9

Paper 3 2004
Section A
1

A student carries out an experiment to find out the relationship between mass, m, and the
oscillation period, T, of an inertia balance. A piece of jigsaw blade is clamped at one end and
a plasticine ball with mass 10.0g is fixed at the other end. The distance from the plasticine
ball to the clamp is 20.0 cm. The arrangement of the apparatus for the experiment is shown
in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1
The jigsaw blade is displaced horizontally to one side and then released so that it oscillates.
The time for 10 oscillations, t 1, is taken using a stop watch. The jigsaw blade is oscillated
again to obtain the time for 10 oscillations, t2, for the second time. The actual readings of t 1
and t2 are shown in Figure 1.2.
The experiment is repeated by using plasticine balls with masses 20.0g , 30.0 g, 40.0 g and
50.0 g. The readings of the stop watch are shown in Figures 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6.
The period of oscillation, T, of the jigsaw blade is given by the following equation:
T=

t mean
t t
where t mean = 1 2
10
2

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(a) For the experiment described above, identify:

(i)
the manipulated variable,
..
[1 mark]
(ii)

the responding variable

..
[1 mark]

(iii)

a constant variable

[1 mark]

(b) Based on Figures 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6, determine t1, t2, tmean, T and T2 for each value of
m in the space below.
[7 marks]

13

(c) On a piece of graph paper, plot a graph T2 against m.

(d) Use your graph to state the relationship between T and m.

[5 marks]
[1 mark]

A student carried out an experiment to investigate the relationship between the temperature
of a liquid when heated and its mass m. The student used the same immersion heater to
heat up different masses of the liquid in a constant time. The initial temperature, o , of the
liquid which is constant and the final temperature, , of the liquid after being heated are
recorded.
The result of the experiment is shown in a graph of against

1
shown in Figure 2.1.
m

14

(a) The initial temperature, o , of the liquid can be determined from the intercept of the -axis.
Show on the graph on Figure 2.1 how you determine o and write the value below.

o = ..

[2 marks]

(b) State the relationship between and m.

..
[1 mark]
(c) The specific heat capacity, c, of the liquid is given by the equation;
4.5 10 4
k
Where k is the gradient of the graph.
c

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(i)

(ii)

1
.
m
Show on the graph how you determine the gradient.
Calculate the gradient of the graph of against

Calculate the value of the specific heat capacity, c, of the liquid.

[3 marks]

[2 marks]

(d) Determine the mass, m, of the heated liquid if the final temperature, , is 32 oC.
Show on the graph how you determine the value of m.
[3 marks]

(e) State one precaution that should be taken during this experiment.

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

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Section B
1

The physical properties of soils depend on the size of its granules.

Sands have bigger granules than clay. Therefore the air space between
granules of sand is greater than granules of clay.

A student carried out an experiment to study the capillary action on sand and clay. He
used an equal amount of sand and clay and two similar open-ended glass tubes. He
filled one of the glass tubes with sand and another with clay. Both glass tubes were
placed in water at the same time as shown in Figure 1.1.
After 15 minutes, the water level in the clay was higher than in the sand as shown in
Figure 1.2.

Using the information in the box above and the result of the experiment;
(a) make one suitable inference,
[1 mark]
(b) state one appropriate hypothesis that could be investigated,
[1 mark]
(c) describe how you would design an experiment to test your hypothesis using capillary
tubes with different internals diameters and other apparatus.
In your description, state clearly the following:
(i)
aim of the experiment
(ii)
variables in the experiment
(iii)
list of apparatus and materials
(iv)
arrangement of the apparatus
(v)
the procedure of the experiment, which includes the method of controlling the
manipulated variable and the method of measuring the responding variable
(vi)
the way you would tabulate the data
(vii)
the way you would analyse the data
[10 marks]

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Figure 2.1 shows a starter motor of a car connected to a 12 V battery.

When the starter motor is switched on, high current flows from the battery to the motor
through a wire. To reduce energy lost in it, the wire used is thick and short.
Using the information in the box above and the result of the experiment;
(a) make one suitable inference,
[1 mark]
(b) state one appropriate hypothesis that could be investigated,
[1 mark]
(c) describe how you would design an experiment to test your hypothesis using constantan
wire and other apparatus.
In your description, state clearly the following:
(viii) aim of the experiment
(ix)
variables in the experiment
(x)
list of apparatus and materials
(xi)
arrangement of the apparatus
(xii)
the procedure of the experiment, which includes the method of controlling the
manipulated variable and the method of measuring the responding variable
(xiii) the way you would tabulate the data
(xiv) the way you would analyse the data
[10 marks]