Name: ____________________________

Subject: _PHYSICS_ Grade: __X___

THANE
Cambridge Assessment International Education Roll No.: _______ Date: __________

ATP – Revision

Note: This notes consists of important points for revision in ATP. For details and
procedure of all experiments, refer to ATP Sessions 1 to 12

Ques1. Plan an Experiment Question:

This is a 7 mark question. Read the points asked in the question carefully and answer
accordingly. Before answering the question, you should be clear about the independent
variable and dependent variable in the experiment. Following points are frequently
asked:

1. Additional Apparatus: It may include simple instruments like stopwatch, ruler,

protractor, set square etc.(Check with the list of already given apparatus) [1]

2. Procedure: Draw a diagram. Explain in brief how to carry out the experiment. [1]
Include which measurements you would take. These would be the independent
variable and dependent variable. [1]

Repetitions: Repeat the readings and average(Include this line even if not asked in the
question as it carries 1 mark.) [1]

3. Control Variables (Give 2 control variables unless asked for more) [1]

4. Table or Graph [1]

Table: This is a general format: (In the actual table, it may be, surface area and period of
oscillations, instead of independent variable and dependent variable respectively)
Note: Min. 5 readings should be shown. (Remember to add units in the Observation table)

Sr. Independent Variable / Units Dependent Variable / Units

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Graph: Plot a graph of Independent variable on X-axis and Dependent variable on

Y-axis. (In the actual table, it may be, surface area and period of oscillations, instead of
independent variable and dependent variable respectively)

Points to remember for Graph:

i. Label axes with quantity and unit

ii. Suitable scales (The graph should span more than ½ page)
iii. Plotted point needs to occupy 1/2 small square
iv. Good line judgement, thin, continuous. Draw best fit line( at least 3 points on the
graph line with equal points on either sides.
(Note:
1. When you are asked to clearly show some value on a graph, then construction
lines should be shown clearly on the graph.
2. If asked to determine gradient of the graph, the triangle method should be seen
using at least half the length of the line.)

5. Conclusion: Compare the readings in the Table or Graph and Correlate. [1]
(Remember that Conclusion is based on the results in the Observation table.)

Assignment: Plan the following experiments:( Refer to ATP Session 12 for answers)

1. Investigate relation between surface area and rate of cooling

2. Investigate relation between resistance of wire and length of wire.

3. Investigate factors that affect size of a crater(hole) a ball makes when it is dropped into
sand.

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 Graphs

If a statement is 'directly proportional', the justification would always be , ''straight line

that goes through the origin''.

Drawing a graph - Usually worth 5 marks:

1.Draw axes correct way round, label axes and include units e.g. Resistance / Ω
(Don't write Resistance (Ω), use the forward slash "/")

2.Use appropriate scales so that the graph takes up most of the graph paper available. If
your range of values is, for example, 89 to 170, you don't need to start at zero, start at 80.
No need for the squiggly line you use in maths either. Do not use an awkward scale to
force the graph to take up all of the grid.

3. Plot all points to within ½ small square (examiner checks this very carefully!)

4.Ensure line of best fit (as many points above as below the line). Don't force a line
through 0,0 unless the graph should go through the origin (for example this is fine in the
case of someone starting a stopwatch at a start line if you're plotting time against
displacement).

5) Draw a single, continuous and sharp line.

Always use a very sharp pencil to plot points correctly and to draw a sharp line.
A straight line shows that x is proportional to y. A straight line through the origin shows
that x is directly proportional to y.

Calculating a gradient
 Always draw a gradient triangle which takes up over half the length of the line.
 Show your working out – put numbers into y2 – y1 / x2 - x1

Gradients have units (unit on the y axis divided by unit of x axis,

so for a speed – time graph the unit of the gradient is m/s / s which is m/s2
which is the unit of acceleration (as you would expect!))

Column headings in tables

Column headings in tables of readings must be headed with the quantity and unit as in
these examples: I/A, or t/s, or y/m.

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Calculations:
Always show answers to 2 or 3 significant figures. Double check all calculations at the
end of the test and check that you have given the correct unit.

List of Precautions in ATP

(Note: These are a few points taken from Session 12 of ATP notes. You can use it for
revision, however the detailed notes are given in Session 12)

Sr Topic Details
.

1 Electricity Potential difference is proportional to Current as the graph

(VI graph) is a straight line passing through the origin
(within limits of experimental accuracy)

The slide wire gets  Reduce voltage/ current

heated  Use thinner wire to Increase resistance
(Precautions)  Switch off current between readings
 Add a variable resistor

To take accurate  Check for zero error

readings from  Tap the meter to avoid sticking.
Voltmeter or  Always check that the connections are clean.
Ammeter  Initially choose the highest range for the ammeter

Control Variables  Use same wire to conduct the experiment.

while Investigating (Use a long wire with a movable junction to
relation between change length directly. For example, we take
length of wire and a 2m wire and reduce length by 10 cm in each
resistance of wire reading so we can take 20 measurements.
Note: Avoid using the shortest length because
the current will be high causing the wire to
heat.
 Diameter should be constant along the wire.

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  Density should be constant along the wire.

Why different  The contact between wire and crocodile clip is not
students precise. So it is difficult to judge position of the
conducting the Crocodile clip.
same experiment
may not obtain
identical results?

2 Density Q. How to ensure measurement is reliable?

(To measure Ans. Measure diameter in at least two places and take
diameter) average.

While measuring Inaccuracy: - It is difficult to fill test-tube to brim.

mass of water in - Tube may contain some water when
the test tube mass is measured.

Explain effect of inaccuracy:

As D = M / V, If mass or volume is inaccurate, density will
be inaccurate.

3. Light Experiments:  In light experiments, usually lengths are in mm.

Precautions in  Ensure the center of the object, lens and screen are
Experiments using aligned at same height from the ground.
lens  Perform the experiment in shaded part of the
Laboratory.
 Avoid Parallax error during readings.

Refraction of Light  View pins from base

(Precaution for  Large pin separation (greater than 5cm)
reliable results)  Draw neat thin lines

Inaccuracies of  Thickness of rays

Ray box method

Magnifying lens  Use of darkened room

(Precautions for  Ensure object and center of lens at same height from
getting accurate bench.
images)  Use graph paper or cm scale on screen to measure
image.

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 In magnifying lens  Move screen carefully or slowly back and forth until
experiment, how best position is found.
would you find the
best position of
screen as reliably as
possible?

Why is it difficult  Image is well focused over a small range of lens

to decide the best positions
position of lens to
obtain sharp image
on screen.

Source of Difficult to mark position of ray precisely

inaccuracy in a Ray
experiment

4 Hooke’s law  View scale at right angles to avoid parallax error

Spring experiment (Use set square between bottom of spring and ruler)
(Precaution for
reliable readings) Difficulties in the experiment:
 Spring might overstretch (Use loads that don’t
overstretch spring)
 Need to apply force slowly / smoothly.
 Repeat readings and take average.

To increase  Make sure the spring is not stretched beyond elastic

accuracy of the limit.
measurements  Repeat readings to avoid spot anomalies.
 Always have two fixed points(start and end points of
the spring) to measure length and extension of
spring.

Control Variables  Diameter of Spring

 Diameter of wire
 Coil spacing
 Unstretched length of spring

5 Pendulum experiment

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 To measure period  Take more than 10 oscillations, usually 20
of one Oscillation oscillations.
of a pendulum Time 20 oscillations, to find the period of one
oscillation(T) use the formula: T = total time / 20
 Set eye at right angles to the lower most point of the
oscillation to avoid parallax error.
(There could be a question asking if your result is
accurate / correct, then use the following words:
“Within limits of experimental accuracy”

Control variables  Length of Pendulum

 Amplitude of Pendulum
 Shape of bob should be unchanged
 Number of swings should be same for each reading.

6 Effect of Precaution for reading thermometer:

surrounding
 Stir before reading
temperature on
 Set eye level perpendicular to scale
Rate of cooling
 Wait until reading stops

Why initial Cooling is more rapid at high temperatures

temperature should
remain same in a
Cooling experiment

In a Cooling Change: Measure water into the test tube

experiment, Explanation: Ensure same amount of water is used each
Suggest a change to time.
ensure fair test
or

Change: Use insulation / lid on beaker

Explanation: Keep water in the beaker at the same
temperature

Precaution in 1. Ensure that start temperature is the same

investigating 2. Ensure that all 3 insulating materials are of the same
effectiveness of thickness.

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 three insulating 3. Ensure all beakers have the same volume of water.
materials 4. Ensure constant room temperature.

7 Determine Mass by Balancing method (Principle of Moments)

Difficulty in Mark center line of block and edge of rule.

placing a block at
95cm mark:

Method to find Move ruler slowly on the fulcrum to find pivot where the
center of Meter ruler just tips the other way.
rule

8 Center of mass Procedure – Refer to ATP Session 9

To increase  Increase surface area of the object

stability of an  Make the object shorter.
object:

To minimize View the string at right angles to eye level in front of the
inaccuracy when card.
marking lines using
plumb line

9. Measurement of When measuring height, ensure ruler is perpendicular to

Length base. To ensure ruler is vertical:

 Use a set square or a plumb line

To ensure a surface is flat:

 Use a Spirit level

Calculating Improving accuracy:

circumference by
 Use thinner string
string method
 Set eye level at right angles to avoid parallax error
 Repeat measurement 5 times and take average

Examples of insulators that you can wrap things with:

1. Bubblewrap 2. Fiberglass

Materials to carry for ATP exam: 3 sharp pencils(Preferably one 0.5mm lead pencil,
eraser, ruler, protractor, Calculator etc.

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