In this experiment, you will investigate the equilibrium of a wooden rod. (i) • Assemble the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.1 with the nail held securely in the cork. Check that the rod can swing freely. • The height of the nail above the bench is $H$. Measure and record $H$. $H$ = \_\_\_\_\_\_ This height must be kept constant throughout the experiment. • The distance between the nail and the centre of the mass is $L$. Measure and record $L$. $L$ = \_\_\_\_\_\_ (ii) •…

Physics 9702/33 — February/March 2023

Cambridge AS Level · Advanced Practical Skills · worked solutions for every part, with the mark scheme

questions

marks

120

minutes

Topics Manipulation, Measurement and Observation · Presentation of Data and Observations · Analysis, Conclusions and Evaluation

Q1Manipulation, Measurement and ObservationPresentation of Data and ObservationsAnalysis, Conclusions and EvaluationFree sample

In this experiment, you will investigate the equilibrium of a wooden rod.

(a)

(i)

• Assemble the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.1 with the nail held securely in the cork. Check that the rod can swing freely.

Fig. 1.1

• The height of the nail above the bench is $H$ .
Measure and record $H$ .

$H$ = ______

This height must be kept constant throughout the experiment.

• The distance between the nail and the centre of the mass is $L$ .
Measure and record $L$ .

$L$ = ______

(ii)

• Assemble the remaining apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.2. Place the string loop in a notch near the mid-point of the rod.

Fig. 1.2

• Adjust the height of the pulley so that the string pulling the rod is parallel to the bench.

• The height of the string above the bench is $h$ , as shown in Fig. 1.2.
Measure and record $h$ .

$h$ = ______

• The angle between the plumb line and the rod is $\theta$ , as shown in Fig. 1.2.
Measure and record $\theta$ .

$\theta$ = ______ $^{\circ}$

(b)

Move the string loop to another notch and adjust the height of the pulley and the position of its stand so that the string pulling the rod is parallel to the bench.

Repeat until you have six sets of values of $h$ and $\theta$ .

Record your results in a table. Include values of $\sin \theta$ to 3 significant figures in your table.

(c)

(i)

Plot a graph of $\sin \theta$ on the $y$ -axis against $h$ on the $x$ -axis.

(ii)

Draw the straight line of best fit.

(iii)

Determine the gradient and $y$ -intercept of this line.

gradient = ______
$y$ -intercept = ______

(d)

It is suggested that the quantities $\theta$ and $h$ are related by the equation

\sin \theta = ah + b

where $a$ and $b$ are constants.

Using your answers in (c)(iii), determine the values of $a$ and $b$ .
Give appropriate units.

$a$ = ______
$b$ = ______

(e)

The mass of the wooden rod is $M$ .
Calculate $M$ using the relationship

-\frac{1}{a} = L + \frac{ML}{N}

where $N$ is $200\ \text{g}$ .

$M$ = ______ $\text{g}$

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