126. Why compare percentage difference with percentage uncertainty rather than just looking at the numbers?

127. Before using a glass thermometer, you should check that:

128. A value of 3.2 has a percentage uncertainty of 5%. The absolute uncertainty is:

129. Electrical leads should be arranged so that:

130. A cooling curve's tangent at t = 2 min has a gradient of −5 °C/min. This means:

131. A value of 50.0 has a percentage uncertainty of 2%. The absolute uncertainty is:

132. If you break something, you should:

133. Using a wide range of values helps to:

134. Before switching on a circuit, you should:

135. To reduce the most significant uncertainty in timing oscillations, you should:

136. Before using a micrometer screw gauge, you should:

137. A spring balance should be checked for zero and held:

138. Keeping a safe distance applies especially when others use:

139. Which is the clearest description of a modification?

140. When written instructions say 'record the reading every 30 s for 5 minutes', the number of readings (including at 0 s) is:

141. Broken glass is a:

142. When repeating a reading, you should:

143. A tangent drawn at the peak of a curve is:

144. A diagram of a light-gate set-up should show:

145. A student investigating how the period of a pendulum depends on amplitude should keep amplitudes:

146. A graph of voltage (2.1–2.9 V) against current (0.10–0.50 A) — a suitable choice is:

147. A ray box and protractor for refraction experiments should be set up so that:

148. The main advantage of a false origin is that:

149. Resistance R = V/I with V having 2% and I 3% uncertainty. The uncertainty in R is:

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

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