Practical Skills in Physics II

Worked examples (9)

• 1Classifying variables in a capacitor-discharge plan (3 marks)
• 2Choosing apparatus to measure source–detector separation (2 marks)
• 3Hazard and precaution with a radioactive source (2 marks)
• 4Range and repeats when measuring specific latent heat (3 marks)
• 5Justifying a data-logging method for a collision plan (3 marks)
• 6Choosing what to plot for the spring constant from SHM (4 marks)
• 7Planning to find the time constant of an RC discharge (6 marks)
• 8Full plan: absorption of gamma rays by lead (6 marks)
• 9Planning a novel experiment: thermistor B-value from resistance (6 marks)

Model answers (10)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 15 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 15 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 15 style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 style (radioactivity)
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 11 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 14 style
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 15 style (inverse-square)
• ✓Model answer — Core Practical 13 style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Count rate from a scaler over a fixed time (2 marks)
• 2Reading a time interval off an oscilloscope trace (2 marks)
• 3Reading a micrometer for a gamma-absorber thickness (2 marks)
• 4Background-corrected count rate (3 marks)
• 5Period from timing many oscillations (3 marks)
• 6Anomaly versus statistical scatter in counts (3 marks)
• 7Time constant from an oscilloscope discharge trace (3 marks)
• 8Micrometer with a zero error on a wire diameter (3 marks)
• 9Suggesting specific IA2 apparatus improvements (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 (8)

• 1Choosing sensible scales for a ln–linear plot (3 marks)
• 2Line of best fit on a linearised plot (2 marks)
• 3Gradient with a large triangle and its units (3 marks)
• 4ln A vs t to find the decay constant λ (4 marks)
• 5Log–log plot to confirm an inverse-square law (4 marks)
• 6Combining uncertainties with a squared term (4 marks)
• 7Counting statistics uncertainty of a radioactive count (4 marks)
• 8Uncertainty in a gradient by the max/min line method (5 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer 1
• ✓Model answer 2
• ✓Model answer 3
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 (WPH16) style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 (WPH16), Unit 5 style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 (WPH16) style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 (WPH16), Unit 5 style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 (WPH16), Unit 5 style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 6 (WPH16), Unit 4 style