Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science Single Award Practical Skills 4: Physics measurements and apparatus

This note covers the explicitly labelled Physics practical work in Pearson Science Single Award 4SS0: motion of everyday objects, current-voltage relationships, refraction through transparent blocks, magnetic field patterns, and penetration of alpha, beta and gamma radiation. The emphasis is on matching apparatus, measurements and claims in written assessment.

Measuring motion

Motion can be studied using measured distance and time. A stopwatch and metre rule may be sufficient for slow everyday objects, but human reaction time can dominate short intervals. Improve the percentage timing uncertainty by measuring a longer distance or several repeated events. Light gates and data logging can provide more objective timing if available.

Mark measured positions along a track, release the object using the same mechanism, and record the time to pass each position. Alternatively, use video with a visible scale and known frame rate. Keep slope, surface, object, starting position and release method constant when comparing conditions.

Calculate average speed using:

$$v = \frac{s}{t}$$

A distance-time graph has distance on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. Its gradient represents speed. A straight line with constant gradient shows constant speed; a changing gradient shows changing speed. Average speed over a long interval does not prove the speed was constant throughout.

Current-voltage relationships