A Level Physics Practice Exam

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Study for the A Level Physics Exam. Our quiz features flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

When finding the gradient of a curve at a specific point, what is the required method?

Use the coordinates of the point directly
Calculate the slope between two distinct points on the curve
Draw a tangent to the curve at that point
Extrapolate from the nearest straight line segment

The correct answer is: Draw a tangent to the curve at that point

Finding the gradient of a curve at a specific point involves determining the slope of the tangent line that touches the curve at that point. When you draw a tangent to the curve, you are identifying the instantaneous rate of change of the function at that specific location. The gradient of the tangent line gives you this slope, which represents how steeply the curve is rising or falling right at that point. This method accurately captures the behavior of the curve in the immediate vicinity of the point of interest, as opposed to averaging changes over a range of points, which would provide a different value that may not represent the curve's behavior at that specific location. Therefore, drawing a tangent is the most precise way to ascertain the gradient at a particular point on a curve.