In this experiment, you will investigate the motion of a wooden block on a ramp. You have been provided with - a wooden block with a face labelled A, - a length of wood that can be used to form a ramp, - a stand and boss holding a rod that can be used to support the ramp, - a metre rule, - a mass of 200 g, - a piece of Blu-Tack, - a set square. (a) Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.1. (b) (i) Lower the boss holding the rod so that it is as low as possible on the stand.…

Physics 5054/32 — October/November 2012

Cambridge O-Level · Practical Test · worked solutions for every part, with the mark scheme

questions

marks

120

minutes

Topics Experimental Contexts · Use of Techniques, Apparatus and Materials · Observations and Measurements · Analysis, Conclusions and Evaluation

Q15MUse of Techniques, Apparatus and MaterialsObservations and MeasurementsExperimental ContextsAnalysis, Conclusions and EvaluationFree sample

In this experiment, you will investigate the motion of a wooden block on a ramp.

You have been provided with

a wooden block with a face labelled A,
a length of wood that can be used to form a ramp,
a stand and boss holding a rod that can be used to support the ramp,
a metre rule,
a mass of 200 g,
a piece of Blu-Tack,
a set square.

(a)

Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

(b)

(i) Lower the boss holding the rod so that it is as low as possible on the stand. Use some of the Blu-Tack to prevent the end of the ramp sliding across the bench.

Place the wooden block at the top of the ramp with face A downwards. Raise the boss to slowly raise one end of the ramp. As you slowly raise the ramp, keep giving the wooden block small pushes until it moves down the ramp at approximately constant speed. When this happens tighten the boss to the stand so that the ramp is fixed in position. This is shown Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2

(ii) The distances $x$ and $y$ are the horizontal and vertical distances between the ends of the ramp, as shown in Fig. 1.2. Measure $x$ and $y$ .

$x$ = ______
$y$ = ______

(iii) Calculate the value of $y / x$ .

$y / x$ = ______

(c)

(i)

Repeat (b) and obtain a new set of values for $x$ , $y$ and $y / x$ .

$x$ = ______
$y$ = ______
$y / x$ = ______

(ii)

Using your two values for $y / x$ , calculate the average value for $y / x$ .

average value for $y / x$ = ______

(d)

Use a piece of Blu-Tack to secure the 200 g mass to the wooden block. Repeat (b) and (c) to obtain a second average value for $y / x$ .

average value for $y / x$ = ______

(e)

Theory suggests that the value of $y / x$ does not depend on the total mass of the block. Comment on your results, taking account of this suggestion.

The rest of this paper

3 more questions

Q2Experimental Contexts · Observations and Measurements · Analysis, Conclusions and Evaluation5M
Q3Use of Techniques, Apparatus and Materials · Experimental Contexts5M
Q4Observations and Measurements · Experimental Contexts · Use of Techniques, Apparatus and Materials · Analysis, Conclusions and Evaluation15M

Loading the full paper…