plumiEvaluating and improving experiments: OCR A‑Level Physics B questions
OCR A-Level Physics B past-paper questions on 2.0.4 Evaluating and improving experiments, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q36(b)
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All 47 questions on Evaluating and improving experiments, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q36(b) (6 marks): (b)* A student carries out an experiment to determine the refractive index of a glass block using the apparatus shown in Fig. 36.2. Fig. 36.2 Laser (monochromat
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q1(c) (2 marks): The experiment is repeated with an increasing number of stacked cupcake cases, as shown in Fig. 1.2. Fig. 1.2 The average times are recorded in Table 1.2. Table
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(b) (2 marks): Describe how you could determine a more accurate value for the number of lines per mm on the diffraction grating. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(c) (3 marks): Table 3.1 shows the values obtained from all 20 diffraction gratings. Table 3.1 Number of lines per mm 144 320 590 594 603 156 567 591 599 605 299 588 592 600 6
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which point is best considered an outlier or anomaly? y D C A B 0 x 0 Your answer [1]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q25(d) (2 marks): The class work out that their measurements produce an uncertainty in the value for the Planck constant of ±5%. Determine whether the class mean value for the Pl
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q26(e) (1 mark): The computer system runs AI software that learns to detect anomalies in the sensor data that predict when a motor is about to fail. Suggest why computer softwar
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q27(d) (2 marks): The measurements of the angles of incidence and refraction can be inaccurate. Suggest two reasons why. 1 2 [2]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q37(b)(iv) (2 marks): Discuss the suggestion that using a loudspeaker above the tube connected to a signal generator will give a more reliable determination of the speed of sound tha
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q1(d) (2 marks): The textbook value for the specific thermal capacity for aluminium is 900 J kg–1 K–1. Compare this value with your calculated value and explain the main reason
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(d) (2 marks): Explain any changes you might make to the instrumentation in the circuit in order to obtain an accurate graph. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q3(d) (6 marks): Describe the sources of uncertainties and the limitations of this method to find the focal length of a lens. Describe and explain methods to improve the experim
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q23(c) (2 marks): The students use their measurements to calculate the speed of sound in air. They find it hard to agree the position where the loudest sound is heard. Suggest an
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q2(b) (3 marks): State and explain how the experiment and apparatus could be modified to give a more accurate value of the Planck constant. [3]
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe one significant cause of uncertainty in this measurement and suggest a method which would reduce the uncertainty. [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): In an experiment to measure the refractive index of plastic using a rectangular block, ray box and protractor, the largest source of error is probably best redu
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q27(d)(ii) (3 marks): State and explain which one student’s suggestion will provide the best measurements to prove or disprove their hypothesis. [3]
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q2(c) (6 marks): This question is about an investigation into the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas. The relationship is often referred to as Boyle’s Law. A
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q27(c)(iv) (2 marks): Explain why it is not reasonable to conclude that the longer the delay before the toy jumps, the greater the maximum height. [2]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q8(c) (6 marks): Two students are doing experiments to measure the wavelength of microwaves. Beth uses three sheets of aluminium to construct the double-slit arrangement shown i
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the sources of error in this method. Discuss whether you consider the g-ball or the light-gate method would give a more accurate value for g, the accel
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q2(c) (3 marks): The experiment is repeated using a red laser light instead of a filament bulb. Describe and explain the effect this will have on the experimental uncertainties.
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q26(e) (1 mark): Suggest one way the student could improve the precision of their measurements. [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q27(c)(i) (1 mark): Suggest one reason why the four points should be treated as anomalies. [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q27(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one reason why the four points should NOT be treated as anomalies. [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q27(e) (2 marks): Discuss whether this value of the internal resistance is better than your answer in part (b). [2]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): Explain why it is appropriate to treat the reading of 0.34 mm as an outlier and suggest how the anomalous reading may have been obtained. [2]
- November 2020, Paper 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): Suggest an improvement, with a reason, to the experimental design. [2]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q27(f) (2 marks): Suggest and explain how the student could modify the equipment or procedure to help overcome this difficulty. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): Rocks are often dated using three separate decay series. Suggest and explain an advantage of three decay series to date rocks rather than just one. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q1(b) (6 marks): Manufacturers of spectacles (glasses) are keen to develop new materials for lenses. The refractive index of such materials is an important property to consider.
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(d) (4 marks): The student notices that the top of the round-bottom flask is above the level of the liquid in the water bath and suggests that this will produce a systematic e
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q24(b) (2 marks): Suggest and explain one way to improve the accuracy of the angle data. [2] In a repeat of the experiment, the two angles are found to be 28° and 17°.
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q25(e) (2 marks): Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of this change when measuring the distance to A. advantage [1] disadvantage [1]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q26(d) (2 marks): Explain how these changes will affect the quality of the measurements of length. [2]
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q8(e) (6 marks): Lizzie has bought a new lens for her camera. It is marked with the focal length 50 mm (Fig. 8.1). She wants to measure its focal length as accurately as possibl
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q38(d) (1 mark): State one way in which you could refine or develop this practical design or procedure to reduce uncertainty. [1]
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(c) (6 marks): This question is about an experiment to determine the Young modulus of a copper wire. The diameter D of the wire was measured using a micrometer screw gauge in
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q29(d) (4 marks): The readings of p.d. for Fig. 29.2 were taken with a digital voltmeter. Five consecutive values were recorded at each temperature. The calculated mean output p.
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why repeating the measurements at least three times is good experimental practice. [2]
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q8(b) (6 marks): Two students, Alice and Bob, are using a diffraction grating to determine the wavelength of light emitted by a light-emitting diode (LED). Bob places a ruler a
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q4(a)(iv) (2 marks): The spread of data is given by; spread = ± ½ range. A measurement can be considered to be an outlier if it is more than twice the spread from the mean. State wh
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q28(a)(i) (1 mark): to locate position B precisely ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q28(a)(ii) (1 mark): to measure the distance between position A and the speakers precisely. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q28(b)(ii) (2 marks): Another student suggests a method for improving the wavelength measurement. He suggests using a laser to measure the distance between the speakers and microphon
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(c) (6 marks): Carol and Jason are investigating momentum and energy changes in collisions. They are using two trolleys on a table and measuring velocities with light gates co
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q29(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why the 1.6 s reading was treated as an outlier. [1]
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