Uncertainty

EXPERIMENT # 03

AIM: TO DETERMINE THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF A TEST

TUBE

APPARATUS: Test tube, retort stand, measuring cylinder, 100 cm3 of water in beaker,
rule

Diagram:

PROCEDURE: Clamp test tube to retort stand vertically

Add water to test tube to the mark indicated on tube

Record volume of water added above mark on tube

Repeat to obtain at least eight values of volume and height

DATA ANALYSIS:

1. Plot graph of volume vs height, find gradient, Given M = A, find the value of
A
2. Do you think that the Area collected is accurate? Explain your answer
3. State a method in which you ensure the accuracy of the area of the tube.
Energy Efficiency

EXPERIMENT # 04

AIM: To find the efficiency of a block and tackle pulley system

Apparatus: block and tackle pulley system, retort stand and clamps, G-clamps, length of
light cord, metre rule, 1.0kg mass, spring balance

Diagram:

Procedure:

1. Setup the block and tackle system on a retort stand. Make sure that the base of the
stand is kept firmly clamped to the laboratory bench with a G-clamp
2. Pass the cord over and under the pulleys. Attach the end that was passed round the
pulleys to the lower block. Tie the 1.0 kg mass to the system as shown in the
diagram. Put something soft on the floor under the mass- just in case!
3. Attach a newton meter (spring balance) to the free end of the cord.
4. Pull the spring balance with the free end of the string horizontal, through a measured
distance of about 1 metre. While you do this, make sure that the reading of the
spring balance remains constant. Measure the distance through which the load W
rises. Record the readings of the spring balance and horizontal and vertical
distances in a table.
Observations:

First Length Weight (mass x Second Length Force on Scale

10N/kg)

Discussion:

1. Calculate the efficiency for the object

2. Why is the efficiency not 100%?
3. How do you make the experiment more accurate?
4. Do you think the efficiency will be the same for various loads? Explain your answer.

EXPERIMENT 5
COOLING CURVE
AIM: To determine the freezing point of a substance by a cooling curve method.
Apparatus: boiling tube, naphthalene or stearic acid, retort stand & clamp, rag, test tube
holder, thermometer, water bath (beaker, Bunsen burner, tripod & gauze)
DIAGRAM:

PROCEDURE:
1
Place naphthalene or stearic acid in a boiling -tube to about its depth.
8
Place the boiling tube in the water and continue boiling until all the naphthalene or
stearic acid has liquefied.
Place a thermometer in the naphthalene or stearic acid.
Remove the boiling tube and clamp it in the stand.
Immediately record the temperature of the naphthalene or stearic acid.
Record the temperature evert minute for 15 minutes.
Plot a graph of Temperature against Time and find the melting point of the
naphthalene or stearic acid.
OBSERVATIONS:
Temperature Time (Minutes)

DISCUSSION:
1. At what temperature was the solid first observed in the cooling process?
2. At what temperature was liquid last observed in the cooling process?
3. If the temperature of a certain sample does not remain constant during freezing
what does this suggest about the composition of the sample? Comment on the
composition of the naphthalene /stearic acid sample you used.
4. How can the experiment be modified to check if the melting point of the
naphthalene is the same as the freezing point?
Experiment 6
Title: Refraction of Light
Aim: To investigate the relationship between the angle of incidence and the
corresponding angle of refraction for glass block
Apparatus: plain paper, protractor, ruler, rectangular glass block, pin board, 4 thumb tacks.
Diagram:

Procedure:
- Tack the paper onto the optical board. Place the glass block in the centre of the
paper and draw the outline of the glass block in pencil
- Use the protractor to draw in a normal on the middle of the long side of the
glass block. Label the intersection of the normal and glass block as point O
- Use the protractor to measure and draw in an
up to 60o. Extend the
- On the 10o line, place two pins A and B upright, so that A is close to the
block as possible and B is as close to the edge of the paper as possible.
 - Looking through the glass block of the images of A and B, turn your head in
the position where the image of B is directly behind the image of A.
- Place a pin C close to block so that it appears to be in line with the images A
and B.
- Place a fourth pin D close to the edge of the page, so that it is in line with C
and the images of A and B.
- Remove the pins and place an x over the holes for pins C and D that have
the correct alignment. Remove the block as well.
- Draw a line through the pinholes and extend it back to the glass block (point
R). This represents the emergent ray.
- By connecting point O to point R, draw in the refracted ray. Draw arrows
on incident and emergent rays indicating the direction in which the light
travels.
- Use the protractor to measure the angle of refraction, θ2, and record and its
corresponding angle of incidence, θ1.
- Repeat procedure for all the angle of incidence drawn

OBSERVATION:

Angle of Angle of Sine of Incidence/Sin Sine of Refraction/Sin

Incidence Refraction i r

       

Data Analysis:
 a) Plot a graph of sin i (y- axis) against sin r (x- axis)

b) Calculate the gradient of the graph.

c) b) What is the connection between the gradient and the refractive index, n?

d) c) Use your graph to find the refractive index of glass.

e) d) Does your graph show proportionality? Justify your answer

f) e) From your graph, find the value of the angle of refraction when the angle of incidence

is 25o

g) f) Given that n =1/sin co, where co is the critical angle of glass, calculate the value of the

critical angle of glass

EXPERIMENT 10

TOPIC: Series and Parallel Circuits

AIM: To Investigate the current in series and parallel circuits

APPARATUS: resistors, connecting wires, ammeter, power supply (battery/power pack)

DIAGRAM:

Parallel Circuit
 Series Circuit

PROCEDURE: Series

Set up the circuit as shown in the diagram with rheostat set to

maximum. Adjust the rheostat until a reasonable amount of current is
flowing. Record the current on the ammeter. Place the ammeter in
other positions and record the readings in these positions.

Parallel

Set up the circuit as shown in diagram with rheostat set to maximum.

Adjust the rheostat so a large current is flowing. Record the reading
of the ammeter in this position. Change the position of the ammeter in
the circuit and record the current in the position. Also record the
values of the voltage

OBSERVATION: Record data in a suitable table format

Discussion:

1. What is the voltage and current in the series circuit?

2. Is the current the same throughout the series circuit?
3. For the parallel circuit, the voltage constant or does it change for each resistor?
4. What is the current in the parallel circuit? Is it different from the series circuit
value?