PHYSICS NOTES 4U / DETAILED TOPIC SERIES
Practical methods and data
AQA 7408 | Detailed practical revision | All twelve required activities
Detailed skills pack / AQA 7408
Plan measurements, choose graphs, infer constants and evaluate limitations. This pack brings
all twelve required practicals together through experimental decisions and data analysis, rather
than repeating the core theory packs.
Planning and apparatus; uncertainty budgets; graph choice, best/worst gradients and log
plots; one method-and-analysis account for each required practical; original datasets and
eighteen worked tasks.
Find it Page
Plan / measure / uncertainty 2/3/4
Graphs / linearisation / evaluation 5/6/7
Practicals 1–4 8–11
Practicals 5–8 12–15
Practicals 9–12 16–19
Original data / practice / solutions 20–24
Checklist / sources 25
Independent revision notes, not produced or endorsed by AQA. Original questions and model data. These notes
support written examination revision; they are not a substitute for supervised practical work or evidence of a
practical endorsement. Use school methods, apparatus ratings and local risk assessments.
Independent revision notes • Edition 1.0 for review • October 2026 1
,PHYSICS NOTES 4U / DETAILED TOPIC SERIES
Plan / make a testable measurement
AQA 7408 | Detailed practical revision | All twelve required activities
Decision Make it specific
Aim Which relationship or constant is being tested? State a measurable
prediction.
Independent variable What changes, over what useful range, in what increments?
Dependent variable What is read directly, with which instrument and resolution?
Controls Which conditions affect the model, and how are they held/checked?
Repeats Repeat each setting to assess scatter, not merely copy one result.
Range Enough spread to distinguish models; avoid unsafe settings and
instrument limits.
Analysis Rearrange before collecting data: what graph and what gradient
give the result?
Original planning contrast
“Measure current and voltage” is incomplete. To infer internal resistance, vary load, read
terminal V and I together, avoid heating the cell, repeat, and fit V=ε−rI. Specify the safe load
range using the actual cell and resistor ratings.
A control variable is not a safety measure. A safety measure should identify a hazard,
consequence and practical control. A useful improvement attacks a named uncertainty or
bias.
Pilot readings can reveal an unusable range, drift, excessive heating or too-small signal before the main data
collection.
Independent revision notes • Edition 1.0 for review • October 2026 2
, PHYSICS NOTES 4U / DETAILED TOPIC SERIES
Measure / choose a defensible reading
AQA 7408 | Detailed practical revision | All twelve required activities
Instrument / method Good practice
Ruler / length Define endpoints, align scale, avoid parallax; use a set square or
pointer. Two endpoint judgments can contribute.
Micrometer / calipers Check zero, use appropriate contact force, sample
positions/orientations; record units and resolution.
Stopwatch Time many cycles where appropriate; reaction uncertainty can
exceed display resolution. Define the event/cycle.
Light gate / logger State trigger geometry and settings. Timing can be precise while
distance/flag length dominates.
Multimeter Choose correct current/voltage connection, range and polarity.
Check burden/loading and manufacturer specification.
Oscilloscope Read volts/div and time/div, trace divisions and probe factor;
resolve peak versus peak-to-peak.
Resolution is the smallest distinguishable change, not guaranteed accuracy. Calibration,
zero error, alignment, loading and the procedure can dominate.
Record raw values before rounding. Put units in table headings, not every cell. Record
resolution/uncertainty, control conditions, repeats and any observed problems. Keep a traceable
record rather than altering awkward readings.
Digital uncertainty depends on specifications and use. A last-digit estimate is an explicit fallback, not a universal
±1 digit law.
Independent revision notes • Edition 1.0 for review • October 2026 3
Practical methods and data
AQA 7408 | Detailed practical revision | All twelve required activities
Detailed skills pack / AQA 7408
Plan measurements, choose graphs, infer constants and evaluate limitations. This pack brings
all twelve required practicals together through experimental decisions and data analysis, rather
than repeating the core theory packs.
Planning and apparatus; uncertainty budgets; graph choice, best/worst gradients and log
plots; one method-and-analysis account for each required practical; original datasets and
eighteen worked tasks.
Find it Page
Plan / measure / uncertainty 2/3/4
Graphs / linearisation / evaluation 5/6/7
Practicals 1–4 8–11
Practicals 5–8 12–15
Practicals 9–12 16–19
Original data / practice / solutions 20–24
Checklist / sources 25
Independent revision notes, not produced or endorsed by AQA. Original questions and model data. These notes
support written examination revision; they are not a substitute for supervised practical work or evidence of a
practical endorsement. Use school methods, apparatus ratings and local risk assessments.
Independent revision notes • Edition 1.0 for review • October 2026 1
,PHYSICS NOTES 4U / DETAILED TOPIC SERIES
Plan / make a testable measurement
AQA 7408 | Detailed practical revision | All twelve required activities
Decision Make it specific
Aim Which relationship or constant is being tested? State a measurable
prediction.
Independent variable What changes, over what useful range, in what increments?
Dependent variable What is read directly, with which instrument and resolution?
Controls Which conditions affect the model, and how are they held/checked?
Repeats Repeat each setting to assess scatter, not merely copy one result.
Range Enough spread to distinguish models; avoid unsafe settings and
instrument limits.
Analysis Rearrange before collecting data: what graph and what gradient
give the result?
Original planning contrast
“Measure current and voltage” is incomplete. To infer internal resistance, vary load, read
terminal V and I together, avoid heating the cell, repeat, and fit V=ε−rI. Specify the safe load
range using the actual cell and resistor ratings.
A control variable is not a safety measure. A safety measure should identify a hazard,
consequence and practical control. A useful improvement attacks a named uncertainty or
bias.
Pilot readings can reveal an unusable range, drift, excessive heating or too-small signal before the main data
collection.
Independent revision notes • Edition 1.0 for review • October 2026 2
, PHYSICS NOTES 4U / DETAILED TOPIC SERIES
Measure / choose a defensible reading
AQA 7408 | Detailed practical revision | All twelve required activities
Instrument / method Good practice
Ruler / length Define endpoints, align scale, avoid parallax; use a set square or
pointer. Two endpoint judgments can contribute.
Micrometer / calipers Check zero, use appropriate contact force, sample
positions/orientations; record units and resolution.
Stopwatch Time many cycles where appropriate; reaction uncertainty can
exceed display resolution. Define the event/cycle.
Light gate / logger State trigger geometry and settings. Timing can be precise while
distance/flag length dominates.
Multimeter Choose correct current/voltage connection, range and polarity.
Check burden/loading and manufacturer specification.
Oscilloscope Read volts/div and time/div, trace divisions and probe factor;
resolve peak versus peak-to-peak.
Resolution is the smallest distinguishable change, not guaranteed accuracy. Calibration,
zero error, alignment, loading and the procedure can dominate.
Record raw values before rounding. Put units in table headings, not every cell. Record
resolution/uncertainty, control conditions, repeats and any observed problems. Keep a traceable
record rather than altering awkward readings.
Digital uncertainty depends on specifications and use. A last-digit estimate is an explicit fallback, not a universal
±1 digit law.
Independent revision notes • Edition 1.0 for review • October 2026 3
