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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 the 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?
Answer
The most effective change that could be made to prevent the trolley from rolling down the runway is to move the wooden block to the left. This adjustment would provide a barrier that stops the trolley from rolling due to gravity.
Step 2
Suggest what the student could do to prevent the string from rubbing.
Answer
To prevent the string from rubbing along the edge of the bench, the student could use a pulley placed on the edge of the bench. This would redirect the string, removing the point of contact with the bench and ensuring smooth movement.
Step 3
Complete Figure 2.
Answer
To complete Figure 2:
- Choose a suitable scale for the x-axis: A linear scale with equal intervals can be used, ranging from 0 to 0.30 N based on the resultant force data.
- Plot the results: Points corresponding to the resultant force and the corresponding acceleration should be plotted accurately.
- Draw a line of best fit: A straight line can be drawn through the points, demonstrating the relationship between force and acceleration.
Step 4
Describe the relationship between the resultant force on the trolley and the acceleration of the trolley.
Answer
The relationship between the resultant force on the trolley and the acceleration is directly proportional. This means that as the resultant force increases, the acceleration of the trolley also increases, following the equation of motion:
where F is the resultant force, m is the mass of the trolley, and a is the acceleration.
Step 5
Describe how the investigation could be improved to reduce the effect of random errors.
Answer
To improve the investigation and reduce random errors, the student could repeat the measurements and calculate the mean for each resultant force value. This minimizes the impact of anomalies in data. Additionally, ensuring careful setup and consistent measurement techniques can help improve accuracy.