Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

Taking the mean of repeated readings gives a value that is usually:

Accepted Answer

more reliable than a single reading

Answer

always exact

Answer

always larger

Answer

less reliable

Question 2

In a potentiometer experiment, the driver cell's positive terminal and the test cell's positive terminal should be connected:

Accepted Answer

to the same end of the wire

Answer

nowhere

Answer

to opposite ends

Answer

to the galvanometer only

Question 3

Reading coordinates from the trend line rather than raw data points helps to:

Accepted Answer

reduce the effect of random errors

Answer

hide anomalies permanently

Answer

increase errors

Answer

change the gradient

Question 4

A triangle pointing at a bar (in a circuit diagram) represents:

Accepted Answer

a diode

Answer

a cell

Answer

a switch

Answer

a capacitor

Question 5

A straight line has gradient 4 and passes through (1.5, 8). The graph uses a false origin, so the y-intercept is found by calculation. It is:

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

8

Answer

5.33

Answer

14

Question 6

It is ALWAYS better to ask for help when:

Accepted Answer

unsure how to use new apparatus safely

Answer

you already know how

Answer

the instructor is busy with an emergency

Answer

you have finished

Question 7

If a length has a 2% uncertainty, the uncertainty in the area of a square of that side is:

Accepted Answer

4%

Answer

8%

Answer

2%

Answer

1%

Question 8

If the percentage difference is very close to the percentage uncertainty, the best conclusion is:

Accepted Answer

the result is borderline; more data are needed

Answer

uncertainty is irrelevant

Answer

it definitely proves the relationship

Answer

it definitely disproves it

Question 9

A resistor symbol with a '−t°' label or a thermometer-style slash represents:

Accepted Answer

a thermistor

Answer

a fuse

Answer

a diode

Answer

an LDR

Question 10

Which arrangement is safest?

Accepted Answer

only necessary apparatus, spaced out, leads tidy

Answer

water next to the power supply

Answer

bags on the bench

Answer

all equipment crowded together

Question 11

When (12.0 pm 0.1) cm is subtracted from (20.0 pm 0.1) cm, the uncertainty in the difference is:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.2 cm

Answer

pm 0.05 cm

Answer

pm 0.1 cm

Answer

pm 0 cm

Question 12

If a false origin is used on the x-axis, the point where the line crosses the left edge of the grid gives:

Accepted Answer

the value of y at the false-origin x-value, not the y-intercept

Answer

the y-intercept

Answer

the gradient

Answer

the x-intercept

Question 13

When timing a ball rolling down a ramp, it is sensible to:

Accepted Answer

repeat each timing several times and average

Answer

time it once

Answer

guess the time

Answer

time it once and double it

Question 14

The absolute uncertainty in the diameter of a wire measured with a micrometer as 0.52 mm is:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.01 mm

Answer

pm 0.52 mm

Answer

pm 1 mm

Answer

pm 0.1 mm

Question 15

A risk assessment involves:

Accepted Answer

identifying hazards, judging risks and planning precautions

Answer

ignoring hazards

Answer

doing the experiment fast

Answer

writing the conclusion first

Question 16

To improve a measurement of g using a falling ball, increasing the drop height:

Accepted Answer

reduces the percentage uncertainty in time and height

Answer

increases all uncertainties

Answer

has no effect

Answer

makes g larger

Question 17

With a small range of readings, the gradient of a graph is:

Accepted Answer

less reliable

Answer

unaffected

Answer

always zero

Answer

more reliable

Question 18

In a projectile experiment, a limitation is:

Accepted Answer

difficulty judging exactly where the ball lands

Answer

the ruler being straight

Answer

gravity being constant

Answer

the ball being spherical

Question 19

With a false origin at x = 20 and scale 1 cm per 5 units, a point 6 cm along represents:

Accepted Answer

x = 50

Answer

x = 120

Answer

x = 26

Answer

x = 30

Question 20

A labelled diagram of a modified apparatus is useful because it:

Accepted Answer

shows clearly how the apparatus is arranged

Answer

makes the method unnecessary

Answer

replaces all measurements

Answer

is always more accurate

Question 21

A student extends a line to find the temperature at which a gas's volume would be zero. This is:

Accepted Answer

extrapolation

Answer

averaging

Answer

interpolation

Answer

a false origin

Question 22

A graph-based test of y = kx is supported if the graph of y against x is:

Accepted Answer

a straight line through the origin

Answer

a vertical line

Answer

a horizontal line

Answer

a curve

Question 23

When the x-axis has a true origin, the y-intercept can be:

Accepted Answer

read directly from where the line crosses the y-axis

Answer

found from the x-intercept only

Answer

never found

Answer

only calculated

Question 24

A reading from a graph should be given to a precision of about:

Accepted Answer

half a small square

Answer

one large square

Answer

the whole axis

Answer

ten squares

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 8)

176. Taking the mean of repeated readings gives a value that is usually:

177. In a potentiometer experiment, the driver cell's positive terminal and the test cell's positive terminal should be connected:

178. Reading coordinates from the trend line rather than raw data points helps to:

179. A triangle pointing at a bar (in a circuit diagram) represents:

180. A straight line has gradient 4 and passes through (1.5, 8). The graph uses a false origin, so the y-intercept is found by calculation. It is:

181. It is ALWAYS better to ask for help when:

182. If a length has a 2% uncertainty, the uncertainty in the area of a square of that side is:

183. If the percentage difference is very close to the percentage uncertainty, the best conclusion is:

184. A resistor symbol with a '−t°' label or a thermometer-style slash represents:

185. Which arrangement is safest?

186. When (12.0 pm 0.1) cm is subtracted from (20.0 pm 0.1) cm, the uncertainty in the difference is:

187. If a false origin is used on the x-axis, the point where the line crosses the left edge of the grid gives:

188. When timing a ball rolling down a ramp, it is sensible to:

189. The absolute uncertainty in the diameter of a wire measured with a micrometer as 0.52 mm is:

190. A risk assessment involves:

191. To improve a measurement of g using a falling ball, increasing the drop height:

192. With a small range of readings, the gradient of a graph is:

193. In a projectile experiment, a limitation is:

194. With a false origin at x = 20 and scale 1 cm per 5 units, a point 6 cm along represents:

195. A labelled diagram of a modified apparatus is useful because it:

196. A student extends a line to find the temperature at which a gas's volume would be zero. This is:

197. A graph-based test of y = kx is supported if the graph of y against x is:

198. When the x-axis has a true origin, the y-intercept can be:

199. A reading from a graph should be given to a precision of about:

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

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