MECHANICS

Q1. How to check for zero error in a:

(i) Micrometer screw gauge
(ii) Stopwatch
Ans: (i) Before placing an object, turn the thimble until the spindle and anvil meet.
If the reading on the thimble is not aligned with the zero mark on the datum line,
a zero error is present.
Ans: (ii) Just check what the stopwatch reads on reset. If it isn't 00:00, a zero-
error is present. Readings are subtracted accordingly.

Q2. What is the purpose of a rachet in a micrometer?

Ans: To prevent undue pressure from being exerted.

Q3: WHAT IS THE AFFECT OF “LENGTH” OR“MASS” ON TIME PERIOD

OF PENDULUM?
Ans: Length - The period of a pendulum increases with length.
Mass - No effect.

Q4: WHY SHOULD CARD MOVE FREELY ON THE PIVOT? (referring to a card being
hung from a hole on a support)
Ans: To ensure the card does not stick to the pivot due to friction (which ensures
that the card is hanging in equilibrium position).

Q5: WHY THE PLUMBLINE SHOULD HANG SO THAT IT ALMOST TOUCHES THECARD?
Ans: This will help in avoiding parallax error.

Q6: HOW WILL YOU MEASURE THE LENGTH OF A PENDULUM?

Ans: Using a meter rule and set-square. Place the meter rule close to
the thread and note the length of the upper and lower ends of the pendulum (l1
and l2). The length l is calculated by l2 - l1.

Q7: WHAT IS THE USE OF SET SQUARE?

Ans: They are used to align the ruler to get the correct reading. They help to avoid
parallax errors.

Q8: What is an accurate/precise reading?

Ans: Accuracy - the measure of how close you are to the true answer.
Precision - the measure of how closely all your individual measurement match
each other.

Q9. What factors to consider before measuring something?

Ans: The magnitude should not exceed the limit of the instrument, and
the instrument must be sensitive enough to detect a meaningful measurement.
Q10. Why must the oscillations be counted from center of swing?
Ans: The chain is moving the fastest at the center of swing.

Q11. Suggest a suitable number of oscillations, with reason.

Ans: 20. The time for one oscillation
is too short to obtain an accurate reading and so 20oscillations are timed instead.

Physics laboratory safety precautions / rules:

 in experiments involving the measurement of a length

 try to use lengths that are at least 100 mm in length
 you can measure to the nearest mm with a rule, or perhaps 0.5 mm
 when measuring heights ensure that the rule is held perpendicular to the
base
 know how to arrange apparatus so that it is parallel or perpendicular to a
bench
 know how to arrange a set square either side of a cylinder/sphere to
measure diameter
 when measuring an interval of time
 a stopwatch can measure to about 0.1 s, although it may give a reading to
0.01 s
 for oscillations (of a pendulum or vibrating rule), be able to define a
complete oscillation
 time N oscillations, usually N>10 and use the terminology periodic time T =
t/N
 explain how to use a fiducial aid at the centre of the oscillation
 explain where the eye should be placed to avoid parallax errors

For spring extension experiment, variables that should be constant in the

experiment:
• Number of coils.
• Diameter of spring.
• Selection of loads.
• Mass of spring.

How to check if a rule is vertical:

• Protractor
• Use of set square
• Plumb line
• Spirit Level

Drawing graphs:
• Label axis
• Choose a proper scale
• Well judged best fit line
• Thin and neat lines
Measuring the gradient:
• Draw a triangle on graph
• Use clear lines
• Triangle must be larger than half the line

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
• Repeats and average
• Thinner string
• Parallel winding of springs

THERMAL PHYSICS

Q1. Why is the temperature 20°C marked on the measuring cylinder?

Ans: The scale on the cylinder is calibrated to give accurate readings when
the liquid is at 20°C.

Q2: State one precaution, other than avoiding parallax error that should take when
using a school lab thermometer, to ensure accurate measurement of
temperature?
Ans: Check the mercury level when the reading becomes steady. If
the thermometer is in a liquid, make sure it is 1/3rd immersed and that the liquid
is stirred before taking the reading.

Q3: What are the conditions to get accurate fixed points?

Ans: Immerse 1/3rd of the thermometer into the funnel containing ice, avoid parall
ax errorwhen reading the temperature on the thermometer, use ice shavings to
ensure good contact between the bulb of the thermometer and the ice, wait for the
temperature to become steady before taking the reading, etc. Ice point is 0°C and
steam point is 100°C.

Q4: Why while determining the boiling point of water, thermometer is held in
steam?
Ans: Because the steam is pure and has specific melting point. If the reading
is taken from the water, it may not accurate as water may not be pure.

Q5. What is the purpose of lagging?

Ans: Lagging is done to provide heat insulation (in boilers, pipes etc.) and trap hea
t from escaping.
Q6: How could lid helps to keep the contents of lagged containerfrozen?
Ans: It prevents heat from the surroundings entering the container.

Q7: Define responsiveness, range and sensitivity of a thermometer.

Ans: Range: The minimum and maximum temperatures that the thermometer can
measure.Sensitivity: It is the length of increase of the liquid per degree rise in
temperature.
Responsiveness: How quickly the thermometer can register a change in
temperature.

Q8: How can we increase the responsiveness, range and sensitivity of the thermometer?
Ans: To increase range:

(a) make the thermometer stem longer

(b) make the bore(capillary) bigger
(c) use a liquid with a lower expansivity

To increase sensitivity:

(a) make the bore smaller

(b) use a bigger bulb

To increase responsiveness:

(a) use a thin glass bulb

(b) use a liquid that conducts heat better

Q9: Why the bore of capillary tube is uniform?

Ans: This improves the thermometer's sensitivity (by giving a large change in
length of the mercury thread for a small change in temperature).

Q10: What is the pupose of constriction in the clinical thermometer?

Ans: The constriction prevents mercury from flowing back into the bulb.

Q11: What does the statement mean, that the scale of thermometer is linear?
Ans: It is the uniform expansion of liquid to temperature.

Q12: Why the cross-section of the stem of thermometer is pear-shaped?

Ans: This acts as a magnifying glass in one direction for easy reading of the mercu
ry thread.

Q13: Why is oil stirred during heating?

Ans: To give uniform heating to the mixture.
Q14: Why is the oil heated gently?
Ans: So that an equal change in the temperature will result in a small change of
temperature in the oil.

Physics laboratory safety precautions / rules:

* Safety spectacles, gloves and other safety components should be used while
handling experiments.

* While handling a mercury thermometer one should take of the mercury spills.

* No other laboratory instruments should be touched or handled which is not

involved in the course of experiments.

Improvements that could be done to the experiment (temp. cooling):

• Same initial temperature.
• Same volume of water.
• Same shape of beaker.
• Beakers of same surface.
• Same room temperature.
• Stirring the water in the beakers.
• Same time intervals.
• Same surface area. (Unless given different containers)
• Adding water or cooling effect at regular intervals.
Heat loss could be reduced by:
• Insulation of beaker.
• Covering beaker with a lid.
 when using a thermometer
 position the eye so that the mercury thread appears to touch the scale
 decide whether you can read between the marks on the thermometer, ie
some thermometers can be read to better than 1 ºC even though the marks
are every º C
 check whether the thermometer is full or 1/3 immersion
 in heat experiments
 choose volume/mass values of the quantities that give large changes in the
temperature
 insulate the container, cover the container
 stir and wait for highest temperature after stopping heating

For 2 values to be directly proportional,

• The graph of the values must be a straight line from the origin.
• As value 1 increase, value 2 increases.
 WAVES

Q1. When making a ray diagram, why should rays and normal be as thin as
possible?
Ans: Thin lines make it possible to obtain precise readings; with
thick lines it is difficult to measure accurate angles (of incidence, reflection etc.).

Q2. Why an image is measured from a position behind the screen rather than
front?
Ans: If it was measured from the front, it would block the rays of light and disturb
the apparatus.

Q3: Give a reason for making the length of each normal at least 6cm?
Ans: This will help in measuring angles accurately as the radius of a protractor is
normally 6cm.

Q4: What advantage is there in using tracing paper for the screen?
Ans: The image of the object can be viewed without obstruction of light. Also, the
size of the image can be conveniently measured by using a metre rule on the back
of the tracing paper without disturbing the apparatus.

Q5: What would be the effect on the image if the centre of the object and the
centre of the lens are not at the same height?
Ans: If they aren't parallel to each other, the image will be partial or blurred.

Physics laboratory safety precautions / rules:

 in light experiments using objects, lenses and a screen

 ensure that each item is aligned so that the centre of each item is at the
same height and on the same horizontal straight line (ideally use the term
optic axis)
 use a fiducial aid when measuring a length, eg mark the middle of the lens
on the bench
 try to use a translucent screen
 perform the experiment in a shaded part of the laboratory

 in ray tracing experiments

 when using marker pins space the pins so that they are at least 60 mm
apart
 ensure that the pins are vertical
 draw neat thin lines
 use the largest angles available and draw the arms of the angle longer than
the radius of any protractor being used, ie a large radius is desirable
For images produced from lenses on screens, precautions taken:
• Use of a darkened room for the experiment.
• Avoiding parallax error in measurement, and look perpendicular to the ruler.
• Object and lens at the same height from bench.
• Object/lens/screen is perpendicular to the bench.
To draw an image created from lens:
• Inverted from the original object.
• Sides are multiplied by the magnification.

ELECTRICITY

Q1. How to check for zero error in:

(i) Voltmeter
(ii) Ammeter?
Ans: For both of them, disconnect them (from the circuit) and check if the
pointer is pointing at the zero mark on the scale. If they aren't, a zero-error is
present.

Q2. Why the pointer reading ammeter/voltmeter is gently tapped before taking a
reading?

Ans: To reduce the friction between the needle and the pivot.

Q3. Before closing the switch, why is the rheostat adjusted to itsmaximum value?
Ans: This makes sure minimum current flows in the circuit, so when the circuit is
closed the ammeter doesn't get damaged.

Q4. What is the advantage of using smaller compass?

Ans: It is can be used to allign the weak magnetic fields.

Q5. What precautions are to be taken while making a circuit?

Ans: Ensure that all connections are tight, make sure the components are function
al and clean, use a DC supply with low voltage (to minimize potential hazards),
make sure the power supply has a rating nearly equal to the lamp or bulb, make
sure ammeter is in series and voltmeter is in parallel, etc.

Q6. What is a jockey?

Ans: A jockey is a metal slider that wears away a line of the insulation so it can ma
keelectrical contact with the metal underneath.

Q7. How would you clean the dirty jocky?

Ans: Rub the jockey with sand paper.

Q8. What could cause the pointer to at position below 0?

Ans: By reversing the polarity..
Q9. What will be the effect on the circuit if the dirty jockey is used?

Ans: A dirty jockey will hinder the flow of current in the circuit BECAUSE the
resistance will increase dramatically.

Physics laboratory safety precautions / rules:

* Live wires should not be touched.

* Hot Objects should not be touched with barren hands instead of that gloves
should be used the most common process is heating of water in thermodynamic
experiments.
* Circuit connections should be checked and approved by the teacher and then
only the circuit should be switched ON.
* While changing components of the circuit the power should be switched so that
one should not experience electric shocks.

 in electrical experiments
 check for a zero error
 tap the meter to avoid sticking
 initially choose the highest range for the ammeter/voltmeter, then reduce
the range for the ammeter so that the deflection is almost full scale
 always check polarities before closing the switch (completing the circuit)
 always check that connections are clean.
 switch off the current when not making a measurement.
 when measuring resistance use low currents/voltages to avoid heating and
changing the resistance you are measuring

for improving the accuracy of the results (for experiments):

Minimizing heating effect of a current:
• Lower current
• Increase voltage
• Add a lamp
• Increase resistance of a resistor