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Higher Physics
Our Dynamic Universe
Skills Questions
Higher Physics Unit 1 – Skills and Open Ended Questions
1. The following experiment has been carried out by a group of
students to calculate the work done by the force of friction acting
on a trolley moving down a slope.
The mass of the trolley was measured as 710g the height of the ramp, h,
was measured as 7.0cm and the length of the track, d, was measured
as 0.80cm. The light gate was used to measure the acceleration and the
final speed of the trolley. The experiment was carried out 8 times.
(a)
The measurements taken for the acceleration of the trolley were as follows:
1.06, 1.05, 1.10, 1.08, 1.04, 1.06, 1.07, 1.06 ms-2.
What is the mean acceleration?
1
(b)
What was the gravitational potential energy of the trolley?
2
(c)
The average final speed of the trolley was calculated to be 1.02 ms-1.
What is the average final kinetic energy of the trolley?
2
(d)
What is the work done against friction?
1
(e)
State one method of improving the experiment to give a more accurate result.
1
2. A group of students carried out an experiment to find out how the horizontal
range of a ball depends on the angle of launch, Θ.
They used a projectile launcher as shown.
The results are shown in the table below.
Angle of launch, Θ (º)
20
30
40
50
60
70
Range, (m)
2.45
2.67
2.73
2.69
2.58
2.39
(a)
Using the graph paper provided, draw a graph of these results.
2
(b)
Use your graph to estimate the angle of launch that would produce the maximum
range of the ball.
1
(c ) Using the same apparatus, the students now wish to determine more precisely the
angle of launch that produces the maximum range.
(d)
Suggest two improvements to the experimental procedure that would achieve this.
2
Describe further experimental work that could be carried out to investigate another
factor that may affect the horizontal range of a projectile.
2
3.
The following experiment was undertaken by a group of students
studying momentum.
The mass of trolley A measured as 0.4kg.
The mass of trolley B was measured as 0.3kg.
The experiment was conducted 5 times. The speeds of trolley A passing
light gate 1 were measured as : 1.24, 1.30, 1.31, 1.28, 1.27 ms -1
Attracting magnets
(a) What was the mean speed of trolley A
1
(b) Calculate the average speed of the combined trolleys
2
(c) How could the experiment be improved to provide a more accurate
result for the average speed of the combined trolleys.
2
(d) How could the experiment be amended to compare the momentum
before and after an explosion?
2
4.
5.
6.
On Earth, a student observes a feather and a hammer falling at different
rates when dropped at the same time. Using your knowledge of physics,
explain why this did not happen when attempted on the Moon.
3
A physics student attempting his first parachute jump whilst travelling
at terminal velocity, states that a fellow parachutist travels upwards when
his parachute opens. Using your knowledge of physics, comment on this
student’s experience.
3
A physics student states that it should not get dark at night. A second
student states that this in incorrect because it is always dark at night.
Use your knowledge of physics to explain the difference in the two
students arguments.
3
Total
30