Practical Work

Name __________________________

Date ____________

Design
Introduction

Research question
How does affect . ?
(independent variable)

(dependent variable)

Hypothesis: an educated guess about how things work

independent variables: the variable that is being tested (changed)

dependent variables: the variable that is being measured

Controlled Variable
How will the other variables be controlled?
Variable

Method of control

Reason for control

Apparatus
Equipment/materials/chemicals

Relevant details INCLUDE PRECISION OF

INSTRUMENT

Diagram
of how apparatus set up

Safety Requirements and Recommendation

Method
Include details of the range and number of readings to be taken
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Data collection and presentation

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Results/observations: qualitative or quantitative?

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Results table
Include all raw data recorded, headings, units and uncertainty (See below)

Processed Data

How will you process the raw data? Mean, SD, t test?
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Show all calculations clearly and how you have got your results
Make sure that all tables have a FULL title. A table to show
All tables must include headings, units and uncertainties (+/- x)

Presentation
Your data should be presented as a graph
Graphs can include.
Line graph 2 sets of continuous data
Scatter graph - 2 sets of continuous data
Pie Chart
Histogram

Dependent variable
(Unit)

Independent variable
(Unit)

If you do a line graph or histogram, your graph must include error bars, these can be
either SD or range.

Conclusion and evaluation

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Concluding
When the

(increased/decreased) ,

(independent variable)

then the

(dependent variable)

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Why did this happen? (use scientific words/equations and explanations)

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What did you observe? What do your results show? What trends does your graph show?
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Were there any unusual readings? What were they? Were they due to random or systematic
uncertainty? Why do you think these readings happened?
Random uncertainty is a measurement error caused by changes in the material used or
environmental factor. These can be kept to a minimum by careful control of variables.
Systematic uncertainty is an error in the equipment used; by calibrating equipment
regularly this can be reduced.
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If appropriate, how does your calculated value compare with the accepted value? What is the
% discrepancy?
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Evaluating apparatus
What worked well?

What didnt work well?

Evaluating the method

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Suggested improvements

What worked well?

What didnt work well?

Suggested improvements

What had the biggest effect on uncertainty?

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Did you have enough data and were your results consistent to write a meaningful conclusion?
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What could you investigate next, as a follow up to this practical?

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Degrees of precision
All measurement values have an associated uncertainty; therefore all columns in data tables
are required to have an accompanying uncertainty figure.

For most measuring devices the minimum uncertainty figure is +/-half the place value
of the last measured digit eg 37 0 C (+/- 0.5 0 C)

For rulers the same applies at each end of the ruler as you can make an error at each
end (compared to the thermometer where you are just measuring at one end). So for
rulers the degree of precision is +/- 0.5 mm at BOTH ends so the total uncertainty is
+/- 1mm. eg 7.5 mm (+/- 1mm)

For electronic

devices the minimum uncertainty is +/-one unit of the last decimal

place eg 43.7g (+/- 0.1g)

Errors and Uncertainties when processing data

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If a reading is particularly different from the others you may leave it out when
processing the data, but you must circle it in your raw results and justify why you have
chosen to do this in the conclusion and evaluation section.

Means should be written with same precision as all the input data, in fact ALL data
should be to the same precision in ALL tables. This needs to be a precise as the
measuring device will allow.

All means should include uncertainties, this is usually +/- the standard deviation

Error bars on graphs should either be the range or SD. You will need at least 5
repeats to do a SD, so if less repeats are taken you must use the range. You must
indicate this on the graph.
Statistical tests are not expected for all experiments.

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