Topic Two (1.2): Planning investigations
Objectives
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
- describe how to write a plan for an investigation;
- recognise what makes data accurate and precise.
You might also be able to:
- describe a risk assessment;
- know the names of and how to draw some laboratory equipment.
Introduction
You will start by planning an experimental investigation. You will be given a question and you will start by planning how you are going to answer it. You will also learn the terms accurate and precise, and also repeatable and reproducible, and what they mean. Make sure you understand these terms as they will be important in your future science studies.
Working through your coursebook
- Begin by reading pages 4-5 of Activate 1.
- Watch these videos about the difference between accurate and precise or repeatable and reproducible. Don't worry about the second one saying GCSE, it is still relevant and not too tricky:
WATCH - What is the difference between accuracy and precision? Scientific Definitions (YouTube)
WATCH - GCSE Science Subject-specific Vocabulary: 'Repeatable' and 'reproducible' (YouTube)
- When you plan an investigation you will need to consider what equipment or apparatus you are going to use. Though you will not be doing experiments in a laboratory it is good to make sure you are familiar with the equipment used in laboratories. Download the scientific equipment (apparatus) sheets and keep them to help answer your assignments. The second one shows how to draw the apparatus:
DOWNLOAD & READ - Scientific Equipment (twinkl) - [Not available on sample course]
DOWNLOAD - Skill sheet: Scientific apparatus (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.
- This sheet will be helpful in planning an experiment and writing a method. Keep this too as it should also help in your future studies:
DOWNLOAD - Skill sheet: Planning investigations (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.
- Here you will learn how to plan an investigation:
- Your question is: Does the temperature of a ball affect how high it bounces?
- To help you answer, have a look at the questions below the link:
COMPLETE - Planning Worksheet (pages 1 and 2) Download COMPLETE - Planning Worksheet (pages 1 and 2)
- How will temperature affect the bounce?
- Can you predict what will happen?
- Are there any hazards and can you do something to reduce the risk of them causing harm?
- What variables do you need to control?
- Can you plan your experiment? In an ideal world, you would look at at least 5 temperatures, but you may only be able to collect data for 2 or 3 temperatures.
Review
Have a go at these Kerboodle activities to check you understand:
COMPLETE - WS 1.2 Interactive Screen - Accurate or Precise (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.
Support activity for this topic
If you are unsure what laboratory equipment looks like you can watch the video below which shows you some laboratory equipment (don't worry about the burette - this is something used in IGCSE Chemistry).
WATCH - Introduction To Basic Lab Equipment (YouTube)
Check your answers
CHECK - Planning Worksheet - Specimen Answer (pages 1 & 2) Download CHECK - Planning Worksheet - Specimen Answer (pages 1 & 2)