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 Electricity section:
- P6 Circuit components, eg investigate the I-V characteristics of circuit elements
- P7 Series and parallel circuits, eg investigate the brightness of bulbs in series and parallel
Learn about practicals with Dr Alex Lathbridge
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Dr Alex Lathbridge answers questions about practicals.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
The student uses a voltmeter, an ammeter and a cell to find the resistance of an unknown resistor.
The student repeats the experiment with different potential differences and currents.
Look at the results:
| Potential difference (V) | Current (A) (Attempt 1) | Current (A) (Attempt 2) | Current (A) (Attempt 3) | Mean current (A) |
| 2.0 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.15 |
| 4.0 | 0.31 | 0.31 | 0.31 | 0.31 |
| 6.0 | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.38 | 0.44 |
| 8.0 | 0.60 | 0.62 | 0.58 | 0.60 |
| 10.0 | 0.74 | 0.75 | 0.73 | 0.74 |
| Potential difference (V) | 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Current (A) (Attempt 1) | 0.15 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 2) | 0.14 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 3) | 0.16 |
| Mean current (A) | 0.15 |
| Potential difference (V) | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| Current (A) (Attempt 1) | 0.31 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 2) | 0.31 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 3) | 0.31 |
| Mean current (A) | 0.31 |
| Potential difference (V) | 6.0 |
|---|---|
| Current (A) (Attempt 1) | 0.44 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 2) | 0.44 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 3) | 0.38 |
| Mean current (A) | 0.44 |
| Potential difference (V) | 8.0 |
|---|---|
| Current (A) (Attempt 1) | 0.60 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 2) | 0.62 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 3) | 0.58 |
| Mean current (A) | 0.60 |
| Potential difference (V) | 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Current (A) (Attempt 1) | 0.74 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 2) | 0.75 |
| Current (A) (Attempt 3) | 0.73 |
| Mean current (A) | 0.74 |
There is an anomaly in the results.
Write down the anomaly from the table. State how the student dealt with the anomaly. [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016.
The anomoly is Attempt 3 at 6.0 V. The student did not include it in the mean.
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
A student ties two balloons to a support with some string. The student rubs both balloons with a dry cloth. Predict what happens to the balloons and give a reason for your answer. [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.
The balloons move apart because they repel each other.
They repel each other because they have the same charge (either positive or negative).
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
A voltmeter is used to measure the output voltages produced from the circuit.
The voltmeter is not connected to a circuit and not recording a voltage.
Name the error on the voltmeter and suggest how it should be dealt with. [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016 - Higher.
zero/systematic error.
Reset the meter, subtract 1.0 V from all readings or subtract initial reading from all readings.