SOLVED PAST QUESTIONS ON GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I & II 1.

1. A spiral spring was clamped vertically with a metre rule, with no mass attached to the spring, the position
of the pointer attached to the free end Xo = 49.0 cm was noted. The spring was gradually loaded with
(PHY 107 & 108) masses in equal steps and the pointer reading X was recorded in each case. Later the spring was slightly
pulled vertically downwards and released, so that it makes 50 oscillations for each load and the
PHY 108 EXAMINATION 2016/2017 SESSION
corresponding times were recorded as follows:
SECTION A: Pointer Reading X (cm) 53.0 57.0 61.0 65.0 69.0 73.0
Mass M (g) 100.0 200.0 300.0 400.0 500.0 600.0
1. How can two similarly charged bodies attract each other instead of repelling? Average Time for 50 Oscillations t av (s) 13.125 17.660 21.300 24.200 26.500 29.900

Answer: The two similarly charged bodies attract each other if the gravitational force of attraction between I. Plot a graph of T 2 (period squared) on the ordinate against M on the abscissa.
them due their masses is greater than the electrostatic force of repulsion due to their similar charges. Note that II. Determine the gradient of the graph S and the intercept on the ordinate
gravitation force is always a force of attraction, it never repels III. Given that the period T of a load of mass M, oscillating vertically on a spiral spring is expressed as:
2. Functional traffic lights change when cars approach the intersection of roads. How does the traffic light M S0
T 2
notice the presence of cars before deciding whether to allow them pass (green light) or not (red light)? K
Hence determine the force constant of the spring K and the effective mass of the spring S o
Answer: Function traffic lights are equipped with motion sensors which detects movement and the signals are
IV. Draw the set-up for this experiment (II)
transmitted to controller which is programmed with instructions to regulate the traffic by sending out signals to
V. In an experiment to determine the acceleration due to gravity g using the simple pendulum method, a
the traffic light at different positions either to stop traffic (red light) or allow traffic (gre en light)
0.50 m length was measured to 1 mm accuracy while the time for 20 complete oscillations was 28.4 s, T2 0.07 0.35 .28
Gradient of the Graph S 0.00056 s2/g
3. When a credit card is swiped through a card reader, the information coded in a magnetic pattern at the back measured to the accuracy of 0.1s on a 1/10 s stop watch. Calculate the maximum error in the final value M 100 600 500
of g
Intercept on the ordinate C = 0.0115 s2
Solution
(III)
Answer: As the magnetic stripe moves through the card reader, the coded pattern of magnetization in the strip
Answer (I)
causes a varying magnetic flux and hence an induced current in the readers circuits. If the card does not move Given
there is no induced emf or current and none of the credit card information is read. Average Time Period Period Squared
Mass M (g)
t (s) T (s) T2 (s2 ) M S0
4. Two liquids were supplied with heat at the same rate, yet their temperature rose at different rates. Give 100.0 13.125 0.2625 0.0689 T 2
reasons for this. Will equal masses of the liquids of the liquids take the same time to turn into vapour? K
200.0 17.660 0.3532 0.1248
Explain
300.0 21.300 0.4260 0.1815 Squaring both sides and rewriting gives
Answer: Possible reasons for different rates of temperature rise could be (i) different masses of liquid (ii) 400.0 24.200 0.4840 0.2343
2
different specific heat capacity which implies the liquids have different natures. Equal masses of liquids will 500.0 26.500 0.5300 0.2809 4 2 4 S0
T2 M
take same time to turn into vapour if and only if the liquids have the same specific latent heat of vaporization 600.0 29.900 0.5980 0.3576 K K
which implies that both liquids have the same nature, otherwise they will vaporiz e in different rates. Recall that Period (T) is average time (t) divided by number of oscillations (N=50)
Comparing with the Slope - Intercept Form of the straight line equation of a straight line
5. State two methods by which the temperatures of the liquids in question 4 can be made to boil at a higher The graph is plotted in the Figure below
y mx c
temperatures

Answer: By adding impurities or increasing the pressure of the liquid beyond atmospheric pressure . Since T2 = y, M = x, then

SECTION B 4 2
Slope = m
K

Hence l V. If the battery in the above circuit is 8.0 V, the voltmeter reading across R is 4.0 V and the resistance
T 2 is on
g
4 2 4 3.1422 the 80.0 cm mark (AP) if the internal resistance of the battery is to be neglected.
K 70515.457 g/s2
Slope 0.00056 Rewriting the equation to make g the subject of the formula yields Solution
In terms of SI units, we have 4 2l (I)
g
K = 70.52 N/m T2
Potential Difference (V) Length of Wire L (m) Inverse of Potential Difference (V -1)
Also it is obvious that Taking the natural logarithm of the expression above, we obtain the foregoing expression 1.80 0.20 0.56
2 1.40 0.30 0.71
4 2
S0 ln g ln 4 ln l 2ln T
Intercept on ordinate = C = 1.05 0.45 0.95
K 0.80 0.50 1.25
Differentiating logarithmically and partially gives
Hence we can write 0.84 0.60 1.19
g l 2 T 0.75 0.70 1.33
KC 70515.457 0.0115 g l T
S0 20.536 g
4 2 4 3.142 2 2 The graph is plotted in the Figure shown below
(IV) is the error in period T. Hence we have

4 2l l 2 T
g
T2 l T

2
4 3.142 0.50 0.001 2 0.005
g 0.04936 m/s2
1.42 2 0.50 1.42

2. A battery of cells B, a standard resistor R, the bare wire of length AX and a jockey were connected in a
circuit. A voltmeter was used to measure the potential difference
different length of the bare wire L. The length AP of the wire equal to L is measured and the jockey made to
touch the wire at point P. The experiment was repeated for five other values and presented as follows:
Potential Difference (V) 1.80 1.40 1.05 0.80 0.84 0.75
Length of the wire L (m) 0.20 0.30 0.45 0.50 0.60 0.70 (II)

I. Plot a graph of V on the ordinate against L on the abscissa Hence the gradient of the graph S is given by:
II. Determine the gradient of the graph S and the intercept on the ordinate
(V)
III. V1 1.40 0.40 1.00
S 1.613 (V.m)-1
The equation for the period of a simple pendulum is given by: I(R KL) L 0.70 0.08 0.62
onstant of the wire K
And the intercept on the ordinate C is read from the graph, thus
IV. Draw the set-up for this experiment

C = 0.2578 V-1

(III)

Given

I(R KL)

Recalling the fact that I =V/ R yields

KL
V 1
R

Rearranging to make 1/V subject of the formula gives

1 K 1 (V)
L
V R
Now recall that The figure above shows an experimental set-up designed to measure the refractive index of glass in the form of
Compare with slope-intercept equation of a straight line rectangular block ABCD. The experiment was performed by two pins at P1 and P2 on the path of incident ray, TO.
I(R KL) By viewing through the side, DC of the block, the path, NX through which the incident ray emerges was located by
y mx c two other pins P3 and P4 such that the images of P 1 and P2 appears to be in a straight line with pins P3 and P4. For
Hence making I subject of the formula yields various values of the angle of incidence, i 0, the corresponding lengths, a and b shown in the figure are measured and
recorded as in the following table:
Thus the electromotive force I
R KL 40 45 50 55 60
1 1 1 a (cm) 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00
3.88 V b (cm) 7.00 5.00 3.92 2.75 1.73
Intercept C 0.2578
8
And the constant of the wire K is: I 1.538 A
2 4 0.8 a
a) Copy the table and include columns for (I) X
K Slope R 1.613 3.88 2 12.52 b
PHY/PH 107 General Physics Laboratory I 2016/2017 Examination b) origin
(IV) Part I (40 marks): Answer only ONE question from this part, each question carry equal marks c) Determine the slope n, of the graph
d) State three precautions you will observe if you were to perform this experiment in the laboratory
Diagram For The Set -up
Solution

(a)

i0 a (cm) b (cm) X =a/b sin i

40.00 3.00 7.00 0.43 0.64
45.00 2.50 5.00 0.50 0.71
50.00 2.00 3.92 0.51 0.77
 55.00 1.50 2.75 0.55 0.82
60.00 1.00 1.73 0.58 0.87

(b)

The circuit above is that used by a student to measure the e.m.f ., E and internal resistance, r, of a Leclanche dry
cell. A is a low resistance ammeter, V, is a high resistance voltmeter connected across a rheostat, Rh. The slider
of Rh was gradually adjusted to obtain suitable values of currents and curresponding potential difference, V
across Rh. Measured values of I and V are recorded in the following table:

I(A) 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40

V(V) 1.35 1.31 1.28 1.24 1.20
(b)

(a) Plot a graph of V on the vertical axis against I on the horizontal, starting both axes from the origin Intercept on the ordinate c = 1.50 V
(b) Determine the intercept, c on the vertical axis and the numerical value of the slope, s
V 1.20 1.46 0.26
(c) State any three precautions you will observe if you were to perform this experiment in the laboratory Slope s = 0.743
I 0.40 0.05 0.35
(c)
Solution
(c)
0.90 0.10 0.80 (a)
Slope = n 1.481 Precautions I would have taken include:
X 0.60 0.06 0.54 (a) Ensuring tight connection of wire
I(A) V(V) (b) Ensuring that the key was open when the set-up was not in use to avoid running down the battery
(d)
0.20 1.35 (c) Avoid parallax error while reading the voltmeter and ammeter
Precautions I would have taken include: 0.25 1.31
0.30 1.28
Ensuring that the optical pin were erect and completely vertical
0.35 1.24
Avoid error due to parallax while reading the protractor and meter rule
0.40 1.20
Ensuring that optical pins are placed according to the procedure as stated above. In order to achieve such, 3. In a practical experiment with some liquid in a calorimeter, the rate at which the liquid cools, R, depends
one eye will be closed to accurate decipher the position of the emergence ray given the incidence. on the temperature difference between the liquid and surrounding air, , are measured and recorded by the
entries in the following table:
2.
R(oC.min -1 ) 16.87 18.93 21.24 23.83 26.74
(oC) 31.62 39.81 50.12 63.10 79.13
a) Copy the above table and include the following columns: (I) X log10 , (II) Y log10 R
b) Plot a graph of Y on the vertical axis against X on the horizontal, starting both axes from the origin
c) Determine the slope, n, of the graph and the intercept, c, on the Y-axis
d) Evaluate a 10 c

e) State two precautions you will observe if you were to perform this experiment in the laboratory. (e) 5. In an experiment to determine the volume of a wire (V) using the formula:
V r2L
Solution Precautions I would have taken include:
Where L is the length and r is the radius of the wire, the following measurements were made;
(a) i. Ensuring the liquid is properly stirred to ensure uniform temperature distribution throughout the liquid r = (0.50±0.01) mm
ii. Ensure repeated measurement of the temperature of the surrounding air at each state to obtain an L = (100.00±0.10) mm
R( oC.min 1 ) (o C ) X=log 10 Y=log10 R average value which reduces the effect of climate changes on the accuracy results obtained Determine the maximum error in V.
16.87 31.62 1.50 1.23 iii. Avoid parallax error when reading the thermometer and stopwatch Answer:
18.93 39.81 1.60 1.28 Given
21.24 50.12 1.70 1.33 V r2L
23.83 63.10 1.80 1.38 PH/PHY 107: General Physics Laboratory I 2015/2016 Taking natural logarithm of the equation above
26.74 79.13 1.90 1.43 ln V ln 2ln r ln L
SECTION A: Attempt All Differentiating logarithmically yields
V 2 r L
1. What is zero error and hence explain the types of zero error
(b) V r L
Answer: Zero error occurs when the measuring instrument registered a reading when there should be none
(that is the instrument registers a reading even while it is not in use). There are two types of zero error. This implies that
Positive Zero Error: Positive zero error occurs when the instrument registers a reading to the left of the 2 r L
V r 2L
actual zero reading. To correct this error we simply add the registered value to the obtained measurement r L
Negative Zero Error: Negative zero error occurs when the instrument registers a reading to the right of the
actual zero reading. To correct this error we simply subtract the registered value to the obtained
2 0.01 0.10
measurement V 3.142 0.502 100.0 3.22055 mm3
0.50 100.00
2. Why is it better to make several observations and take the mean value rather than relying on a sin gle
observation.
Answer: It is better to make several observations and take a mean value than to rely on a single SECTION B: ATTEMPT ANY ONE
observation, because a single observation might be accurate due to random or systematic error, by taking a
mean value, the error is minimize d ue to division by the total number of observations. 1. The following table shows a typical set of results on a sonometer experiment, the length of the wire
being constant throughout the experiment:
3. Which of the following materials feels heavier: 100g of cotton or 0.1 kg of iron? Explain your answer Frequency F (Hz) 256.00 320.00 384.00 480.00 512.00
Answer: Neither of the two, because both substances have the same mass. Tension T (N) 50.00 73.00 109.00 168.00 194.00

(c) 4. Explain how a liquid (such as pure water) can be boil at a temperature below its boiling point without Copy and complete the table for the square root of the tension T
applying heat to it
Y 1.43 0.60 0.83 Answer: Pour water or the liquid at room temperature into a vacuum chamber and begin removing the air. I. Plot a graph of Frequency versus square root of the Tension. Determine the slope of the graph.
Slope of the graph n = 0.5030
X 1.90 0.25 1.65 Eventually, the boiling temperature will fall below the water temperature and boiling will begin without II. If a certain length of the wire tunes to a frequency of 256 Hz at a tension of 20 N, calculate the frequency of
heating. This is because boiling point of a liquid depends on both temperature and pressure. As pressure the wire at a tension of 40 N
Intercept c on the Y-axis = 0.47
increases, so does the boiling temperature. Since a vacuum chamber the pressure is low, the boiling point of III. Why is it easier to hear sounds coming from a distance in the evening/night than during the day?
(d) the liquid will be lower, by removing the air, the pressure is reduced even more, so does the boiling point, IV. How does the behavior of sound wave passing through a balloon filled with gas such as carbon dioxide
thereby allowing the water to begin to boil at a temperature below room temperature differ from another filled with helium gas.
a 10c 100.47 2.951 V. What do you think are the reasons why a long thick and loose guitar strings produces a low frequency note

Solution Hence we have that: The amplitude of the sound wave decreases when a balloon filled with Helium is placed between the speaker and
the microphone. Since helium gas is less dense than air, the sound wave is refracted away from the normal when
(I) T2 40 the wave propagates from the air into the balloon, and closer to the normal when moving out from the balloon. As a
F2 F1 256 362.03 Hz
1 T1 20 result, the wave is diverged to a wider area and causes the amplitude of the sound wave decreases.
Frequency F (Hz) Tension T(N) T (N ) 2
(V)
256.00 50.00 7.07 (III)
320.00 73.00 8.54 Frequency varies with the length, diameter and tension of a string. Frequency varies inversely as length hence
If you go to the beach on vacation, during the night, you will discover that voice of people far away can be heard
384.00 109.00 10.44 clearly. You may wonder, it is because it is quieter at night than in the daytime. Therefore it is easy to hear the shorter strings have higher frequency consequently a long string will have a low frequency. Frequency varies
480.00 168.00 12.96 sound far away. However, it is only one of the reasons. Actually, sound transmits farther at night may be related to inversely as the square of diameter. The thickness of a string depends on its diameter. A thick string has a bigger
refraction of sound waves! First, sound is the vibration of air, and it is a kind of wave motion. The propagation of diameter which makes it vibrate slower, hence a lower frequency. A string is said to be loose if tension on the string
512.00 194.00 13.93
sound wave is faster in hot air and slower in cold air. Therefore regions of air at different temperatures have is low. Frequency varies directly as the square root of t ension, thus a low tension also yields low frequency. This is
different refractive indices, just like media with different optical densities. When sound wave propagates in air why a long, thick, and loose guitar string will always produce a low frequency note.
whose temperature changes with altitude, refraction of air happens. Sound will move towards areas with lower
temperatures. In the daytime, when the sun shines the earth, the air near the earth surface is hotter than the air 2. A calorimeter made of aluminium contains water of mass m =50g at room temperature To . A block of copper
above. Sound waves will be refracted to the sky. On the contrary, in the nighttime, the air near the surface is cooler heated to 100 o C is transferred into the calorimeter and the final termperature T i is recorded, after which the
and sound waves are refracted to the earth surface.
calorimeter is then emptied. The experiment is repeated with water at the same initial temperature, T o for
various masses M i to obtain their corresponding final temperatures Ti as shown below:
To = 30.00 oC
Mass Mi (g) 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 90.00 100.00
Temperature Ti (oC) 42.73 40.94 39.59 38.54 37.00 35.96

100 0 C Ti
Copy and complete the table for Z
Ti To

(II) I. Plot a graph of Z versus M i. Determine the slope of the graph.

II. From your graph, deduce the final temperature T i if water of mass 20 g was used in this experiment
Recall that III. A piece of 53oC hot solid metal, having a mass of 400 kg is quickly dropped into 30 kg of water at 10oC
contained in a calorimeter of 120 kg mass and specific heat capacity of 400 Jkg -1 K-1 and the temperature of
F T the mixture is 30o C, calculate the specific heat capacity of the hot solid metal (Neglect heat loss to the
surrounding)
which implies that IV. What do you think are the reasons we preferred we preferred an aluminium made calorimeter in this
(IV) experiment
T F2
V. Why is it advisable not to ingest medications with cold water ?
For Carbon Dioxide
Hence by logical extension
Solution
The amplitude of the sound wave increases when a balloon filled with Carbon dioxide is placed between the speaker
T2 F22 and the microphone because carbon dioxide is denser than air. Hence the sound wave is refracted approaching the Mass Mi (g) Temperature Ti (o C) Z
T1 F12 normal when the wave propagates from the air into the balloon, and away from normal when moving out from the
50.00 42.73 4.50
balloon. As a result, the balloon acts as a biconvex lens and converge the sound wave at a point.
Data given, T 1 = 20 N, F 1 = 256 Hz, T 2 = 40 N, F 2 = ? 60.00 40.94 5.40
For Helium 70.00 39.59 6.30
 80.00 38.54 7.20 Since there no change of state (or phase) during heat transfer, hence we can write: 3. With the aid of a ray diagram explain how a plain mirror can be used to determine the focal length of a
90.00 37.00 9.00 converging lens
ms cs (Ts T f ) (mw cw mc cc )(Tf Tcw ) 4. An object is placed at a distance u from the optical centre of a thin converging lens of focal l ength 10 cm, so
100.00 35.96 10.74
that a virtual image is formed 15 cm from the centre of the lens. Determine the value of u
m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, T is temperature, the subscripts s, w ,c, cw, and f represent solid, water, 5. Draw the experimental setup for this experiment
calorimeter, calorimeter and water, and final state of the mixture respectively. 6. If the object in question 5 is viewed in white light, the image would be surrounded by the colours of
rainbow. Explain this phenomenon and how this defect of the lens can be eliminated.
Given ms = 400 kg, cs =?, Ts = 53oC, T f = 30oC, m w = 30 kg, cw =4200 Jkg-1 K-1, mc = 120 kg, cc = 400 Jkg-1 K-1, Tcw
= 10oC, F2
7. Show that the quantities x, y, and F are related by the expression y
x
Thus making c s subject of the formula we have
Solution
( mw cw mc cc )(Tf Tcw ) (30 4200 120 400)(30 10)
cs 378.26 Jkg-1K-1 (1)
ms (Ts T f ) 400(53 30)
x(cm) x-1 (cm-1 ) y(cm)
(IV) 5.20 0.192 19.20
8.00 0.125 12.40
We preferred an aluminium made calorimeter because it has a low specific heat capacity thus it would not 10.00 0.100 10.00
absorb or lose much heat and because as a good conductor allows heat to be transferred quickly in order to 15.20 0.066 6.40
further minimize heat loss to the environment 20.00 0.050 5.20
30.40 0.033 3.20
(V)

Cold water is unadvisable for variety reasons when ingesting drugs. Its major drawback is its temperature. Cold
Z 9.80 2.00 7.80 water has low temperature, make drugs less soluble in cold water, if this drugs cannot dissolve, the human body
Slope of the graph = 0.0975 g-1 cannot absorb them making the drugs to take longer time to act and in worst case scenarios, passed out through
Mi 100 20.00 80
feces without achieving the purpose for which it was ingested
(II)
PHY 107: ALTERNATIVE TO PRACTICAL PHYSICS
From the graph if when M i = 20.00g, Z = 2.00. Since
ALTERNATIVE 101

1000 C Ti A plane mirror was used to locate the principal foci, F 1, F 2 on either side of a thin converging lens L. An
Z
Ti To illuminated object was setup was setup at a distance (x) beyond F 1 and a sharp image of the object is formed on
a screen situated at a distance y, from the other principal focus F 2. The experiment was repeated for five (5)
Making Ti subject of the formulae yields different values of x and the corresponding values obtained for y as follows:

100 ZT0 100 2 30 160 x(cm) 5.20 8.00 10.00 15.20 20.00 30.40
Ti 53.33 oC y(cm) 19.20 12.40 10.00 6.40 5.20 3.20
1 Z 1 2 3

(III)
1. Plot a graph of y versus x -1
Heat lost by hot solid metal = Heat gained by water + Heat gained by Calorimeter 2. Determine the gradient of the graph G and hence evaluate the focal length of the lens F

(2) Or

y 20 5 15
Gradient G = 100cm2
x1 0.20 0.05 0.15

F G 100 10cm

(3)

(6)

The phenomenon in question is called chromatic aberration. Chromatic aberration is an effect resulting from
Note: Figure 24.14 Focal Length by u and v method is our desired experimental setup but will require slight dispersion in which there is a failure of a lens to focus all colors to the same convergence point. It occurs because
modification lenses have different refractive indices for different wavelengths of light. The refractive index of transparent
materials decreases with increasing wavelength in degrees unique to each. This defect can be eliminated by using
(4) achromatic lenses or adding another lens to the set -up above
Given f = 10 cm, v = -15 cm because image is virtual, since the lens formula is given by: (7)

1 1 1 Recall that from the figure above that v y F

u v f
1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 5 u v F
Or u f v 10 15 10 15 30 30

30
u 6cm
5 1 1 1
x F y F F
(5)
(x F)(y F)F
The experimental set-up of the experiment is given below
F(y F) F(x F) (x F)(y F)

2F2 xF yF xy xF yF F2

xy F2

F2 R R0 (1 T)
y
x

R R0 R0T

R R0 (1 T T 2)

R R0 (1 T)

R 8 4 4 1 o 1
S C RA R1
T 180 60 120 30
RB R2
1
Slope 30 1
R0 intercept = 2.00
Intercept 2 60
 t
4 R R0 e

RB d B2 A
lB lA
RA d A2 B

1 0.802 100 10 6
lB 120 158.73cm
1.20 1.202 28 10 6

R R0 (1 T)
V1 IRA kl1 and V2 IRB kl2

t
R R0 e
RA RA0 (1 A T)
V1 IRA kl1
V2 IRB kl2
t
RB RB 0 (1 T) ln R ln R0
B

RA l1
RB l2
RA R A 0 (1 A
T)
RB RB 0 (1 B T)

RA 0
1.20
RB 0
l RA
R l
A
RA 1.20 (1 0.00040 100) 1.20 1.04
1.212
RB (1 0.00030 100) 1.03
lB RB AB A

lA RA AA B

lB RB d B2 A

lA RA d A2 B

1 R
ln
t R0

1 R 1 2700 1
ln ln 0.113min
t R0 5 4750

ln R 2.40 0.50 1.90 1

0.594s
t 0.50 3.70 3.20

1 1
1.684 s R0 eintercept e2.7 14.88s 1
slope 0.594

t
1.684
R 14.88e

6
1.684 1
R 14.88e 0.422s

m
activity
M

t
R R0 e