Date | November 2020 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 20N.3.SL.TZ0.2 |
Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | 0 - no time zone |
Command term | State | Question number | 2 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
A student studies the relationship between the centripetal force applied to an object undergoing circular motion and its period .
The object (mass ) is attached by a light inextensible string, through a tube, to a weight which hangs vertically. The string is free to move through the tube. A student swings the mass in a horizontal, circular path, adjusting the period of the motion until the radius is constant. The radius of the circle and the mass of the object are measured and remain constant for the entire experiment.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2020.
The student collects the measurements of five times, for weight . The weight is then doubled () and the data collection repeated. Then it is repeated with and . The results are expected to support the relationship
In reality, there is friction in the system, so in this case is less than the total centripetal force in the system. A suitable graph is plotted to determine the value of experimentally. The value of was also calculated directly from the measured values of and .
State why the experiment is repeated with different values of .
Predict from the equation whether the value of found experimentally will be larger, the same or smaller than the value of calculated directly.
The measurements of were collected five times. Explain how repeated measurements of reduced the random error in the final experimental value of .
Outline why repeated measurements of would not reduce any systematic error in .
Markscheme
In order to draw a graph « of versus »
OR
to confirm proportionality between « and »
OR
to confirm relationship between « and »
OR
because W is the independent variable in the experiment ✓
OWTTE
ALTERNATIVE 1
OR
centripetal force is larger «than » / is smaller «than centripetal» ✓
«so» experimental is smaller «than calculated value» ✓
ALTERNATIVE 2 (refers to graph)
reference to «friction force is» a systematic error «and does not affect gradient» ✓
«so» is the same ✓
MP2 awarded only with correct justification.
Candidates can gain zero, MP1 alone or full marks.
OWTTE
mention of mean/average value «of » ✓
this reduces uncertainty in / result
OR
more accurate/precise ✓
Reference to “random errors average out” scores MP1
Accept “closer to true value”, “more reliable value” OWTTE for MP2
systematic errors «usually» constant/always present/ not influenced by repetition ✓
OWTTE
Examiners report
Most candidates scored. Different wording was used to express the aim of confirming the relationship.
Most successful candidates chose to consider a single point then concluding that the calculated mr would be smaller than the real value as W < centripetal force, or even went into analysing the dependence of the frictional force with W. Many were able to deduce this. Some candidates thought that a graph would still have the same gradient (if friction was constant) and mentioned systematic error, so mr was not changed which was also accepted.
Most candidates stated that the mean of 5 values of T was used to obtain an answer closer to the true value if there were no systematic errors. Some just repeated the question.
Usually very well answered acknowledging that systematic errors are constant and present throughout all measurements.