Practical questions
You will complete eight Practical Activity Groups (PAGs) if you are studying GCSE Physics, and 16 if you are studying GCSE Combined Science (six of these are in Physics). You could be asked questions about the apparatus, methods, safety precautions, results, analysis and evaluation of these experiments.
There are two PAGs in the Matter section:
- P1 Materials, eg determine the densities of a variety of objects both solid and liquid
- P5 Energy, eg determine the specific heat capacity of a metal
Learn about practicals with Dr Alex Lathbridge
Listen to the full series on BBC Sounds.
Dr Alex Lathbridge answers questions about practicals.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Describe the difference between a hazard and a risk. [2 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
- a hazard is something that could cause damage or harm to someone or something [1]
- a risk is the chance that a hazard will cause damage or harm [1]
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
Describe how you could find the density of a cube of metal. [4 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
- measure the mass of the cube using a balance [1]
- measure the side length of the cube with a ruler [1]
- use the side length to calculate the volume of the cube [1]
- calculate the density using \(density = \frac{mass}{volume}\) [1]
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
A student completes an experiment to find the specific heat capacity of a metal.
The value obtained from the experiment is much higher than expected.
Suggest two reasons how this could have occurred and two improvements to the experimental procedure. [4 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016 - Higher.
Any two reasons from:
- heat escapes to the surroundings
- part of the immersion heater is outside of the block
- poor thermal contact between the immersion heater and block
- it takes time for the thermometer to reach its maximum temperature (once the heater is turned off)
[2]
Any two improvements from:
- lag/insulate the aluminium block
- make sure all of the heater is in the block/use a smaller heater
- use petroleum jelly to transfer heat between the immersion heater and the block
- wait until the maximum temperature is reached
[2]
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Describe how you could find the density of a metal pencil sharpener. [4 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
- measure the mass of the pencil sharpener using a balance [1]
- put the pencil sharpener in a displacement can/water [1]
- volume of water displaced = volume of pencil sharpener [1]
- calculate the density using \(density = \frac{mass}{volume}\) [1]
