FORM 4 PHYSICS

CHAPTER 1 MEASUREMENT
ASSESSMENT

1) A helicopter is flying at a height of 1500 m with a velocity of 2 ms-1. Two sky divers
with mass 60 kg and 65 kg respectively jump from the helicopter. They accelerate
downwards and read the ground about 10 minutes.
a) Classify the physical quantities mentioned in the situation into two groups. [2]
b) State the characteristics used in classification in 2 (a). [2]
c) Convert
i) 90 kmh-1 into ms-1 [1]
3 3
ii) 1.4 cm into m [1]
iii) 530 pF into F [1]
d) Arrange the following measurements in ascending order. [1]

1 x 10-4 km, 1 x 10-2 m , I x 103 mm

2) Three students A, B and C use three different instruments to measure the diameter of
a sphere. Their measurements are shown below.
Student A: 1.64 cm
Student B: 1.642 cm
Student C : 1.6 cm
Identify the instrument used by each of the students.
a) Student A [1]
b) Student B [1]
c) Student C [1]

3) The thickness of a piece of plank is 2.53 cm. Table below shows the measurements
made by three students. Each student measures the thickness of the plank four times at
four different positions.
Student Measurements (cm)
1 2 3 4
A 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50
B 2.53 2.53 2.53 2.53
C 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.53
The measurements of which student is
a) i) accurate and consistent [1]
ii) Explain your answer. [2]
b) i) consistent but inaccurate [1]
ii) Explain your answer. [2]
c) i) accurate but inconsistent [1]
ii) Explain your answer. [3]
5) Diagram 5.1 and 5.2 below shows a pair of vernier callipers being used to measure the
dimensions of a glass tube.

Diagram 5.1 Diagram 5.2

a) State the two dimensions being measured above. [2]
i) Diagram 5.1 :
ii) Diagram 5.2 :
b) Based on the diagram 2.1 and 2.2 above, determine the length of the dimensions
measured. [2]
i) Diagram 2.1 :
ii) Diagram 2.2 :
c) Determine the thickness of the glass. [1]
d) Explain why it is not necessary to include the zero error in the calculation of the
thickness of the glass. [2]

6) A student determines the thickness of a piece of graph paper. The zero error of the
micrometer screw gauge is shown in diagram 2(a). 50 pieces of graph papers are put
in between P and Q of micrometer screw gauge. P and Q are closed by turning the
part T until the sound ‘tik’ is heard and the reading is now shown in diagram 2(b)
 a) Name the part labelled with P, Q, R, S and T. [4]
P:_________________________________________
Q:_________________________________________
R:_________________________________________
S:_________________________________________
T:_________________________________________
b) State the zero error shown in diagram 2 (a). [1]
c) What is actual reading of 50 pieces of graph papers shown in diagram 2 (b)? [1 ]
d) What is the actual reading of 1 piece of graph paper in millimetre,mm ? [1]
e) When doing measurement, student is advised to turn the part T of micrometer screw
gauge but not turning part S. Explain why? [1]

7) a) What is meant by sensitivity? [1]

b) Table below shows the characteristics of four instruments of measurements K, L,
M and N used for measuring a base physical quantity.
Instrument for Range of Sensitivity Smallest Ability of
measuring measurement division of measure
scale external
diameter
K A few metres Low 0.1 cm Cannot
L Less than 2 cm High 0.01 mm Can
M Up to 10 cm Average 0.01 cm Can
N Up to 1 meter Low 0.1 cm Cannot

You are asked to investigate the characteristics of the instruments of measurement

shown in table above which could be used to measure the thickness of a fishing line.
Explain the suitability of the characteristics of each instrument of measurement in
table above and hence, determine which instrument is most suitable to be used to
measure the thickness of a fishing line. Justify your choice. [10]
8) You are given a piece of copper wire, a glass rod and a metre rule.
a) Explain how the diameter of the copper wire can be determined. [4]
3
b) A few turns of the copper wire produce a displacement of water volume 0.5 cm
when the wire is placed in water. Estimate the length of the copper wire used if the
diameter of the wire is 0.1 mm. [3]
9) An experiment is carried out to determine the relationship between the oscillation
period, T of a pendulum bob and the length of the pendulum, l.
An inelastic string which is attached to a retort stand is used to hang the bob at the
other end. The initial length of the pendulum bob is 10.0 cm. The arrangement of
apparatus is as shown in Diagram 6.

The pendulum is displaced to one side for a fixed distance and then released so that it
oscillates. The time for 10 oscillations t1 is recorded using a stopwatch. The pendulum is
oscillated again to obtain the time for another 10 oscillations, t2. The actual readings of t1
and t2 are shown in diagram 6(a).
The experiment is repeated by using the pendulum lengths , l of 20.0 cm, 30.0 cm, 40.0 cm
and 50.0 cm. The readings from the stopwatch are shown in Diagram 6(b), 6(c), 6(d) and
6(e).
𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛
The period of oscillation, T of the pendulum is given as 𝑇 = where
10
𝑡1 +𝑡2
𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 =
2
 Diagram 6 (a)

Diagram 6 (b)

Diagram 6 (b)

Diagram 6 (c)

Diagram 6 (d)
 Diagram 6 (e)

a) For the experiment, identify

i) The manipulated variable [ 1]
ii) The responding variable [1 ]
iii) A constant variable [1]
b) Based on the diagram 6 (a), 6(b), 6(c), 6(d) and 6 (e), determine t1, t2, tmean, T and T2
when l is equal to 10.0 cm, 20.0 cm, 30.0 cm, 40.0 cm and 50.0 cm. Tabulate your
results for t1, t2, tmean, T and T2 for each value of l in the space below. [7]
c) Plot a graph of T2 against l. [5]
d) Use your graph drawn to
i. state the relationship between T2 against l. [1]
ii. calculate gradient. Show clearly how you obtain the answer. [3]
𝑙
iii. given that 𝑇 = 2𝜋√𝑔 where g = Earth’s gravitational acceleration. Relate
gradient, m to the value of g and then determine the value of g in this
experiment. [4]
iv. Why does the time for 20 complete oscillations need to be taken in this
experiment? [1]
v. Why is the measurement of time taken for 20 complete oscillations
repeated?[1]
vi. State one precaution that should be taken to increase the accuracy of the
results of this experiment.[1]
vii. Compare the value of g obtained from this experiment with the standard value
of g, that is 9.81 ms–2. Justify the difference in the values of g.[2]