Higr tier Skills questions

Q1. A student investigated the cooling effect of evaporation.

She used the equipment (datalogger and probe) shown in Figure 1 to measure how the
temperature of a liquid changed as the liquid evaporated.

Figure 1

(a) Which type of variable was the temperature in this investigation?

Tick (✔) one box.

Tick (✔)

control

dependent

independent

(1)

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 (b) Before the investigation started, the student checked the accuracy of three different
temperature probes. The student put the probes in a beaker of boiling water that had
a temperature of 100.0 °C.
The readings from the three temperature probes are shown in Figure 2.

Which one of the temperature probes, A, B or C, was least accurate?

Write the correct answer in the box.

Give a reason for your answer.

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

.............................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Figure 3 shows how the temperature recorded changed during the investigation.

(i) Use Figure 3 to determine the lowest temperature recorded as the liquid
evaporated.

Temperature = ............ °C
(1)

(ii) Use Figure 3 to determine how long it took for all the liquid to evaporate.
Give a reason for your answer.

Time = ............... seconds

Reason: ....................................................................................................

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

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 (2)

Q2. (c) A student wanted to find out how the number of resistors affects the current in a series
circuit.

The student started with one resistor and then added more identical resistors to the
circuit.

Each time a resistor was added, the student closed the switch and took the ammeter
reading.

The student used a total of 4 resistors.

Figure 3 shows three of the results obtained by the student.

Number of resistors in series

(i) To get valid results, the student kept one variable the same throughout the
experiment.

Which variable did the student keep the same?

............................................................................................................... (1)

(ii) The bar chart in Figure 3 is not complete. The result using 4 resistors is not
shown.

Complete the bar chart to show the current in the circuit when 4 resistors were
used.
(2)

(iii) What conclusion should the student make from the bar chart?

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

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 ...............................................................................................................
(1)

Q3. (i) The student carried out an investigation to find out how the time period of the pendulum
varies with d.

Some of her results are shown in the table.

Time for 10 swings in seconds

Mean time for

First Second Third Mean
d in cm 1 swing in
test test test value
seconds

10.0 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.4 1.54

30.0 14.7 14.6 14.7 14.7 1.47

50.0 15.3 15.6 15.4 15.4 1.54

70.0 16.5 16.6 16.5

Complete the table.

You may use the space below to show your working.

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

................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) The student thinks that the measurements of time for d = 10 cm might be anomalous, so she
takes a fourth measurement.

Her four measurements are shown below.

15.3 s 15.4 s 15.5 s 15.3 s

State whether you consider any of these measurements to be anomalous.

Justify your answer.

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

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

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

................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 16 marks)

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Q4. a) Each tuning fork has its frequency engraved on it. A student measured the length of
the prongs for each tuning fork.

Some of her data is shown in the table.

Length of prongs
Frequency
in hertz
in cm

320 9.5

384 8.7

480 7.8

512 7.5

(i) Describe the pattern shown in the table.

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

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Figure 2 shows a full-size drawing of a tuning fork.

Figure 2

Measure and record the length of the prongs.

Length of prongs = ............................. cm

(1)

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 Mark scheme

M1.(a) dependent
1

(b) (probe) C
allow 103.2
1

largest difference between reading and actual temperature

reason only scores if C chosen
accept larger
it is 3.2 greater is insufficient
comparing C with only one other probe is insufficient
1

(c) (i) 12(°C)

accept a value between 12.0 and 12.2 inclusive
1

(ii) 140 (seconds)

accept an answer between 130 and 150 inclusive
1

temperature starts to rise

only scores if time mark awarded
accept the temperature was lowest (at this time)
1

(iii) increase
accept faster (rate)
1
[7]

M2. (c) (i) potential difference / voltage of the power supply

accept the power supply
accept the voltage / volts
accept number of cells / batteries
accept (same) cells / batteries
do not accept same ammeter / switch / wires
1

(ii) bar drawn – height 1.(00)A

ignore width of bar
allow 1 mark for bar shorter than 3rd bar
2

(iii) as the number of resistors increases the current decreases

1
[10]

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 M3. (i) 16.5
allow for 1 mark
(16.5 + 16.6 +16.5) / 3
2

(ii) (no)

any two from:

• fourth reading is close to mean

• range of data 0.2 s / very small
• variation in data is expected
2
[16]

M4. (i) as length (of prongs) decreases frequency / pitch increases

accept converse
accept negative correlation
ignore inversely proportional
1

(ii) 8.3 (cm)

accept 8.3 ± 0.1 cm
1

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