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Physics HL Paper 1B (May 2025, TZ2)

  1. A student determines the resistivity ρ\rho of a metal that is in the form of a cylindrical wire.
    The student makes the following measurements:

Length LL of the wire = (462±2) mm(462 \pm 2)\ \text{mm}

Readings for the diameter dd of the wire:

Reading123456
d / mmd\ /\ \text{mm}0.180.200.210.220.260.18

Resistance RR of the wire = 13.7 Ω±1.5%13.7\ \Omega \pm 1.5\%

(a) Outline why the measurements of dd were made at different places along the wire. [1]

(b) Suggest suitable instruments for the measurement of
(i) LL [1]

(ii) dd [1]

(c) (i) Show that the mean diameter of the wire is about 0.2 mm0.2\ \text{mm}. [2]

(ii) Calculate the fractional uncertainty in the diameter of the wire. [2]

(iii) Calculate the fractional uncertainty in the length of the wire. [1]

(d) The resistivity of the wire is given by ρ=RAL\rho = \dfrac{RA}{L} where AA is the cross‑sectional area of the wire. Calculate the value of ρ\rho and its absolute uncertainty. State your answers to an appropriate number of significant figures. [3]