AQA PSA/ISA Practical Skills Examination Preparation

kmb sep 06

AQA PSA/ISA Practical Skills Examination Preparation

Name:

Science Group:

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AQA PSA/ISA Practical Skills Examination Preparation

kmb sep 06

Practical Skills Booklet what you need to know. 1.) Data; Data Datum Validity

This refers to a collection of measurements. The singular of data. Data is only valid for use in coming to a conclusion if the measurements taken are affects by a single independent variable only. Data is not valid if for example a fair test is not carried out or there is observer bias. For example: In an investigation to find the effect on the rate of reaction when the concentration of the acid is changed, it is important that concentration is the only independent variable. If, during the investigation, the temperature also increased as you increased the concentration, this would also have an effect on your results and the data would no longer be valid.

2.) Variables; - categoric

- continuous

- control

A categoric variable has values which are described by labels. - These must be presented in a bar chart or pie chart. If you investigate the effect of acid on different metals, e.g. copper, zinc, and iron, the type of metal you are using is a categoric variable. A continuous variable is one which can have any numerical value. - These must be represented in a line graph. If you investigate the effect on the resistance of changing the length of a wire, the length of wire you are using is a continuous variable since it could have any length you choose. A control variable is one which may, in addition to the independent variable, affect the outcome of the investigation. This means that you should keep these variables constant; otherwise it may not be a fair test. If it is impossible to keep it constant, you should at least monitor it; in this way you will be able to see if it changes and may be able to decide whether it has affected the outcome of the experiment. Often in science we are looking at cause and effect. You can think of the independent variable as being the cause and the dependent variable as being the effect. The dependent variable is the thing that changes as a result of you changing something else. The dependent variable is the value you measure for each and every independent variable change. The independent variable is the variable for which value are changed or selected by the investigator. The value you deliberately change to see what effect it has. You may sometimes come across this term. It is a type of categoric variable whose values are restricted to whole numbers. For example, the number of carbon atoms in a chain. You may sometimes come across this term. It is a type of categoric variable that can be ranked. For example, the size of marble chips could be described as large, medium and small.

- dependent and independent variables

- dependent

- independent

- discrete

- ordered

3.) Fair test; Fair test

Hypothesis

A fair test is one in which only the independent variable has been allowed to affect the dependent variable. For example: A fair test can usually be achieved by keeping all other variables constant. A hypothesis is an idea which could explain an observation. For example: powders react faster than lumps because powders have a larger surface area thus increasing the chances of a reaction.

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AQA PSA/ISA Practical Skills Examination Preparation

kmb sep 06

Prediction

A prediction is used to describe what you expect to find out in your investigation. For example: I predict that powdered calcium carbonate will have reacted faster than lumps of calcium carbonate when added to a solution of hydrochloric acid.

4.) Accuracy; Accuracy Precision

Reliability

True Value Calibration

An accurate measurement is one which is close to the true value The precision of a measurement is determined by the limits of the scale on the instrument being used. Precision is related to the smallest scale division on the measuring instrument that you are using. It may be the case that a set of precise measurements has very little spread about a mean value. For example: Using a ruler with a millimetre scale on it to measure the thickness of a book will give greater precision than using a ruler that is only marked in centimetres. The results of an investigation are reliable if the results can be repeated. If someone else can carry out your investigation and get the same result, then yours results are more likely to be reliable. One way of checking reliability is to compare your results with those of others. The reliability of data can be improved by carrying out repeat measurements and calculating the mean. This is the accurate value which would be found if the quantity could be measured without any errors. This involves fixing known points and then marking a scale on a measuring instrument, between these fixed points

5.) Errors; Errors

These cause reading to be different from the true value. For example; Error is a measure of how close you can be sure about your measurement. Percentage error = smallest measurement you can measure x 100 your measurement e.g. a ruler in mm divisions measures a length of 10 mm. The smallest that the ruler can measure is to within 0.5 mm. So the error in my measurement of 10mm is; 0.5 mm x 100 = 5% 10 mm This means I have measured 10 mm +/- 5% The measurement may actually have been as big as 10.5 mm or as small as 9.5 mm Random errors may be detected and compensated for by taking a large number of readings. For example: Random errors may be caused by human error, a faulty technique in taking the measurements, or by faulty equipment. These cause readings to be spread about some value other than the true value; in other words, all the readings are shifted one way or the other way from the true value. For example: A systematic error occurs when using a wrongly calibrated instrument. These are a type of systematic error. They are caused by measuring instruments that have a false zero. For example: A zero error occurs when a needle on an ammeter fails to return to zero when no current flows, or when a top-pan balance shows a reading when there is nothing placed on the top-pan balance.

- random

- systematic

- zero

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AQA PSA/ISA Practical Skills Examination Preparation

kmb sep 06

Tables what you must do to draw an accurate and clear table of results. 6.) Table; Column headings

Units next to the column labels Consistency in decimal places

Repeat Checks Anomalies

Averages

Range

First column should be the independent variable The following column should be what you actually measure. The last column should be the averaged or calculated dependent variable that you are investigating. The units should be shown clearly at the top and this means you do not write the units next to each and every number in the columns Every reading should be to the same precision and should be recorded to the precision of the instrument. For example: temperature of a cooling liquid is being recorded by a thermometer marked in 0.1 oC divisions, then 40oC should be recorded as 40.0 oC. If a value looks wrong, repeat the measurement to check it was right and discard any anomalies in this way. A measurement that is very different to the pattern or the trend that you are investigating. These are often caused by poor measurement technique or unfair testing. They should be repeated and checked if possible. In average calculations they should be ignored or justified why they are still counted. An average of repeated measurements helps to give a more accurate value for the variable being measured. Add up the measurements recorded and divide by the number of measurements taken. For example: Three lengths were measured; 5.1cm, 5.2cm and 5.3cm. The average = (5.1cm+5.2cm+5.3cm)3 = 5.2cm The range is the difference between the biggest and smallest measurements that you record. For example: In an experiment measuring the resistance of a wire every 10cm from 10cm to 100cm, the range would be from 10cm to 100cm, which is 90cm.

Independent variable. Plotted on x-axis

Units labelled.

Dependent variable. Plotted on y-axis

Time/s
Time is in seconds and not a mix of seconds and minutes.

30 60 120 150 180 210

Test1 Test2 Test3 Average o o o Temperature/ C Temperature/ C Temperature/ C Temperature/oC 90 91 89 90 86 84 84 84 75 89 76 76 69 70 68 69 65 65 64 65 60 61 59 60 Anomalous result. Identified and either ignored in the average, repeat checked or justified for its use in the average. Values are consistent in the number of decimal places

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AQA PSA/ISA Practical Skills Examination Preparation

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Graphs what you must do to draw an accurate graph. 7.) Graphs; Graph Paper Use all the space Graph or Chart?

Bar Chart

Line Graph

Scales

Lines of best fit

Gradients

Intercepts

Reading Data

Use graph paper it is much more accurate to draw a graph on this. It is also more accurate to take readings from a graph on graph paper. It is more accurate to draw a graph as large as possible. Adjust scales to ensure maximum use of the paper you have. You must decide what is best to present your data. If you have discrete data, you should draw a bar chart. If your data is discrete you should draw a line graph Bar charts are for discrete data sets. You must draw each bar separate from each other, the bars must not touch. There is no line of best fit to draw. Line graphs are for continuous data only. You must draw them with crosses to show the points accurately and you must draw a line of best fit on them once you have plotted the data. Scales should always be systematic and have regular spacing between equal divisions. The scale should go up to just beyond your largest measurement. Scales must be labelled with the quantity measured and the units that they are measured in. If a scale does not start at zero then you must indicate that you have collapsed the start of the scale with a zigzag. If you have done this then you cannot use the bottom area for taking measurements. These are drawn on a graph to show the general trend or pattern. They can be curves or straight lines, you must decide from looking at your data which to draw. The steepness of a line is measure by a ratio of its change in height divided by its change in width. The steeper the line the greater the gradient. Gradients can help describe the relationship between to variables with much more detail. When measuring the gradient it should be done over as large a range as possible. The point where the line or curve of best fit crosses an axis. Y-axis intercepts are helpful for establishing systematic errors or fitting to the equation of a line (y=mx+c, where c is the y-axis intercept) When asked to use the graph draw lines on vertically and horizontally to show where you have read data from a line or curve.

Bar Charts Number of paperclips lifted is a discrete data set

Investigating an strength of a Investigating the electromagnetbridge

Title is written to put results into context

Dependent Variable is plotted on the y-axis

Number of paperclips lifted

25

20

Bars on the chart do not touch

Force held / N

15

Units labelled

10

0 1 2 3 4 5

Number of beams Current / A

Independent Variable is plotted on the x-axis

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AQA PSA/ISA Practical Skills Examination Preparation

kmb sep 06

Line Graphs Data sets plotted are both continuous.

Investigating a metal block cooling
100.0 90.0

Title is written to put results into context

Dependent Variable is plotted on the y-axis

o

80.0 70.0 C Temperature / 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 0 50 100 150 Tim e / s 200 250 300

Anomaly is identified and ignored in the line of best fit

Line of best fit is drawn to show the underlying trend

Independent Variable is plotted on the x-axis

Units are labelled

Conclusions what to say about your results. 8.) Conclusions; Causal Link

Association

Chance Directly Proportional Linear Predictable Complex

If you change a variable and it has an effect on another variable then there is a causal link between them. The independent variable causes the dependent variable to change. For example: When the voltage across a resistor is increased the current through the resistor increases too. More voltage causes the current to increase. If two variables change because of a third variable; it is associated to both variables. For example: It can be seen that when it is rainy it is usually windy, but both are driven by a third variable; changes in atmospheric pressure. When two variables change but there is no link between them. When the dependent variable is doubled the dependent doubles too. Straight line graph that goes through the origin. When the dependent variable increases at a constant rate. Straight line graph. When a clear relationship is established reading outside the range tested can be predicted. A pattern or trend is clear but it is not directly proportional or linear. A curved line on a graph

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