In this experiment, you will determine the weight of a metal stand. You have been provided with - a metal stand labelled A, - a knife-edge to act as a pivot, - a support for the knife-edge, - a metre rule, - a spring, - a clamp, boss and stand labelled B to support the spring. (a) Measure the unstretched length $l$ of the coil of the spring as shown in Fig. 1.1. $l$ = \_\_\_\_\_\_ (b) Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.2. Move the rod of stand A along the knife-edge…

Physics 5054/32 — October/November 2013

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

questions

marks

120

minutes

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

Q15MObservations and MeasurementsExperimental ContextsAnalysis, Conclusions and EvaluationFree sample

In this experiment, you will determine the weight of a metal stand.

You have been provided with

a metal stand labelled A,
a knife-edge to act as a pivot,
a support for the knife-edge,
a metre rule,
a spring,
a clamp, boss and stand labelled B to support the spring.

(a)

Measure the unstretched length $l$ of the coil of the spring as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

$l$ = ______

(b)

Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2

Move the rod of stand A along the knife-edge until the rod balances horizontally, as shown in Fig. 1.2. Measure the distance $x$ from the top of the base of stand A to the position of the knife-edge.

$x$ = ______

(c)

Lift stand A off the knife-edge and move the stand a few centimetres to the right. Replace stand A on the knife-edge. The right-hand end of the stand will move towards the bench.

Slide one of the loops of the spring on to the end of the rod and hold the other loop in the clamp. Adjust the height of the clamp until the rod is horizontal. The arrangement is shown in Fig. 1.3. Make the extension of the spring as large as possible by moving stand A further to the right. Adjust the height of the clamp so that the rod is horizontal and move stand B so that the spring is vertical.

Fig. 1.3

Measure

(i) the distance $y$ from the top of the base of stand A to the spring,

$y$ = ______

(ii) the distance $z$ from the top of the base of stand A to the knife-edge,

$z$ = ______

(iii) the stretched length $L$ of the coil of the spring.

$L$ = ______

(d)

Calculate the weight $W$ of stand A using the equation

W = \frac{k(L - l)(y - z)}{(x - z)}

where the constant $k$ is $0.25\ \text{N / cm}$ and all distances are in $\text{cm}$ .

$W$ = ______

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