Practical Skills in Physics I

Worked examples (9)

• 1Classifying variables in a resistivity plan (3 marks)
• 2Choosing apparatus to measure a wire's diameter (2 marks)
• 3Hazard and precaution in an electrical experiment (2 marks)
• 4Choosing the range and number of readings for measuring g (3 marks)
• 5Justifying a timing method for a pendulum plan (3 marks)
• 6Choosing what to plot for the Young modulus (4 marks)
• 7Planning a viscosity experiment (Stokes' law) (6 marks)
• 8Planning a novel experiment: g from a mass-on-spring (6 marks)
• 9Full plan: determining the resistivity of a wire (6 marks)

Model answers (10)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 7 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 1 style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 1 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 4 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 6 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 8 style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Reading a micrometer screw gauge (2 marks)
• 2Reading a vernier caliper (2 marks)
• 3Reading a thermometer to the right resolution (1 mark)
• 4Micrometer with a zero error (3 marks)
• 5Frequency from an oscilloscope trace (3 marks)
• 6Identifying an anomaly and finding the mean (3 marks)
• 7Peak voltage from an oscilloscope (3 marks)
• 8Assessing range and precision of readings (3 marks)
• 9Suggesting a specific apparatus improvement (3 marks)

Model answers (10)

• ✓Model answer 1
• ✓Model answer 2
• ✓Model answer 3
• ✓Model answer 4
• ✓Model answer 5
• ✓Model answer 6
• ✓Model answer 7
• ✓Model answer 8
• ✓Model answer 9
• ✓Model answer 10

Worked examples (9)

• 1Choosing sensible graph scales (3 marks)
• 2Line of best fit vs dot-to-dot (2 marks)
• 3Gradient with a large triangle and its units (3 marks)
• 4Gradient of a stress–strain graph gives the Young modulus (3 marks)
• 5Linearising a power law — what to plot (4 marks)
• 6Linearising an exponential decay — using ln (4 marks)
• 7Combining uncertainties with a squared term (4 marks)
• 8Percentage uncertainty of a resistivity result (4 marks)
• 9Uncertainty in a gradient by the max/min line method (5 marks)

Model answers (10)

• ✓Model answer 1
• ✓Model answer 2
• ✓Model answer 3
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 (WPH13) style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 (WPH13) style
• ✓Model answer 6
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 (WPH13) style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 (WPH13) style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 (WPH13) style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 3 (WPH13) style