Actevel Physics RP3 Determining g using a freefall method Preparation work: 1. Read pages 28 Parallax error and pages 35-36 Using a set square from your AQA practical physics book. This information will be important in this practical and you will heed a sound understanding to secure the CPACs. 2. Read the help sheet on google classroom to understand how to process the errors and uncertainties in this practical, and use it to draw up your results table. 3. Find two literature values for g (one print, one digital). Reference the sources of these values using the Harvard referencing system as explained in the AQA practical physics handbook. For the ‘light gate’ method: 4. Watch the following video: Determining ‘a’ Using a Free-Fall Method - PRACTICAL - A Level Physics 5. Carefully read through the entirety of this sheet, ensuring you have fully understood the investigation you will be carrying out. 6. Sketch a graph representing the trend you would expect to find from this method and describe how you will subsequently find a value of g from it. For the ‘trapdoor’ metho 7. Read pages 61-64, ‘Required Practical 3' from your AQA practical physics book. 8. Sketch a graph representing the trend you would expect to find from this method and describe how you will subsequently find a value of g from it. CPAC to be Assessed: CPAC 1: (a) Correctly follows instructions to carry out the experimental Follows written procedures techniques or procedures. PAC (@) Selects appropriate equipment and measurement Applies investigative strategies in order to ensure suitably accurate results. approaches and methods CPAC (a) Makes accurate observations relevant to the experimental Makes and records observations or investigative procedure. (b) Obtains accurate, precise and sufficient data for experimental and investigative procedures and records this methodically using appropriate units and conventions. CPAC 5: (b) Sources of information are cited demonstrating that Researches, references and research has taken place, supporting planning and reports conclusions. Technical information ‘* You will be shown how to correctly set-up the light gates and datalogger. There will also be an example set up for you to check your equipment against. * The electromagnet is a convenient way of releasing the ball-bearing. A mechanical release mechanism could be used such as holding the ball bearing in the clamp which is opened to release the ball bearing, or releasing by hand, however these methods are prone to applying a small force to the ball during release, and therefore the release is less ‘clean’. ‘* The 2 kg mass is used as a counterweight to ensure the stand does not topple over (an alternative would be to clamp the stand to the bench using a G-clamp). You are welcome to make any changes that you feel are necessary to the experimental method, but please make sure you make a note of these changes under the ‘Method’ heading of your notes.stand | clamp > to low voltage DC supply (variable) electromagnet “steel ballbearing J¢—light gate (to start clock) a counterweight |+—light gate (to stop clock) (2kg) pad ge Method Note: write answers to the questions below under a heading of ‘Method’ in your notes before handing them in. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram, adding in a metre rule so the heights of the light gates can be measured and a tray on the bench to collect the ball bearing. Using a plumb line, adjust the orientation of the electromagnets and light gates to ensure that the ball bearing falls vertically downwards without hitting any of the equipment. Q1: Comment on the orientation of the ruler that will be used to measure h. How did you achieve exactly this orientation? Set the distance between the bottom of the electromagnet and the upper light gate to 0.100m. This should be kept constant, so that the initial velocity of the ball bearing, u, remains constant throughout. Adjust the position of the lower light gate so that the initial value of h = 0.200m. Q2: Where exactly did you measure h from and to on the light gate? Q3: What type of error are these measurements particularly prone to? State any equipment you used to help minimise this error, explaining how and why you used it Switch on the supply to the electromagnet and hang the ball bearing from it Reset the clock or data logger to zero. Release the ball bearing by switching off the electromagnet. Read the time the ball bearing took to pass between the light gates, t, from the data logger once the ball bearing has passed through the light gates. Repeat measurements to collect sufficient data for this value of h. Increase h in sensible increments and repeat the procedure to cover a suitable range of h.Results and analysis — light gate method Your measurements of h, t and 2h/t should be presented in a clear table using appropriate units and conventions. Uncertainties should also be included. When calculating g, its uncertainty and percentage difference, make sure your working is clear. Result: Plot a graph of 2h/t (y-axis) against t (x-axis). Add error bars using the uncertainties in these values. Draw the best straight line of fit though the points and find the gradient. Use this to find a value of g. ‘Add an appropriate ‘worst' line of best fit to your graph. Find the gradient, and therefore the uncertainty in your value of g. Then express this as a percentage uncertainty. Find the percentage difference between your experimental value of g and those found in the literature. Compare the percentage uncertainty in your value for g with the percentage difference and comment on the accuracy of your experiment. What were the main sources of error in your experiment, and how did these influence your value of g? 's and analysis - trapdoor method Asset of results for the trapdoor method are as follows. Add uncertainties in the headers, Plot an appropriate graph and subsequently find an altemative value for g and its uncertainty (hint: you will need to use the empty column for a calculated value for your graph). him tes + + 0.600 0.38 0.800 044 7,000 0.47 7.200 0.52 7-400 056 7,600 059 To Submit For this piece of work to be complete, you need to submit the following: Completed prep work. Method questions with results table Light gate method graph and analysis of that graph Trapdoor method graph and analysis of that graph Analysis of uncertainty with two literature values.