Understanding how to approach exam questions helps boost exam performance. Questions will include multiple choice, descriptions and explanations, using mathematical skills and extended writing.
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.
There are two PAGs in the Waves in matter section:
P4 Measuring waves, eg use a ripple tank to measure the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave.
P8 Interactions of waves, eg investigate the reflection of light off a plane mirror and the refraction of light through prisms.
A student investigates the reflection of a light from a plane mirror.
They place a mirror upright on a piece of paper, and shine light from the ray box onto the mirror.
The light shines on the paper as it enters and leaves the mirror.
Describe how to measure the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection in this experiment. [4 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
Measuring the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection is done in four steps. Firstly, draw a line on the paper along the face of the mirror. Secondly, draw dots/dashes along the rays of light, then join them with straight lines. Thirdly, use a protractor to measure and draw a line at 90°/normal to the mirror. Finally, use a protractor to measure the angles between the line at 90°/normal and the ray entering and leaving the mirror.
Sample question 2 - Higher
Question
A group of students investigate the speed of sound in air.
Their apparatus includes:
an outdoor running track, 100 m long
a starting pistol
a stop watch
Describe what the students should do to obtain a measurement of the speed of sound. [4 marks]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
The students should find some way to work out when the pistol is fired, eg smoke from the pistol or a hand signal. Then, measure the time between seeing when the pistol is fired and hearing the sound. Finally, repeat and calculate a mean time using the formula speed = distance ÷ time.
