gcse physics
Required Practicals
There are a number of Required Practicals you will carry out in GCSE Physics, and you should familiarise yourself with them. You can find videos of all of them, and lots of other information here:
PAPER 1:
RP1: Specific heat capacity
Investigating the specific heat capacity of different materials.
Independent Variable: Material
Dependent Variable: Specific heat capacity
Control Variables: Surface area of material
Calculations: ΔE = m c Δθ
RP2: thermal insulation
Investigate the effectiveness of different materials as thermal insulators and the factors that may affect the thermal insulation properties of a material.
Independent Variable: Insulation material
Dependent Variable: Water temperature
Control Variables: Starting temperature
Volume of water
Surface area of beaker
RP3: resistance
Calculate the resistance for different lengths of wire and state the relationship between resistance and length.
Independent Variable: Length of wire
Dependent Variable: Resistance
Control Variables: Power setting
Thickness of wire
Temperature of wire
Calculations: V = I R
RP4: i-v characteristics
What happens to the current through a component when the potential difference across it changes?
Independent Variable: Potential difference
Dependent Variable: Current
Control Variables: Power setting
Temperature
RP5: density
Investigating the density of regularly and irregularly shaped solids and liquids using a range of appropriate apparatus.
Independent Variable: Object
Dependent Variable: Density
Control Variables: Type of fluid displaced
Calculations: ρ = m ÷ v
PAPER 2:
RP6: force & extension
Investigate the relationship between force and extension of a spring.
Independent Variable: Force
Dependent Variable: Extension
Control Variables: Spring
Calculations: F = k e
RP7: acceleration
How are force, mass and acceleration related?
Independent Variable: Force
Dependent Variable: Acceleration
Control Variables: Mass in system
Surface area of trolley
Gradient
Calculations: F = m a
RP8: waves
Observing the properties of waves in liquids and solids.
Independent Variable: Length of wire
Dependent Variable: Resistance
Control Variables: Power setting
Thickness of wire
Temperature of wire
Calculations: v = f λ
RP9: light
Investigate the reflection of light by different types of surface and the refraction of light by different substances.
Independent Variable: Material
Dependent Variable: Angle of reflection/refraction
Control Variables: Power setting
Width of slit
RP10: radiation & absorption
Investigating the amount of infrared radiation radiated from different surfaces.
Independent Variable: Surface type
Dependent Variable: Temperature
Control Variables: Starting temperature
Distance of thermometer
Volume of water
errors & uncertainties
Random Error: Chance difference between
observed value and true value.
Systematic Error: Consistent or proportional
difference between observed
value and true value.
Zero Error: Type of systematic error
where base reading is not zero.
Uncertainty: Half the range. Where the
true value can be expected to be.