PHYSICS PAPER 2 (PRACTICAL)

Answer all questions.

You should not spend more than one and a half hours on each question.

Question 1 [10+2]

This experiment determines resistivity of the material of the given wire. It is based on Wheatstone
Bridge principle.
You are provided with:
(a) A 100 cm long and uniform metallic wire AB attached to a metre scale on a
wooden board. It is provided with connecting terminals at its ends.
(b) A coiled resistor P on a wooden frame with terminals.
(c) A resistance box R.B. of range 0 to 10 Ω.
(d) A central zero galvanometer G.
(e) 2V d.c. source E.
(f) A jockey J.
(g) A plug key K.
(h) A specimen wire W.
(i) A micrometer Screw Gauge
(j) A few connecting wires
(A) (i) Arrange the circuit as shown in Figure 1 below. Make sure that all connections are
tight.
P
• R.B. •

A C J B
0 cm• l
•100 cm

( •)
E K
Figure 1
(ii) Keep the value of E at 2V.
(iii) Close the key K. Take out a 1Ω plug from the resistance box R.B so that x = 1Ω.
(iv) Place the jockey J gently at different points on the wire AB till at a certain point
C, the galvanometer G shows no deflection. Note and record the length AC = l in
cm, correct upto one decimal place.

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 (v) Repeat the experiment to obtain five more values of l with x = 2Ω, 3Ω, 4Ω, 5Ω and
6Ω.
(vi) 100
For each value of x, calculate y = correct upto two decimal places.
𝑙𝑙
(vii) Tabulate all six sets of values of x, l, and y with their units.
(viii) Show any one of the readings in (vii) above, to the Visiting Examiner.
(ix) Now plot a graph of y vs x.
(x) Draw the line of best fit.
(xi) Determine its slope S, using:
𝑐𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑦𝑦
S=
𝑐𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑥𝑥
and record its value in your answer booklet.
(B)(i) Determine the least count of the given Screw Gauge and record its value in mm.
(ii) Using this Screw Guage, determine the diameter ‘d’ of the given specimen wire W in
mm and record its value in your answer booklet.
(iii) Now calculate K where:
𝜋𝜋d2
K= ×106 (where S is the value of the slope determined in Q.1A.)
200S
and record its value in your answer booklet.
(Note: K is a measure of resistivity of the material of the given specimen wire.)

Comments of Examiners Suggestions for teachers

(A)(i) Record − Teach students how to write the least
• In some cases the correct trend of the count of any instrument with proper
experiment was not observed. units. Stress upon the fact the
• In several cases, l was not expressed up to observations must be consistent with
one decimal place. the least count.
− Show students different instruments
• Calculation of y was not corrected up to
such as, the metre scale, Vernier
two decimal places. callipers, screw gauge, ammeter,
• Many candidates did not write the units of x, voltmeter, etc. and tell them to write
l and y. the least count. Teach students how
(ii) Graph to write observations in consistence
• A number of candidates did not know how with the L.C of the instrument, with
to draw the best fit line. correct unit.
• Candidates did not seem to know how to − Tell students about d.p, s.f and how
draw a graph – a thick line was drawn; to round off value up to 1 d.p, 1s.f,
proper scale was not taken, the origin not 2s.f , etc.
marked by two coordinates, etc.

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(A)(iii) Deduction
Suggestions for teachers
Mistakes were made by many candidates in − Enough practice must be given in
calculation of the Slope. practical work and the mistakes
made by students during practical
(B) (i) Record must be brought to their notice so
• A number of candidates wrote absurd values that the same can be rectified. Give
of least count/ wrong unit of was written. special emphasis on measurement,
• In some cases, the diameter was not recorded unit, significant figures, etc., so that
correctly or the value was not consistent with mistakes are minimised.
− Give sufficient practice in graphical
Least Count.
skills which include:
• Many candidates made mistakes in
(i) Proper labelling with unit,
calculation of K; in a few cases incorrect (ii) Marking of origin with two
values were obtained due to wrong coordinates without kink,
substitution of diameter (d) or Slope (s). (iii) Choice of a uniform and
convenient scale (tell students about
inconvenient scale, e.g. 1 div.
=0.3,0.33,0.67,0.66 etc. not to be
taken) (iv) Meaning of correct
plotting (vi) Concept of best fit
and how to draw the best fit line.
(vii) Determining the Slope (for
slope take two unplotted points on
the line that are widely separated.)
− Instruct students to read the question
paper carefully and underline the
important points in pencil.

MARKING SCHEME
Question 1 A.
RECORD [R]
(i) Five correct sets of x and l
[Correct set means, l decreases as x increases]
(ii) Correct calculation of y, at least in 3 sets, up to 2 d.p. (with or without rounding off).
GRAPH [G]
(i) Axes labelled correctly, covering more than 50% of either axis, with or without the units.
The scale should be convenient and uniform, starting from the origin. (If the scale taken
is uniform on both the axes, without the origin marked, it can be considered correct.)
Kink not allowed. Interchange of axis allowed.
(ii) At least four points plotted correctly.
Correct plot means, plotted points may be ± 50% of the one division on both the scales
from the actual point to be plotted. Blobs (●) are a misplot.

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 (iii) The best fit line should be thin and uniform, with respect to any four plots, where line
should be extended on both the sides.
For best fit line, four points must lie within 1.0 cm on either side of the line drawn.

DEDUCTION [D]
(i) For correct calculation of the slope of the best fit line, using two distant points (separated
50% or more than 50% of the line segment between first and last plot), taking at least one
unplotted point.

(ii) Correct calculation of slope

Question 1 B.
RECORD [R]
(i) Record of the least count of screw gauge in mm. (L.C. may be .01mm, .005mm etc. or as
per the report of the Physics Practical) and record of the diameter (in consistence with
L.C with/without unit).
(ii) Correct calculation of K by substituting the value of the slope S recorded in Question
1A and value of the diameter (ignore unit)

Question 2 [8]
This experiment determines the focal length of the given convex lens by no parallax method.
You are provided with:
(a) A lens holder
(b) A convex lens
(c) Two optical pins
(d) An optical bench

Note: The experiment may be performed on a table top, using a metre scale, in case an optical
bench is not available.
(i) Arrange the object pin O, the image pin I and the lens L on an optical bench or table top
as shown in Figure 2 so that the tips of O and I lie on the principal axis of the lens.
O L IʹI

0 cm 100 cm
u v
Figure 2

(ii) Keep the object pin O at 0 cm mark and the lens L at 60·0cm mark, so that the object
distance between O and L = u = 60·0 cm.

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(iii) Look at the object pin through the lens, from a distance. You should see an inverted and
diminished image Iʹ.
(iv) Adjust the position of the image pin I, so that there is no parallax between I and Iʹ. Ensure
that tip to tip parallax is removed.
(v) At no parallax, note the position of the image pin I on the metre scale, correct upto one
decimal place.
(vi) Determine the image distance v = distance between L and I, correct upto one decimal
place. Record this value of v in your answer booklet.
(vii) Repeat the experiment for four more values of u, i.e. u = 50 cm, 40 cm, 30 cm and 20 cm.
Each time, remove the parallax and find v.
(viii) For each value of u, calculate p = uv, q = u + v and f = 𝑝𝑝.
𝑞𝑞
(ix) Tabulate all five sets of u, v, p, q and f with their units.
(x) Show the image position when the parallax has been removed, in any one of the
readings in (ix) above, to the Visiting Examiner.
(xi) Find F, which is the mean of all the five values of f.
(xii) Record the value of F correct upto one decimal place with its unit, in your answer booklet.

Comments of Examiners
Record
• A number of candidates were not able to remove Suggestions for teachers
parallax error completely; − Tell students to read the question
• The trend of the experiment was not observed in paper carefully and underline the
several cases; important points. Instruct them to
• Several candidates did not record ‘v’ up to one follow the instructions given in the
decimal place; the unit was also missing in several question paper.
− Explain the concept of parallax error
cases.
and give enough practice in the
• Many candidates did not take the values of u within
removal of parallax error.
given range as per Question paper. − Tell students the trend (e.g. u α 1/v)
Deduction and give them enough practice.
• Several candidates made errors in calculation of ‘f’. − Stress upon the importance of units,
A few candidates did not round off ‘’ to one decimal place, significant figures
decimal place. and rounding off.
• In some cases, the unit of ‘f’ was not written. − Instruct candidates that the final
Quality results must be expressed in proper
• A number of candidates lost marks as they did not d.p. or s.f. as per the question.
express mean focal length F upto 1d.p (after proper
rounding off) and also without proper unit.
• In some cases, the focal length F obtained was out of the specified range.

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 MARKING SCHEME
Question 2
RECORD [R]
Five correct sets of u and v.
[Correct set means v decreases as u increases]
DEDUCTION [D]
(i) Correct calculation of p & q in at least six values.
(ii) Correct calculation of f in at least three sets.
(iii) Correct calculation of F
QUALITY [Q]
Candidate’s F lies between the range 7.5cm to 12.5cm (F is expressed up to one d.p., with proper
rounding off and with the unit)

GENERAL COMMENTS:
(a) Topics found difficult by candidates in the Question Paper:
− Removal of parallax error.
− Proper knowledge of d.p, s.f. and rounding off to required d.p. or s.f.
− Record of observation in consistence with L.C of the instruments.
− Graphical skills - marking of origin, choice of scale, correct plotting, drawing the line of best fit,
finding the slope.
(b) Concepts in which candidates got confused:
− Concept of parallax error.
− Concept of best fit line.
− Concept of circuit diagram. (Not able to make the correct circuit because of which the trend was
found to be wrong).
(c) Suggestions for candidates:
− Read the question carefully and follow the instructions, using only the formula given in the
question paper for all the calculations.
− Do not waste time by writing unwanted things like apparatus required, theory, circuit diagram
etc.
− Understand the theoretical concepts behind the experiment and understand the trend of the two
variables in the experiment.

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− Learn the correct use of instruments such as, meter scale, optical bench, Vernier callipers, screw
gauge, ammeter, voltmeter and galvanometer;
− Ensure that all observations are consistent with L.C. of the measuring instrument and recorded in
tabular form with unit. Note down the L.C. of the instruments used before starting the experiment.
− All values calculated should be calculated upto the decimal place or significant figures asked for
the in the question.
− Scale should be uniform and convenient with axes properly labelled.
− Plots should be small encircled dots, correct to the nearest division of the graph sheet.
− Line of best fit means the aggregate of all plotted points drawn symmetrically and extended on
both sides of the last plotted points.
− Slope calculation should be from two widely separated, unplotted points lying on the best fit line.
− The scale of the graph should be such that at least 2/3 of the graph paper is used.

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