How to approach your practicals

Three of your modules - Modules One, Five and Nine - include a practical section. These are simple practical activities that involve setting up an experiment and recording your results.  In each case there is a practical worksheet to complete as part of the assignment for that module. 

Aside from a thermometer, most of the equipment we suggest can often be found in an average home. We would suggest that you check the list of apparatus Download list of apparatus before you start the course (the equipment for the three required practicals are listed first). If you have any problems sourcing the equipment then please do email your Tutor who should be able to help you adapt the experiment.

We have designed the practicals to be simple and enjoyable home experiments. We want you to go through the process of conducting a scientific experiment: planning, carrying out, recording data, and then analysing and evaluating your data. We will not be marking you on the results you obtain; rather the marks are given for following the process and showing your skills in evaluating what you have done. In other words, it doesn't matter if your experiment doesn't give the results you expect or if something goes a bit wrong; this is all part of being a scientist!

Note. If you find your results don’t fit on the grid provided in the assignment then please feel free to use your own graph paper for your results, or download this graph paper and upload it along with your assignment letting your tutor know that you have done so.