UNIT 3 REVISION WORKSHEET

1. The resistivity of a metal is an important property of wire used in an electric circuit. A student carried out an
experiment to determine the resistivity of a type of wire. He used a micrometer to measure the diameter d of
the wire.

He recorded the following values

Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the mean diameter of the wire. (3)

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:

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2. A student determined the speed v of sound using standing waves in an air column. A diagram of the
apparatus is shown.

The student held a vibrating tuning fork above the air column and moved the reservoir up and down to change
the length l of the air column. She determined the shortest length at which a sound of maximum loudness was
heard. This happens when the standing wave is formed in the air column. She recorded the length l, as shown in
the diagram, using the metre rule. She repeated this for a number of tuning forks, each marked with a different
frequency f. Her results are shown in the table.
 (a) Criticise these results. (2)

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(b) The student used l to calculate the wavelength λ of the standing wave.

Explain why the student calculated λ as 4l. (2)

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(c) (i) Show that a graph of λ on the y-axis against 1 /f on the x-axis should be a straight line through the origin.
(2)

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(ii) Plot a graph of λ on the y-axis against 1 /f on the x-axis on the grid provided.
Use the extra column in the table to show your processed data. (5)
(d) Use your graph to determine a value for the speed of sound in air v. (2)
THESE QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT ACCEPTABLITY OF MEASURED VALUE

3. The value of g obtained from the graph is 9.64ms-2.

The student concluded that the value of g obtained is accurate. Evaluate the student’s conclusion.

WORKING WITH SYSTEMATIC ERROR

4. The line of best fit on the graph does not pass through the origin. Describe a possible cause for this error,
and how the student could reduce the effect of this error

5. The student marked the position of the water surface on the beaker for different
values of m. He plotted a graph of d in cm against m in g.