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Physics > Scientific investigation > Flashcards

Scientific investigation Flashcards

1
Q

what are variables?

A

Variables are the things or factors that can influence the outcome of an investigation.

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2
Q

How many types of variables are there? Name them

A

There are 3 different types. Independent, dependent and fixed variables.

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3
Q

What do scientists investigate the relationship between?

A

Between the independent and dependent variables.

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4
Q

What should an investigation focus on?

A

Testing only one factor or concept at a time.

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5
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

The variable that is investigated during an experiment. It can be controlled and changed.

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6
Q

How many factors can the independent variable change in an experiment?

A

It can only change one factor during an investigation. It changes on purpose.

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7
Q

When describing the independent variable what do we state?

A

When describing the independent variable we state how it is changed or different.

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8
Q

What is the dependent variable?

A

The variable that scientists observes or measure to obtain the results.

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9
Q

What do the changes that are observed depend on?

A

The changes that are observed depends on the independent variable.

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10
Q

What are the observations based on?

A

Based on the 5 senses. ( smell, touch, see, hear, taste) Colour change, texture, sound etc.

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11
Q

What are qualitative results?

A

Qualities of the variables.

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12
Q

What must measurements be given in when talking about variables.

A

Must be given in numbers with units.
Eg. volume (ml, l), mass (g, kg) and distance (m, km) etc.

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13
Q

What are quantitative results?

A

They are qualifiable. You can count them.

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14
Q

What is the DROMY acronym?

A

Dependent variable is the results observed or measured and plotted on the y axis

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15
Q

What are fixed variables?

A

Certain variables must be controlled. Must be the same. If it is not the same it has the potential to affect the relationship or interfere with the results.

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16
Q

What could influence the results with a fixed variable?

A

Environmental factors such as: volume reagent added, temperature, light, wind, etc.

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17
Q

What do fixes variable usually focus on?

A

The conditions that govern the method of setting up the experiment

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18
Q

What are the fixed variables?

A

the conditions or methods used in an investigation. NOT apparatus.

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19
Q

How do we describe fixed variables?

A

‘Kept the same’ or ‘kept constant’. Eg. The samples were given the _same volume_ of water at the _same time_ of the day, and the temperature _was kept constant_.

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20
Q

Lists the steps of the scientific method.

A
  1. Investigative question
  2. Aim
  3. Hypothesis
  4. Experiment
  5. Results
  6. Analysis
  7. Conclusion
  8. Communicating the outcome
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21
Q

What is the investigative question?

A

The question that the scientist is trying to answer or explain. It must contain the independent and dependent variable. The answer to the question must never be yes or no.

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22
Q

What must the investigative question start with?

A

‘What effect’ or ‘how does’. Eg. What effect will a change in mass have in the boiling point of a substance.

23
Q

What is the aim?

A

Indicates the purpose of the experiment. Must contain both the independent and dependent variable.

24
Q

What What must the aim start with?

A

‘To investigate’ and ‘to determine’. Eg. To investigate how a change in mass will affect the boiling point of a substance

25
Q

What is the hypothesis?

A

A prediction made with a testable outcome. It must be in future tense. It must contain the independent and dependent variable.

26
Q

What word does a hypothesis use?

A

It often uses the word will. It’s allowed to be incorrect. Eg. As the mass of a substance increases, the boiling point of the substance will decrease.

27
Q

What is apparatus?

A

A detailed list of all the chemicals and equipment used. Must have the quantity of the items. Must be provide in bullet point.

28
Q

What is a diagram used for?

A

To assist in explaining the method and to record the results and observations.

29
Q

What are the drawing rules for diagrams?

A
  • Must be drawn in pencil. Not a sketch
  • The labels and headings in ink.
  • Labor lines must be ruled in ink and may not cross each other.
  • Must touch item being labeled.
30
Q

What is the method/procedure?

A

A detailed step by step process of what you did. It must be written out in billet point form. Another person must be able to follow your procedure exactly. Only use in third person.

31
Q

What must the method include?

A
  • How the independent variable is changed.
  • How the dependent variable is measured
  • How the fixed variables are kept constant.
32
Q

What are the results of the investigation?

A

The dependent variable that was observed or measured. Diagrams and tables can record results.

33
Q

What is the format for results?

A

Form of descriptions (qualitative results) or measurements (quantitative results)

34
Q

What format should the heading of a table be?

A

Table showing the (independent variable) and (dependent variable).

35
Q

Where is the independent variable recorded in a table?

A

Ascending order in the first column. All columns must have a heading with units. there must be no units in the spaces where the measurements are recorded. Must have consistent numbers

36
Q

What is the analysis?

A

Once the results have been recorded they need to be explained and analysed.

37
Q

What is the format of the heading for graphs?

A

Line graph showing the relationship between the (dependent variable) and the (independent variable).

38
Q

Where is the variables plotted one the graph?

A

Drawn with a ruler and pencil.
The independent variable is plotted on the x-axis (horizontal) and the dependent variable is on the y-axis

39
Q

What are data points?

A

small crosses that are plotted carefully and are visible and clear.

40
Q

What is the line of best fit?

A

Drawn using a ruler and must start with 0
have equal points on either side of the line.

41
Q

What is it called when a straight line is passing through the origin (0)?

A

A directly proportional relationship between the variables.

42
Q

what does directly proportional relationship mean?

A

This means that one quantity increases or decreases constantly with respect to another quantity.

43
Q

what is the directly proportional relationship format?

A

(dependent variable) is directly proportional to (independent variable).

44
Q

What is the conclusion of an investigation?

A

This is written to provide an answer to the investigative question or aim. Does not repeat the results. States what can be deduced from them. First starte whether it’s was correct or incorrect.

45
Q

How just the conclusion be linked to the hypothesis?

A

By stating where there the hypothesis was correct or incorrect. If incorrect, a revised hypothesis must be suggested.

46
Q

What is the format of the conclusion?

A

As the (independent variable) changes (increases or decreases), so the ( dependent variable) changes (increases or decreases)

47
Q

Why is accuracy, reliability and validity important?

A

No measurement is perfect. It is important to consider accuracy, reliability and Validility

48
Q

Define accuracy

A

The closelessness of a measured value to a standard or known value which is constant

49
Q

Define reliability

A

Consistency can confirm a result which is achieved by repetition and then a calculation of an average. A measure of how dependably an observation is exactly the same when repeated. Measuring procedure rather than the actual be being measured

50
Q

Define validility

A

Procedure is valid if it takes what is supposed to be testing. All variables are kept constant and apart from investigated. All systematic errors have been eliminated. Random errors have been reduced by taking multiple measurements

51
Q

Why are tables used?

A

Identify trends and patterns in the data

52
Q

What is the trends format?

A

The dependent variable increases/decreases (changes), as the independent variable increases/decreases (changes)

53
Q
A

Physics (15 decks)

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