Number and Uncertainties.

IB Probs for Practice

1. Which of the following contains one fundamental and one derived unit?

A. ampere kilogram
B. ampere coulomb
C. joule newton
D. joule coulomb
(Total 1 mark)

2. The order of magnitude of the weight of an apple is

A. 104 N.

B. 102 N.

C. 1 N.

D. 102 N.
(Total 1 mark)

3. Which of the following is a valid statement?

A. A measurement that is not precise can be accurate.

B. A measurement that is precise is always accurate.

C. A measurement that is not precise will always be inaccurate.

D. Repeated measurements will always increase accuracy and precision.

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 1
4. The time taken for a stone dropped from rest to fall vertically through 16 m is 2.0 s. Based on
these measurements, what is the best estimate for the acceleration of free fall?

A. 4.0 m s2

B. 8.0 m s2

C. 9.8 m s2

D. 10 m s2
(Total 1 mark)

5. The current in a resistor is measured as 2.00 A 0.02 A. Which of the following correctly
identifies the absolute uncertainty and the percentage uncertainty in the current?

Absolute uncertainty Percentage uncertainty

A. 0.02 A 1 %
B. 0.01 A 0.5 %
C. 0.02 A 0.01 %
D. 0.01 A 0.005 %
(Total 1 mark)

6. The length of each side of a sugar cube is measured as 10 mm with an uncertainty of 2 mm.
Which of the following is the absolute uncertainty in the volume of the sugar cube?

A. 6 mm3

B. 8 mm3

C. 400 mm3

D. 600 mm3
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 2
7. The current, I, through a resistor is measured with a digital ammeter to be 0.10 A. The
uncertainty in the calculated value of I2 will be

A. 1 %.

B. 2 %.

C. 5 %.

D. 20 %.
(Total 1 mark)

8. Which of the following will reduce random errors in an experiment?

A. Using an instrument having a greater precision

B. Checking the calibration of the instrument used

C. Checking for zero error on the instrument used

D. Repeating readings
(Total 1 mark)

9. The best estimate for the time it takes light to cross the nucleus of the hydrogen atom is

A. 1023 s.

B. 1020 s.

C. 1015 s.

D. 107 s.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 3
10. Data analysis question.

The speed v of waves on the surface of deep water depends only on the wavelength of the
waves. The data gathered from a particular region of the Atlantic Ocean are plotted below.

The uncertainty in the speed v is 0.30 m s1 and the uncertainty in is too small to be shown
on the diagram.

(a) State, with reference to the graph,

(i) why v is not directly proportional to .

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(1)

(ii) the value of v for = 39 m.

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(1)

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 (b) It is suggested that the relationship between v and is of the form

v=

where a is a constant. To test the validity of this hypothesis, values of v2 against are
plotted below.

(i) Use your answer to (a)(ii) to show that the absolute uncertainty in v2 for a
wavelength of 39 m is 5 m2 s2.

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(3)

(ii) The absolute uncertainty in v2 for a wavelength of 2.5 m is 1 m2 s2. Using this
value and the value in (b)(i), construct error bars for v2 at the data points for
= 2.5 m and 39 m.
(1)

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 (iii) State why the plotted data in (b)(ii) suggest that it is likely that v is proportional to
.

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(1)

(iv) Use the graph above to determine the constant a.

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(3)

(v) Theory shows that a = . Determine a value for k.

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(1)
(Total 11 marks)

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11. Data analysis question.

Gillian carried out an experiment to investigate the craters formed when steel balls are dropped
into sand. To try and find the relationship between the diameter of the crater and the energy of
impact of steel balls of the same diameter, she dropped a steel ball from different heights h into
sand and measured the resulting diameter d of the crater. The data are shown plotted below.

(a) The uncertainty in the measurement of d is 0.40 cm; the uncertainty in h is too small to
be shown. Draw error bars for the data point (0.2, 0.047) and the data point (2.0, 0.10).
(2)

(b) Draw a best-fit line for the data points.

(2)

(c) The original hypothesis, made by Gillian, was that the diameter of the crater is directly
proportional to the energy of impact of the steel balls. Explain why the data does not
support this hypothesis.

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(3)

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 (d) Since Gillians data did not support her hypothesis, she researched to find alternative
hypotheses. She found that there are two theories used to predict a relationship between d
and h. In order to find which theory is best supported by the data, she processed the data
in two separate ways. The processed data are shown below.

(i) Draw a line of best-fit on each graph.

(2)

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 (ii) State and explain which theory is best supported by the students data.

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(2)
(Total 11 marks)

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12. Data analysis question.

The photograph below shows a magnified image of a dark central disc surrounded by concentric
dark rings. These rings were produced as a result of interference of monochromatic light.

The graph below shows how the ring diameter D varies with the ring number n.
The innermost ring corresponds to n = 1. The corresponding diameter is labelled in the
photograph. Error bars for the diameter D are shown.

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 (a) State one piece of evidence that shows that D is not proportional to n.

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(1)

(b) On the graph above, draw the line of best-fit for the data points.
(2)

(c) Theory suggests that D2 = kn.

A graph of D2 against n is shown below. Error bars are shown for the first and last data
points only.

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 (i) Using the first graph, calculate the percentage uncertainty in D2, of the ring n = 7.

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(2)

(ii) Based on the second graph, state one piece of evidence that supports the
relationship D2 = kn.

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(1)

(iii) Use the second graph to determine the value of the constant k, as well as its
uncertainty.

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(4)

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 (iv) State the unit for the constant k.

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(1)
(Total 11 marks)

1. B
[1]

2. C
[1]

3. A
[1]

4. B
[1]

5. A
[1]

6. D
[1]

7. D
[1]

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8. D
[1]

9. A
[1]

10. (a) (i) the graph is not linear/a straight line (going through the
error bars) / does not go through origin; 1

(ii) 7.7 m s1; (N.B. line is drawn for candidate, answer must be correct) 1

(b) (i) % uncertainty in v = = 3.9%;

doubles 3.9% (allow ECF from (a)(ii)) to obtain %

uncertainty in v2(= 7.8%);
absolute uncertainty (= [0.078 59.3]) = 4.6;
(= 5 m2 s2) 3

or

calculates overall range of possible value as 7.4 8.0; (allow ECF)

squares values to yield range for v2 of 54.8 to 64; (allow ECF)
so error range becomes 9.2 hence 4.6; (must see this value to
2 sig fig or better to award this mark)

(ii) correct error bars added to first point ( square) and

last-but-one point (2.5 squares); (judge by eye) 1

(iii) a straight-line/linear graph can be drawn that goes through origin; 1

(iv) uses triangle to evaluate gradient; (triangle need not be

shown if read-offs clear, read-offs used must lie on
candidates drawn line)
to arrive at gradient value of 1.5 0.2; (unit not required)
recognizes that gradient of graph is a2 and evaluates

a = 1.2 0.2 ( ); 3

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 or

candidate line drawn through origin and one data point read;
correct substitution into v2 = a2; (a2 does not need to be
evaluated for full credit)

a = 1.2 0.2( );
Award [2 max] if line does not go through origin allow square.
Award [1 max] if one or two data points used and no line drawn.

(v) k = 9.4 m s2; (allow ECF from (b)(iv)) 1

[11]

11. (a) two error bars in the correct position;

two error bars of the correct length; (allow a square-length each
side of the data points judge by eye and allow for the thickness
of the line drawn) 2

(b) suitable curve that goes through the two error bars;
and through (0,0); 2

(c) a straight line cannot be drawn through the error bars and through
the origin;
so height is not directly proportional to the diameter;
(and) height is proportional to energy; 3

(d)

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 (i) correct line of best-fit for theory 1;
correct line of best-fit for theory 2;
For theory 2 accept a straight line that goes through all
the error bars but not through the origin. 2

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 (ii) theory 1

either d against /d against should produce a straight line;

theory 1 graph has a straight line that goes through the origin and
all the error bars; 2
[11]

12. (a) line of best fit is not straight / line of best fit does not go through origin; 1

(b) smooth curve;

that does not go outside the error bars; 2
Ignore extrapolations below n = 1.

(c) (i) absolute uncertainty in diameter D is 0.08cm;

giving a relative uncertainty in D2 of 2 = 0.13 or 13%; 2
Award [2] if uncertainty is calculated for a different ring number.

(ii) it is possible to draw a straight line that passes through the

origin (and lies within the error bars);

or

the ratio of is constant for all data points; 1

(iii) gradient = k;
calculation of gradient to give 0.23 (accept answers in
range 0.21 to 0.25);
evidence for drawing or working with lines of maximum
and minimum slope;
answers in the form k = 0.23 0.03; 4
Accept an uncertainty in k in range 0.02 to 0.04.
First marking point does not need to be explicit.

(iv) cm2; 1
[11]

IB Questionbank Physics 17