science skills

accuracy

a measurement that is close to the true value

valid

the suitability of the investigative procedure to answer the question being asked. linked to control variables

precision

precise measurements are ones in which there is very little spread about the mean value

repeatable

if the original person repeats the investigation using the same method and equipment, and the same results are obtained

reproducible

if the investigation is repeated by another person, or using different equipment and the same results are obtained

anomalies

values in a set of results which are judged not to fit the pattern - or be significantly different

discontinuous data

values that are labels, eg names of plants, or types of material

continuous data

have values that can be given a number by counting (ex: number of shrimp) or by measurement (eg light intensity, or time)

independent variable

the variable you change in an investigation

dependent variable

the variable that you measure in an investigation

control variables

the variables that are kept the same in an investigation as they may affect the outcome of the experiment

method of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE LENGTH OF A NICHROME WIRE AFFECTS THE RESISTANCE IN A CIRCUIT

connect the nichrome wire to a meter ruler with crocodile clips and decrease the distances of the crocodile clips and measure the resistance every time you decrease it.

safety precautions of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE LENGTH OF A NICHROME WIRE AFFECTS THE RESISTANCE IN A WIRE

need a fixed resistor within the circuit because the shorter the wire, the hotter it becomes. this could cause fires or burns.

conclusion of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE LENGTH OF A NICHROME WIRE AFFECTS THE RESISTANCE IN A CIRCUIT

results show that the length of the wire and the resistance are directly proportional - as the length of wire decreases, the resistance decreases as well

independent variable of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE LENGTH OF A NICHROME WIRE AFFECTS THE RESISTANCE IN A CIRCUIT

length of the wire

dependent variable of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE LENGTH OF A NICHROME WIRE AFFECTS THE RESISTANCE IN A CIRCUIT

resistance

control variable of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE LENGTH OF A NICHROME WIRE AFFECTS THE RESISTANCE IN A CIRCUIT

the current

method of INVESTIGATE HOW THE NUMBER OF TURNS IN A COIL AFFECTS THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTROMAGNET

turn the coil around a nail and then try to pick up as many paperclips as you can. increase the number of turns on the coil and pick up as many paperclips as you can, and keep increasing the number of turns and record how many paper lips you pick up each time

safety precautions of INVESTIGATE HOW THE NUMBER OF TURNS IN A COIL AFFECTS THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTROMAGNET

do not handle the wire, switch off between readings, and do net set up the experiment near taps, sinks, etc.

conclusion of INVESTIGATE HOW THE NUMBER OF TURNS IN A COIL AFFECTS THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTROMAGNET

as the number of turns on the coil increases, the number of paper clips picked up increases

independent variables of INVESTIGATE HOW THE NUMBER OF TURNS IN A COIL AFFECTS THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTROMAGNET

the number of turns on the coil, the range of number of coils

dependent variable of INVESTIGATE HOW THE NUMBER OF TURNS IN A COIL AFFECTS THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTROMAGNET

number of paper clips picked up

control variables of INVESTIGATE HOW THE NUMBER OF TURNS IN A COIL AFFECTS THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTROMAGNET

the size of the paper clips, the current, the voltage, and the nail

method of FIND OUT HOW SOME VARIABLES AFFECT THE SPEED OF A CAR

release a toy car from the top of a ramp - a ramp which you have measured the height and distance of - and time how long it takes to reach the bottom. change the height of the ramp and measure the time it takes to reach the bottom.

safety precautions of FIND OUT HOW SOME VARIABLES AFFECT THE SPEED OF A CAR

move any easily breakable objects away from where the car will land

independent variables of FIND OUT HOW SOME VARIABLES AFFECT THE SPEED OF A CAR

the height of the ramp, the time, the speed

dependent variables of FIND OUT HOW SOME VARIABLES AFFECT THE SPEED OF A CAR

the speed, the time taken for the car to reach the bottom

control variables of FIND OUT HOW SOME VARIABLES AFFECT THE SPEED OF A CAR

the size of the toy car, the material of the ramp, the distance of the ramp

method of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FALLING ASTEROID AFFECTS THE SIZE CRATER FORMED

drop different-weighted ball bearings into a box of sand from the same height, and measure the width of the crater they make.

safety precautions of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FALLING ASTEROID AFFECTS THE SIZE CRATER FORMED

always drop the ball bearings into the sand to avoid dropping it on your feet, or hands

conclusion of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FALLING ASTEROID AFFECTS THE SIZE CRATER FORMED

as the mass of the ball bearings increased, so did the width of the crater

independent variable of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FALLING ASTEROID AFFECTS THE SIZE CRATER FORMED

the mass of the ball bearings

dependent variable of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FALLING ASTEROID AFFECTS THE SIZE CRATER FORMED

the width of the crater

control variables of TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FALLING ASTEROID AFFECTS THE SIZE CRATER FORMED

the height, the amount of sand in the box

method of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN COPPER CARBONATE IS HEATED

add copper carbonate to a boiling tube clamped at an angle heated over a bunsen burner and stop heating when it changes colour. let it cool and find the mass of the copper carbonate by subtracting the mass of the boiling tube from the final mass.

safety precautions of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN COPPER CARBONATE IS HEATED

wear goggles, make sure that the boiling tube is not pointing to anyone else, wash your hands afterwards

conclusion of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN COPPER CARBONATE IS HEATED

the mass of the product should be less than that of the reactants because the gases (copper oxide and carbon dioxide) escaped

independent variable of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN COPPER CARBONATE IS HEATED

the temperature of the copper carbonate

dependent variable of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN COPPER CARBONATE IS HEATED

The mass of the copper carbonate

Control variables of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN COPPER CARBONATE IS HEATED

The mass of the boiling tube

method of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN MAGNESIUM IS HEATED

place a magnesium ribbon in a crucible over a bunsen burner and take off the heat when you see further reactions from lifting up the crucible lid a little. let it cool and compare the mass of the magnesium, crucible, and lid before and after heating.

safety precautions of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN MAGNESIUM IS HEATED

Use tongs to move the crucible to a heatproof mat, don’t look directly at the magnesium for a while because it’s very bright.

conclusion of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN MAGNESIUM IS HEATED

the mass of the magnesium increases because the oxygen has mixed with and reacted with the magnesium

independent variable of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN MAGNESIUM IS HEATED

the mass of the contents of the crucible

dependent variable of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN MAGNESIUM IS HEATED

the mass of the contents of the crucible

control variables of INVESTIGATE CHANGES IN MASS WHEN MAGNESIUM IS HEATED

the mass of the crucible and lid

method of TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE VOLUME OF CARBON DIOXIDE PRODUCED BY RESPIRING YEAST DEPENDS ON TEMPERATURE

add sugar, yeast, and bread flour together and stir in water for a smooth paste in a beaker, split them into three and place them in places of different temperature. after 30 minutes record the new volume of dough in each measuring cylinder.

safety precautions of TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE VOLUME OF CARBON DIOXIDE PRODUCED BY RESPIRING YEAST DEPENDS ON TEMPERATURE

Do not eat any dough, wear goggles

conclusion of TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE VOLUME OF CARBON DIOXIDE PRODUCED BY RESPIRING YEAST DEPENDS ON TEMPERATURE

if the temperature increases then the volume of the dough also increases

independent variable of TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE VOLUME OF CARBON DIOXIDE PRODUCED BY RESPIRING YEAST DEPENDS ON TEMPERATURE

The temperatures in which the measuring cylinders were placed

dependent variable of TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE VOLUME OF CARBON DIOXIDE PRODUCED BY RESPIRING YEAST DEPENDS ON TEMPERATURE

the volume of the dough

control variable of TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE VOLUME OF CARBON DIOXIDE PRODUCED BY RESPIRING YEAST DEPENDS ON TEMPERATURE

the starting volumes

Method of TO INVESTIGATE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHAPE FOR WIND DISPERSAL USED BY SYCAMORE SEEDLINGS

drop different shapes of sycamore seedlings from the same height and compare the time they take to drop

Safety precautions of TO INVESTIGATE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHAPE FOR WIND DISPERSAL USED BY SYCAMORE SEEDLINGS

Be careful when carrying the meter ruler

conclusion of TO INVESTIGATE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHAPE FOR WIND DISPERSAL USED BY SYCAMORE SEEDLINGS

The seedling that stays in the air the longest is the most effective seedling

independent variables of TO INVESTIGATE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHAPE FOR WIND DISPERSAL USED BY SYCAMORE SEEDLINGS

The width of the seeds, the thickness of the seeds, the length of the seeds

dependent variables of TO INVESTIGATE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHAPE FOR WIND DISPERSAL USED BY SYCAMORE SEEDLINGS

How long the seed stays in the air

Control variables of TO INVESTIGATE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHAPE FOR WIND DISPERSAL USED BY SYCAMORE SEEDLINGS

The height the seeds are dropped from, the mass of the paper

What is the unit you use to measure liquids?

Millilitres

What do you measure liquids in?

A measuring cylinder

What do you use to measure the mass of a solid?

Balance

What is the unit we use to measure the mass of a solid

g/kg

With what do you measure the current through a circuit?

Ammeter

What unit do you measure the current through a circuit in?

Amps

What do you measure time with?

A stopwatch

What is the unit for measuring time?

second(s)

Irritant

Toxic

Flammable

Dangerous for the environment

Corrosive

Oxidising

Explosive