Direct Data Retrieval
Sample Question:
According to Table 2, what was the velocity of the object at t = 3.0 seconds in Trial B?
What’s Being Tested: Your ability to accurately read values from tables or graphs.
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- Identifying labeled trials and time values
- Understanding units (e.g., m/s, N, J)
- Recognizing standard physics quantities
What’s Needed to Answer Correctly:
- Precise matching of trial labels and time points
- No assumptions — just locate and extract the value
Correct Approach:
- Find Trial B in the table
- Locate the time = 3.0 s row
- Read off the velocity directly
Trend or Pattern Identification
Sample Question:
How does increasing the applied force affect the acceleration of the cart based on the results in Experiment 1?
What’s Being Tested: Can you detect a relationship (linear, inverse, constant) between variables?
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- Understanding what each variable represents
- Knowing basic relationships like F = ma helps, but not required
- Recognizing consistent patterns in a graph or table
What’s Needed to Answer Correctly:
- Identify consistent changes in input vs. output variables
- Understand the direction of change (e.g., acceleration increases as force increases)
Correct Approach:
- Track how force increases across trials
- Note how acceleration responds
- Identify and summarize the trend (e.g., direct, linear)
Interpolation / Extrapolation
Sample Question:
If the force applied were 7.5 N, what would be the expected acceleration of the object?
What’s Being Tested: Can you estimate or extend values based on observed patterns?
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- Recognizing linear or non-linear relationships
- Estimating between (interpolation) or beyond (extrapolation) data points
- Awareness of how physics quantities trend
What’s Needed to Answer Correctly:
- Use surrounding data points to estimate
- Avoid assuming non-obvious jumps or shapes in data unless shown
Correct Approach:
- Identify data points closest to 7.5 N
- Estimate acceleration using proportional reasoning or average rate of change
- Round reasonably if required
Understanding Variables & Roles in Experiments
Sample Question:
In the experiments described, which variable was held constant across all trials? What is the dependent variable in Experiment 2?
What’s Being Tested: Do you understand the structure of the experiment — which variables were controlled, manipulated, or measured?
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- Distinguishing:
- Independent variable = what’s changed (e.g., mass, force)
- Dependent variable = what’s measured (e.g., velocity, period)
- Controlled variable = what stays constant
- Recognizing these from setups and data tables
What’s Needed to Answer Correctly:
- Careful reading of trial setups or column headings
- Clarity on what’s being changed vs. being observed
Correct Approach:
- Identify which variable changes across rows/trials
- Identify which result is being measured or recorded
- Look for values that don’t change to find controlled variables
Comparison Between Trials or Setups
Sample Question:
Which trial resulted in the highest kinetic energy at t = 4.0 seconds?
What’s Being Tested: Can you compare different trials to identify which one had a greater or lesser outcome under the same conditions?
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- Understanding how to read and compare values across multiple conditions
- Familiarity with physics metrics (e.g., KE = ½mv² may be helpful, but not required)
What’s Needed to Answer Correctly:
- Extract and compare data from the same moment or condition
- Avoid comparing apples to oranges (e.g., values at different times)
Correct Approach:
- Narrow focus to t = 4.0 s only
- Read each trial’s kinetic energy (or whatever value is asked)
- Choose the trial with the largest value
Multi-Variable Relationship Analysis
Sample Question:
Based on the experiments, how do both the object’s mass and the incline angle affect its acceleration?
What’s Being Tested: Can you evaluate how two variables interact with a single outcome?
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- Comparing data sets where two independent variables vary
- Recognizing combined vs. isolated effects
What’s Needed to Answer Correctly:
- Isolate the impact of each variable separately, then together
- Understand when multiple changes are influencing the result
Correct Approach:
- Find trials where only one variable changes (e.g., mass constant, angle changes)
- Note how acceleration responds
- Do the same for the second variable
- Then look at combined effect if applicable
Unit & Scale Interpretation
Sample Question:
Which trial produced the greatest amount of electrical energy (in joules) within 5 minutes?
What’s Being Tested: Do you correctly interpret units, scales, and possibly calculated quantities?
Knowledge & Skills Required:
- Reading axis labels and units (e.g., time in seconds vs. minutes)
- Interpreting bar height, line slope, or area under curve if shown
- Estimating when exact numbers aren’t labeled
What’s Needed to Answer Correctly:
- Match units (e.g., convert minutes to seconds if needed)
- Understand what quantity is represented in the data (e.g., power × time = energy)
Correct Approach:
- Ensure all time values are in matching units
- Look for energy-related data (either directly given or inferable)
- Compare values within the same time window