O-Level Physics Practical Planning Question Bank

TL;DR
Planning carries about 15 % of Paper 3 (Section 4, SEAB 2026 syllabus).
Every answer must identify variables, apparatus, risk controls, data-treatment steps, and expected outcomes.
Use these eight prompts to drill the full Planning descriptor - pair them with hands-on practice from our mechanics, thermal, and electricity guides.

How to use this bank

1. Spend five minutes outlining your own plan.\
2. Compare with the model notes; highlight what you missed.\
3. Practise converting the plan into a quick speech - some schools run viva discussions after Paper 3 mock labs.\
4. Keep a Planning checklist handy: aim, variables, method, safety, data analysis.

1 | Mechanics - determining spring constant with limited masses

Prompt: “Design an experiment to determine the spring constant of a light spring when only 50 g masses are available.”
Plan hits:

• Aim & variables: Measure extension vs load; independent variable = number of 50 g masses, dependent = extension, control temperature/drafts.\
• Apparatus: Clamp stand, metre rule, pointer at eye level, collection tray for masses.\
• Method: Hang spring, record initial length, add masses in steps (50–250 g), note extension, remove masses slowly to avoid oscillation.\
• Safety: Secure clamp base, keep feet clear of falling masses, use pointer to avoid parallax.\
• Data treatment: Plot load (N) vs extension (m) with best-fit line; gradient gives spring constant (k).\
• Evaluation hook: Mention repeating each load twice; note that small extensions help stay within elastic limit.

2 | Mechanics - estimating g using ticker tape

Prompt: “Outline a method to estimate gravitational acceleration using a ticker timer and a falling card strip.”
Plan hits:

• Aim: Determine g from uniformly accelerated motion.\
• Variables: Keep ticker frequency fixed (e.g. 50 Hz), drop height constant, card alignment vertical.\
• Method: Attach paper tape to card, thread through ticker timer, release from rest, count dot spacing over equal time intervals, calculate velocities.\
• Data: Compute velocities between successive 5-dot segments; plot velocity vs time, gradient ≈ g.\