Practical questions
You will complete eight Practical Activity Groups (PAGs) if you are studying GCSE Physics, and 16 if you are studying GCSE Combined Science (six of these are in Physics). You could be asked questions about the apparatus, methods, safety precautions, results, analysis and evaluation of these experiments.
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Dr Alex Lathbridge answers questions about practicals.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Describe how you could use a compass to plot a magnetic field pattern. [3 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016.
Any three from:
- place magnet on a sheet of (plain) paper
- place the compass near the end of the magnet
- mark the position that the compass needle points to
- move the compass so the opposite end is at this position and mark the new position where the compass tip settles
- repeat above and below the magnet and then connect the marks together to construct a field line
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
(a) Describe how you could use iron filings to plot a magnetic field pattern. [2 marks]
(b) Suggest one reason why the use of a compass is preferable to the use of iron filings. [1 mark]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016.
(a) Place a clear/transparent/paper cover over the magnet. Sprinkle on iron filings to show the field pattern.
(b) Any one from:
- compass shows direction of field lines
- iron filings are easily spilt
- iron filings are difficult to remove from magnets
- iron filings carries a greater risk
- (idea of) less accurate field pattern
- drawing provides a permanent record
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
A student decides to build a model transformer.
The transformer is a step-up transformer which doubles the input voltage.
Describe how they could build this step-up transformer in a science laboratory. [4 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016 - Higher.
Wind two coils of wire around an iron core. The primary coil needs to be connected to an ac supply, and the secondary coil needs to have double the amount of turns than the primary coil.
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Suggest one risk associated with making and testing a model step-up transformer, and how the risk can be reduced. [2 marks]
OCR Gateway Science, GCE Physics, Paper J249, 2016 - Higher.
High voltages can be produced.
Any one from:
- insulate the secondary coil
- use very low voltages on the primary coil
- keep primary coil voltages low
