FINDING AVERAGE & SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

1 In an experiment to measure the acceleration of free fall, g, a table tennis ball is dropped
from a measured height. The time it takes to reach the ground is measured using a stop
watch. The experiment is repeated.
The measured times are:
0.95 s, 0.96 s, 0.99 s
Which of the following should be stated as the average result?

A 0.96 s
B 0.966 s
C 0.967 s
D 0.97 s

2 A student takes the following three measurements of the diameter in mm of a ball

bearing.
4.21, 4.20, 4.21
Which one of the following should be stated as the average result?
A 4.2 mm
B 4.20 mm
C 4.207 mm
D 4.21 mm

3 The diameter of a ball bearing is measured four times.

The measurements are 0.27 mm, 0.29 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.26 mm.
How should the average value be stated?
A 0.2675 mm
B 0.268 mm
C 0.27 mm
D 0.3 mm
 4 A student is measuring the diameter of a piece of wire with a micrometer. Her readings are
0.27 mm, 0.29 mm, 0.26 mm, 0.42 mm, 0.26 mm.
Which of the following is the best mean value for the diameter of the wire, stated with a
suitable uncertainty?
A 0.30 ± 0.08 mm
B 0.27 ± 0.08 mm
C 0.27 ± 0.02 mm
D 0.267 ± 0.015 mm

5 A student is trying to determine his reaction time. He takes the following readings:

0.20 s, 0.18 s, 0.19 s, 0.08 s

Which of the following is the best mean value of his reaction time stated with a suitable
uncertainty?
A 0.19 ± 0.06 s
B 0.19 ± 0.01 s
C 0.16 ± 0.06 s
D 0.16 ± 0.01 s

6 A student is trying to determine his reaction time. He takes the following readings.
0.21 s, 0.19 s, 0.20 s, 0.09 s
Which of the following is the best mean value of his reaction time stated with a suitable
uncertainty?
A 0.20 ± 0.06 s
B 0.20 ± 0.01 s
C 0.17 ± 0.06 s
D 0.17 ± 0.01 s
7 
        
 
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 #  $  %
A &!'()*+(
B & ') *+(
C &!'()*–4 
D & ') *–4 
 8 A student measures his reaction time. He takes the following readings.

0.21 s, 0.19 s, 0.20 s, 0.09 s

Which of the following should be stated as the mean value of the time with a suitable
uncertainty?

A 0.20 ± 0.06 s
B 0.20 ± 0.01 s
C 0.17 ± 0.06 s
D 0.17 ± 0.01 s

9 In an experiment to determine the density of a liquid, 100 g of the liquid has a volume of
80 cm3. What is the density of the liquid in kg m–3?
A 1.25 × 10–5
B 0.125
C 1.25
D 1250

10 In an experiment to determine the Planck constant a student uses light of

wavelength Ȝ = 595 nm. Which of the following is the correct value of Ȝ−1?
A 1.68 nm
B 1.68 × 10–6 nm–1
C 1.68 × 106 nm–1
D 1.68 × 106 m–1
 MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

1 The diagram below shows a micrometer screw gauge which has been used to measure the
width of a piece of metal.

0 5 40
35
30

Which is the correct reading of the gauge in millimetres?

A 5.135
B 5.235
C 5.85
D 6.35

2 A vernier scale is used to make a measurement.

10 cm 11 cm

Which is the correct reading of the scale in centimetres?

A 10.27
B 10.50
C 10.70
D 12.70
3 The diagram shows the scale on a microammeter.

40 60
20 80
0 l
lllll ll
l l
lllllll lllllllll lll
llll
l l llll lll
ll l
A M

10
llll O P lll

0
R E
S l
C R

–2
lll
l
I E
lll

0
M

l
Which of the following is the correct reading?

A 28 × 10–6 A B 28 × 10–3 A C 36 × 10–6 A D 36 × 10–3 A

4 The diagram shows a micrometer screw gauge which has been used to measure a length.

10 15 20
35
30

Which of the following is the correct reading of the micrometer?

A 20.13 mm
B 20.32 mm
C 21.32 mm
D 22.32 mm

5 What is the reading on the vernier scale?

0 10 20 30 40

mm

0 10

A 10.6 mm B 16.4 mm C 20.0 mm D 25.4 mm

6 The picture below shows a multimeter similar to those used in many school laboratories.

100 Ω
A

C
3V
10 Ω

(a) Which one of the following would be the best setting if you were asked to use the
instrument to measure the current in the 100 Ω resistor in the circuit opposite?
(1)
A 2000 μ
B 20 m
C 200 m
D 10 A

(b) Places at which meters could be used in the circuit are shown by the letters A to D.
Which letter shows the position for the meter when it is used to measure the potential
difference for the 100 Ω resistor?
(1)
A
B
C
D
 7. The picture below shows a multimeter similar to those used in many school laboratories.

P V

100 Ω

S
3V
10 Ω

Q R

(a) The multimeter is used to measure the potential difference across the 100 : resistor in
the circuit.
Which one of the following would be the best setting to use?
A 200 V
B 20 V
C 200 mV
D 2000 mV

(b) An ammeter is used to measure the current in the 100 : resistor. Which one of the letters
P, Q, R or S on the circuit diagram shows the best position for the ammeter?
A P
B Q
C R
D S
 UNCERTAINTY

1 A student measures a length as 2.74 m.

Which of the following is the uncertainty in this measurement?
A ±0.001 m
B ±0.005 m
C ±0.01 m
D ±0.05 m

2 Today’s internationally accepted value for the speed c of electromagnetic radiation in a

vacuum is 299 792.458 ± 0.001 km s−1.
(a) In 1883 Newcomb determined a value for c which he stated as 299 850 ± 30 km s−1.
Explain how his stated uncertainty shows that Newcomb must have underestimated
the uncertainties in his measurements.
(2)

(b) In 1926 Michelson determined a value for c which he stated as 299 796 ± 4 km s−1.
Comment on the value determined by Michelson.
(2)

(c) Calculate the percentage uncertainty claimed for today’s internationally accepted
value for c.
(2)

3 The student measured the sides of the cube and stated the mean length as 1.50 cm ± 0.05 cm.
(i) State the instrument the student should have used for this measurement.
(1)
(ii) State the range of these measurements.
(1)
(iii) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the measurement of length.
(2)
(iv) The student measured the mass of the cube as 38.1 g with negligible uncertainty.
Determine the density of the metal in kg m–3.
4 In an experiment to determine the density of a metal a student recorded her final value as
8700 ± 200 kg m–3.
(a) State the range of her measurements.
(1)

(b) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in her measurement.

(2)

5 An experiment report states that the mean diameter of a nylon thread is 0.150 mm ± 0.005 mm.
(a) State the range of the measurements.
(1)
(b) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the measurement of the diameter.
(1)
(c) The report states that the mean diameter of a human hair was measured as 0.075 mm
with a percentage uncertainty of 5%.
Calculate the uncertainty in the measurement of the diameter of the hair.
 CRITISIZING MEASUREMENTS
1 She varies the tension by changing the weight. She then changes the length l of wire
to give the same waveform. The frequency is kept constant. The table shows her
readings.

T /N l/m

1.0 0.4

2.0 0.566

3.0 0.693

4.0 0.81

5.0 0.91

Criticise this set of readings.

2 She planned to plot a graph to determine the viscosity of the oil. All her results
are shown in the table below.

Diameter/mm Time/s Time/s Time/s Average time/s

3 27.97 29.91 26.12 28
4 8.75 7.97 7.53 8.08
6.01 4.22 4.37 4.16 4.25
12.03 2.19 2.40 2.37 2.32

Criticise the set of results.

3 Criticise these results.

Potential
Wavelength/nm
difference V/V
510 0.14

470 0.36

430 0.67

370 1
 REARRANGING EQUATIONS FOR GRAPH

1 She is given the equation

1 T
f =
2l μ

where f = the frequency of the vibration generator

l = length of wire between vibration generator and the pulley
T = tension in wire
μ = mass per unit length of wire.

Use the equation to predict that a graph of l2 against T should produce a straight line.

2 The equation relating f, u and v is

1/f = 1/u + 1/v

Rearrange this equation to show that:

  x the gradient of the graph should be –1
  x the intercept with the y axis is 1/f.

3 A student is asked to determine the viscosity of an oil at room temperature by dropping

ball bearings into a long measuring cylinder filled with the oil.
The student is given the equation:
2 2g
v= r ( ρ b − ρ o)
9 η

Use the equation to predict that a graph of V against r2 should produce a straight line.

4 The student has been given the equation

eV = hf – G

Explain why the graph of V against f is a straight line and how the gradient can be
used to find a value for the Planck constant.
 5 A student is asked to do an experiment to find the acceleration due to gravity using
a simple pendulum. He is told to vary the length l and determine the time T for one
oscillation.
l
He is given the equation T = 2π and told to draw a suitable graph.
g
Which of the following would give a straight line graph?

y-axis x-axis

A T l

B T2 1/l

C T l

D T2 l

6 eV = hf
where f  6   $ AB:
B
ȑΚ
V on the y-axis against > on the x= $ȑΚ  
     $hc>e

7 The relationship between I and d is given by

k
I =
d2
where k is a constant.
1
Explain why a graph of I on the y-axis against 2 on the x-axis should be a straight line
through the origin. d

8 l
The equation for a simple pendulum is T = 2π
g

(b) Explain why a graph of T 2 on the y-axis against l on the x-axis should be a straight
line through the origin.
 GRAPHS

1 In an experiment to measure the internal resistance of a battery a graph similar to the

one below was drawn.

10
9
8
7
6
Potential
5
difference/V
4
3
2
1
0
0 1
Current/A

Which of the following quantities is the internal resistance of the battery?

A intercept with the current axis

B intercept with the potential difference axis
C negative of the gradient
D area under the graph
 Velocity

Time

2 Which of the following would give the distance travelled?

A area under the graph

B gradient of the graph
C intercept on the x-axis
D intercept on the y-axis

3 Which of the following would give the acceleration?

A area under the graph
B gradient of the graph
C intercept on the x-axis
D intercept on the y-axis

4 A group of students are investigating a new material. They have drawn the graph shown
below.

Which of the following quantities could they find directly by calculating the area under
the graph?

A energy stored
B energy stored per unit volume
C ultimate stress
D Young modulus
 5 The graph shows how extension varies with applied force for a spring.

6–

5–

4–
Extension / cm
3–

2–

1–

0–
–

–
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Force / N

a The force constant k for the spring is given by

A half the area under the graph.
B the area under the graph.
C the gradient.
D the inverse of the gradient.

(Total for Question 4 = 1 mark)

b The energy stored in the spring when it is stretched by 6 cm is given by

A half the area under the graph.
B the area under the graph.
C the gradient.
D the inverse of the gradient.
6 The graph shows how the potential difference V, across a power supply, varies with the current I, in
an electric circuit.

10 –

8–

6–
V/V
4–

2–

0–
–

–
0 1 2 3 4 5
I/A

a Which of the following is the correct description of the relationship between V and I?
A They are directly proportional.
B They are inversely proportional.
C There is a linear relationship.
D There is a positive correlation.

b Which of the following is the magnitude of the gradient of the graph?

A 10
B 4.6
C 2.2
D 0.46