Some Tips for P6 (ATP)

Improvements that could be done to a temperature experiment:

• Same initial temperature

• Same volume of water
• Same shape of beaker
• Beakers of same surface
• Same room temperature
• Same time intervals
• Same surface area (unless given different containers)

precaution that should be taken to ensure that the temperature readings are as
accurate as possible

• take reading at 90° / perpendicularly to scale

• stir (before reading / throughout experiment) stir and wait for highest temperature
after stopping heating
• check whether the thermometer is full or 1/3 immersion
• thermometer should not touch the base of the beaker.

Improvements made to experiments about heating effect and insulation:

• Covering the container with a lid
• Repeats and Average
• Recording maximum temperature
• Adding insulation
• Keeping constant room temperature
• Avoiding heat loss
• Lower starting temperature Higher room temperature

(variables in experiments about springs and stretching effect )

• Number of coils
• Diameter of spring/thickness of springs or wire
• Selection of loads
• Mass of spring
• Length of wire
• Range of loads

Periodic time (T) is measured by timing a number -n. of oscillations & then divide the
time taken for all the oscillations by the number of oscillations -n.

• explain how to use a fiducial aid at the centre of the oscillation

• eye should be placed at 900 or perpendicular to avoid parallax errors

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how you would use a metre rule and set square to measure the length d of a
pendulum/spring as accurately as possible.

clear diagram showing use of set square and rule with horizontal line of set square across
to vertical rule from approximate centre of bob

set square

• rule close to pendulum

• rule parallel to spring
• eye perpendicular to reading / use set square
• clamp rule

to find the amplitude of oscillation

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how the student makes sure that the rule is horizontal before taking the reading.

Set square

• ensure distances from bench at both ends are equal OR use set square between
rule and stand OR align with known horizontal line (e.g. window ledge)
• Spirit Level

How to check if a rule is vertical

• Protractor
• Use of set square
• Plumb line
Drawing graphs:

• Graph axes must be labelled with the quantity and unit as in these examples: I/A,
or t/s, or y/m. in the same way.
• choose a proper scale so that the plots occupy more than half of the graph grid.
Careless, rushed graph plotting can lose several marks.
• Mark the points with cross (x) on graph
• draw well measured best fit line
• draw thin and neat lines
• If something is directly proportional it should have Constant gradient, straight line
and begin from origin
measuring the gradient:
• Draw a large triangle on graph
• Use clear lines
• triangle must be larger than half the line
• Use a sharp pencil when drawing graphs
• you may lose marks for the thickness of the line
• Final answers should be given to 2 or 3 significant figures.

Tables of readings

• Column headings in tables of readings must be headed with the quantity and unit
as in these examples: I/A, or t/s, or y/m.

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 • A table should record all the measurements needed to obtain the value of a given
physical quantity. For example if a length l is derived from l = l2 - l1 then l1 and
l2 should appear in the table.
• Columns (or rows) in the table should be headed with the name of symbol of the
physical quantity. The unit in which the quantity is measured should be included.
The SI method is recommended. (minimum 5 readings required for a graph)

Width of an object is slightly greater than the width of the metre rule. Explain
briefly how you would place the object as accurately as possible

34 38. mark the center also

Mark the points at the edges of object and take average(average will be the center of the
object)

The exact position of the load that will make the metre rule balance. why this is
difficult.

• Difficult to obtain balance point

• centre of mass/gravity not in centre (however expressed)
• Difficulty in achieving exact balance OR difficulty in judging centre of P OR load
easily slips OR top of pivot not a sharp edge

how you would find the best position of the load that will make the metre rule
balance.

• Idea of obtaining nearest to balance

Sources of error in calculating circumference by string method:

• Parallax
• diagonal winding
• thickness of string
Improvement made to calculating circumference by string method:
• Avoid parallax error(Eye should be perpendicular to the reading)
• Repeat and Average (take measurements from different positions)
• Thinner string
• Parallel winding of string
• In case of irregular shape of glass measure circumference at top and bottom by
parallel winding the string and take average

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Inaccuracy in volume for clay experiment:
• Air bubbles
• Clay left on fingers
• Difficult to measure dimensions(mold into a regular shape for measurements e.g;
square or rectangle)
• Weight of the string may change the volume of the liquid

Things to remember while reading measuring cylinder

• Keep line of sight perpendicular to scale to avoid parallax error
• Read bottom meniscus for water and top of meniscus mercury

To determine the diameter of a round object/thickness of a spherical object using

blocks

DON'T FORGET THE UNITS! It will cost you marks that you are in
desperate need of.

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Precautions taken in experiments about formation of image by a lens
• Use a darkened area/ bright object / brighter lamp
• Place metre rule on bench / clamp rule in position Ensure object, lens and screen
are vertical Ensure object and lens at same height from bench
• Mark on lens holder to show center of lens
• Avoid parallax error& explain action and reason
• Make sure that the object/lens/screen are all perpendicular to bench.
• repeat and take average.
• move lens slowly / back and forth (to obtain best image)
• Move screen slowly to find best image
• object and lens and screen perpendicular to the bench ruler on bench or clamped
• mark top and bottom of image and measure later

Ray box experiment precautions:

• Thin slit in the ray box
• Use darkened room
• Perpendicular viewing of the protractor
• Mark the rays at the center of the beam
• Use sharp pencil

a technique to obtain an image on the screen that is as sharp as possible

• move screen backwards and forwards / slowly

• Darkened room
• Use object with fine details e.g; cross wires

Cross wire
one precaution the student must take to ensure that the measurements of U and V in
lens experiment are as reliable as possible.

• mark position of lens on holder

• ensure screen, lens and object all perpendicular view scale perpendicularly

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Inaccuracy of ray box method:

• thickness of rays.
• Use a darkened area

Inaccuracy of pin method:

• pins not straight, or too close, or thickness of lines drawn.
• Thickness to mirror
• Thickness of lines
• when using marker pins space the pins so that they are at least 60 mm/6.0cm apart
• Difficulty in judging exact lining up of pins.

To improve accuracy,
• put pins in the light ray experiment FURTHER APART (at least 6cm apart) to
avoid parallax error.
• thin pins; thin lines / pins / sharp pencil
• ensure that the pins are vertical / upright / perpendicular to the paper / placed
straight view the bases of the pins
• (securely) attach the ray trace sheet to the surface

Electricity Experiments

• Check for a zero error Tap the meter to avoid sticking

• Switch off in between the readings to avoid heat losses
• Voltmeter should be connected in parallel with/having maximum resistance to
take almost zero current from circuit.
• Ammeter should be connected in series with/having minimum resistance to take
almost zero voltage from circuit
• Connecting wires should have negligible resistance

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 Advantage of using a variable resistor to vary the current

• can obtain continuous set of values (at least 5 readings required for an
experiment/graph)
• more straightforward to change/control current
• can obtain more values for the graph easily

One way to minimise the rise in temperature of the resistance wire.

•use a low(er) current / voltage / switch off between readings / add a resistor in
series / use a thinner wire
• Increasing voltage
• Adding a lamp
• Increasing resistance of a resistor
Range & Precision of instruments for length
Length to be Example Instrument to be used Range Precision
measured
Very Short length Diameter of a metal Micrometer screwgauge 0-2.5cm 0.001cm or 0.01mm
wire
Short length Diameter of Vernier Calliper/ Ruler 0-15cm 0.01cm or 0.1mm
measuring cylinder
Medium length Image distance of a Meter Rule 0-100cm 0.1cm or 1mm
length
Long length Length of a room Measuring Tape Several meters 0.1cm or 1mm

Experimental Accuracy

You must clearly state thi criteria:

The Percentage difference between the two values are greater than 10 % and so this
shows that the constants are not within experimental accuracy. Thus, it shows that the
relationship or hypothesis is not true.
If the percentage difference is less than or equal to 10%, it is within experimental
accuracy and so the relationship is be true.