REQUIRED PRACTICALS

• what is the method for the specific heat capacity method? (7)


  1. record the mass of the metal block

  2. wrap insulation around the block

  3. place the heater in the large hole and connect the circuit (ammeter, voltmeter, power supply)

  4. add water to the smaller hole and place thermometer

  5. switch on power supply and record current and voltage

  6. record temperature every minute for ten minutes

  7. calculate specific heat capacity of the block, and repeat for other metal blocks
• what is the method for thermal insulation?


  1. place a small beaker into a larger beaker

  2. add 80cm³ of boiling hot water in the small beaker

  3. add a cardboard lid and place thermometer through a hole and record temperature

  4. start a stopwatch and record temperature every

  3 minutes for 15 minutes

  5. repeat with different insulating materials between the beakers
• what is the method for the resistance of a wire?


  1. set up a wire circuit with an ammeter and voltmeter

  2. pre-test the circuit

  3. record the voltage and current at different wire lengths

  4. use the variable resistor to keep the current constant and calculate the resistance for each length
• what is the method for resistance in series vs. parallel circuits?


  1. set up a circuit in series with 2 resistors

  2. switch on the power supply; record current and voltage to calculate and record resistance

  3. set up a circuit in parallel with 2 resistors and repeat

  4. compare the recordings
• what is the method for I-V characteristics?


  1. set up the circuit with the component tested, an ammeter, voltmeter, power supply and variable resistor

  2. record current and voltage

  3. adjust the variable resistor and record the new readings, repeat to gain several recordings

  4. swap connections and repeat recordings

  5. repeat for each component (ohmic resistor, filament lamp, diode)
• what is the method to find the density of a regularly shaped object?


  1. record length, width and height; calculate volume

  2. measure mass with a balance and record density
• what is the method to find the density of an irregularly shaped object?


  1. record the mass with a balance

  2. submerge in a filled displacement can

  3. record the displaced water with a measuring cylinder

  4. water displaced = volume of object

  5. calculate density