STPM Physics 960 case studies
STPM Physics 960 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
STPM Physics (subject code 960) is the Physics paper of the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia, the pre-university qualification examined by Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia (MPM) and widely accepted for university admission in Malaysia and abroad. It suits candidates who have completed SPM-level science and want a rigorous, mathematically demanding grounding in physics before an undergraduate degree in engineering, the physical sciences, or related fields. The STPM Physics 960 case studies are 5 cases and about 3,048 words.
1Constantan Resistivity: Zero Error, Uncertainty and a Doubtful Agreement
A student is asked to determine the resistivity of a sample of constantan wire about 0.70 m long. With the jaws of a micrometer screw gauge closed, the thimble reads −0.03 mm; the student does not notice this.
576 words, about 3 min2Stopping Distance: Reaction Time, Wet Roads and a Misleading Claim
A 1250 kg car is travelling at 22 m s⁻¹ on a dry, level road. The driver's reaction time, measured in a separate test, is 0.75 s.
582 words, about 3 min3Rapid Compression of Air in a Bicycle Pump: Adiabatic, Isothermal or Neither?
A student investigates rapid compression of air in a bicycle pump. The outlet is sealed and the pump barrel is insulated.
649 words, about 3 min4Checking a 10 µF Capacitor: When the Voltmeter Becomes Part of the Circuit
A student is checking whether a box of 10 µF capacitors is within tolerance. She charges one capacitor to 12.0 V and discharges it through a 4.7 MΩ resistor.
587 words, about 3 min5Photoelectric Effect: A Straight-Line Graph Through an Impossible Point
A student uses a photocell with a potassium cathode (work function 2.30 eV) and a set of interference filters to test the photoelectric equation. Light from a mercury lamp passes through filters of wavelength 365, 405, 436 and 546 nm.
654 words, about 3 min