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Required practicals and working scientifically: GCSE Combined Science Physics practice questions

Foundation and Higher · Grade 5

A second set of questions on required practicals and working scientifically. They are different from the ones on the topic page. Try each, then open the answer and compare your working.

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Question 1 Hard

In a ripple tank 12 waves pass a point in 4.0 s. The wavelength is 0.020 m. Calculate the wave speed.

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Answer: 0.060 m/s

  1. frequency = 12 ÷ 4.0 = 3.0 Hz.
  2. speed = 3.0 × 0.020 = 0.060 m/s.

Question 2 Hard

A 50 W heater warms a 0.40 kg block for 120 s and the temperature rises by 15 °C. No energy is lost. Calculate the specific heat capacity.

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Answer: 1000 J/kg °C

  1. energy = 50 × 120 = 6000 J.
  2. c = 6000 ÷ (0.40 × 15) = 6000 ÷ 6.0 = 1000 J/kg °C.

Question 3 Hard

Explain why the I-V graph of a filament lamp is curved.

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Answer: the resistance increases as the filament gets hotter

  1. The filament gets hotter as the current increases.
  2. A hotter filament has a higher resistance.

Question 4 Hard

In a trolley practical the pulling force is changed while the total mass is kept constant. State the control variable.

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Answer: the total mass

  1. The mass is the same in every test.
  2. The control variable is the total mass.

Quick checks

Short questions with options. Choose one before you open the answer.

Check 1

What is the independent variable?

  1. the one you change
  2. the one you measure
  3. the one you keep the same
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the one you change You choose the independent variable and see what it does to the dependent variable.

Check 2

What is the dependent variable?

  1. the one you change on purpose
  2. the one you measure
  3. the one nobody changes
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the one you measure It depends on the independent variable.

Check 3

What is a control variable?

  1. the one you plot on the y-axis
  2. the result you are hoping for
  3. one you keep the same
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one you keep the same Control variables are kept the same so only one thing changes.

Check 4

Why do you repeat measurements?

  1. to find a mean and reduce random errors
  2. to make the practical take longer
  3. to remove zero errors
Show answer

to find a mean and reduce random errors The mean of several readings is more reliable than one reading.

Check 5

What is an anomalous result?

  1. the biggest reading in the set
  2. a reading far from the others
  3. the reading you expected
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a reading far from the others Leave an anomaly out of the mean and say why.

Check 6

The readings 4.0 s, 4.2 s and 3.8 s are taken. What is the mean?

  1. 12.0 s
  2. 4.2 s
  3. 4.0 s
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4.0 s Add the readings and divide by how many there are.

Check 7

What is the equation for specific heat capacity?

  1. c = ΔE ÷ (m × Δθ)
  2. c = ΔE × m × Δθ
  3. c = m ÷ (ΔE × Δθ)
Show answer

c = ΔE ÷ (m × Δθ) Specific heat capacity is the energy per kilogram per degree.

Check 8

What is the unit of specific heat capacity?

  1. J/s
  2. J/kg °C
  3. N/m
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J/kg °C It is energy per kilogram per degree Celsius.

Check 9

Why is a heated block wrapped in insulation?

  1. to make the block heat up faster
  2. to stop the thermometer reading
  3. to reduce energy lost to the surroundings
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to reduce energy lost to the surroundings Less energy escapes, so more of it goes into warming the block.

Check 10

A balance reads 2 g with nothing on it. What kind of error is this?

  1. a zero error
  2. an anomaly
  3. a random error
Show answer

a zero error A zero error shifts every reading by the same amount.

Check 11

How is an ammeter connected in a circuit?

  1. in parallel across the component
  2. in series with the component
  3. on a separate branch to the battery
Show answer

in series with the component The current has to flow through the ammeter to be measured.

Check 12

How is a voltmeter connected in a circuit?

  1. in series with the component
  2. in series with the battery only
  3. in parallel across the component
Show answer

in parallel across the component A voltmeter compares the potential difference at two points, so it goes across the component.

Check 13

What is the equation for resistance?

  1. R = V ÷ I
  2. R = V × I
  3. R = I ÷ V
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R = V ÷ I Resistance is the volts needed for each amp of current.

Check 14

What does the I-V graph of a resistor at constant temperature look like?

  1. a curve that flattens
  2. a straight line through the origin
  3. a line near zero that then shoots up
Show answer

a straight line through the origin The current is directly proportional to the potential difference.

Check 15

Why is the I-V graph of a filament lamp curved?

  1. its resistance drops as it heats up
  2. the voltmeter is connected the wrong way
  3. its resistance rises as it heats up
Show answer

its resistance rises as it heats up The hotter the filament, the bigger the resistance, so the line flattens.

Check 16

What does a diode do?

  1. it lets current flow one way only
  2. it lets current flow both ways equally
  3. it increases the current
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it lets current flow one way only The current is almost zero when the potential difference is reversed.

Check 17

A student connects a voltmeter in series with a lamp. What is wrong?

  1. nothing, voltmeters go in series
  2. it should be in parallel across the lamp
  3. it should be in parallel with the battery only
Show answer

it should be in parallel across the lamp A voltmeter measures the potential difference across a component.

Check 18

How do you work out the extension of a spring?

  1. new length plus natural length
  2. the new length only
  3. new length minus natural length
Show answer

new length minus natural length Extension is the increase in length.

Check 19

What is the equation linking force, spring constant and extension?

  1. F = k × e
  2. F = k ÷ e
  3. F = e ÷ k
Show answer

F = k × e A bigger extension needs a bigger force.

Check 20

How can you find the spring constant from a force-extension graph?

  1. the area under the line
  2. the gradient of the straight part
  3. the value of the first point
Show answer

the gradient of the straight part Gradient = force ÷ extension, which is k.

Check 21

Take g = 10 N/kg. What is the weight of a 200 g mass?

  1. 2000 N
  2. 0.2 N
  3. 2 N
Show answer

2 N Change to kilograms, then use weight = mass × g.

Check 22

In the trolley practical, why do you move masses from the trolley to the hanger?

  1. to keep the total mass the same
  2. to make the trolley heavier
  3. to change the surface of the track
Show answer

to keep the total mass the same Only the force should change, so mass must be a control variable.

Check 23

How do you find the speed of a wave in a ripple tank?

  1. divide frequency by wavelength
  2. multiply frequency by wavelength
  3. add frequency and wavelength
Show answer

multiply frequency by wavelength v = f × λ, with f from counting waves and λ from a ruler.

Check 24

What does a straight line through the origin on a graph show?

  1. they are equal
  2. one of the readings is wrong
  3. they are directly proportional
Show answer

they are directly proportional Doubling one quantity doubles the other.

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