Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level

* 0 8 2 1 1 6 0 2 1 5 *

PHYSICS 9702/31
Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1 October/November 2017
2 hours
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
Additional Materials: As listed in the Confidential Instructions.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.

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Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.

Answer both questions.

You will be allowed to work with the apparatus for a maximum of one hour for each question.
You are expected to record all your observations as soon as these observations are made, and to plan the
presentation of the records so that it is not necessary to make a fair copy of them.
You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in your answers.

Electronic calculators may be used.

You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units.

Additional answer paper and graph paper should be used only if it becomes necessary to do so.

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

For Examiner’s Use

Total

This document consists of 12 printed pages.

DC (NH/SG) 132646/2
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You may not need to use all of the materials provided.

1 In this experiment, you will investigate the motion of a Y-shaped pendulum.

(a) You have been provided with two pieces of string. The longer piece of string has a loop
at each end. The shorter piece of string is attached to a bob.

Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Attach the shorter string to the middle of the longer string with a knot.

Ensure the two rods of the clamps are at the same height above the bench.

Position the stands approximately 35 cm apart.

boss boss

rod of clamp rod of clamp

θ
longer string
knot

shorter
string
stand stand

bob

≈ 35 cm

bench

Fig. 1.1

The angle θ is the angle between the two halves of the longer string.

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(b) Measure and record θ .

θ = .................................................. [1]

(c) Pull the bob a short distance towards you. Release the bob. The bob will oscillate.

Determine the period T of these oscillations.

T = .................................................. [1]

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(d) Vary the distance between the stands and repeat (b) and (c) until you have six sets of
values of θ and T.

Record your results in a table. Include values of cos c m and T 2 in your table.
θi
2

[10]

Plot a graph of T 2 on the y-axis against cos c m on the x-axis.

θi
(e) (i) [3]
2

(ii) Draw the straight line of best fit. [1]

(iii) Determine the gradient and y-intercept of this line.

gradient = ......................................................

y-intercept = ......................................................
[2]

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(f) It is suggested that the quantities T and θ are related by the equation

T 2 = P cos c m + Q
θi
2
where P and Q are constants.

Using your answers in (e)(iii), determine the values of P and Q.

Give appropriate units.

P = ......................................................

Q = ......................................................
[2]

[Total: 20]

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You may not need to use all of the materials provided.

2 In this experiment, you will investigate the appearance of a line viewed through a jar
containing water.

(a) You have been provided with an empty glass jar.

The thickness of the glass is t.

Measure and record t.

t = ............................................ cm [1]

(b) (i) The outer diameter of the glass jar is d as shown in Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 2.1

Measure and record d.

d = .................................................. [1]

(ii) Calculate the inner diameter D of the jar where

D = d – 2t.

D = ......................................................

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(c) (i) Add water to the jar until it is approximately three-quarters full.

(ii) The height h of water in the jar is shown in Fig. 2.2.

water
h

bench

Fig. 2.2

Measure and record h.

h = .................................................. [1]

(iii) Calculate the approximate volume V of water in the jar using

V = πD h .
2

V = .................................................. [1]

(iv) Justify the number of significant figures that you have given for your value of V.

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

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

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

(d) Draw a straight line of approximate length 25 cm in the centre of the A4 sheet of paper.

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(e) (i) Place the jar centrally on the line as shown in Fig. 2.3.

line

top of jar

Fig. 2.3

Look down on the jar from directly above. The line should appear to pass through
the centre of the jar as an unbroken straight line.

(ii) Move your head backwards and forwards.

When viewed through the water, the line (shown dotted) appears to move as shown
in Fig. 2.4.

Fig. 2.4

(iii) Place the nails on the line either side of the jar as shown in Fig. 2.5.

line
nail nail

top of jar

Fig. 2.5

(iv) For a particular height of the nails, the nails and the line viewed through the water
appear to move together when you move your head backwards and forwards.

Raise the nails to this height.

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(v) The distance between the surface of the water and the nails is y as shown in
Fig. 2.6.

y y

Fig. 2.6

Measure and record y.

y = .................................................. [1]

(f) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value of y.

percentage uncertainty = .................................................. [1]

(g) Pour water out of the jar until it is approximately half full.
Repeat (c)(ii), (c)(iii) and (e).

h = ......................................................

V = ......................................................

y = ......................................................
[3]

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(h) It is suggested that the relationship between y and V is

y = kV

where k is a constant.

(i) Using your data, calculate two values of k.

first value of k = ......................................................

second value of k = ......................................................

[1]

(ii) Explain whether your results support the suggested relationship.

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

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

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

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

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(i) (i) Describe four sources of uncertainty or limitations of the procedure for this
experiment.

1. ..............................................................................................................................

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

2. ..............................................................................................................................

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

3. ..............................................................................................................................

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

4. ..............................................................................................................................

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

(ii) Describe four improvements that could be made to this experiment. You may
suggest the use of other apparatus or different procedures.

1. ..............................................................................................................................

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

2. ..............................................................................................................................

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

3. ..............................................................................................................................

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

4. ..............................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 20]

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Cambridge International Examinations is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of Cambridge Local
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© UCLES 2017 9702/31/O/N/17