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Forces and motion

Forces and motion

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Question 58

A student investigates a set of three solid polymer spheres sinking through a vertical cylinder filled with a highly viscous oil.

  • the apparatus consists of a glass column containing oil of depth 120 cm120\text{ cm}120 cm
  • three spheres of different masses, designated X, Y, and Z, are released one at a time from the top surface of the oil
  • the time taken to descend to the bottom of the column is recorded
a.

The student uses the following method:

  • measure the mass of sphere X
  • release sphere X from the surface of the oil
  • record the time taken for sphere X to travel the 120 cm120\text{ cm}120 cm distance
  • repeat the test two more times

The student uses the same method for spheres Y and Z.

The table shows the student's results:

SphereMass in g\text{g}gTime in s\text{s}s: Test 1Time in s\text{s}s: Test 2Time in s\text{s}s: Test 3
X35.035.035.07.87.87.88.28.28.28.08.08.0
Y22.422.422.415.215.215.24.14.14.114.814.814.8
Z15.815.815.812.112.112.111.911.911.912.012.012.0

One of the time measurements in the table is anomalous. Identify this measurement.

[1]
b.

State the relationship between average speed, distance moved, and time taken.

[1]
c.

Calculate the average (mean) speed for sphere Y.

[2]
d.

Explain what type of graph the student should use to present their data.

[1]
e.

Before carrying out the investigation, the student made this prediction:

'The greater the mass of the sphere, the faster it sinks through the viscous oil.'

Discuss whether the student’s results support this prediction.

[4]
Markscheme

Forces and motion Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Forces and motion

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