IB Physics HL S1.1 Experimental Techniques Question Bank

Practise IB Physics HL S1.1 by designing measurements, propagating uncertainty and evaluating complex experimental evidence.

Exam points

Design controlled measurements with justified instruments, variables and repeat trials.
Propagate absolute or percentage uncertainties through calculations and graph-derived quantities.
Evaluate residuals, limitations and improvements using quantitative evidence from investigations.

Covered syllabus points

S1.1.1—Safety and ethics S1.1.2—Measurement variables

[Maximum number: 4]

This question is about the use of radioactive isotopes.

(a)

Radiologists working with radioactive sources wear a film badge. Discuss the function of a film badge.

[ 3 ]

(b)

One of the side effects of the use of Sr -89 is the reduction of white blood cells in the body, leaving the patient prone to infections. Outline one ethical implication of the choice between using Sr-89 to treat bone cancer and not carrying out treatment.

[ 1 ]

[Maximum number: 1]

A group of students is trying to determine the density and the viscosity of a liquid.

To determine the density, they use a balance to read the mass m of a sphere in air and immersed in the liquid.

They use a sphere of volume $V=1.827 \times 10^{-7} \mathrm{~m}^{3}$ .
The readings are $m_{\text {air }}=1.427 \mathrm{~g}$ in air and $m_{\text {immersed }}=1.208 \mathrm{~g}$ in the liquid.
The readings are different due to buoyancy. The buoyancy force $F_{\mathrm{b}}$ is given by

F_{\mathrm{b}}=\rho V g

where V is the volume of the sphere and $\rho$ is the density of the liquid.

State the level of precision in the measurement of m.

All question bank results loaded

Covered syllabus points

S1.1 Experimental techniques question 1

Question (a)

Question (b)

S1.1 Experimental techniques question 2