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UPDATED TO 2019-21 SYLLABUS

CAIE AS LEVEL
PHYSICS (9702)
SUMMARIZED NOTES ON THE PRACTICAL SYLLABUS
CAIE AS LEVEL PHYSICS (9702)

1. General Tips
If range given e.g. 0 to 20, try to get a measurement from
a
large spread of the range.
Record all measurements needed to obtain final value
including
intermediary steps
For example, if a length l is derived from
l  =  l2   −  l1
​ ​

then l1 and l2 should

appear in the table.
​ ​

Column labelled with the name of symbol and units

2. Micrometre Screw Gauge

‎

‎
Measures objects up to 0.1mm

Place object on the rule

Push the slide scale to the edge of object.
The sliding scale is 0.9mm long & is divided into 10 equal
divisions.
Check which line division on sliding scale matches with a
line
division on the rule
Subtract the value from the sliding scale
(0.09 ×
Divisions) by the value from the rule.

4. Systematic and Random

‎
Measures objects up to 0.01mm
Place object between anvil & spindle
Rotate thimble until object firmly held by jaws
Add together value from the main scale and rotating scale
3. Vernier Scale
result of a measurement and the true value of
measurements of the same quantity
correct or not)
Errors
Systematic error:
Constant error in one direction; too big or too small
Cannot be eliminated by repeating or averaging
If systematic error is small, measurement accurate
Accuracy: refers to the degree of agreement between
the
quantity.
Random error:
Random fluctuations or scatter about a true value
Can be reduced by repeating and averaging
When random error is small, measurement precise
Precision: refers to the degree of agreement of
repeated
(regardless of whether it is

5. Uncertainties
For a quantity x = (2.0 ± 0.1) mm

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CAIE AS LEVEL PHYSICS (9702)

Absolute uncertainty = Δx = ±0.1mm Error Improvement

Δx
Fractional uncertainty
= x = 0.05 Move by increments/hold
Difficulty in deciding the
​

Percentage uncertainty
=  Δxx × 100 with newton-meter
toppling point
​

Combining errors: and tilt until F = 0‎

When values added or subtracted, add absolute error Releasing object from rest
2x+y 2x−y 2Δx+Δy
If p = 3 or p = 3 , then
Δp =
​ ​

3 ​

experiment
When values multiplied or divided, add % errors
Difficulty in releasing object Use a remote-controlled
When values are powered (e.g. squared), multiply
due to e.g. force clamp/electromagnet
percentage
error with power
3Δy Rod falls sideways Keep rod vertical/use guide
If r = 2xy 3 or r = 2x Δr Δx
y 3 , then
r = x + y
Oscillation experiment
​ ​ ​ ​

Instrument Uncertainty Time object at max disp. with

Ruler ‎0.1 cm Time taken (‎ T) ‎too short or motion sensor/video &
large uncertainty in T playback in slow motion
Protractor ‎2o /time more oscillations
Stop watch ‎(Max – Min) / 2 ‎ Object doesn’t swing freely/
Ammeter Make hole bigger/bush or
friction between pivot and
bearing idea
object

6. Treatment of Significant
Figures
Actual error: recorded to only 1 significant figure
Number of decimal places for a calculated quantity is
equal to the
number of decimal places in the actual error
Quantity
s.f. of the calculated quantity
s.f. of measure value
Always give calculated quantity s.f. equal or one less than
the
measured value
7. Errors in Experiments
Error
Water-related experiment
Hard to see surface due to
refraction/meniscus effect
Labels get wet/ink runs
Ball related experiment
Locating the centre of the ball
when reading the rule
Inconsistent bounce
Fast-moving object
experiment
Difficult to judge when the
ball is at e.g. max
displacement
Hard to see when an object Use a pressure sensor to stop
strikes the floor
Difficult to judge end point
Difficult to judge end/start/
Resistance/current
Justification
Voltmeter scale not sensitive
To s.f. of measure value
To the precision of the
instrument
Reach max force suddenly
Improvement
Use coloured liquid
Use waterproof labels/ink
Mark the centre of the ball
with a marker
Use a flat surface
Use sensor or record with
camera frame by frame
Some parts of board rougher Ensure the same section of
the timer
Mark distance with lines
Non-uniform oscillation Turn off the fan (light object)
Oscillations die out quickly Increase object thickness
Use a fiducial marker
complete swing
Retort stand moves Add weights/clamp
Electricity experiment
Clean contacts
fluctuating
Use digital voltmeter
enough
Tape to ruler/hang weights
Wires not straight
off end/clamp wire
Force experiment
Force sensor w/data logger
Fix cotton loop to rule e.g.
Weights move off the path
tape, glue
Pulley experiment
Masses hit each other Use larger pulley
Friction at pulley Lubricate pulley
Clamp / electromagnetic with
Uncertain starting position
steel
Moment experiment
Project cylinder over bench /
Rule hits bench
elevate apparatus
Ruler slips on support Glue support to block
Magnetism experiment
Use various materials to
Effect of surrounding e.g.
separate magnets & test if
glass/magnetic materials
material affects results
Bench/ Ramp (Surface)
related experiment
/ surface uneven the board used in each expt.
Board slips/unstable Clamp/fix to bench with
/supporting block topples tape/blue-tack

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CAIE AS LEVEL PHYSICS (9702)
Error
Difficult in pulling in line with
the board
Heat loss experiment
Heat lost through sides and
/or Bottom
Thermometer bulb not
completely immersed
Resistor gives heat when
Wait until temp. reaches max
switched off/temp. rises even
after switching off
Terminal velocity experiment
May not have reached
terminal velocity
Light dependent experiment
External light affects ‎(LDR)‎
Length of tube changes when
paper added
Cylinders not aligned
Difficult to hold together
8. Errors in Apparatus
Error
Meter rule
Parallax error
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Improvement
use (long) piece of string to
connect the newton-meter to
the block
Lag/insulate/polystyrene
container
Use a larger volume of water
/use thermocouple/small
temperature sensor
before reading
Time over three markers
constant
Conduct expt. in dark room
Make pre-slots in the tube
Align on desk/rule
Tape/clamp together
Improvement
Put coloured paper behind/
eye-level perpendicular
/extend mark to wood
/shadow projection
Error Improvement
Difficult to hold rule still Mount ruler in stand
Difficult to measure, since the Clamp rule / ensure the rule
ruler moves is vertical using a set square
Newton meter
Ensure force parallel to ruler
Difficult to pull Newton meter
e.g. use a long string/pulley
parallel to ruler/ bench
and weights
Difficult to judge reading on Use Newton meter with a
meter when detached: ruler ‘max hold’ facility/video &
moves suddenly/ Force = 0 playback or freeze frame/ use
‎after detachment force sensor & logger
Use system of pulley &
Difficult to zero Newton-
weights/use force sensor with
meter when horizontal
data-logger
Objects with an unfixed
diameter (Circular objects)
Difficult to measure diameter Use Vernier callipers or
since the object is flexible/not micrometre screw gauge to
circular measure average diameter
Difficult to form perfect Method to make uniform
sphere/diameter varied spheres/discs e.g. moulds
Protractor
Protractor “wobbles” / Use protractor with
difficult to measure; horizontal line level to table
container curved at the top/freestanding or clamped
bottom/difficult to line up protractor
Parallax error in θ Use mirror scale
General:
Error: two readings not enough
Improvement: take several readings and plot a graph
CAIE AS LEVEL
Physics (9702)

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