A Guide for Advanced Practical Skills:

Physics
by Suchal Riaz
Index:

Chapter Page Number

1.0 Paper format and Mark Scheme 2

2.0 Guide

Samples 4-7

2.1.0 Question Number 1

2.1.1 Range and distribution 9

2.1.2 quality of data 9

2.1.3 Table 10

2.1.4 Graph 10-11

2.1.5 Analysis, conclusion and evaluation 11

Findng gradient and y-intercept 12

Finding a constant from them with it's units 13

2.2.0 Question Number 2

Manipulation, measurement and observation 14

Drawing conclusion 15

Estimating uncertainties 15

Identifying limitations and suggesting improvements 16

Advanced Practical Skills – by Suchal RIaz 1

1.0 Paper format and marking scheme:
There are two questions in each paper. Each question should take one hour as
both questions are of 20 marks.

Question number 1:
Outline: it requires candidate to collect data, plot a graph and draw simple conclusions.

Manipulation, measurement and observation Marks

Successful collection of data 7
Range and distribution of values 1
Quality of data 1

Table Marks
Layout 1
Raw results 1
Calculated quantities 2

Graph Marks
Layout 1
Plotting 1
Trend line 1

Analysis, conclusions and evaluation. Marks

Interpretation of graph 2
Drawing conclusions 2

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Question number 2:
Outline: No graph will be required. It will require candidates to follow an inaccurate
method, take several readings and then evaluate the results. It requires candidates to identify
the problems faced in experiment and suggest improvements that can be made.

Manipulation, measurement and observation Marks

Successful collection of data 6
Quality of data 1

Presentation of data and observations Marks

Calculations and reasoning 3

Analysis, conclusions and evaluation Marks

Drawing conclusion 1
Estimating uncertainties 1
Identifying limitations 4
Suggesting improvements 4

WHY ARE YOU SHOWING ME THIS?

You should see that most of the marks are for working, presentation and conclusions. So even if
your practical work is not very accurate you should move to the tables, graph and working without
wasting time in make it more accurate. There is only 2 marks of quality on whole paper. Why lose
rest of the marks due to 2 marks only. Don't get me wrong. I don't mean that don't do the practical
accurately but I mean to say that don't waste extra time in making it more accurate and leaving no
time to complete rest of the paper.
I will discuss each point of this Mark Scheme in the next section. But you should know the
importance of each point by looking at the marks allocated to it.

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2.0 Guide
2.1.0 Question Number 1:

Table:

no. X (m) I (mA) 1/I (1/mA)

1 0.100 1.1 0.9
2 0.250 1.0 1.0
3 0.400 0.9 1.1
4 0.550 0.8 1.3
5 0.700 0.7 1.4
6 0.850 0.7 1.4

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Mark scheme(table and graph only)

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Graph:

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Note: These are actual experimental readings therefore they contain random and systematic errors.
Therefore the readings are not exactly what theory suggest, the line on graph is not exactly straight.
The distribution of point along line is not exactly even. This is the kind of data you will get in your
own practical paper when you do the practical yourself. Sometimes it is very difficult to judge how
to draw best-fit and sometimes it makes you think that your readings must be wrong. This table and
graph is such a case to show how to do the best with inaccurate data.
First we need a question with it's table and graph to explain how the marks are given. It will also act
like an example for you to follow if you have never made done any paper by yourself. These
samples are not perfect but they still follow all the instructions given in syllabus and mark scheme.
Note that the last reading is inaccurate. I tried repeating but it gave same answer so I wrote it
without changing. This is winter 9702/winter2010/35. I chose this specific table to show you what
to do if you get one odd reading.

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Sample 2:
This kind of table is often required. It maybe helpful to remember the structure and headings.

A perfect example of best-fit(this is not actual graph from experimental readings.)

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2.1.1 Range and distribution

Largest possible range is required. It means that if you have a circuit with variable resistors. In the
question we had L from 0-100 cm so we must take highest range while keeping the difference
constant. Tthe difference I took was 15 because it is a neat number which results in neat readings.
Here is an example of totally differenr scenerio where we measure p.d across a variable resistor.
The resistance can be changed from 0-100 ohm in this case. You should take readings of resistance
from at least 10 ohm to 85 ohm. Any range greater than this is not possible because we have to keep
the difference in the resistance constant.
This way the dependent variables such as potential difference will have greater range making the
graph more general.

Resistance/ohm P.d / V <<<<< Resistance/ohm p.d/V

10 2.01 smaller range(60-10=50) 10 2.01
constant difference of 10 ohm
20 4.03 25 4.98
30 5.95 40 8.03
40 8.02 55 11.05
50 9.80 >>>> 70 13.95
60 11.98 larger range(85-10=75) 85 16.99
constant difference of 15 ohm

There is an independent variable and variables which depends on it. In this guide we will take example of
variable resistor and p.d across it(measured using Volt meter)

We will change resistance and p.d will change across it. So in this case resistance is independent variable and
p.d is dependent variable.

Now if we talk about the marking scheme and the table I drew, there is a constant difference of 15.
the range was huge for this apparatus (75m) which is bigger than mark scheme value. So it gets on
mark of range.

2.1.2 Quality of data

In a nutshell this one mark is for how close your readings are to the readings of supervisor and does
your readings have the points which make them look actual readings instead of made-up readings
such as: (1) scatter of points about the graph, due to random error the points will never lie on a
straight line (2) the trend is correct such as increasing resistance will increase p.d because V=RI
You will get accuracy marks if you actually write the values which are there on the equipment
instead of making your own and if you did the experiment as accurately as supervisor.

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2.1.3 Table

Layout:
You will draw one single table with headings. Each heading will have the name or symbol of
quantity with it's standard units in brackets of after slash such as “L /m” or “Temperature
(K)”. using T can cause confusion so better write temperature or time instead of T or t unless
the question explicitly says something like “ t=time period”. Writing “L m” or “temperature
K” is not accepted.

Raw data
The data must be up to to the same precision. If in one column the values are upto 2 decimal
place the rest of them must be up to 2 decimal place as well. But this needs not to be true to
different quantities. Like in the table on page 4 all readings of I are up to 1 decimal place but
the readings of x are not at the same level of precision as I. But all of the values of x are up
to 3 decimal place.

Calculated quantities
You can see in the table on pg.4 that 1/I is calculated from I. I has 2 significant figures so
does I/I as it was calculated from it. On other hand, if I were to calculate resistance from p.d
and current, and the p.d was up to 2 significant figures while current was up to 3 significant
figures I could not write Resistance up to 3 significant figures. This is because the least
value of significant figures used in calculation are 2; Therefore answer can't be of more than
2 significant figures.

2.1.4 Graph

Layout:
The axes must be labeled with their appropriate units(same as the headings of table). The
scale must not be odd such as each 1 cm block = 3 N. Appropriate scales are 1,2 and 5 units
= 1 block. Scale must be chosen to give at least 50% of the graph. The line drawn must be
extended beyond the points to occupy full graph. False origin should be used as in the
sample graph. The numerical labels must be regularly spaced.

Plotting:
All points must be plotted accurately so they are not more than 1mm away from where they
must be plotted(slight offsetting is pardoned). The point must be plotted sharply. Making

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 think dots is not allowed. If the points are not visible due to sharp lead then cross them or
encircle them.

Trend:
You must identify if the graph makes a curve or a straight line. Most of the time the graph is
a straight line. But it is not possible that all points lie on the line. A best-fit line has to be
drawn. Most people don't get the idea of best-fit line. By best-fit we mean 'average of all
points' line. There must be even distribution of points above and below the line. The
scattering of points around the line is due to random errors. On graph (pg. 5) you can see the
line is best-fit.
I told you to encircle points to make them visible in last paragraph. But crossing them is a
better option because encircling means something else. Encircling only one point means that
the point is odd. Only one odd point is allowed as long it is encircled to show that it is out of
trend. By encircling the point you tell examiner “this one point is out of trend, and I know
it”. Actually you should do take that reading again, but in this case I got same result.
Extra tip: When finding gradient from the line draw the triangle with the hypotenuse at least 70% of
the graph. Label the points with their coordinates. In the next section you will see why.

2.1.5 Analysis conclusion and evaluation

Finding gradient and y-intercept:

First you will need to revise the equation of linear lines if you don't remember them. A linear
line can be written in equation as y=mx+c
y is dependent variable, x independent variable, c is point where line touches y-axis(a constant),
and m is gradient of graph.

To find gradient. From your points which you found by drawing triangle on the line, you can
find gradient by this equation:

It will hardly happen the you can find c, the y intercept, by the graph as we don't start x-axis
by 0.
We can find that by equation of straight line. To find c, put the values of m in the equations
and (x1, y1) and then solve for c.
c=y1-mx1

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 this is the way to find
gradient and y-intercept

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Finding a constant by gradient and y-intercept
The very first thing we will do is to see the labels we put on the axis and what the line
actually means. In this case we have 1/I on y-axis which is in 1/mA and x in meters. So the
unit of y-intercept are 1/mA and units of gradient are units of y/x which are :
Now we look at the question statement:

Now you have to compare the equation given by the examiner with the graph you drew and
the gradient and intercept you found.
On y-axis was 1/I so it matches.
On x-axis was 'x' thee length
so this equation becomes y=Mx+N which matches exactly with y=mx+c
so M is gradient and N is y-intercept.
BUT...
M and N must be given in S.I units.
m=0.9 mA-1m-1 convert it into A-1m-1 by multiplying by 1000.
so M=900
c=0.77 mA-1 multiply by 1000 to get 770 A
the rest of answer question can be done by the values of A and R which we recorded.
A=3.84e-7 and R=10 so resistivity comes out as 4.49e-7 which is in range of marking
scheme
What we considered to be inaccurate readings gave us a correct answer and hopefully full 20
marks. This shows that you can get full marks even if your readings are nor very accurate
but do the rest of the working correctly following the guidelines on this booklet(which are
from the syllabus and mark schemes).

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2.2.0 Question Number 2:
This question should be given complete 1 hour. It has only 2 readings and no graph but it still
requires a lot of thinking for it's last question which carries 6 marks.

2.2.1 Manipulation, measurement and observation:

There should be no problem in in it. There are different type of apparatus you need to set.
But it requires you to make accurate readings where it's difficult to observe. Through out this
question you should think “Why I am feeling that this is difficult? Why is problem with this
experiment? How can I modify it to take better readings?” this critical thinking is very
important to do the last part of this question but the observations are made while doing
experiment and setting apparatus.
You may be given to find time period of one oscillation or sometimes length of rebound of
ball. There is no need of tables in this question in most casses except one. If you have to find
the time period of oscillation then record your observation like you would in a table

but here you don't need table. You will simply write
t1=...
t2=....
t=(t1+t2/)2=....
T=.....
to show proof of repeated readings are required by the mark scheme.
Other kinds of readings include finding maximum height of after rebound, angle between
two threads, and length of a write.

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Now we move to the most important parts of question.

2.2.2Drawing conclusions:
You will find two values of a constant(lets call it k for now). These two values will be close
but not same. In next you will be told that theory suggests that the k is a constant(both
values must be same).
If you values are very close such as k1=0.351 and k2=0.356 where percentage uncertainty in
k1=5% then you will say “due to limitations of apparatus and random errors these two
values are not same but they are within the estimated uncertainty so this experiment supports
theory”
If these values are not very close and out of the percentage uncertainty then you can say
something like this: “Due to errors and inaccurate method of measuring ___ the two values
are not within percentage uncertainty. Therefore, this experiment fails to support the theory.”

2.2.3 Estimating Uncertainties:

Least count of an instrument is smallest difference between two consecutive readings which
you can take. Least count of two common instruments is given below.
Meter rule: 0.001 m
Micrometer screw gauge: 0.01 mm
but the least count of volt-meter depends on the type of volt meter and it's setting. In this
volt meter the least count is 0.01 V

percentage uncertainty on one reading= 100 × least count ÷ readings

example: % uncertainty in this reading on volt meter= 100 × 0.01 ÷ 12.88 = 0.08 %
if L=y-x and least count of x and y is 0.01 then uncertainty in L = 0.01+0.01=0.02
uncertainties have to be found the same way we studied in theory so I will skip the details.

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2.2.4 Identifying limitations and suggesting improvements
This last part is worth 6 marks but a guide will not be sufficient to help you. You should read the
question number 2 and their mark schemes of at least 5 latest paper to see what are most common
sources of uncertainty and problems, and then explain how to improve the apparatus to cope with
the problems described.
A few examples:
• using video camera WITH A RULER and METHOD OF MEASURING TIME(if required
in question)
• Using more accurate instrument such as micrometer.

• Not taking the thickness of something into account during calculation.

Quoting these from mark scheme is useless until you read them with the question paper.

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