Describing Experiments

Question 1

What are reliable results

Answer 1

Results where there is lots of the same data

Question 2

What are accurate results

Answer 2

Correct results

Question 3

What are valid results

Answer 3

Results that are both reliable and come from experiments that were designed to be a fair test

Question 4

What is a variable

Answer 4

Something that has the potential to change

Question 5

In an experiment how many variables do you usually change

Answer 5

1

Question 6

How do you make something a fair test

Answer 6

Keep everything bar 1 thing the same

Question 7

What is the independent variable

Answer 7

The variable you change

Question 8

What is the dependent variable

Answer 8

The variable you measure

Question 9

What is the control variable

Answer 9

The variable you keep the same

Question 10

How do you improve the reliability of an experiment

Answer 10

Repeat 3 times and find the mean

Question 11

Hazard of radioactivity

Answer 11

Too much exposure can damage skin cells

Question 12

Hazard of springs

Answer 12

Spring can snap so protect your eyes

Question 13

Hazard of electricity

Answer 13

You can get electrocuted so stay away from water

Question 14

How can you make an experiment more accurate if you are timing something

Answer 14

Use a stopwatch

Question 15

How can you measure a lengthin a more precise way

Answer 15

Use a ruler with millimetres

Increase the number of decimal places used

Question 16

If you’re calculating an ___________, then ignore any anomalous results

Answer 16

Average

Question 17

If the independent variable is categoric then you should use a _______ ________ to display the data

Answer 17

Bar chart

Question 18

If the independent variable is continuous then you should use a ________ ________ to display the data

Answer 18

Line graph

Question 19

What is categoric data

Answer 19

Comes in distinct categories (e.g colours, metals)

Question 20

What is continuous data

Answer 20

Can come in any value within a range (e.g length, volume, time)

Question 21

In a line graph, the dependent variable goes on the ___-axis

Answer 21

y-axis

Question 22

In a line graph, the independent variable goes on the ___-axis

Answer 22

x-axis

Question 23

Make sure you fill at least ______ of the space that you’re given to draw a graph

Answer 23

Half

Question 24

If you’re told to join up the points using a straight line, use a _________ to draw a neat line between each point

Answer 24

Ruler

Question 25

If you’re told to draw a line of best fit, try to draw the line through or as near to as many points as possible ignoring _____________ results

Answer 25

Anomolous

Question 26

When plotting points, use a sharp pencil and make a neat little _________ (don’t do blobs)

Answer 26

Cross

Question 27

A graph is used to show the relationship between two ____________ - you need to be able to describe this. E.g. the graph shows that as the voltage increases, so does the current

Answer 27

Variables

Question 28

When reading information off a graph you must draw a _____________ line up from the __-axis and a ______________ line across to the __-axis

Answer 28

Veritcal
x-axis
Horizontal
y-axis

Question 29

Name 5 things you should do when describing planning an experiment

Answer 29

1. Say what you’re measuring (dependent variable)
2. Say what you’re changing (independent variable)
3. Describe the method
4. Describe the apparatus used
5. Describe what variables you’re keeping constant
6. Say that you will repeat the experiment 3 times to make it more reliable

Question 30

What should you do when asked to evaluate a conclusion

Answer 30

Say whether or not you think that evidence from the experiment supports the conclusion and why