Dear all,
Please have a look at these two questions for hands-on component.
Best, Anish
Instructions:
Please ask for clarifications in case of any doubt regarding the wording or
meaning of the questions
A) (45 minutes) Find time period of a simple pendulum. Write down your
readings on the piece of paper provided. Using the data, can you estimate
the approximate value of g, the acceleration due to gravity?
1) Length = 1 metre
1.
Use small amplitudes (approximately <20°).
2.
Use larger amplitudes (around 45°).
2) Length = 10 cm
1.
Use small amplitudes (approximately <20°).
Stopwatch
Thread, measuring tape, scissors, a bob/any appropriate object
A fixed support for attaching the thread
Paper, pen
Assessment criteria:
1.
The applicants should measure time for more number of oscillations - say
5 or 10 oscillations, at least in the case of the 10 cm long pendulum, to
reduce the error in the measurement. Using the result for small angle
oscillations, T= 2πLg: for the 1 metre pendulum, T ≈ 2 seconds. For the
10 cm pendulum, T ≈ 0.63 seconds.
2.
The readings should be taken more than once - typically three times.
3.
If the pendulum bob is an extended object, they should measure the
length till the approximate centre of mass of the object. Otherwise, it
should be okay to neglect the size of the bob.
4.
In the large amplitude case, the time period for the 1 metre long
pendulum should be slightly but distinctly more- ~0.1 seconds. This is to
test how carefully the applicant observes/does an experiment and whether
he/she manipulates data. Applicants should be aware that 45° is the
half-way mark to the horizontal.
B) (45-60 minutes) (Outdoor)
1.
Observe the arrangement of leaves on the stems of 3 different
plants/shrubs.
2.
Make basic/simple sketches/drawings to show the arrangement of leaves
3.
Very briefly (1 or 2 sentences) describe the patterns you notice in the
arrangement of leaves in each of the three plants.
4.
Give possible reasons - why the arrangement of leaves might have evolved
in the given plant. The reasons need not be "correct" - you can come up
with your own hypotheses.
Paper, pencil
Assessment criteria:
1.
Attention to detail in observations.
2.
Should have chosen three plants with different kinds of
leaf-arrangements (phyllotaxis).
3.
Ability to think of reasonable (and also wild/crazy) hypotheses.