Free worksheet and solutions · AQA GCSE · 8463 / 8464
AQA GCSE Physics Practical Graphs Errors and Evidence Worksheet
AQA GCSE practical-skills worksheet with answers. Read graphs, calculate gradients, distinguish errors and evaluate evidence in applied physics investigations.
What is covered
Questions and skills covered
The worksheet contains 6 pages of printable questions. A separate 6-page solutions PDF makes it easy to mark, review or share answers after the activity.
- Digital resolution
- Positive zero offset and corrected resistance
- Random versus systematic effects
- Independent and dependent variables
- Anomaly evidence and repeat/check decisions
- Means of repeated measurements
- Axes, units and uniform scale selection
- Plotting and best-fit line
- Spring constant with mm-to-m conversion
- Compression versus total spring length
- Physical nonzero intercept
- Ruler offset cancellation in a difference
- Parallax control
- Displacement density and air-bubble bias
- Precision versus accuracy
- Reproducibility
- SHC calculation
- Heat-loss bias
- Controlled method improvement
About this activity
A school laboratory reviews model-delivery-trolley spring, chassis and heater tests. Evidence changes the calculation, choice of graph, judgement and proposed improvement.
Before you start
After teaching current/potential difference/resistance, F=ke, displacement density, E=mcΔθ, means, axes and basic experimental variables.
A question from the worksheet
Questions4(a)–4(c), pupil page4
A50mm spring has loaded lengths50,45,40,35,30,25mm at forces0–5N. A trainee forces a rising best-fit line through the origin. Why is that inappropriate?
Show the answer
The data trend decreases, and the no-force length is50mm rather than zero. The correct line is descending with a physical nonzero intercept. At3N length35mm gives compression15mm.
Common error: Assuming every straight-line graph must pass through the origin, or treating total spring length as compression.
Specification fit
AQA GCSE Physics Worksheets
8463 and 8464 · 4.1.1.3, 4.2.1.3, 4.3.1.1, 4.5.3, 6.1.1.3, 6.2.1.3, 6.3.1.1, 6.5.3
- 8463: 4.1.1.3, 4.2.1.3, 4.3.1.1, 4.5.3
- 8464: 6.1.1.3, 6.2.1.3, 6.3.1.1, 6.5.3
Choose the correct pathway: Combined Trilogy 8464 and Separate Physics 8463, both tiers, mixed-paper exam skills. Selected spring, resistance, density and heating contexts; no A-level uncertainty propagation.
Classroom use
Use the worksheet for class practice, homework, intervention, cover work or revision. Keep the PhysicsUK attribution intact when sharing copies with pupils.