Measurement

About this lab: Measurement

Interactive simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 1.1 Physical quantities and measurement: read a ruler to the nearest millimetre with a zoomed scale, read the bottom of the meniscus in a measuring cylinder, time many swings of a pendulum with a stopwatch to beat reaction time, a car on a roundabout whose speed is constant while its velocity changes with a scalar and vector sorting table, and two perpendicular forces or velocities added tip to tail with Pythagoras and tan giving the resultant.

IGCSE Physics 0625, topic 1.1. One tab per lesson: reading a ruler, a measuring cylinder and a stopwatch, scalars against vectors on a roundabout, and adding two perpendicular vectors.

Measurement is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (topic 1 Motion, forces and energy, section 1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques). The course is assessed in Papers 1 and 2 (multiple choice), 3 and 4 (theory), 5 (practical test) and 6 (alternative to practical). There are 3 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

• 1.1 Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume
• 1.1 Describe how to measure a variety of time intervals using clocks and digital timers
• 1.1 Determine an average value for a small distance and for a short interval of time by measuring multiples (including the period of oscillation of a pendulum)
• 1.1 Understand that a scalar quantity has magnitude (size) only and that a vector quantity has magnitude and direction (Supplement)
• 1.1 Know that the following quantities are scalars: distance, speed, time, mass, energy and temperature (Supplement)
• 1.1 Know that the following quantities are vectors: force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, electric field strength and gravitational field strength (Supplement)
• 1.1 Determine, by calculation or graphically, the resultant of two vectors at right angles, limited to forces or velocities only (Supplement)
• Lessons on this topic: Measuring length, volume, and time intervals, Scalars and vectors: definitions and identification, Resultant of two perpendicular vectors.

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 1.

How to use this simulation

1. 1. Length, volume and time.
2. 2. Scalars and vectors.
3. 3. Resultant vectors.
4. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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