PHYSICS PRACTICALS 1ST YEAR

Experiment 1
You are asked to find the density of glass from direct measurements on a microscope slide.

Apparatus:1 microscope slide, 10 microscope slides taped together, Electronic balance,

Vernier calipers,

Micrometer screw gauge and half metre ruler..

(a) In the first attempt use only one slide. Choose the appropriate measuring instrument to

find the length, thickness and mass of slide. Determine the uncertainty in each of your

measurements.

(b) In the second experiment use a block of 10 slides and a mm scale.

Which of the two experiments gives the more reliable result?

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 Experiment 2
You are asked to find the length of a tangled coil of wire given that the density of water is

1.0 gcm-3.

Apparatus: Chain balance, Bridge, Tangled coil, Micrometer screw gauge, Beaker and Water.

Determine the volume of the coil, remembering that if the coil is totally immersed in water, the

upthrust (push of the water on the coil) will be equal to the weight of the water displaced – see

Archimedes Principle below. (Make sure that no bubbles of air are sticking to the coil when

you find its apparent weight in water).

Measure the diameter of the wire at various points and hence find the length of copper wire in

the coil.

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 Experiment 3.
You are asked to find the density of a small piece of wax.

Apparatus: Small piece of wax, Beakers, water, meths, electronic balance

The densities of wax and meths are both slightly less than that of water.

If wax just sinks in a mixture of water and meths, then the density of wax is the same as that

of the mixture.

Sinks in meths Floats in water Just floats in mixture

Take appropriate measurements to determine the density of wax.

List the precautions you have taken to ensure a reliable result.

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 Experiment 4
By plotting the appropriate force-extension graph, determine the elastic potential energy

stored in the rubber band when it is stretched to five times its original length.

Apparatus: Retort stand + 2 bosses and clamps, Metre rule, Rubber band (approx 7cm long),

Hanger + 100g masses and Set squares

Load Ruler reading(cm) Extension (cm)

0N 0
1N

Draw a graph of Force on the y axis against extension on the x axis.

Calculate the elastic potential energy in the rubber band by finding the area under the graph.

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Experiment 5
Experiment to investigate the rotational oscillations of a metre ruler suspended by two
threads.

L d

(a) Measure the fixed length L of the thread between the metre rulers.

Set the distance d at 0.200 m with the threads vertical and placed symmetrically on either side

of the centres of the rulers. Keeping the lower ruler horizontal, rotate it through a small angle

about the vertical axis through its centre, and determine the period T of rotational oscillations.

𝑘 𝐿
(b) It is suggested that 𝑇 = 4𝜋 (𝑑 ) √𝑔

where g = acceleration of free fall, and k = a constant for the rule.

Now carry out the experiment, tabulating your readings.

𝒅 (𝒎) 𝑻𝟓 (𝒔) 𝑻(𝒔) 𝟏

(𝒎−𝟏 )
𝒅

(c) State and explain any precautions which you took in the experimental investigation.

(d) Plot a suitable graph to test the relationship between T and d.

(e) Comment on the extent to which your results verify the relationship given in

(f) Determine the constant k from the gradient of your graph.

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 Experiment 6
You are asked to determine the diameter of a hole in a screen by using a converging lens.

(a) Set up the lighted object along the principal axis of the converging lens. Place a screen

which has a mm scale pasted on it on the other side of the lens as the object. Move the screen

and lens until a magnified sharp image is obtained on the screen.

(b) Measure the object distance u, the image distance v, and the mean diameter d of the image

(c) Repeat the experiment for at least four different values of u, v, and d.

u (m) v (m) d (m) v/u

𝒗
(d) Plot a graph of against d and hence obtain a value for the diameter of the circular hole in
𝒖

the screen.

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 Experiment 7.
You are asked to find the relationship between the diameter of a sphere and its terminal

velocity as it falls from rest through a viscous liquid.

Apparatus: Steel bearings of various diameters, tongs, tall cylinder filled with liquid soap with

three bands of measuring tape at different levels, strong magnet, stopwatch, half metre rule,

micrometer screw gauge.

(a) Measure the space between the two bands.

(b) Using the biggest ball bearing determine the time taken for the sphere to move between the

two bands.

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
(c) Using the relationship 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = , determine two values of the terminal velocity
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

of the sphere. Hence find the average value of the terminal velocity.

(d) Assuming that the terminal velocity v is given by

v = kd n

where k and n are constants and d is the diameter of the sphere, fill in the table below and

hence plot a graph from which the values of k and n may be calculated.

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diameter time 𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒗
𝒗⬚ =
𝒕⬚

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 Experiment 8
You are to investigate a hypothesis concerning the oscillations of a chain of paper clips.

It is suggested that the period T of small oscillations of a chain of paper clips is given by

𝑻 = 𝒌𝒙𝒏 → 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝑻 = 𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒙 + 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒌

where x = number of clips in the chain, and k and n are constants.

𝒙 𝑻𝟏𝟎 (𝒔) 𝑻𝟏𝟎 (𝒔) ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅

𝑻𝟏𝟎 (𝒔) T (s) 𝑳𝒐𝒈 𝑻 𝑳𝒐𝒈 𝒙

Design and conduct an experiment to test this hypothesis and determine a value for n.

Your account should include

(a) the measurements you make,

(b) any precautions you took for accuracy,

(c) a suitable graph to test the hypothesis,

(d) your calculations to determine n,

(e) a comment on the result of your experiment.

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 Experiment 9.
You are asked to determine the acceleration of free fall using a simple pendulum.

(a) Set the apparatus in the usual way so that the length y from the

knot to the support is about 1.4m. Measure this length carefully.

Displace the bob a few centimetres to one side and release it so

that the bob oscillates in one plane. Find the time taken to complete

10 oscillations and hence determine the periodic time of the

pendulum.

Repeat for shorter values of y.

Tabulate your values for y, T, and T2.

𝒚(𝒎) 𝑻𝟏𝟎 (𝒔) 𝑻(𝒔) 𝑻𝟐 (𝒔𝟐 )

(b) The period of a simple pendulum is given by the equation

𝑙
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔

where l is the length of the pendulum from the point of support to the centre of mass of the bob.

By writing 𝒍 = 𝒂 + 𝒚, where a is the distance from the centre of the mass of the bob to the

knot, derive the equation

4𝜋 2 4𝜋 2 4𝜋 2
𝑇2 = (𝑦 + 𝑎 ) → 𝑇 2 = 𝑦+ 𝑎
𝑔 𝑔 𝑔

Now, plot an appropriate graph to determine the acceleration of free fall. Also, determine the

value of a.

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 Experiment 10
You are asked to investigate the extension and vibrations of a loaded spring.

(a) Set up the apparatus in the usual way so that you can take corresponding readings of the

load hanging from the spring and the extension produced.

Weight (N) Length (m) Ext (m)

0 0

Given that 𝐸𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝑘𝑥, plot a graph of load against extension, and hence determine

the spring constant k in Nm-1.

(b) If a mass, M, hanging from the spring is made to oscillate vertically, the period of

oscillation, T, is given by

𝑀
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑘

M (kg) 𝑻𝟏𝟎 (𝒔) 𝑻𝟏𝟎 (𝒔) ̅̅̅̅̅

𝑻𝟏𝟎 (s) T 𝑻𝟐

Take appropriate measurements so that another value for the spring constant, k, can be obtained

from the slope of a linear graph.

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Experiment 11

You are not required to write an account of the experiment. You should concentrate on the
presentation of the experimental data and the analysis of the data. You must ensure that all
measurements taken, including repeated readings, are recorded.

You are to investigate the oscillation of a mass attached to steel strip which is fixed at one
end. You will be asked to obtain a value for a constant of steel from the measurements
you make.

1. You have been provided with the arrangement shown in the above diagram. Do not alter the
position of the steel strip in the clamp.
Adjust the position of the 0.050kg mass so that the distance L between the point A and the
midpoint of the mass is 0.25m.
Measure and record T0, the period of oscillation of the oscillator, for small oscillations.

Increase the mass to 0.100kg keeping L equal to 0.250m. Measure and record the new period
T. Repeat and take the average.

2. Theory suggests that the period of such an oscillator is proportional to √𝑀 where M is the
mass attached to the steel strip. Use your observations to test this theory showing your working
clearly.

3. Keep the value of M as 0.100kg for the remainder of the experiment. Adjust the position of
the mass to give a new value for L where L ≥20cm. Measure and record the new value of T.
Repeat and take the average. Repeat this procedure until you have 5 sets of corresponding
values for T and L including the measurement made in ( 1).
T10 T/s T10 T/s Mean T L/m

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4. The mass on the end of the strip is much greater than the mass of the strip so that the period
of the oscillator is given by
𝟏𝟔𝝅𝟐 𝑴𝑳𝟑
T2 + k =
𝑬𝒃 𝒅𝟑
Where E is the constant of the steel, b is the width of the strip, d is the thickness of the
strip and k is a constant.
Arrange the equation in the format of y = mx + c

5. In the below table include two other quantities and then plot an appropriate graph to find
the value of E and k. Write the units of both constants. Ask the supervisor for a micrometer
and vernier callipers when you need one.
T/s L/m

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Experiment 12

The below diagram shows the setup of an experiment used to determine the rigidity modulus
of a copper wire. The metal disc hanging at the end of the copper wire is rotated and the time
T10/s for 10 oscillations is recorded. The rotational oscillations are repeated for a number of
times, as the length of the copper wire is changed from 0.3m to the maximum possible length.
T10/s is recorded for each length.

The equation relating the periodic time T of the oscillations, the length L of the copper wire
and the rigidity modulus η is given by

𝟒𝝅𝑴𝑳𝒓𝟐
η=
𝒂𝟒 𝑻𝟐
where M is the mass of the metal disc, r is the radius of the metal disc and a is the radius of
the copper wire.
a) Measure r the radius of the metal disc using a vernier caliper.

b) Measure a the radius of the copper wire using a micrometer screw gauge.

c) Measure M the mass of the metal disc using an electronic balance.

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d) Fill in the below table

L/m T10/s T/s T2/s2

e) Plot an appropriate graph to find the rigidity modulus η. Write the base units of this
constant.

f) Suggest one reason why it is more valid to conduct the experiment using the changes
in T/s with changes in the length of the copper wire, rather than using changes in T/s
with the changing mass of the hanging disc.

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