I think I ****ed my Physics practical

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

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Had a Physics Practical exam today. Two practicals, got 35 mins for each, to do the readings and write up.
There were two parts. Mechanics and Electricity.

Mechanics
It was an inclined slope of height h, and lenth l, hence use tan(h/l) to find theta. Well, as simple as it sounds, I ****ed that up :( I took readings of the wrong length which means the rest of my answers were wrong because the other questions relied on me getting that right.
Afterward release a trolley from rest and do some things with the average time. I managed to get the lattar part right, but off course, it relied on the former being right!

Electricity
Had a a few circuits. Simply measure the voltage in parrallel and current in series. I ****ed that up. The current was measured in micro amps, so I need the calculations from the ammeter readings to include the power of 10^-3. I didn't, which meant my answers were wrong, as a result, the other questions which relied on that answer being correct were wrong.

In a nut shell I ****ed up and tbqfh don't really care any more :(
 
Rosbif said:
On a scale of 1 to 10, in all honestly, how well prepared were you going into this exam?
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9. Seriously. I knew the requirements. Did past papers. The works. I was the ideal student to pass this flying colours. I was the muts nuts, the dogs dangleys.
But when I saw the equipment I just freaked! :(
 
They shouldn't penalise you for follow-through mistakes. If you've done the correct calculations with the wrong data you should still get the marks.
 
Arcade Fire said:
They shouldn't penalise you for follow-through mistakes. If you've done the correct calculations with the wrong data you should still get the marks.
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I heard something about this. E.c.f - error carried forward marks. I still feel **** though for messing up silly trig and expo powers :(
 
Thats unfortunate. Cant fault anyone for being properly prepared. :( Fingers crossed that Arcade Fire is correct. :p
 
Ricochet J said:
The current was measured in micro amps, so I need the calculations from the ammeter readings to include the power of 10^-3.
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You sure about that? Micro = 10^-6.

[Edit: And surely a slope of length l and height h gives theta = arcsin(h/l). Are you sure you were really prepared?]

I don't know much about the marks scheme for Physics, but it may not be as bad as you think. If a question has parts (a), (b), ..., (e) where each part depends on the last, then in my experience an examiner will give you near full marks for (b),...,(e) if the only reason you got them wrong is because you messed up (a). [Of course, people like you cause a lot of extra work for examiners...]

Only problem is if any of your answers are so wrong the examiner will think "well, anyone with any common sense would know this couldn't be right". That will probably count against you. (Well it would with my board, 20 years ago).

How much is the practical worth, anyhow?
 
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Won't there be an opportunity to retake? I'm not doing the same course as you, but I'm sure some people on my course retook certain modules and bits of coursework.
 
Ricochet J said:
But when I saw the equipment I just freaked! :(
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Dont worry, it just goes on record that you shouldnt be allowed near equipment in a pressure situation.. this rules you out of a few things like.. driving.. computers.. consoles

Quick.. to the padded box with you! ;)
 
Arcade Fire said:
They shouldn't penalise you for follow-through mistakes. If you've done the correct calculations with the wrong data you should still get the marks.
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Isnt it, only a few marks will be for the correct answer, most of it will be for showing your workings out, so as long as you have used the right forumla you should be ok :cool:
 
Provided your method is right and you've explained it clearly you will still get most of the marks. So don't worry too much.

I set fire to some of my notes in my A-level chemistry practical and still only dropped 4 marks. :o
 
How much of the final mark was it worth? I made a right mess of mine, ended up with a B for my A level. Makes me wish I'd done some revision though and got a A :(
 
The practical, as well as a theory exam on Wednesday counts for some 30% of the AS marks. I'm in A2, and the reason i'm doing the AS practical is because last year something came up and I wasn't able to attend :)
 
I remember my A2 physics practical a couple of years ago, it involved a metall ball bearing, a glass tube, some oil and a big magnet. Needless to say the oil went all over the floor and I completly ****** up the practical.

So welcome to my world! :p
 
Ricochet J said:
The practical, as well as a theory exam on Wednesday counts for some 30% of the AS marks. I'm in A2, and the reason i'm doing the AS practical is because last year something came up and I wasn't able to attend :)
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I thought out of that 30% though, the practical is only work a small amount of the marks compared to the written exam. If you do ok in your theory exam you'll do fine
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Pah you think you messed up!

I had my second digital design exam today, and completely fluffed it. The first 3 questions i was fine with (boolean algebra/waveforms/gate design) but then the last 4 were all on multiplexers. Something that wasnt in any of the (past) papers and i that i considered we hadn't learnt enough about to be tested on, apprently not! Cue me being stumped on all 4 and leaving the exam after 45 mins!
 
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