Working scientifically
Independent learning
Introduction
Science is all about explaining natural events (phenomena) that are observed. Scientists develop explanations using the scientific method. This follows a specific way of working: proposing a hypothesis, planning an investigation, conducting the investigation to test the hypothesis, analysing data, concluding and evaluating. In this topic, you will have a go at each step of the scientific method.
Task 1: Know
Task 1: Use look, cover, write check to learn the answers to the core questions and the keywords for this topic
Learn
Task 2: Safety in the Science Lab
Task 2a: Watch the videos
Task 3: Safety and bunsen burners
Task 4: Equipment and accuracy
Task 4b: Make notes that:
List common pieces of scientific apparatus and draw a scientific diagram for each
Describe how to use a balance properly
Suggest why measurements must be precise in an experiment
Define resolution, precision and accuracy.
Task 5: Planning an Experiment
Task 5c: Make notes that:
Define independent variable
Define dependent variable
Define control variable
Define a fair test
Task 5d: Use the information on this worksheet for each investigation:
State the hypothesis.
State the independent variable.
State the dependent variable.
State the control variables.
Is it a fair test?
How do you know?
Task 6: Planning an Experiment
Task 6b: List the key components to include when writing a method
Task 6c: Read this example of a plan and use it to:
Give a grade (P ,L, M or H) using the criteria
List some examples of good practice from the plan
List improvements to be made to the plan
Task 7: Collecting Evidence
Task 8: Analysing data
Task 8b: Make notes that:
Describe how to calculate a mean
Define categoric data and name the appropriate type of graph to use
Define continuous data and name the appropriate type of graph to use
List rules to follow when plotting a graph
Define anomaly
Task 8c: Use these results to:
Identify anomalies
Calculate a mean
Plot the mean results on a graph (if you have graph paper)
Task 9: Conclusions
Task 9c: Read this example of a conclusion and use it to:
Give a grade (P ,L, M or H) using the criteria
List some examples of good practice from the conclusion
List improvements to be made to the conclusion
My data do support my hypothesis (the amount of water affects the time it takes to heat up to a certain temperature). As the amount of water increased, the time taken for it to reach 50℃ increased.
This is because as the amount of water increases, the heat from the flame would need to heat up more water, so it would take longer.
One limitation is that I only used 4 volumes of water. I also forgot to ensure my beaker was cold again before I moved onto the next volume. This could have affected my experiment, so therefore my conclusion is fairly weak.
Based on my conclusion, I predict that the volume of any substance would affect the time it takes to heat up, not just water.
Task 10: Working scientifically assessment
Task 10: Summarise
Task 10a: Watch the videos
Task 10b: Make a single page revision summary of this topic and add it to your revision folder.