Structured Question

Chapter 1 Graphs and Treatment of errors (Q)1P1

1. (99)
A student tries to measure the density of steel. He puts 20 identical steel ball bearings into a measuring cylinder
half filled with water. The Figure below shows the readings of the water level before and after placing the
bearings into the cylinder. The ruler used is graduated in mm. 5 cm
5 cm 4
4 3
3 2
2 1
1 0
0

Without ball bearings With ball bearings

(a) The rise in water level should be recorded as ________ ± __________ (unit:____ ) (1 mark)

(b) State and explain one precaution when placing the bearings into the cylinder. (2 marks)

(c) The internal diameter of the measuring cylinder is found to be 9.40 ± 0.05 mm and the total mass of the ball
bearings is 25.00 ± 0.01 g.
(i) Name the instrument used for measuring the internal diameter of the cylinder. (1 mark)
(ii) Find the density of the steel ball bearings. (3 marks)
(iii) Give the percentage uncertainty in your calculated value in (ii). Show your working. (3 marks)

(d) State another method of measuring the density of the ball bearings with a smaller percentage uncertainty.
Explain briefly. (3 marks)

2. (03)
A student performs the following experiments to find the density and Young modulus of a roll of uniform fishing
line. The mass of the roll of fishing line is weighed by using an electronic balance. Its volume is measured by
putting it into a measuring cylinder containing water. The results are as follows:

mass of fishing line m = 2.756 g

initial water level l1 = 5.0 ml
final water level l2 = 7.6 ml

(a) State one precaution in measuring the volume of the roll of fishing line. (1 mark)

(b) Calculate the density ρ of the roll of fishing line to 2 significant figures. (2 marks)

(c) The smallest divisions of the electronic balance and the measuring cylinder are 0.001 g and 0.1 ml
respectively. Estimate the maximum percentage error in p found by using this method. (2 marks)
Structured Question
Chapter 1 Graphs and Treatment of errors (Q)1P2

3. (03)
A student measures the specific heat capacity of water by the set-up shown in Figure. A cylindrical drum, wrapped
with a stationary band of silk, is being driven into steady rotation about a vertical axis through its centre. The silk
band is held taut at the two ends by the spring balances S1 and S2. Work is therefore done against friction produced
by the silk band and heat is generated. The drum is rotated in a clockwise direction when viewed from above.

The drum of diameter 15.00 ± 0.01 cm is hollow and it contains 220.0 ± 0.1 g of water, which is initially at 20.4 ±
0.1 °C. The difference in readings between spring balances S1 and S2 takes a steady value of 41.6 ± 0.2 N.

After the rotation stops, the maximum temperature reached by the water inside the drum is 28.2 ± 0.1 °C and the
revolution counter registers 400.0 ± 0.5 revolutions.

(a) Suggest a piece of apparatus to measure the diameter of the drum. (1 mark)

(b) (i) Explain why there is a difference in spring balance readings when rotating the drum. State which spring
balance gives a larger reading. (2 marks)

(ii) Determine the work done against friction in this experiment. (2 marks)

(iii) Hence, determine the specific heat capacity of water found in this experiment. State the assumption(s)
in your calculation. (3 marks)

(c) (i) Calculate the maximum possible percentage errors in measuring the work done, the mass of water and
the temperature change. State which measurement most likely leads to the dominating source of error in
this experiment. (4 marks)

(ii) Compared with the accepted value of the specific heat capacity of water 4200 J kg-1 K-1, discuss
whether the discrepancy in the experimental value can be explained solely by random errors. (3 marks)