Cambridge International AS & A Level

* 1 5 6 8 4 3 3 0 2 1 *

PHYSICS 9702/33
Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1 October/November 2023

2 hours

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: The materials and apparatus listed in the confidential instructions

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You will be allowed to work with the apparatus for a maximum of 1 hour for each question.
● You should record all your observations in the spaces provided in the question paper as soon as these
observations are made.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 40.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

For Examiner’s Use

Total

This document has 12 pages.

DC (KN/FC) 318722/2
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You may not need to use all of the materials provided.

1 In this experiment, you will investigate the oscillations of a pendulum.

(a) ● Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.1.

clamp wooden blocks

boss

stand

L
string

sphere of
adhesive putty
bench

Fig. 1.1

● The length L of the pendulum is the distance between the bottom of the wooden blocks
and the centre of the adhesive putty.

Adjust the length of the string so that L is approximately 53 cm.

● Measure and record L.

L = ................................................... cm [1]

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(b) ● Use the second boss to attach the wooden rod to the stand. Adjust the apparatus until
the vertical string of the pendulum just touches against the wooden rod, as shown in
Fig. 1.2.

boss S

wooden rod

Fig. 1.2

● The distance between the bottom of the wooden blocks and the centre of the wooden
rod is S.

Adjust the position of the wooden rod so that S is approximately 36 cm.

● Measure and record S.

S = ......................................................... cm

● Calculate (L – S).

(L – S) = ......................................................... cm

● Move the adhesive putty a small distance so that the string moves away from the wooden
rod. Release the adhesive putty. The string hits the rod as the pendulum oscillates.

● Take measurements to determine the period T of the oscillations.

T = ............................................................ s
[2]

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(c) Change S in the range 5.0 cm G S G 45.0 cm by adjusting the position of the wooden rod.
Determine T. Repeat until you have six sets of values of S and T.

Record your results in a table. Include values of (L - S) in your table.

[8]

(d) (i) Plot a graph of T on the y-axis against (L - S) on the x-axis. [3]

(ii) Draw the straight line of best fit. [1]

(iii) Determine the gradient and y-intercept of this line.

gradient = ...............................................................

y-intercept = ...............................................................
[2]

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(e) (i) It is suggested that the quantities T, L and S are related by the equation

T = A (L - S) + B

where A and B are constants.

Using your answers in (d)(iii), determine the values of A and B.

Give appropriate units.

A = ...............................................................

B = ...............................................................
[2]

(ii) Theory suggests that

A= π
g
where g is the acceleration of free fall.

Use your answer in (e)(i) to determine a value for g.

Give an appropriate unit.

g = ......................................................... [1]

[Total: 20]

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You may not need to use all of the materials provided.

2 In this experiment, you will investigate an oscillating system.

(a) (i) ● You have been provided with two lengths of string and a wooden rod. Tie the strings
to the rod at the positions of the lines, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

string
rod

line marked
on rod

Fig. 2.1

● Assemble the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2.2.

Both split corks should be at a height of 55 cm above the bench.

clamp split cork split cork

boss L
string

rod
stand
55 cm
38 cm

30 cm

Fig. 2.2

● Adjust the strings in the split corks so that the lower end of the rod is 30 cm above
the bench and the upper end of the rod is 38 cm above the bench, as shown in
Fig. 2.2.

● Move the stands so that the strings are vertical.

● The horizontal distance between the strings is L, as shown in Fig. 2.2.

Measure and record L.

L = ......................................................... [1]
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(ii) ● Push the centre of the rod away from you. Release it and watch its motion.
The rod will twist for a while and then swing for a very short time before twisting
again and swinging again for a very short time.

● The time from when the rod swings to when it next swings is ts.

Measure and record ts.

ts = ......................................................... [2]

(iii) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value of ts. Show your working.

percentage uncertainty = ......................................................% [1]

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(b) (i) ● Leave the strings clamped in the split corks, but slide the string loops off the rod.

● For the longer string, fill the loop with modelling clay to make a pendulum, as shown
in Fig. 2.3.

modelling clay

Fig. 2.3

● Push the modelling clay a short distance away from you. Take measurements to
determine the period T1 of its oscillations.

T1 = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) Repeat (b)(i) for the shorter string to determine the period T2 of its oscillations.

T2 = ......................................................... [1]

(iii) Calculate B, where

T1T2
B= .
(T1 – T2)
Give an appropriate unit.

B = ......................................................... [1]
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(c) ● Remove the modelling clay from the string loops and slide the loops back onto the rod at
the positions of the lines.

● Adjust the strings in the split corks so that the lower end of the rod is 20 cm above the
bench and the upper end of the rod is 33 cm above the bench, as shown in Fig. 2.4.

● Move the stands so that the strings are vertical.

55 cm

33 cm

20 cm

Fig. 2.4

● Measure and record L.

L = ...............................................................

● Push the centre of the rod away from you. Measure and record ts.

ts = ...............................................................

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● Repeat (b).

T1 = ...............................................................

T2 = ...............................................................

B = ...............................................................
[3]

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(d) It is suggested that the relationship between ts, B and L is

ts = kBL

where k is a constant.

Using your data, calculate two values of k.

first value of k = ...............................................................

second value of k = ...............................................................

[1]

(e) It is suggested that the percentage uncertainty in the values of k is 15%.

Using this uncertainty, explain whether your results support the relationship in (d).

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

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(f) (i) Describe four sources of uncertainty or limitations of the procedure for this experiment.

For any uncertainties in measurement that you describe, you should state the quantity
being measured and a reason for the uncertainty.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

3 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

4 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[4]

(ii) Describe four improvements that could be made to this experiment. You may suggest
the use of other apparatus or different procedures.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

3 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

4 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[4]

[Total: 20]

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Materials and apparatus for Question 2 (per set of apparatus unless otherwise specified)

● Two stands each of height at least 60 cm.

● Two bosses and two clamps.

● Two split corks or split bungs.

● Wooden rod of approximate length 32 cm and approximate diameter 2 cm. See Note 1.

● Two 75 cm lengths of string of approximate diameter 1 mm.

● Ball of modelling clay (e.g. Plasticine) of approximate diameter 3 cm.

● 180° protractor with 1° divisions.

● Stop-watch reading to 0.1 s or better.

● Metre rule with a millimetre scale.

Notes

1 The surface of the rod should be smooth. Lines should be drawn around it 5.0 cm from each end,
as shown in Fig. 2.1.

line
rod

5.0 cm

5.0 cm

Fig. 2.1

2 The apparatus should be laid out on the bench. If the apparatus is to be used by another candidate,
then it should be restored to its original state and new strings should be provided. Any modelling
clay should be removed from the apparatus and returned to the shape of a ball.

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

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Materials and apparatus for Question 1 (per set of apparatus unless otherwise specified)

● Stand of height at least 60 cm.

● Clamp.

● Two bosses.

● Two wooden blocks each of approximate dimensions 5 cm × 2 cm × 1 cm.

● Wooden rod of approximate diameter 1 cm and approximate length 25 cm. It must be possible to
hold the rod in a boss.

● String of approximate length 60 cm.

● Stop-watch reading to 0.1 s or better.

● 180° protractor with 1° divisions.

● Metre rule with a millimetre scale.

● Approximately 8 g of adhesive putty e.g. Blu-Tack.

● Small container for the adhesive putty.

Notes

1 The apparatus should be laid out on the bench. If the apparatus is to be used by another candidate,
then it should be restored to its original state. All adhesive putty should be returned to the small
container.

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