A student investigated the acceleration of a trolley - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 1 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 1
A student investigated the acceleration of a trolley.
Figure 1 shows how the student set up the apparatus.
Before attaching the mass holder the student placed t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student investigated the acceleration of a trolley - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 1 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
What change to the apparatus in Figure 1 could be made to prevent the trolley from starting to roll down the runway?
96%
114 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
Tick the box for Move the wooden block to the left. This adjustment will increase the angle of inclination, preventing the trolley from rolling down.
Step 2
Suggest what the student could do to prevent the string from rubbing.
99%
104 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
The student could use a pulley (on the edge of the bench) to change the direction of the string and eliminate the rubbing against the edge.
Step 3
Complete Figure 2.
96%
101 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
Choose a suitable scale for the x-axis: Choose a scale that allows clear plotting of points based on the resulting force values. For example, each square could represent 0.05 N.
Plot the results: Plot the points from Table 1 on the graph, ensuring correct placement according to the corresponding resultant force and acceleration values.
Draw a line of best fit: A line should be drawn that best represents the trend of the plotted points, showing the linear relationship between resultant force and acceleration.
Step 4
Describe the relationship between the resultant force on the trolley and the acceleration of the trolley.
98%
120 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
The relationship is directly proportional; as the resultant force on the trolley increases, the acceleration of the trolley also increases. This means that doubling the force will result in doubling the acceleration.
Step 5
Describe how the investigation could be improved to reduce the effect of random errors.
97%
117 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
To reduce random errors, the student should repeat the measurements/investigation multiple times and calculate the mean to account for any anomalies detected in individual trials. Additionally, ensuring all apparatus are calibrated properly before use would enhance precision.