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Cambridge International AS & A Level

* 6 6 1 6 6 6 4 7 0 7 *

PHYSICS 9702/33
Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1 October/November 2020

2 hours

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: The materials and apparatus listed in the confidential instructions

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You will be allowed to work with the apparatus for a maximum of 1 hour for each question.
● You should record all your observations in the spaces provided in the question paper as soon as these
observations are made.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 40.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

For Examiner’s Use

Total

This document has 12 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (LK/SG) 189603/2
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You may not need to use all of the materials provided.

1 In this experiment, you will investigate the equilibrium of a metre rule.

(a) Using the calipers, determine the diameter of one of the masses.

diameter = ................................................... cm [2]

(b) ● Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.1, with the scale on the metre rule facing
upwards.

clamp
boss

newton meter stand

70.0 cm
string loop
masses
20.0 cm p

rule pivot bench

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

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● Adjust the apparatus until the pivot is 20.0 cm from end A of the rule and the string loop is
70.0 cm from end A of the rule.
The pivot and string loop should remain at these positions throughout the
experiment.

● Place the three masses with the edge of the bottom mass approximately 37 cm from end
A of the rule.

● Adjust the stand until the newton meter and string are perpendicular to the bench.

● Adjust the boss and the clamp until the rule is parallel to the bench.

● The distance from the pivot to the edge of the mass is p, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Measure and record p.

p = ......................................................... cm

● Measure and record the newton meter reading F.

F = ........................................................... N
[1]

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(c) ● Using your value of diameter from (a), calculate the radius r of a mass.

r = ......................................................... cm

● Vary p in the range 5.0 cm ≤ p ≤ 45.0 cm and determine six sets of readings of p and F.
For each value of p, adjust the boss and clamp until the rule is parallel to the bench.

Record your values in a table. Include values of (p + r) in your table.

[8]

(d) (i) Plot a graph of F on the y-axis against (p + r) on the x-axis. [3]

(ii) Draw the straight line of best fit. [1]

(iii) Determine the gradient and y-intercept of this line.

gradient = ...............................................................

y-intercept = ...............................................................
[2]

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(e) It is suggested that the quantities F and p are related by the equation
W S
F= (p + r) +
Q Q
where W = 3.00 N and Q and S are constants.

Using your answers to (d)(iii), determine values for Q and S.

Give appropriate units.

Q = ...............................................................

S = ...............................................................
[3]

[Total: 20]

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You may not need to use all of the materials provided.

2 In this experiment, you will investigate the oscillations of a square shape.

(a) (i) ● Bend the wire to form a square shape so that the length L of each side is
approximately 12 cm, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

L wire

Fig. 2.1

● Use the wire cutters to remove any excess wire.

● Measure and record L.

L = ................................................... cm [1]

(ii) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value of L. Show your working.

percentage uncertainty = ......................................................... [1]

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(b) (i) ● Place the cork in the clamp and attach the clamp to the stand using the boss.

● Hang the wire square from the pin as shown in Fig. 2.2.

stand
cork held in clamp
pin

wire

Fig. 2.2

● Gently displace the wire square and release it so that it oscillates as shown in
Fig. 2.3.

stand
cork held in clamp
pin

wire

Fig. 2.3

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● Determine the period T of the oscillations.

T = ...................................................... s [3]

(ii) Calculate T 2.

T 2 = ..................................................... s2 [1]

(iii) Justify the number of significant figures you have given for your value of T 2.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) ● Remove the wire square from the pin.

● Form a new square shape from the wire so that L is approximately 6 cm.

● Use the wire cutters to remove the excess wire.

● Measure and record L.

L = ......................................................... cm

● Repeat (b)(i) and (b)(ii).

T = ............................................................ s

T 2 = ........................................................... s2
[2]

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(d) It is suggested that the relationship between T and L is

L
T2 =
k
where k is a constant.

(i) Using your data, calculate two values of k.

first value of k = ...............................................................

second value of k = ...............................................................

[1]

(ii) Explain whether your results support the suggested relationship.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(e) An approximate value for the acceleration of free fall g is given by

g = 46.5 k.

Use your second value of k to calculate a value for g.

g = ................................................ m s–2 [1]

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(f) (i) Describe four sources of uncertainty or limitations of the procedure for this experiment.

1. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

3. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

4. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[4]

(ii) Describe four improvements that could be made to this experiment. You may suggest
the use of other apparatus or different procedures.

1. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

3. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

4. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[4]

[Total: 20]

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