Chapter 1: Introduction to Physics

1.1 Understanding Physics

1.2 Understanding Base Quantities and Derived Quantities
i.

Write (a) 100 cm in meters and (b) 52 MA in A. Then write the answer in standard form.

ii. 0.03 m = ___________________cm

iii. 2 x 10-9 s = ___________________ns
iv. Which of the following frequencies is the same as 106.8 MHz?
A 1.068 x 10-4 Hz
B 1.068 x 10-1 Hz
C 1.068 x 102 Hz
D 1.068 x 106 Hz
E 1.068 x 108 Hz
v. Which of the following is the longest?
A. 3.45 x 1031 m
B. 3.45 x 104 cm
C. 3.45 x 107 mm
D. 3.45 x 1012 m
vi. 7200 km/h = ________________m/s
vii. 123 m3 = ___________________ cm3
viii. 2.16 km h-2 = _____________m s-2
ix. Change the physical quantities in column A into the quantities in column B.
A
0.3 mm
2.3 hour
220 mg
0.03 kg
25 cm
40 cm2
9.2 mm2
0.01 m2
36 km/h
15 m/s
150 cm3

B
m
s
kg
g
m
m2
m2
mm2
m/s
km/h
m3

x. Which of the following prefixes of units are arranged in descending order of magnitude?
A. deci, micro, centi, milli
B. deci, centi, milli, micro
C. centi, deci, micro, milli

D. centi, milli, micro, deci

xi.

Which of the following physical quantities is not a base quantity?

A
B
C
D

Weight
Time
Temperature
Electric current

1.3 Understanding Scalar and Vector Quantities

i.

Which of the following quantities is a vector quantity?

A Energy
B Power
C Force
D Pressure

ii. Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

A Displacement
B Momentum
C Force
D Work
1.4 Measuring Instruments
i.

The technician need to measure the internal diameter of a water pipe as accurately as
possible. Which instrument should be used?
A Meter ruler
B Measuring tape
C Vernier Calliper
D Micrometer screw gauge

ii. If a group of students from your class leave for Japan by plane, how are the readings on their
watches when they arrive Japan?
A. Accurate but not consistent
B. Consistent but not accurate
C. Not consistent and not accurate
D. Accurate and consistence

iii.

The diagram shows the scale of a micrometer screw gauge.

What is the reading of the micrometer?

A
B
C
D

7.02 mm
7.03 mm
7.52 mm
7.58 mm

iv. The total mass of 100 pieces of graph paper of size 10 cm x 10 cm is 200 g. A piece of graph
paper is cut into small squares of size 1 mm x 1 mm. Each square is used as a standard mass
for the scale of a micro balance. Two standard masses are equivalent to:
A. 0.04 g
B. 0.02 g
C. 0.004 g
D. 0.002 g
E. 0.0004 g
v. A, B, C, and D show parts of four different balance scales. Which balance is the most
sensitive?

vi. Diagram 1 shows the target board in a game.

Which result is consistent but nor accurate?

vii. What is the reading for the below diagram?

a.

b.

Papar 2
1

Diagram 1 shows a
measure
external
cylinder.

vernier calipers used to

diameter of a hollow

Diagram 1

(0) (i) Name the part labelled X.

[1 mark]

(ii) What is the function of X?

..
[1 mark]

(a) The external diameters of the cylinder at four different places are shown in the table below.
External diameter /cm
2.04

(i)

2.05

2.04

Relative deviation %
2.06

0.37

Why is the external diameter measured four times?

[1 mark]

(ii) What is the purpose of calculating the relative deviation?

.
[1 mark]
2.

(a) Diagram 4.1 shows the meniscus of oil in a measuring cylinder. P, Q and R are three eye
positions while measuring the volume of the oil.

DIAGRAM 4.1
(i)

which position of the eye is correct while taking the reading of the volume of oil?
..
[ 1 mark]

(i)

Give one reason for the answer in (a)(i).

.
[1 mark]

(b) The oil in the measuring cylinder is replaced with 30 cm of mercury.

(i)

In Figure 4.2, draw the meniscus of the mercury in the measuring cylinder.
[1 mark]

DIAGRAM 4.2
(ii)

Explain what causes the shape of the meniscus of mercury you have drawn in (b)(i).

[1 mark]

Figure 8.1 shows the scale of an ammeter.

Mirror

Diagram 8.1
(a) Name the physical quantity measured by the ammeter.
[1 mark]
(b) In the space below, draw the symbol for an ammeter.

[1 mark]
(c )What is the value of the smallest division on the scale?
.A
[1 mar k]
State the function of the mirror located under the scale.

[ 1 m ark]

4.

(a). Table 1 shows a few readings taken of the external diameter of a test tube.
Reading 1
Reading 2
Reading 3
2.51 cm
2.52 cm
2.50 cm
What is the:
a. Average diameter of the test tube?
[ 1 marks ]

b.

Average deviation of the test tube?

[ 1 marks ]

c.

Relative deviation of the test tube?

[ 1 marks ]

(b) A pair of vernier calipers is used to determine the diameter of the steel rod. The diameter
obtained is shown in the below table.
Diameter / cm
Deviation / cm
2.57
2.55
2.52
2.54
2.51
i.) Determine the average reading obtained in table above. [1 mark]

ii.) Complete the table by determining the value of deviation for every reading. [2 marks]

iii.) What is the deviation for the average reading? [1 mark]

iv.) Determine the relative deviation of the reading. [1 mark]

Paper 3:

(a)

(b)

Figure above shows a girl playing on two different swings. The swing in figure (a) is longer than the
swing in figure (b).
(a) State one suitable inference about the situation.
[1 mark]
(b)

State one appropriate hypothesis for investigation

[1 mark]

(c)

With the use of apparatus such as a simple pendulum, a digital stopwatch and
others, describe an experiment framework to test your hypothesis.
In your description, state clearly the following;
(i)
Aim of the experiment.
(ii)
Variables in the experiment.
(iii)
List of apparatus and materials.
(iv)
Arrangement of the apparatus.
(v)
The procedure of the experiment which include the method of controlling the
manipulated variable and the method of measuring the responding variable.
(vi)
The way you would tabulate the data.
(vii) The way you would analyse the data.
[10 mark]