Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs

Question 1

A false origin is appropriate for plotting T (1.45 s to 1.62 s) against mass. The T axis should start at about:

Accepted Answer

1.4 s

Answer

0 s

Answer

1.62 s

Answer

2 s

Question 2

A straight line passes through (2, 5) and (8, 17). Its gradient is:

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

-2

Answer

0.5

Answer

2.12

Question 3

The absolute uncertainty in a digital voltmeter reading of 3.46 V is at least:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.01 V

Answer

pm 0.001 V

Answer

pm 0.1 V

Answer

pm 1 V

Question 4

Extrapolation means:

Accepted Answer

extending the line beyond the range of the data to read a value

Answer

taking the mean

Answer

reading within the data range

Answer

repeating readings

Question 5

Heat losses to the surroundings in a specific heat capacity experiment cause:

Accepted Answer

the calculated value to be inaccurate

Answer

perfect results

Answer

faster heating

Answer

no effect

Question 6

If a piece of apparatus behaves unexpectedly (e.g. sparks or smells), you should:

Accepted Answer

switch off and tell the instructor immediately

Answer

fix it yourself

Answer

continue the experiment

Answer

hide it

Question 7

Setting up apparatus without help shows that a student can:

Accepted Answer

follow procedures independently and correctly

Answer

ignore instructions

Answer

skip safety checks

Answer

avoid recording data

Question 8

Before using a power supply in an experiment, you should first:

Accepted Answer

check that its leads and insulation are undamaged

Answer

remove its fuse

Answer

switch it to maximum voltage

Answer

touch the terminals to test it

Question 9

In the graph above, the internal resistance is:

Accepted Answer

0.50 Ω

Answer

0.125 Ω

Answer

2.0 Ω

Answer

0.25 Ω

Question 10

A vernier caliper reads to 0.1 mm. The absolute uncertainty is:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.1 mm

Answer

pm 1 cm

Answer

pm 1 mm

Answer

pm 0.01 mm

Question 11

To extend a pendulum investigation, you could investigate:

Accepted Answer

how the period depends on amplitude for large angles

Answer

the name of the string

Answer

the length of the clamp

Answer

the colour of the bob

Question 12

g is found as (9.6 pm 0.3) m/s^2. The percentage uncertainty is about:

Accepted Answer

3%

Answer

30%

Answer

0.3%

Answer

9.6%

Question 13

A light gate should be set up so that:

Accepted Answer

the object passes through the beam cleanly

Answer

it faces the ceiling

Answer

the beam is blocked permanently

Answer

it is far from the object's path

Question 14

A diagram of a modified pendulum set-up should show:

Accepted Answer

the split cork clamp, fiducial marker and protractor

Answer

nothing

Answer

only the stand

Answer

only the bob

Question 15

Repeating readings is appropriate when:

Accepted Answer

random variations are likely, e.g. timing by hand

Answer

a single reading is perfect

Answer

a reading can't vary at all

Answer

it is unsafe to repeat

Question 16

When two lengths, (12.0 pm 0.1) cm and (8.0 pm 0.1) cm, are added, the absolute uncertainty in the total is:

Accepted Answer

pm 0.2 cm

Answer

pm 2 cm

Answer

pm 0.1 cm

Answer

pm 0.01 cm

Question 17

Readings that agree closely with each other are described as:

Accepted Answer

precise (repeatable)

Answer

anomalous

Answer

systematic

Answer

accurate

Question 18

Glassware on a bench should be placed:

Accepted Answer

where it cannot roll off

Answer

at the edge

Answer

on top of each other

Answer

on electrical leads

Question 19

The total percentage uncertainty in a result is dominated by:

Accepted Answer

the quantity with the largest percentage uncertainty (taking powers into account)

Answer

the number of significant figures

Answer

the quantity with the largest value

Answer

the units used

Question 20

Joining points with straight segments ('dot-to-dot') is wrong because:

Accepted Answer

it shows random errors, not the underlying trend

Answer

it's too accurate

Answer

it takes too long

Answer

it always shows a curve

Question 21

A V–I graph for a cell has intercept 1.52 V and gradient −0.80 Ω. The e.m.f. and internal resistance are:

Accepted Answer

1.52 V and 0.80 Ω

Answer

0.80 V and 0.80 Ω

Answer

1.52 V and -0.80 Ω

Answer

0.80 V and 1.52 Ω

Question 22

Using a data logger with a temperature probe improves a cooling experiment by:

Accepted Answer

taking frequent, precise readings automatically

Answer

making the water cool faster

Answer

heating the water

Answer

removing the need for a thermometer probe

Question 23

In a pendulum experiment timing 20 oscillations, the most significant uncertainty is usually:

Accepted Answer

the timing (reaction time)

Answer

the value of pi

Answer

the mass of the bob

Answer

the colour of the string

Question 24

A student predicts the extension of a spring for a 7 N load from a graph covering 0–10 N. This is:

Accepted Answer

a reasonable prediction (interpolation)

Answer

an extrapolation far outside the data

Answer

impossible

Answer

a hypothesis

Question 25

The gradient of a graph has units of:

Accepted Answer

y-axis units divided by x-axis units

Answer

x-axis units only

Answer

no units ever

Answer

y-axis units only

Experimental Skills and Data Analysis MCQs — Physics (page 9)

201. A false origin is appropriate for plotting T (1.45 s to 1.62 s) against mass. The T axis should start at about:

202. A straight line passes through (2, 5) and (8, 17). Its gradient is:

203. The absolute uncertainty in a digital voltmeter reading of 3.46 V is at least:

204. Extrapolation means:

205. Heat losses to the surroundings in a specific heat capacity experiment cause:

206. If a piece of apparatus behaves unexpectedly (e.g. sparks or smells), you should:

207. Setting up apparatus without help shows that a student can:

208. Before using a power supply in an experiment, you should first:

209. In the graph above, the internal resistance is:

210. A vernier caliper reads to 0.1 mm. The absolute uncertainty is:

211. To extend a pendulum investigation, you could investigate:

212. g is found as (9.6 pm 0.3) m/s^2. The percentage uncertainty is about:

213. A light gate should be set up so that:

214. A diagram of a modified pendulum set-up should show:

215. Repeating readings is appropriate when:

216. When two lengths, (12.0 pm 0.1) cm and (8.0 pm 0.1) cm, are added, the absolute uncertainty in the total is:

217. Readings that agree closely with each other are described as:

218. Glassware on a bench should be placed:

219. The total percentage uncertainty in a result is dominated by:

220. Joining points with straight segments ('dot-to-dot') is wrong because:

221. A V–I graph for a cell has intercept 1.52 V and gradient −0.80 Ω. The e.m.f. and internal resistance are:

222. Using a data logger with a temperature probe improves a cooling experiment by:

223. In a pendulum experiment timing 20 oscillations, the most significant uncertainty is usually:

224. A student predicts the extension of a spring for a 7 N load from a graph covering 0–10 N. This is:

225. The gradient of a graph has units of:

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