RI 2022 Physics Planning Guidebook

2022 RAFFLES INSTITUTION PHYSICS DEPARTMENT Introduction to Planning Question Scheme of Assessment (from Syllabus 9749) Year 5 Planning question is part of the GCE A-level H2 Physics examination and it carries a weightage of 5%. Planning question will-be assessed as part of Paper 4 and you should complete it within 30 minutes. Your procedure must allow another person to conduct the experiment and evaluate the results of the experiment. Paper Type of Paper Weighting Marks Duration 1 Multiple Choice 15% 30 1 h 2 Structured Questions 30% 80 2h 3 Lonqer Structured Questions 35% 80 2h 4 Practical 55 2 h 30 m • Planning (P) 5% • MMQ, PDQ, ACE 15% Paper4 Candidates will be allocated a specified time for access to apparatus and materials of specific questions. Candidates will not be permitted to refer to books and laboratory notebooks during the assessment. This paper will assess appropriate aspects of the following skill areas: • Planning (P) • Manipulation, measurement and observation (MMQ) • Presentation of data and obser✓ ations (PDQ) • Analysis, conclusions and evaluation (ACE) Note that the assessment of PDO and ACE may also include questions on data-analysis, which do not require practical equipment and apparatus. 1

2022 RAFFLES INSTITUTION PHYSICS DEPARTMENT Skills Requirements (from Syllabus 9749) Year5 Candidates should be able to define clearly the question/problem using appropriate knowledge and understanding. The plan should show a sense of coherence with a detailed sequence, providing a clear logical account of the experimental procedure to be followed. Candidates should describe how the data is used in order to reach a conclusion . The risks involved in the experiment should be assessed and precautions to keep these risks to a minimum should be described. Below is a brief summary of the requirements. (a) Defining the problem Students should be able·to • identify the independent and the dependent variables; • identify those variables that must be controlled; • give a clear precise statement as to what is being investigated. (b) Methods of data collection Students should be able to give a clear logical account of the experimental procedure to be followed, including a description of • how the independent variable is to be varied; • how the independent and the dependent variables are measured; • how the other variables are controlled; • the arrangement of the apparatus. (c) Method of analysis Students should be able to describe the main steps by which their data would be analysed in order to draw valid conclusions. This may well include the proposal of graphical methods to analyse data. (d) Safety considerations Students should be able to identify areas of risk and suggest suitable safety precautions to be taken. Question Structure The question is usually loosely structured and requires you to design an experiment to reach some conclusions. You may need to integrate knowledge from the syllabus, and know how to use the correct instruments and techniques to collect data. The format of a planning question usually includes: • background information; • instruction to "design an experiment ... "; • list of available apparatus and materials; • areas to be included in the answer. 2

2022 Details to Include in Report RAFFLES INSTITUTION PHYSICS DEPARTMENT Years The background information given at the start of the question provides context to the question. Such information may or may not be useful in answering the question. There is usually more than 1 way of answering a planning question and the marking scheme varies from year to year. a. Problem Definition • Identify the quantifiable independent variable x of the experiment. • Identify the quantifiable dependent variable y of the experiment. • Identify the control variables (preferably quantifiable) of the experiment, i.e. variables to be kept constant in order for the experiment to be valid. b. Experimental Set-up • Draw clearly labelled 2D diagram(s) - top and/or side view - that show the relative positions of the apparatus in workable arrangements. • All apparatus should be supported by clamps and stands, and be laid on the table top (draw line for table top). They should not be hanging in the air. • Apparatus which are in danger of toppling (such as motor, pulley, retort stands) must be firmly clamped to the workbench. • Conventional circuit symbols must be used for circuit diagrams. • You may use some or all of the apparatus suggested in the question, as well as any other equipment usually found in a Physics laboratory. c. Procedure The procedure must be logically sequenced and clearly numbered. Leave a line between each step for amendments . Students may use any typical apparatus found in the Physics laboratory. The procedure should ir;clude: • descriptions of the setup, if the dia(Jrams cannot fully explain the intentions. • how the independent and dependent variables are measured using the correct instruments and methods, and how the readings would be used. • equations used to determine the independent and dependent variables, if they cannot be measured directly. • taking preliminary readings to determine the range of the independent variable which will produce a valid range of dependent variable. Do NOT state specific values or trends. • values that are not given must be measured and not assumed (e.g. cannot assume that diameter of wire is uniform, temperature of ice is O °C). • definitions of all symbols used. • steps to be repeated to find the average of the dependent variable. • steps to be repeated to obtain at least 5 additional sets of data. • methods to vary the independent variable. • methods to measure and keep the control variables constant for a valid experiment. 3

2022 RAFFLES INSTITUTION PHYSICS DEPARTMENT Years d. Analysis Describe how the data obtained should be used to achieve the objective(s) of the experiment. Case 1: If relationship is given or known: Linearise equation and explain how unknown constants or relationship can be detennined from the equation or graph. E.g.: s = vt Plot a graph of s against t. The speed v can be obtained from the gradient of the graph. Case 2: If relationship is NOT given and NOT known. Assume that y = k x0 , where k and n are constants. ⇒ lg(y) = nlg(x)+lg(k). Plot a graph of lg(y) against lg(x). If the above relationship is true, a straight line graph will be obtained, where the gradient is n and the vertical-intercept is lg (k). Hence, k = 1 oc where c is the vertical-intercept. Safety Precautions • State reasonable hazards that are specific to the experiment AND how to avoid them, even if question did not ask. • State actions to be taken, NOT actions to avoid (e.g. "wear glove to handle hot beaker", NOT "do not handle beaker with bare hands"). • Rationale must be given for the steps taken. • Hazards can be due to apparatus (e.g. high-voltage supply), material (e.g. mercury) or procedures (e.g. oscillation of a he,.wy mass). e. Additional Details Include details which improve the reliability (i.e. accuracy and precision) of the results, even if the question did not explicitly ask for them. These may include: • Taking preliminary readings to determine a suitable range of the independent variable is investigated. By suitable, we mean the range of values of the dependent variable will be large and measurable. • crucial arrangement of apparatus, • steps to reduce/eliminate sources or error, • proper use and calibration of equipment. • Environment control ► Optics experiment: Conduct experiment in a dark room ► Sound experiment: Conduct experiment in a sound-proof, isolated room. Or, lay the workbench and surround the experimental setup with sound absorbing board (any soft board will do) ► Heat experiment: Keep the temperature of the room constant by using an air-conditioner. Ensure all fans are swi