waecE-LEARNING
Physics Paper 3, Nov/Dec 2010  
Questions: 1 2 3 Main
General Comments
Weakness/Remedies
Strength

 

 

 

 

 

































 

Question 3

    (a)    Diagram


The diagram above illustrates a photocell connect to a battery, B and a muuameter G. In the experiment,
ultraviolet rays are shown on the photocathode and the resulting photocurrent is measured with the milIiameter.
The intensity E of the incident rays is adjusted and the corresponding photocurrent, I is measured.

Fig. 3(a) shows the various values of Ei

Fig. 3(b) shows the corresponding values of the photocurrent Li where i = 1,2,4,5 and 6.
        (i)           Measure and record the real values Ei of the incident radiations.
        (ii)          Read and record the corresponding current Ii'
        (iii)         Evaluate I-1' and E.
        (iv)         Tabulate your readings
        (v)          Plot a graph with Ei on the vertical axis and t ion the horizontal axis.
        (vi)         Determine the slope, s of the graph.
        (vii)        State two precautions that are necessary to ensure accurate results when performing this
experiment.
(b) (i) Differentiate between a Red light and a Violet light in terms of
               (A)          wavelength;
               (B)          energy.
    (ii)       A red light has a wavelength of700 nm. Calculate its energy.
[h = 6.6 x 10-34 Js; c = 3.0 x 108ms-1]

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Observation

This question was very popular among the candidates and the performarice was above average. Some candidates did not convert the values of E, hence raw values of E was used to evaluate E; instead of the converted values of E, some of the candidates that converted E could not evaluate KI correctly. Few candidates approximated E-1 and I-1 to 1 s.f instead of a least 2 s.f.

The (b) part was poorly handled as many responding candidates could not differentiate between red light and violet light in terms of wavelength and energy. The numerical part was poorly tackled because candidates failed to convert correctly 700 mm to 700 x 10-9 m

In part (a), candidates were required among other things, to:

- measure and record six values of E
- read and record six values of I
- evaluate E-1 and I-1
- record data in composite table
- correctly distinguish the graph axes, select reasonable scales, plot six points correctly and draw line of best fit.

State any two of the following precautions:
- Ensure terminals are clean and tight
- Avoid parallax error on the metre rule/ammeter
- Note and correct for zero error on metre rule/ammeter
- Open key when readings are not taken
- Repeated readings (stated)

The expected responses to part (b) are as follows:

(b )(i) Two correct differences stated

Red light Violet light
long wavelength short wavelength
has low energy has high energy


      (ii)          E = hf = hc/λ
                 = 6.6 X 10-34 x 3 X 108
                          700 X 10-0
                 = 2.83 x 1O-19J

 

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