MASTERY PHYSICS SPM

Paper
3
EXPERIME
NT

Paper 1

: 50 marks 40

Paper
2/A
Paper
2/B,C

: 60 marks 45

Paper
3/A
Paper
3/B

: 28 marks 28

: 40 marks 30

: 12 marks 10
190
marks

A
CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIC

153

80
%

CHAPTER 2 : FORCES AND MOTION

Arrangment of the apparatus

Aim of
experiment

Variables

Procedure of the experiment

(3) Efect of force (F=ma)

Inferens
To investigate
the relationship
between mass
and
acceleration
m, a
force constant

Manipulated
:
mass//number
of trolley
Respondin
g:
acceleration
of trolley
Constant:
Force
applied by
an elastic
cord,F

1. Switch on power supply and a ticker

timer.
2. The trolley is pulled down the inclined
runway with
an elastic cord attached to the hind
post of the trolley.
3. The elastic cord is stretched until the
other end is with the front end of the
trolley. The length is maintained as the
trolley runs down the runway.
4. The ticker tape obtained is cut into strips
of 10
ticks and the acceleration, produced
by the one unit of force is calculated
by using the formula, a=vu/t
5. The experiment is repeated with 2,3,4
and 5 trolley
(with a second trolley stack up on the

(4) Efect of force (F=ma)

To investigate
the relationship
between force
and
acceleration

Manipulate
d: Force
applied by an
elastic cord,F

F, a

Respondin
g:
acceleration
of trolley,a

mass constant

Constant:
mass//number
of trolley

(5) Velocity and height of a trolley

To investigate the
relationship
between
velocity and
height of a
trolley

Manipulated:
Height of a
trolley
Responding:
velocity
Constant:
angle of
inclined
runway,

1. Switch on power supply and a ticker

timer.
2. The trolley is pulled down the inclined
runway with
an elastic cord attached to the hind
post of the trolley.
3. The elastic cord is stretched until the
other end is
with the front end of the trolley. The
length is maintained as the trolley runs
down the runway.
4. The ticker tape obtained is cut into
strips
of
10
ticks
and
the
acceleration, produced by the one
unit of force is calculated by using the
formula, a=vu/t
5. The experiment is repeated with
2,3,4 and 5 identical elastic cord.
1. A ticker tape is attached to a trolley
and passed through a tickertimer
connected to a power supply.
2. The trolley is placed at a
height,h=10.0cm from the table top. The
height, h is measured by using a ruler
and recorded.
3. The power supply is turned on and
the trolley is released to the run down
the runway.
4. The velocity of the trolley at the
bottom of the runway is determined
Using the formula

V= Distance traveled,s
Time for 5
ticks
= s cm
5 ticks X
0.02s

(6) Velocity and distance of spring compression

To investigate
the relationship
between
velocity/speed
and distance of
spring
compression

Manipulated
: distance of
spring
compression
Responding:
velocity/speed
Constant:
elasticity of a
spring/ spring
constant

1. Switch on the power supply and ticker

timer.
2. Compress the spring by pushing the
trolley at a
distance, x =2.0cm measured by a ruler.
3. Release the trolley and calculate the
velocity of a
trolley from a ticker tape by using the
formula,

V= Distance traveled,s
Time for 5
ticks
= s cm
5 ticks X
(7) Velocity/speed and distance of spring
stretching

To investigate
the relationship
between
velocity and
distance of
spring
stretching

Manipulated
: distance of
spring
stretching
Responding:
velocity/speed
Constant:
elasticity of a
spring/ spring
constant/stiffne
ss/
diameter/thickn
ess of a spring

1. Switch on the power supply and ticker

timer.
2. Pull the trolley at a distance x =2.0cm
measured by
a ruler.
3. Release the trolley and calculate the
velocity of a
trolley from a ticker tape by using the
formula,

V= Distance traveled,s
Time for 5
ticks
= s cm
5 ticks X

CHAPTER 3 : FORCES AND PRESSURE

Arrangement of the apparatus

Aim of
experiment

(6) Extension and force/mass of a load

To investigate the
relationship
between
extension of a
spring and
force/mass of
load

(7) Pressure and depth of water

To investigate the
relationship
between
pressure and
depth of water

Variables

Procedure of the
experiment

1. Measure the initial length of the

Manipulated:
force/mass of load spring, L1
2. Put one slotted mass, 20g at the
Responding:
end of the spring
extension of a
3. Measure the length of the spring, L2
4. Calculate the extension of the
spring, x
spring, x= L2
L1
Constant:
5. Repeat the experiment for the mass
length/diameter
40g,60g,80g and 100g.
/elasticity/spring
constant/stiffness
of a spring

Manipulated:
Depth of a
liquid, h
Responding:
pressure of a
liquid, L
Constant:
density of a liquid

1. The measuring cylinder is

completely filled with water.
2. The thistle funnel is
connected to the manometer
with a rubber tube.
3. The thistle funnel is lowered
vertically at the
depth of water, h=10.0cm.
4. The difference height of water, L in
manometer measured using a ruler.
5. The experiment is repeated with the
depth of water,h=20.0cm, 30.0cm,
40.0cm and
50.0cm.

(8) Archimedes Principle

To investigate the
relationship
between buoyant
force/up thrust
and the depth of
iron rod in the
water/volume of
water displaced

Manipulated:
Depth of iron
rod in the
water,L/ volume
of water
displaced
Responding:
buoyant force/up
thrust
Constant:
density of a liquid

1. The weight of iron rod in air is

measured by using a spring
balance,W0
2. The iron rod is lowered vertically in
the water at depth, L=5.0cm
3. The weight of iron in the
water is measured,W1.
4. The buoyant force,B is measured by
using a
formula
B= W1 W0.
5. The experiment is repeated with
depth,
L=10.0cm,15.0cm,20.0cm and
25.0cm.

CHAPTER 4 : HEAT (GAS LAW)

Arrangement of the apparatus
(9) Boyles Law (Pressure and Volume)

Aim of
experiment
To investigate
the relationship
between
pressure and
volume of a gas
PV/T

Variables
Manipulated
: volume of
air in a
syringe
Responding:
pressure of
trapped air
Constant:
temperature/m
ass of air
inside a
syringe

Procedure of the
experiment
1. The piston of the syringe is
adjusted until the volume of air in
3
the syringe is 50cm at atmospheric
pressure.
2. The piston of the syringe is pushed
in until the enclosed volume/air
3
trapped is 90cm .
3. The pressure on the Bourdon
gauge is recorded.
4. Repeat the experiment for
enclosed volume
3
/air trapped in the syringe 40cm ,
30cm3,
3
20cm3 and 10cm .

(10) Charles Law (Volume and Temperature)

To investigate
the relationship
between volume
and
temperature of
a gas

Manipulate
d:
Temperature
of trapped
air,
Responding:
Length of air
column,x
Constant:
mass/volume
of trapped
air

(11) Pressure Law (Pressure and Temperature)

To investigate
the relationship
between
pressure and
temperature of
a gas

Manipulate
d:
Temperature
of trapped
air,
Responding:
Pressure of
trapped air
Constant:
mass/volume
of trapped
air

1. The water is heated and

continuously stirred until the
temperature of the water reaches
20C.
2. The length of air column, x is
recorded using a
ruler.
3. The experiment is repeated by
increases the
temperature 40C,60C, 80C and
100C.

1. The water bath is heated and

continuously stirred until the
temperature of the water reaches
20C.
2. The pressure of the air is measured
by using
the Bourdon gauge.
3. The experiment is repeated by
increases the
temperature 40C,60C, 80C and
100C.

CHAPTER 5: LIGHT
Arrangment of the apparatus
(12) Linear magnifcation,m and object distance,u

Aim of
experiment
To investigate
the relationship
between linear
magnifcation,
m and object
distance,u

Variables

Procedure of the
experiment

1. The object is placed 10.0cm from the

Manipulated:
object distance,u lens.
2. Adjust the screen until the
Responding:
sharp image formed on the
white screen.
linear
3. The image distance,v is measured
magnification,
by using a ruler.
m
4. Linear magnification of the image,m
is
Constant:
calculated using a formula, m=v/u
focal
5. Repeat the experiment with different
length/lens
object
power
distance, u=20.0cm, 30.0cm, 40.0cm
and
50.0cm.

CHAPTER 6 : WAVE
Arrangment of the apparatus
(1)

WATER WAVE
(Refraction of water
wave)

Aim of
experiment
To investigate
the relationship
between wave
length and the
depth of water.

Variables
Manipulated:
depth of water
Responding:
wavelength
Constant:
frequency of
water wave

Procedure of the
experiment
1. Fill in the ripple tank with water at
depth 2cm.
2. A piece of perspex plate at
thickness 0.3cm is placed at the
middle of the ripple tank.
3. Switch on the power supply,
vibrating motor and lamp.
4. Freeze the water wave by
using the stroboscope.
5. Measure the distance between two
consecutive bright OR dark fringes
on white paper using a ruler.

plate at thickness 0.6cm,0.9cm,1.2cm

and
1.5cm.

(2)

SOUND WAVE
( = ax/D)
X and a (,D
constant)
Distance between two consecutive loud
sound,x and
distance between two loud speakers, a

To investigate the
relationship
between
distance
between two
consecutive
loud sounds,x
and
distance
between two
loud speakers,a.

Manipulated:
distance
between two
loud speakers,
a
Responding:
distance
between two
consecutive
loud sounds,x
Constant:
frequency of the
signal generator

1. Place a signal generator and two

loudspeakers on a long bench in an
open space.
2. Adjust the separation, a, of the two
speakers A
and B to 1.0m.
3. Switch on the signal generator.
4. An observer stand 5m in front of A
and B and
walks in a straight line parallel to AB.
5. The distance between two
consecutive loud
sound heard, x, is measured by
metre rule.
6.Repeat the experiment with distance
between
two loudspeakers, a=1.2m,
1.4m,1.6m,1.8m and 2.0m.

CHAPTER 7: ELECTRIC
Arrangement of the apparatus

Aim of
experiment

(3) Resistance and length/diameter of wire

To investigate
the relationship
between
resistance and
the length of
wire.

(4) Energy/Work done/Power/height of the load

and magnitude of current/voltage.

To investigate
the relationship
between
Energy/Work
done/Power/hei
ght
/distance of the
load
and
magnitude
of current
/voltage

Variables

Procedure of the
experiment

1. A 10.0cm constantan wire

(s.w.g 28) is connected
between XY.
2. The rheostat is adjusted until the
current
Responding:
flows in the circuit 0.5A and
resistance of wire
voltmeter reading is recorded.
3. The resistance calculated by using a
formula,
Constant:
R=V/I
diameter/lengt
4.
Repeat the experiment with length
h/
of wire,
current/resisti
L=20.0cm, 30.0cm, 40.0cm and
vity
50.0cm.
Manipulated:
length/diameter
of wire/cross
sectional area

Manipulat
ed:
Magnitude
of current
Responding:
Energy/Work
done/Power/hei
ght
/distance of
the load
Constant:
mass of the
load

1. Switch on the power supply.

2. Adjust the rheostat so that the
current fow in the circuit is 0.5A.
3. Activate the stopwatch.
4. Measure the height/distance of the
load goes
up using a ruler in 2 minutes.
5. Repeat experiment with different
current,
I=1.0A, 1.5A, 2.0A and
2.5A.

CHAPTER 8 : ELECTROMAGNETISM
Arrangement of the apparatus
(5) Strength of magnetic feld/no.of pin attracted
and magnitude of current

Aim of
experiment
To investigate the
relationship
between the
strength of
magnetic
feld/no.of pin
attracted and
magnitude of
current.

Variables
Manipulat
ed:
magnitude
of current
Responding:
the strength of
magnetic
field/no. of pin
attracted

Procedure of the
experiment
1. The switch is on and rheostat is
adjusted to set the current fow 0.2A.
2. Bring the petri dish filled with pin at
the end of solenoid.
3. Record the number of pin
attracted by the solenoid.
4. Repeat the experiment with current, I
=0.4A,
0.6A, 0.8A and 1.0A.

Constant: no.of
turn of the
solenoid

(6) Magnitude of the induced current and

velocity/speed/height of bar magnet

To investigate
the relationship
between
velocity/speed/
height of the
magnet and
magnitude of
the induced
current

Manipulate
d:
velocity/spe
ed/ height of
the magnet
Responding:
magnitude of
the induced
current
Constant:
number of
turns of the
coil

1.

The height of bar magnet is

adjusted at h = 20 cm.
2. The bar magnet is dropped
vertically into the coil of wire.
Record the maximum reading of
miliammeter.
3. The steps are repeated for h = 30 cm,
h = 40
cm, h = 50 cm and h = 60 cm

(7) Magnitude of (induced) current // potential

diference (Vs) and
number of turns of the secondary coil

Ac
power
supply
Soft laminated iron core
OR

Ac
power

To investigate
the relationship
between the
number of
turns of the
secondary coil
and the
magnitude of
(induced)
current //
potential
diference (Vs)

Manipulated:
the number of
turns of the
secondary coil,
Ns
Responding:
(induced)
current //
potential
difference
(output)
Constant: input
voltage // no of
turns of the
primary coil //
size /
diameter /
thickness
of wire of coils.

1. Set up the apparatus as shown, with

a 240 V ac current supply with 50
turns on the primary coil.
2. Set the secondary coil so that the
number of turns n = 20
3. Switch on the power supply,
measure the current, I (with the
ammeter) that passes through
the secondary coil.
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 for n = 40, 60,
80 and 100
turns.