Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination

Physics and Combined Science (Physics)

School-based Assessment Sample Tasks

(Experiments and Investigative Study)

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proper acknowledgement.

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Name : Class : (No.: )

Conversion between work done and potential energy

in a pulley system

As shown above, the load W (mass = 0.5 kg) is lifted by pulling the string with a spring balance.
Record the reading of the spring balance and the distance it moves in both systems
respectively when W is lifted slowly to a height of 0.1 m.

1-pulley system 2-pulley system

Mass of the load W = 0.5 kg

Height h = 0.1 m

Distance S1 = Distance S2 =

Reading of spring balance = Reading of spring balance =

Work done by the hand Work done by the hand

= =
= =

Change in potential energy of W in both systems (g = 9.81 m s−2)

=
=

1
1. Draw the free-body diagrams for (i) W in the 1-pulley system, and (ii) W and the movable
pulley together in the 2-pulley system.

W
W

(i) 1-pulley system (ii) 2-pulley system

2. Multiple pulleys, such as the above 2-pulley system, can lift heavy objects.
Someone explains this by suggesting two reasons:
(A) Compared with the 1-pulley system, the 2-pulley system needs a smaller force to lift
a heavy object.
(B) Compared with the 1-pulley system, the 2-pulley system needs less energy to lift a
heavy object.
Are these two statements correct ? Explain.

2
3. Some energy is dissipated due to (i) potential energy gained by the movable pulley,
and (ii) friction.
(a) Show how you find the value of the potential energy gained by the movable pulley.
(Hint: An additional measurement is needed.)

(b) For each case, can the energy dissipated due to friction be estimated from your data ?
Explain your answers with calculation.
1-pulley system:

2-pulley system:

3
 Circular Motion - Verifying equation of centripetal acceleration

Name : Class : (No.: )

Objective: To verify the equation of centripetal acceleration

1 Procedure

1. Measure and record the distance 𝑑 by the ruler.

2. Connect your mobile device to the designated WiFi and search for the designated URL.
3. Students take turn to move the slider control of the turntable to change its rotational speed.
Precautions: 1. Without teacher’s permission, moving the slider control is not allowed.

2. The slider value should be within 140 – 255.

4. Measure and and record the results in the data sheet.

Predict:

𝑎𝑥 : 𝜔𝑥 :

𝑎𝑦 : 𝜔𝑦 :

𝑎𝑧 : 𝜔𝑧 :

5. Repeat steps 3-4 several times with different rotational speeds of the turntable.
6. Plot a suitable graph to find the relation between and .

1
Circular Motion - Verifying equation of centripetal acceleration

2 Results and analysis

Distance 𝑑 =

Distance ∆𝑥 = 0.013 m

Radius 𝑟 = 𝑑 + ∆𝑥 =
Acceleration

𝑎𝑥 / m s −2

Angular velocity

𝜔𝑧 / rad s −1

𝜔𝑧2 / rad2 s −2

Plot a suitable graph. Plot a graph of __________ against .

2
 Circular Motion - Verifying equation of centripetal acceleration

3 Discussion

1. Calculate the slope of the graph. What is the physical meaning of the slope ?

2. What is the percentage error in the radius r ? Do you think the equation 𝑎 = 𝑟𝜔2 hold ?
Explain your answer.

3. List the sources of error in your experiment. Which one do you think is the most significant ?
Explain your answer.

3
Circular Motion - Verifying equation of centripetal acceleration

4. How would the graph look like if the radius is halved ?

Further Investigation:
5. Design an experiment to find the relation between r and a. (Hint: Write down the procedure
and what kind of graph should be plotted, state the physical meaning of the slope, etc.)

4
Name : Class : (No.: )

Verification of Boyle’s law

Procedure:
1. Power the ESP32 using a power bank.

2. Connect your mobile device to the designated WiFi and search for the designated URL.

3. Push or pull the piston of the syringe slowly and take several sets of readings of p and V.
Do not hold the syringe for too long.

4. Plot a suitable graph to find the relation between p and V.

1
Data sheet:

Pressure of the
air column p / kPa
Volume of the
air column V / cm3

1
Plot a graph of p against .
𝑉

2
Discussion:
1
1. From the above graph, deduce the relationship of p and .
𝑉

2. Why is it necessary to change the volume of air slowly ?

3. Why is it necessary not to hold the syringe for too long ?

4. List the sources of error in your experiment. Which one do you think is the most
significant ? Explain your answer.