Introductory Physics – Practice Questions

Q1.1 A portable appliance should be PAT tested every time it is used?

Q1.2 An HT (High Tension) supply cannot be used in schools.

Q1.3 Only physics activities involving electricity, mercury, lasers and radioactivity need to be risk-assessed.

Q1.4 All physics activities are covered by generic risk-assessments on the SSERC website.

Q1.5 Van de Graaff generators can be used in schools, but not to charge pupils.

Q1.6 Laser pointers can be used as light sources in schools as long as they are clamped securely to stop pupils waving them about.

Q1.7 You cannot solder in school unless local exhaust ventilion facilities are installed.

Q2 Write down three safety rules for using a Van de Graaff generator.

Q3.1 Sketch/describe the set-up for measuring the average speed of a trolley running down a slope between two light gates.

What measurements, apart from the time on the timer, should be taken?

Q3.2 Sketch/describe the set-up for thr measuring the instantaneous speed of a remote control car using a single light gate.

What measurements, apart from the time on the timer, need to be taken?

Q4 If you had a colleague who was setting up a light gate and timer for the first time, what trouble-shooting advice would you give them if they could not record a time on the timer?

Which of the following is measured in ohms?

Q6 An inexperienced physics teacher sets up the following circuit to measure the current through a resistor and the voltage across it. The circuit is not correct. Redraw it correctly/ describe the faults.

Q7.1  A technician uses a multimeter set to measure resistance to check some components.

A connecting lead has an off the scale resistance reading.

Decide the correct ‘outcome’ of this test result.

Q7.2  A technician uses a multimeter set to measure resistance to check some components.

A connecting lead has a resistance reading of 0.3 ohms.

Decide the correct ‘outcome’ of this test result.

Q7.3  A technician uses a multimeter set to measure resistance to check some components.

A bulb has an off the scale resistance reading.

Decide the correct ‘outcome’ of this test result.

Q7.4  A technician uses a multimeter set to measure resistance to check some components.

A bulb has a resistance reading of 4.0 ohms.

Decide the correct ‘outcome’ of this test result.

Q7.5  A technician uses a multimeter set to measure resistance to check some components.

A bulb has a resistance reading of 0.2 ohms.

Decide the correct ‘outcome’ of this test result.

Q7.6  A technician uses a multimeter set to measure resistance to check some components.

A switch in the ‘Off’ (open) position has an off the scale resistance reading.

Decide the correct ‘outcome’ of this test result.

Q7.7  A technician uses a multimeter set to measure resistance to check some components.

A switch in the ‘On’ (closed) position has a resistance reading of 0.4 ohms.

Decide the correct ‘outcome’ of this test result.

Q8  Sketch/describe oscilloscope traces to show the difference between smoothed and unsmoothed dc.

Which would you use as a supply for electronic kits?

Q9 Look at the pictures of signal generator controls below then answer the questions.

a. What word describes the type of waveform that this signal generator is set to produce?

b. What approximate frequency of signal is being generated?

c. If the amplitude control was turned anti-clockwise, what change would be heard in the sound from a loudspeaker connected to the signal generator?

Q10  You have carefully set up a signal generator to give a perfect trace like the one below left.

Wee Johnny comes along and twiddles one of the controls to make it look like the one on the right. Which control should you adjust to restore the trace to perfection?

Q11  The picture shows an electronic circuit assembled from Alpha kit.

The circuit is not working. What steps should you take?

Q12  You are asked to set up a raybox to demonstrate that a white light is made up of many colours. The following equipment is given to you, along with a  power supply:

The wrong Perspex shape has been given to you and one piece of equipment is unnecessary.

Draw/ describe the set-up you would use, with the correct Perspex shape. Which item was not needed?

Q13 Which glass or Perspex shape would make parallel rays of light diverge (spread out)?