MEASUREMENTS

n
mi
A
Measurements
al

Length, time
fd

and mass
A

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MEASUREMENTS
12 A student is given the following apparatus in order to find the density of a piece of rock.

100 g mass
metre rule
suitable pivot on which the rule will balance
measuring cylinder that is big enough for the piece of rock to fit inside
cotton
water

The rock has a mass of approximately 90 g.

(a) (i) In the space below, draw a labelled diagram of apparatus from this list set up so
that the student is able to find the mass of the piece of rock.

n
mi
A
(ii) State the readings the student should take and how these would be used to find the
mass of the rock.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
al

...................................................................................................................................
[5]
fd

(b) Describe how the volume of the rock could be found.

..........................................................................................................................................
A

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................[2]

(c) The mass of the rock is 88 g and its volume is 24 cm3.

Calculate the density of the rock.
MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

density of rock = .............................. [2]

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MEASUREMENTS
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2 A scientist needs to find the density of a sample of rock whilst down a mine. He has only a
spring balance, a measuring cylinder, some water and some thread.

(a) In the space below, draw two labelled diagrams, one to show the spring balance being
used and the other to show the measuring cylinder being used with a suitable rock
sample. [2]

n
mi
A
(b) The spring balance is calibrated in newtons. State how the mass of the rock sample
al

may be found from the reading of the spring balance.

......................................................................................................................................[1]
fd

(c) State the readings that would be taken from the measuring cylinder.

..........................................................................................................................................
A

......................................................................................................................................[1]

(d) State how the volume of the rock would be found from the readings.

......................................................................................................................................[1]
MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

(e) State in words the formula that would be used to find the density of the sample.

density =
[1]

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MEASUREMENTS
1
3 An engineering machine has a piston which is going up and down approximately 75 times
per minute.

Describe carefully how a stopwatch may be used to find accurately the time for one up-and-
down cycle of the piston.

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

n
.................................................................................................................................................

mi
.................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................
A
........................................................................................................................................... [4]

[Total: 4]
al
fd
A

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MEASUREMENTS
41 Fig. 1.1 is the top view of a tank in an aquarium. The tank is filled with salt water.
1.6 m

1.1 m

1.0 m

3.2 m

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

The depth of the water in the tank is 2.0 m.

(a) Calculate the volume of the water in the tank.

volume = ........................................................ [3]

(b) The density of the water in the tank is 1.1 × 103 kg / m3.

Calculate the mass of the water in the tank.

mass = ........................................................ [2]

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MEASUREMENTS
5
1 A laboratory technician has ten pieces of plastic, all cut from the same thin sheet.

The technician wishes to find the thickness of a piece of plastic as accurately as possible.

(a) Name the instrument that should be used.

................................................. [1]

(b) Describe how the instrument should be used to find the thickness.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

n
..........................................................................................................................................

mi
..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
A
..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [3]
al

[Total: 4]
fd
A

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MEASUREMENTS
61 Fig 1.1 shows part of a measuring instrument.

0
mm 25
20

Fig. 1.1

n
(a) State the name of this instrument.

mi
................................................. [1]

(b) Record the reading shown in Fig. 1.1.

A
................................................. [1]

(c) Describe how you would find the thickness of a sheet of paper used in a magazine.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
al

..........................................................................................................................................
fd

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
A

.................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 5] MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

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MEASUREMENTS
2
7 The list below gives the approximate densities of various metals.

gold 19 g / cm3

lead 11 g / cm3

copper 9 g / cm3

iron 8 g / cm3

At an antiques market, a collector buys what is advertised as a small ancient gold statue.
When the collector tests it in the laboratory, he finds its mass is 600 g and its volume is
65 cm3.

(a) In the space below, describe how the volume of the statue could be measured. You may

n
draw diagrams if you wish.

mi
A
al

[3]

(b) Use the figures given above to decide whether the statue was really made of gold. Show
fd

your working.
A

MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

Was the statue made of gold? (Tick one box.)

yes

no

[3]

[Total: 6]
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MEASUREMENTS
81 The period of the vertical oscillations of a mass hanging from a spring is known to be
constant.

(a) A student times single oscillations with a stopwatch. In 10 separate measurements, the
stopwatch readings were:

1.8 s, 1.9 s, 1.7 s, 1.9 s, 1.8 s, 1.8 s, 1.9 s, 1.7 s, 1.8 s, 1.8 s.

What is the best value obtainable from these readings for the time of one oscillation?
Explain how you arrive at your answer.

best value = .....................................................................................................................

n
explanation ......................................................................................................................

mi
..........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
A
(b) Describe how, using the same stopwatch, the student can find the period of oscillation
more accurately.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
al

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
fd

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
A

..................................................................................................................................... [4]

[Total: 5]
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MEASUREMENTS
91 (a) Define density.

..........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The density of aluminium is 2.70 g / cm3. The thickness of a rectangular sheet of
aluminium foil varies, but is much less than 1 mm.

A student wishes to find the average thickness. She obtains the following measurements.

mass of sheet = 60.7 g

length of sheet = 50.0 cm
width of sheet = 30.0 cm

n
Calculate the student’s values for

mi
(i) the volume of the sheet,

A
volume = .................................................. [2]
al

(ii) the average thickness of the sheet.

fd
A

thickness = .................................................. [2]

(c) Another student, provided with a means of cutting the sheet, decides to find its average
thickness using a single measuring instrument. Assume the surfaces of the sheet are
perfectly smooth.
MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

(i) Name a measuring instrument she could use.

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

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MEASUREMENTS
(ii) Describe the procedure she should follow to obtain an accurate value of the
average thickness of the sheet.
Details of how to read the instrument are not required.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [3]

n
[Total: 9]

mi
A
al
fd
A

MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

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MEASUREMENTS
2
10 A student wishes to determine the density of a small, irregularly shaped stone.

(a) With the aid of a labelled diagram, describe an experiment to determine the volume of the
stone.

n
mi
...................................................................................................................................................
A
...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]
al

(b) (i) State the other quantity, apart from the volume, that must be measured in order to
determine the density.
fd

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the formula that is used to calculate the density.

A

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [1]
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MEASUREMENTS
(c) The student now wishes to determine the volume of a small, irregularly shaped piece of wood
that floats in water. He notices that a small lead weight tied to the wood makes it sink in water.

Describe how the student can adapt the experiment in (a) to determine the volume of the
wood. You may draw a diagram.

n
mi
...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
A
...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
al

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 8]
fd
A

MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

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MEASUREMENTS
2
11 A student wishes to find the volume of a piece of wood of irregular shape. Her experiment requires
the use of a small brass object of mass 200 g.

(a) Calculate the volume of the brass object. The density of brass is 8.4 g / cm3.

volume = ...........................................................[2]

(b) To find the volume of the piece of wood, the student has a measuring cylinder, a supply of

n
water and the brass object in (a). The piece of wood and the brass object are small enough to
be placed in the measuring cylinder.

mi
(i) The piece of wood does not sink in water.

Suggest why.
A
.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Describe what the student does to find the volume of the piece of wood, stating the
measurements that she makes and any calculations required.

...........................................................................................................................................
al

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
fd

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
A

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

.......................................................................................................................................[4]

[Total: 7]

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MEASUREMENTS
3
12 Fig. 3.1 shows remote sensing equipment on the surface of a distant planet.

Fig. 3.1

(a) The mass of the equipment is 350 kg. The acceleration of free fall on the surface of this planet
is 7.5 m / s2.

n
(i) State what is meant by the term weight.

mi
...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]
A
(ii) Calculate the weight of the equipment on the planet.
al

weight = ...........................................................[2]

(b) The equipment releases a balloon from a point that is a small distance above the surface
fd

of the planet. The atmosphere at the surface of this planet has a density of 0.35 kg / m3. The
inflated balloon has a mass of 80 g and a volume of 0.30 m3.

Make an appropriate calculation and then predict and explain the direction of any motion of
A

the balloon. Show your working.

MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

prediction ..................................................................................................................................

explanation ...............................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[4]
[Total: 7]

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MEASUREMENTS
3
13 A block of wood has a volume of 210 cm3 and a mass of 180 g.

(a) Calculate the density of the block of wood.

density = ...........................................................[2]

(b) The block is held just above the surface of a liquid of density 0.88 g / cm3.

Predict and explain what happens when the block is released.

...................................................................................................................................................

n
...................................................................................................................................................

mi
...............................................................................................................................................[2]

[Total: 4]
A
al
fd
A

MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

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MEASUREMENTS
1
14 Fig. 1.1 shows a cylinder made from copper of density 9000 kg / m3.

Fig. 1.1

The volume of the cylinder is 75 cm3.

n
(a) Calculate the mass of the cylinder.

mi
mass = ...........................................................[2]
A
(b) The gravitational field strength is 10 N / kg.

(i) Calculate the weight of the cylinder.

al

weight = ...........................................................[2]

(ii) State one way in which weight differs from mass.

fd

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
A

.......................................................................................................................................[1] MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

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MEASUREMENTS
(c) Fig. 1.2 shows the cylinder immersed in a liquid.

liquid
2.7 cm

cylinder

n
Fig. 1.2 (not to scale)

mi
The upper face of the cylinder is at a depth of 2.7 cm below the surface of the liquid.

The pressure due to the liquid at the upper face of the cylinder is 560 Pa.
A
(i) Calculate the density of the liquid.

density = ...........................................................[2]
al

(ii) Explain why the cylinder does not float in this liquid.
fd

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]
A

[Total: 8]
MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

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MEASUREMENTS
2
15 Fig. 2.1 shows a measuring cylinder that contains a coloured liquid.

cm3

100
90
80
70
60
50
40 h
30
20

n
X
10

mi
0

Fig. 2.1
A
The measuring cylinder contains 82 cm3 of the liquid. The density of the liquid is 950 kg / m3.

(a) Calculate the mass of the liquid.

al

mass = ...........................................................[3]
fd

(b) The height h of the liquid in the measuring cylinder is 0.094 m.

(i) Calculate the pressure due to the liquid at point X in Fig. 2.1.
A

MR. AFDAL 050 66 53 006

pressure = ...........................................................[2]

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MEASUREMENTS
(ii) The true pressure at point X is different from the value calculated in (b)(i).
Explain why.

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) A small object is made of steel. It is placed level with the top surface of the liquid in the
measuring cylinder and then released. The object sinks in this liquid.

(i) Explain why the object sinks in this liquid.

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

n
(ii) Describe how the volume of the object can now be determined.

mi
...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
A
.......................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 8]
al
fd
A

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MEASUREMENTS
2
16 A student has 500 identical, rectangular sheets of paper. The mass of 1.0 m2 of the paper is
0.080 kg.

(a) Using a metre rule, she measures the length of one sheet of paper and its width. The length is
0.300 m and the width is 0.210 m.

(i) Calculate the mass of one sheet of paper.

mass = ...........................................................[1]

(ii) The student makes a single pile of the 500 sheets of paper.

n
With a metre rule, she measures the height of the pile. The height of the pile is 0.048 m.

mi
Calculate the density of the paper.
A
density = ...........................................................[3]

(b) A second student has only 5 sheets of the same type of paper.
al

Suggest how this student determines the density of the paper to a similar accuracy. Additional
apparatus may be used.
fd

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
A

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

[Total: 6]
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