General physics sheet 2

Answer the following questions:

1. An IGCSE student is taking measurements of a pencil.
Fig. 1.1 shows the pencil, drawn full size.

Fig. 1.1
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.1, measure, in cm, the total length l of the pencil.
l = .............................................. cm
(ii) Measure, in cm, the length x of the unsharpened section of the pencil.
x = .............................................. cm
(iii) Calculate the length y of the sharpened section of the pencil, using the equation y = (l – x).

y = ......................................... cm [2]
(b) Describe how you would use a length of string and a rule to determine the circumference c of the
unsharpened section of the pencil.
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................ [2]
(c) The student’s value for the circumference is c = 2.4 cm.
(i) Suggest a source of inaccuracy in determining the circumference of the pencil.
............................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Calculate the volume V of the unsharpened section of the pencil using the equation V =

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

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Mrs. Mona El-Sayed
sheet 2 General physics
(iii)Estimate the volume VE of the sharpened section of the pencil. Show your working or reasoning.

VE = ............................................... [2]
[Total: 8]

2. The IGCSE students are carrying out measurements in order to determine the density of water using two
methods.
(a) Method 1
Fig. 2.1 shows an empty measuring cylinder on a balance and Fig. 2.2 shows the measuring cylinder
containing water.

Fig. 2.1 Fig. 2.2

(i) Read and record the mass m1 of the empty measuring cylinder.
m1 = ................................................. g
(ii) Read and record the mass m2 of the measuring cylinder and water.
m2 = ................................................. g
(iii)Read and record the volume V1 of water, as shown in Fig. 2.2.
V1 = ............................................. cm3

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Mrs. Mona El-Sayed
General physics sheet 2
(iv) Calculate a value ρ1 for the density of water using your readings from (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) and the
equation ρ1 = (m2 – m1) / V1. Give an appropriate unit.

ρ1 = ....................................................
[3]
(b) Method 2
In this method, a test-tube is floated in the water left in the measuring cylinder from Method 1 and
the change in water level is measured.

Fig. 2.3 Fig. 2.4

(i) Read and record the mass m3 of the test-tube, as shown in Fig. 2.3.
m3 = ....................................................
(ii) The test-tube is carefully lowered, by means of a piece of cotton, into the measuring cylinder
until it floats as shown in Fig. 2.4. Read and record the new water level V2 in the measuring
cylinder.
V2 = ....................................................

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Mrs. Mona El-Sayed
sheet 2 General physics
(iii)Using your results from (a)(iii) and (b)(ii), calculate V3, the change in the water level,
where V3 = (V2 – V1).

V3 = ....................................................
(iv) Calculate and record a value ρ2 for the density of water using the equation ρ2 = m3 / V3
.

ρ2 = ....................................................
[3]
(c) Calculate an average value ρAV for the density of water using your results from (a)(iv) and (b)(iv).

ρAV = ............................................... [1]

(d) Suggest a precaution that should be taken in Method 1 to ensure that the volume reading is as
accurate as possible.
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................ [1]
(e) Suggest a possible source of experimental inaccuracy in Method 2, other than with the volume
reading.
State and explain the effect that this would have on your value for ρ2.
suggestion …………..............................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
effect and explanation ............................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
[2]
[Total: 10]

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Mrs. Mona El-Sayed
General physics sheet 2
3. A student has a stack of 20 identical coins.
Fig. 1.1 shows the student measuring the height of the stack using a ruler.

Fig. 1.1
(a) With his eye at the position shown, the student’s measurement of the height of the stack is 6.8 cm.
Suggest two reasons why the student’s measurement is inaccurate.
1. ..............................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
2. ..............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................ [2]
(b) Another student correctly determines the height of the stack as 7.7 cm.
Calculate the average thickness of one coin.

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

(c) The mass of a single coin is 12 g.
State this mass in kg.

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

[Total: 5]

5
Mrs. Mona El-Sayed
sheet 2 General physics
4. In the past, burning candles were used as timers.
A boy carries out an experiment to make his own timer using a burning candle.
Fig. 1.1 shows the length of the candle, and the clock he used, at the start of the experiment and at the
end of the experiment.

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

(a) The candle has a cross-sectional area of 1.6 cm2.
Calculate the volume of candle at the start of the experiment.

volume = .................................................. cm3 [2]

(b) Use Fig. 1.1 to complete the table.

[2]
(c) The difference in the length of the candle from the start to the end of the experiment was 1.8 cm.
Calculate the rate, in cm / hour, at which the candle burns.

rate = ........................................... cm / hour [2]

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Mrs. Mona El-Sayed
General physics sheet 2
(d) The boy estimates that he would need a candle about 24 cm long, of the same material and diameter,
to make a candle timer that would last at least one day.
State whether the boy’s estimate is correct. Give a reason for your answer.

..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................[2]
[Total: 8]
5. A student uses a rule to measure a thin piece of wire as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1
The student records the length of the wire as 12.8 cm.
(a) State two errors in the student’s measurement of the length of wire.
1. ..............................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................
2. ..............................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................
[2]

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Mrs. Mona El-Sayed
sheet 2 General physics
(b) The student is asked to measure the thickness of the wire using the same ruler. The student does this
by bending a short length of the wire and measuring distance x as shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2
(i) Use the ruler in Fig. 1.2 to determine the distance x.

distance x = ............................................ cm [1]

(ii) Calculate the average thickness of the wire, in mm. Give your answer correct to two significant
figures.

average thickness of wire = .......................................... mm [3]

[Total: 6]

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Mrs. Mona El-Sayed