Sample Quizzes For Preparation: Practical Skills
AS Level Physics – Paper 3: Advanced Practical Skills
Quiz on Experimental Skills and Practical Assessment
1. Which of the following best defines a systematic error in a practical experiment?
A. Caused by human inconsistency during repeated measurements
B. Varies randomly with each measurement
C. A consistent deviation due to faulty equipment or procedure
D. Only affects the final result if repeated trials are averaged
2. What is the correct way to record a current of 35 milliamperes in a table heading using scientific conventions?
A. Current/mA
B. I in mA
C. I mA
D. I / mA
3. A student records the length of a wire with a ruler marked in millimetres. Which of the following is an appropriate recording?
A. 2.0 cm
B. 20 mm
C. 2 cm
D. 2.000 cm
4. Which of the following correctly defines the term precision in an experiment?
A. Closeness of a measured value to the true value
B. Smallest uncertainty associated with measurements
C. The degree to which repeated measurements are consistent
D. The number of decimal places in a measurement
5. What is the correct number of significant figures for resistance calculated from V = 2.30 V and I = 0.48 A?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
6. What is the uncertainty in a repeated stopwatch reading of 5.8 s, 6.0 s, and 5.6 s?
A. ±0.4 s
B. ±0.2 s
C. ±0.1 s
D. ±0.3 s
7. Which equipment is most appropriate for measuring the diameter of a wire to high precision?
A. Ruler
B. Vernier calipers
C. Measuring tape
D. Newton meter
8. Which feature is NOT essential when drawing a best-fit straight line on a graph?
A. Passing through every data point
B. Even distribution of points on both sides
C. Fine, continuous pencil line
D. Ignoring clearly anomalous points
9. A graph of y against x yields a straight line. What does the gradient represent in the equation y = mx + c?
A. The y-intercept
B. The value of x when y is zero
C. The constant c
D. The rate of change of y with respect to x
10. When a value is calculated from measured quantities, how should significant figures be decided?
A. Always use 4 significant figures
B. Match the value with the least decimal places
C. Use the same number as the raw data with the fewest significant figures
D. Round to 1 significant figure to avoid overestimation
11. Which graph feature is incorrect according to scientific conventions?
A. Axes labelled with both variable and unit
B. Regular axis intervals every 2 cm
C. Using a scale that fits only 25% of the graph paper
D. False origin used to maximize plotted area
12. What does a random error usually indicate?
A. Flawed experimental setup
B. Inaccurate graph plotting
C. Human inconsistency or environmental variation
D. Faulty calibration of apparatus
13. Which of the following tools measures mass to the highest precision?
A. Measuring cylinder
B. Top-pan balance
C. Ruler
D. Stopwatch
14. How should an anomalous point be treated in plotting a graph?
A. Delete it completely
B. Always include it in the trend line
C. Clearly circle or label and exclude from the line of best fit
D. Use it to determine the gradient
15. What is the most likely uncertainty in using a standard school ruler?
A. ±0.01 cm
B. ±0.05 cm
C. ±0.1 cm
D. ±1 cm
16. What is the correct method to reduce percentage uncertainty in time measurement using a stopwatch?
A. Record just one oscillation
B. Record the time for multiple oscillations and divide
C. Use a more precise thermometer
D. Increase the frequency of the oscillation
17. What is the percentage uncertainty in a time measurement of 20 s with an absolute uncertainty of ±0.4 s?
A. 0.02%
B. 0.4%
C. 2%
D. 4%
18. A student uses a micrometer screw gauge to measure wire thickness. The zero mark does not align. What type of error is this?
A. Parallax error
B. Random error
C. Zero error
D. Calibration error
19. A spring oscillates and its period is measured using 10 swings. Why is this preferred over timing one oscillation?
A. It uses less time overall
B. It reduces the need for accuracy
C. It eliminates systematic errors
D. It reduces the percentage uncertainty
20. What should be included when suggesting an improvement to an experiment?
A. Use completely different apparatus
B. Modify the method to reduce identified uncertainty
C. Use a computer simulation
D. Repeat the same method with fewer readings
Answer Key with Detailed Explanations – AS Level Physics Paper 3: Advanced Practical Skills Quiz
1. Correct Answer: C
Systematic errors are consistent deviations due to faulty equipment or biased procedure (e.g. miscalibrated instrument). They do not vary randomly.
2. Correct Answer: D
Accepted scientific convention is I / mA – the quantity (I) divided by the unit (mA). “I mA” or just “mA” lacks clarity and is unacceptable.
3. Correct Answer: B
Measurements using a millimetre scale should be recorded in mm with the correct level of precision. “20 mm” is appropriate; “2.0 cm” lacks unit consistency.
4. Correct Answer: C
Precision refers to how closely repeated measurements agree with each other, not necessarily how close they are to the true value (which is accuracy).
5. Correct Answer: C
V = 2.30 (3 sig. figs.), I = 0.48 (2 sig. figs.) → Resistance should be given to 2 or 3 significant figures: 4.8 Ω or 4.79 Ω. So 3 is most appropriate.
6. Correct Answer: B
Range = 6.0 – 5.6 = 0.4 → Uncertainty = 0.4 / 2 = ±0.2 s.
7. Correct Answer: B
Vernier calipers (or micrometer screw gauge) are used for high precision measurements of diameter. Rulers are less precise.
8. Correct Answer: A
A best-fit line should not pass through all data points. It should balance the distribution of points, excluding anomalies.
9. Correct Answer: D
In y = mx + c, m is the gradient: the rate of change of y with respect to x.
10. Correct Answer: C
The number of significant figures in calculated quantities should match the input with the least significant figures (n or n+1 rule).
11. Correct Answer: C
Graph must occupy at least half of the grid in both axes. Using only 25% wastes space and reduces accuracy in reading.
12. Correct Answer: C
Random errors arise from unpredictable factors like human reaction time or environmental variation.
13. Correct Answer: B
Top-pan balances provide precise mass readings (typically to ±0.01 g or better).
14. Correct Answer: C
Anomalies should be circled or labeled and excluded when drawing trend lines unless instructed otherwise.
15. Correct Answer: C
Standard uncertainty for a ruler is ±0.1 cm, considering human judgment and parallax error.
16. Correct Answer: B
Timing multiple oscillations and dividing helps minimize stopwatch reaction errors and thus percentage uncertainty.
17. Correct Answer: C
(0.4 / 20) × 100 = 2%
18. Correct Answer: C
Zero error occurs when the instrument doesn’t read zero when it should. This shifts all readings consistently.
19. Correct Answer: D
Measuring over multiple oscillations decreases percentage uncertainty, making the result more reliable.
20. Correct Answer: B
Valid improvements address sources of uncertainty directly, like using better methods or improving measurement techniques—not changing the entire experiment.