Examsolutions4GCE provides General Certificate Examination,WAEC and NECO GCE candidates with well elucidated textbooks and solutions to help them in tackling the challenge posed by Alternative to practicals during November/December General Certificate Examination.
Hence, for both students and teachers, Examsolutions4GCE offers the opportunity to become thoroughly familiarize with the format and style of alternative to practicals and to gain plenty of examination practice.Some of these practice includes;
Admin: Agodo Uzodinma Emmanuel
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- knowing that alternative to practicals is different from normal practicals
- how to read measuring instruments;metre rule and protractor
- how to interpret,measure and record alternative to practical questions
- how to choose scale and draw outstanding graphs and
- how to state practical precautions in alternative to practicals
Admin: Agodo Uzodinma Emmanuel
Tel: +2347039072906
+2348122962146
INTRODUCTION
Physics practical could be regarded as the practical involvement of candidates in the process of investigation, collection and analysis of data and a test of candidate’s ability to carry-out instructions.
Hence, the purpose of this book is to provide students and
teachers of General Certificate Examination (GCE), with past examination
papers, well detailed solution guide and exercise (workbook) section for a better
understanding of what is needed to be done when faced with the challenge of
Alternative to Physics Practical either in the classroom or in an examination.
The book is well illustrated and illustrative, for the
students the book offers the opportunity to become thoroughly familiarized with
the format and style of Alternative to Practical Physics, and to gain plenty of
examination practice. The inclusion of exercise (workbook) section makes the
book ideal for self-study use.
For the teacher, the book is also a valuable resource, for
preparing candidates for General Certificate Examination.
However, unlike Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE)
Physics Practical in which Apparatus and practical equipment are made available
for candidates to use in carrying out the practical in the Laboratory, GCE
candidates are given figures and diagrams to read using ruler for lengths and
protractor for angles, interpret and evaluate by following the given
instructions in order to generate the table of values, graph, slope and
deduction needed.
General Note:
Candidates are required to answer two questions out of the
three questions supplied. Each question is marked on a total of 25marks
(totaling 50marks for practical) under the following different sub-headings:
Observation; Table; Graph; Slope; Deduction; Accuracy; Precaution and
short-answer questions
1. OBSERVATION
These
are data collected in the process of carrying out the investigation. There are
two types of observation, namely: the fundamental and the derived observation.
Fundamental data
(observation), are collected direct
from the investigation, e.g. reading a metre rule directly, say x=3cm.
Derived data
(observation), as the name implies are
derived from the fundamental data, e.g. 1/x, x2
i.e. 1/3, 32
2. TABLE
2. TABLE
It is important to know how to record measurements in a
table. A table should record all the measurements needed to obtain the value of
a given physical quantity, as given in the instruction.
For example if a length L is derived from L=L1-L2 then L1
and L2 should appear in the table.
Columns (or rows) in the table should be headed with the
name of symbol of the physical quantity. The unit in which the quantity is
measured should be included. The S.I method is recommended. Encourage neat
work.
3. GRAPH
A graph is the best way to display the result of an
experiment.
I. For scales to be
reasonable, graph must occupy at least 1/3(one-third) of graph page.
II. Scales using multiples
or sub-multiples of prime numbers such as 3, 7, 9, 13 etc. are not acceptable.
III. To obtain the suitable
line of best fit mark, at least three points must be correctly plotted.
4. SLOPE
The slope, s, is a measure of the change in Y (∆Y) to that of X (∆X), i.e. ∆Y/∆X
I. Choose two points, far
apart and draw a right-angle triangle that occupied at least 1/3(one-third)
of
graph.
II. The larger the
triangle, the more the accuracy of the slope.
5. PRECAUTION
For an accurate experimental result, certain basic
precautions must be taken. Use the phrase “I
would…” when drafting precautions in Alternative to Practical Physics, e.g. I
would avoid parallax error when reading the Ammeter.
INSTRUCTIONS
For an excellent performance in physics practical,
observe the following instructions given below.
1. Get
the materials to be used for practical ready and intact, such as; mathematical
set, calculator, mathematical table and long transparent ruler prior to the
examination.
2. Know how to
measure lengths and angles using a ruler and a protractor respectively.
3. Pay
attention and be focused during practical.
4. Make
sure the table and the seat to be used for practical are stable.
5. Do
away with mobile phones and headset during practical.
6. Read
and understand very well, the instruction/procedure passage in the question
given and adhere to it.
7. Avoid
error due to parallax when reading measuring instruments.
8. Maintain
a neat report, tabulation and graph work
9. Use
ruler to deduce readings given in the form of length or distance represented
with figures and protractor for angles when it involves triangular and
rectangular prism.
10. Know
how to read an ammeter, voltmeter and a stop watch.
11. Take
note on how to write safety precautions in alternative to practical Physics.
12. After
the practical work is done, cross-check your work.
PREFACE
This
book was written and designed to help WAEC and NECO GCE candidates in solving
the
challenge posed by alternative to Physics practical during
November/December General Certificate
Examination. Another
Outstanding feature of this book is its ability to educate GCE candidates on
how to measure, read, evaluate, interpret and tabulate questions that might
arise from alternative
to physics practical during the examination, in other to
generate the needed practical report
and graph.
Each
sample questions were solved and elucidated in a manner that will enable even
the novice into
grasping the idea and method in solving alternative to Physics practical
questions.
SAMPLE QUESTION AND SOLUTION ONE
|
|
A metre rule is suspended horizontally with two threads attached to rigid horizontal support as
shown in the diagram above. The threads are adjusted such
that they are equidistant from the
center of the rule.The distance, x, between the threads is measured and recorded.
center of the rule.The distance, x, between the threads is measured and recorded.
The
rule is then set into a horizontal oscillation. The time, t, for 20 complete
oscillations is
measured and recorded.The
procedure is repeated for four other values of x.
Fig.
1(a)(i – v) shows the distance xi
between the threads and fig. 1(b)(i-v) shows the corresponding
times, ti for 20 complete oscillations where i = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
times, ti for 20 complete oscillations where i = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
(i) Measure and
record the real values of xi the distances between the threads.
(ii) Read and
record the corresponding times ti for 20 complete oscillations.
(iii) Determine the period T of the oscillations.
(iv) Evaluate log x and log T in each case.
(v) Tabulate
your readings.
(vi) Plot a graph of log T on the vertical axis against
log x on the horizontal axis.
(vii) Determine the slope, s, of the graph.
(vii) Determine the slope, s, of the graph.
(viii) State two
precautions that are necessary when performing this experiment in the
laboratory.
(b) (i) Explain what is meant when a body is said to be undergoing simple
harmonic motion.
(ii) Explain
why a spherical bob is preferred to bobs of other shapes for use in a simple
pendulum.
SAMPLE
SOLUTION
PROCEDURE:
1) Read
the instruction passage thoroughly and carefully examine the diagrams given
above, for easy interpretation and evaluation
2) Measure
and record the corresponding values(s) of x1, x2, x3,
x4 and x5 respectively using metre rule (ruler) in fig. 1(a)
above.
3) Also
read and record the corresponding times t1, t2, t3,
t4 and t5 in fig. 1(b) above, by considering its scale of
graduation.
4) Determine
the period, T, of the oscillation having in mind the number of oscillation (n).
TABLE OF
VALUES
Raw values
|
Converted values
|
|||||
i
|
x(cm)
|
x(cm)
|
t
(sec)
|
T=t (sec)
20
|
Log
x
|
Log
T
|
1
|
2.00
|
16.00
|
46.00
|
2.30
|
1.2041
|
0.3617
|
2
|
2.20
|
17.60
|
39.00
|
1.95
|
1.2455
|
0.2900
|
3
|
2.70
|
21.60
|
33.00
|
1.65
|
1.3345
|
0.2175
|
4
|
3.20
|
25.60
|
29.00
|
1.45
|
1.4082
|
0.1614
|
5
|
5.60
|
28.80
|
25.00
|
1.25
|
1.4594
|
0.0969
|
CALCULATION
For
converted values of x(cm), consider the scale under fig. 1(a).
Scale:
1cm represents 8cm, then;
x1
= 2.00 x 8 = 16.00cm
x2 =
2.20 x 8 = 17.60cm
x3
= 2.70 x 8 = 21.60cm
x4
= 3.70 x 8 = 25.60cm
x5
= 3.60 x 8 = 28.80cm
Therefore,
for the time t(sec), consider the graduation of the scale in the diagrammatic
representation of the stop watch in fig. 1(b)
It
can be read from the diagrams that the scale is increasing by 15sec.
Then;
t 1 = 46.00sec
t2 = 39.00sec
t3 = 33.00sec
t4 = 29.00sec
t5 = 25.00sec
Period (T) = t/n
Where;
t = time (sec)
n = number of oscillation = 20
:. T = t/20
T1 = 46.00
= 2.30sec
20
T2
= 39.00 = 1.95sec
20
T3 = 33.00 = 1.65sec
20
T4 = 29.00 = 1.45sec
20
T5 = 25.00
= 1.25sec
20
Evaluating log x, we
have
1) Log (16.00) = 1.2041
2) Log (17.60) = 1.2455
3) Log (21.60) = 1.3345
4) Log (25.60) = 1.4082
5) Log (28.80) = 1.4594
Evaluating
Log Ti we have
1) Log (2.30) = 0.3617
2) Log (1.95) = 0.2900
3) Log (1.65) = 0.2175
4) Log (1.45) = 0.1614
5) Log (1.25) = 0.0969
PRECAUTIONS
1) I
would allow small angles of oscillation.
2) I
would avoid error due to parallax when reading the stop
watch.
bi) Explain what is meant when a body is said to be undergoing
simple
harmonic motion.
Answer
A body undergoes SHM when the acceleration of the body is proportional to the displacement
from a fixed point and it is directed towards the point, example; oscillation of a simple
pendulum.
Answer
The spherical bob is preferred over other bobs of different shapes because it
experience least damping effect and unlike bobs of other shapes. It offers
