RAEC GRADE8/9 PRACTICAL PHYSICS PAPER 2009 1.

In this experiment, you are to make two sets of measurements as accurately as you can in order to determine the volume of a beaker. Record all of your observations and answers on a page. You are provided with a beaker, a rule, a length of string and two blocks of wood. Carry out the following instructions. Method 1 (a) Use the two blocks of wood and the rule to measure the external diameter d of the middle part of the beaker. (b) Draw a labelled diagram to show how you used the blocks of wood and the rule to find, as accurately as possible, a value for the diameter. (c) Calculate the external radius r of the beaker. (d) Measure the height h of the beaker. (e) Calculate the external volume V of the beaker using the equation V = r2h. External Diameter d/cm External Radius r/cm Height h/cm Volume V= r2h./cm3

Method 2 (f) Use the string and the rule to measure, as accurately as possible, the circumference c of the middle part of the beaker. The circumference c of the middle part of the beaker. = (g) Calculate a second value of the external volume V of the beaker using the equation V = (c2h)/4. External volume V of the beaker =

(h) Calculate A, the average of your two values for V.

Average Volume V =

(i) Estimate the maximum volume of water v that the beaker could hold.

The maximum volume of water v= (j) Calculate the approximate volume G of the glass used to make the beaker, using the equation G = A v.

Approximate volume G of the glass =

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2. In this experiment, you are to investigate the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum. Record all of your observations on a page. Carry out the following instructions referring to Fig. 2.1 and Fig. 2.2.

Fig. 2.1 Fig. 2.2 (a) Using the two pieces of wood provided and a rule, measure as accurately as you can the diameter d of the pendulum bob. (b) Draw a labelled diagram to show how you used the two pieces of wood and the rule to obtain an accurate measurement of the diameter d. (c) Adjust the clamp so that the pendulum string has a length x = 60.0 cm (from the support to the bob, as shown in Fig. 2.1). (d) Calculate the length l of the pendulum, using the equation l = (x + d / 2). (e) Displace the pendulum bob by a small amount and release it so that it swings. Measure the time t for 20 complete oscillations of the pendulum (see Fig. 2.2). (f) Calculate the period T of the pendulum. The period is the time for one complete oscillation. (g) Calculate the value of T 2 / l. (h) Repeat steps (c) to (g) using values of x = 40.0 cm and x = 20.0 cm. Distance x/ Length l/ = (x + d/2) Time for 10 oscillations Time t/ Period T/ T2/

(i) A student suggests that T 2 / l should be a constant. State with a reason whether your results support this suggestion.

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3. In this experiment you will make some measurements on a steel spring in order to find an approximate value for the density of the material of the spring. You have been provided with a steel spring, a 30 cm rule and two set squares. You have access to a balance. (a) Ensure that the turns of the spring are pushed together and measure the length l of the coiled part of the spring, as shown in Fig.3.1. Record the length l. The length l =

Fig. 3.1

(b) Count the number N of turns in the coiled part of the spring.

The number N of turns in the coiled part of the spring = (c) Determine the diameter D of the spring. The diameter D of the spring = The mass M of the spring =

(d) Use the balance to measure the mass M of the spring. Hence determine an approximate value for the density of the material from which the spring is made, given that

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4. In this experiment you will make some measurements on a glass beaker in order to find an approximate value for the density of glass. You have been provided with a glass beaker, a metre rule, a length of string and a marker pen. You have access to a balance. (a) Wind the string around the glass beaker as many times as possible. Do not allow the turns of the string to cross each other. Determine the length l of the string corresponding to four circumferences of the beaker. You may mark points on the string with the marker pen if you wish. Record l. l= (b) Calculate the external diameter D of the glass beaker given that D = l/4.

D=

(c) Place the metre rule across the top of the beaker and estimate a value for the internal diameter d of the main part of the beaker. Now measure the height h of the whole beaker. Internal diameter d Height of the beaker h h= d=

(d) Use the balance to measure the mass M of the beaker. Hence determine an approximate value for the density of glass given that

Density

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5.A) In this experiment, you will determine the density of water. You have been provided with water and a measuring cylinder. (a) Determine the mass of water. Record all your measurements on page. Mass of the measuring cylinder m1= Mass of the measuring cylinder and water m2= Mass of water M = m2
1

(b) Determine the volume of water. Volume of water V = (c) Hence calculate a value for the density of card using the relationship density = M/V. (d) State which of your measurements causes the greatest uncertainty in your value for the density. Give a reason for your choice.

B). In this experiment, you will determine the density of the material given. You have been provided with an object, ruler and a measuring cylinder. (a) Determine the mass of object. Record all your measurements on page. Mass of the measuring cylinder m1= Mass of the measuring cylinder and water m2= Mass of object M (b) Determine the volume of the object. Volume of object V = (c) Hence calculate a value for the density of object using the relationship density = M/V. (d) State which of your measurements causes the greatest uncertainty in your value for the density. Give a reason for your choice.

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6. In this experiment, you will investigate the frictional force opposing the motion of a block of wood to which masses have been added. You have been provided with a block of wood with a hook at one end, a newton-meter and some 100 g masses. (a) Place a 100g mass on top of the block of wood. Pull the block horizontally across the bench at constant speed by means of the newton-meter, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

Fig. 6.1 Determine an average value for the force F required to move the block across the bench at constant speed. Record all your measurements. (b) Record the mass MB of the block, which is given on the card. Also record the total mass MT of the block with the added mass. (c) Calculate the total weight W of the block with the added mass given that W = MTg, where g = 10 N/kg. (d) Calculate a value for the coefficient of friction between the block and the bench given that = F/W. (e) It is expected that, when different masses are placed on the block, the value of will remain constant. Repeat the experiment with two 100 g masses and then with three 50 g masses placed on the block. Comment on the results that you obtain. (a) determination of the average value for F= (b) record of MB and MT Mass of the wooden block MB = Mass of the wooden block and the mass added MT (c) calculation of W using W = MTg, where g = 9.8 N/kg Weight W = (d) calculation of using =F/W Coefficient of friction = (e) results for two 100 g masses results for three 100 g masses comment on the results obtained
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7 In this experiment, you are to determine the mass of a metre rule. Record all of your observations and answers in this page. Carry out the following instructions referring to Fig. 7.1.

Fig. 7.1 (a) Place the 100 g mass on the metre rule so that its centre is directly above the 10.0 cm mark. (b) Place the rule on the pivot so that the rule is as near as possible to being balanced. (c) Measure and record the distance a from the 50.0 cm mark on the rule to the pivot and the distance b from the centre of the 100 g mass to the pivot. (d) Calculate the mass M of the metre rule, using the equation M= , where k = 100 g.

(e) Explain with the aid of a diagram how you could judge that the centre of the 100 g mass was directly above the 10.0 cm mark. (f) Move the 100 g mass to the 20.0 cm mark and repeat steps (b) to (d). (g) Calculate and record the average of the two values of M. Show your working. Mass k Distance b/cm Distance a/cm M = k(b/a)

Result: The mass M of the metre rule =

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8. A balance was made using a metre rule. The student hung it at the 50 cm mark. The rule was free to swing and was balanced when it was horizontal. (a) A 40 g mass was placed on the 10 cm mark of the rule. A load, l, was placed on the 90 cm mark. The rule stayed in the horizontal position. This is shown in Fig. 8.1.

Fig. 8.1 (i) Calculate the distance d1, from the 40 g mass to the 50 cm mark. d1 = ...........cm [1] (ii) Calculate the distance d2 from the load l to the 50 cm mark. d2 = ...........cm [1] The rule stayed in the horizontal position. (iii) What was the mass of the load, l? l = ..............g [1] (b) The student was told to use the apparatus to find the mass of another load m, which was heavier than load l. He made the metre rule balance by putting the 40 g mass and the load m in the places shown in the diagram, Fig. 4.2.

Fig. 8.2 (i) Calculate the mass of the load m. m = ....................g [3] (ii) The load, m, was a cube of metal. The actual size of the cube is shown in Fig. 8.3. Measure one side of the cube and calculate its volume in cm3.

Fig. 8.3 length of one side of the cube =......................................................................cm volume of the cube = .....................................................................................cm3

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