Physics Required Practicals

Specific Heat Capacity

• Measure the mass of a metal block using a balance.

• Insert a heater and thermometer into the block.

• Connect a power supply, ammeter, and voltmeter.

• Turn on the heater and record voltage, current, and temperature every 30s.

• Calculate energy supplied using equation

• Plot a temperature vs. energy graph and find the gradient to calculate specific heat capacity.

Thermal Insulation

• Pour equal amounts of hot water into beakers.

• Cover each beaker with different insulating materials.

• Place a lid on each beaker.

• Record the starting temperature.

• Measure the temperature drop every 2 minutes for 10 minutes.

• Compare results to determine the best insulator.

Resistance of a Wire

• Set up a circuit with a power supply, ammeter, voltmeter, and a wire on a ruler.

• Attach crocodile clips to select different wire lengths.

• Measure voltage (V) and current (I) for each length.

• Calculate resistance using equation

• Repeat for accuracy and plot a graph of resistance vs. length.

• Expect a directly proportional relationship.

I-V Characteristics

• Set up a circuit with a variable resistor, ammeter, and voltmeter.

• Connect the component (resistor, filament lamp, or diode).

• Adjust the variable resistor and record V and I.

• Repeat for positive and negative voltages.

• Plot I-V graphs for each component.

• Resistor: straight line; Filament lamp: curve; Diode: sharp increase after threshold.

Density regular solids

• Measure mass using a balance (record to 2 decimal places).

• Use a ruler or calipers to measure length, width, and height (for cubes) or diameter and height (for cylinders).

• Calculate volume

• Use the density formula

• Repeat measurements and take an average for accuracy.

Density Irregular Solids

• Measure mass using a balance.

• Fill a displacement can (Eureka can) with water until it just starts dripping from the spout.

• Place a measuring cylinder under the spout.

• Carefully lower the solid into the can using a thread (avoid splashing).

• Measure the volume of displaced water (this equals the object’s volume).

• Use equation​ to calculate density.

Density liquids

• Measure the mass of an empty measuring cylinder using a balance.

• Pour a known volume (e.g., 50 cm³) of liquid into the cylinder.

• Measure the new mass of the filled cylinder.

• Subtract to find the mass of the liquid alone.

• Use equation​ to calculate density.

• Repeat and calculate an average density.

Force and Extension (Hooke’s Law)

• Set up a spring on a clamp stand with a ruler.

• Measure the initial length of the spring.

• Add masses incrementally and record the new length.

• Calculate extension (new length−initial length).

• Plot force vs. extension graph; straight line shows Hooke’s Law.

• Stop before reaching the elastic limit.

Acceleration (Newton’s 2nd Law)

• Set up a trolley and pulley system with a light gate.

• Attach a hanging mass to the trolley with a string over a pulley.

• Release the mass and measure acceleration using the light gate.

• Repeat with different masses or forces.

• Plot force vs. acceleration graph; should show direct proportionality.

• Keep friction low for accurate results.

Wave speed in gas (air)

• Set up equipment as shown.

• Measure 500m with tape measure.

• Person 1 hits instrument.

• Person 2 starts stopwatch when person 1 hits the instrument.

• Then stops the stopwatch when they hear the instrument.

• Work out speed with distance/time

Wave speed in a liquid

• Set up equipment as shown

• Set a frequency on generator

• Turn light on and project the waves

• Take a photo of waves, including the ruler.

• Measure 5 waves and divide distance by 5

• Use equation to work out wavespeed.

Wave speed in a solid

• Set up equipment as shown

• Set up frequency on signal generator

• Move bridge until 2 loops form, measure distance of this

• or

• Change masses until two loops appear

• Repeat and calculate mean

• Use equation to find wavespeed.

Light (Refraction & Reflection)

• Place a glass block on paper and shine a ray of light using a ray box.

• Trace the incident and emergent rays.

• Measure the angle of incidence and refraction using a protractor.

• Repeat for different angles and materials.

• Keep the ray box steady for accuracy.

Radiation and Absorption

• Fill a Leslie’s cube with hot water.

• Measure infrared radiation emitted from each surface using an infrared detector.

• Compare shiny, matte, black, and white surfaces.

• Black surfaces emit more radiation, shiny surfaces emit less.

• Keep distance constant between the detector and the cube.

• Repeat and compare results.