Independent, Dependent and Control variables
Identify the independent,
dependent and control
variables in this
investigation.
Independent, Dependent
and Control variables
Independent = I change
Look at the ‘repeat steps’
section - they are changing
the mass of magnesium
powder
Dependent = I record
Look at what they are
recording - the maximum
Identify the temperature
independent,
dependent and Control = I keep the
control variables in same
this investigation. • The volume of copper
sulfate solution
How to calculate the range
Calculate the 1. Find the biggest
range for the number and
following data; take away the
smallest
10, 12, 11, 15, number e.g. 17
17 - 10 = 7
2. Or present as =
10-17
How to calculate
uncertainty in data
Calculate the 1. Uncertainty in
uncertainty for data is the range
the following divided by 2.
data; 2. The range here is
17 - 10 = 7
3. So the uncertainty
10, 12, 11, 15, is 7/2 = +/- 3.5
17 4. Remember the +/-
sign at the
beginning
How to calculate
uncertainty in equipment
The first piece of
Calculate the
equipment is
uncertainty for analogue e.g.
the following measuring cylinder,
apparatus thermometer, ruler.
The uncertainty is the
resolution (the
smallest unit) divided
by 2. The smallest
unit is 1’C so the
uncertainty is +/-
0.5’C.
How to calculate
uncertainty in equipment
The second piece of
Calculate the equipment is digital.
uncertainty for
the following The uncertainty here
apparatus is the +/- the
resolution (the
smallest possible
reading).
The smallest reading
would be 0.1’C so the
uncertainty is +/-
How to calculate the
resolution
What is the The resolution is the
resolution on the smallest possible reading
off of a piece of apparatus.
following pieces of
apparatus? On the top pan balance
the smallest possible
reading is 0.1g.
Equipment Length in mm The vernier callipers is
Vernier 20.1 0.1 mm.
callipers
Micrometer 20.14
The micrometer is
0.01mm.
Systematic error
Is an error which is the same every
time due to equipment or measuring
technique. These include :
1.zero errors (where you do not zero
a piece of apparatus).
2.Parallax errors (where you do not
measure from eye level).
3. Not insulating a piece of equipment
when you are measuring
temperature change.
Random error
This tends to Examples include:
happen when you
1. Someone opening
are estimating the door during a
the final result or practical because
when there is a the room is too hot
2. Estimating when a
change in the reaction has finished
environment e.g. colour change
whilst the 3. Reaction time when
stop the stopwatch
practical is
happening.
Measuring with apparatus
What piece of a)A thermometer
apparatus would you
use to measure the b)A measuring
following things? cylinder
a) The temperature c) A top pan
of water
b) The volume of
balance
hydrochloric acid d)A metre rule
c) The mass of a gold
cube
d) The length of a
table
Categoric data
Present the This data is in
following data separate categories so
as a graph. it should be presented
Choose the in a bar chart. Make
correct axis. sure that the bars DO
NOT touch.
Continuous data
Most continuous data in
science is presented as a line
graph.
Do not forget to:
1) Label your axes with
units (Independent on
the x axes and
Dependent on the Y).
2) Plot points with a X not
a dot or the examiner
may not see it.
3) Draw with a pencil so if
you make a mistake you
Line of best fit
Bad line of best fit The line of best fit
does not have to be a
straight line. (But it
could be)
• It should go
Good line of best fit through the
majority of the
points.
• It should NOT be
dot to dot.
• It could be a curve.
Calculating gradient from
the line of best fit
Calculate the Step 1) Draw in the
line of best fit
gradient from
Step 2) Find two
your data.
points on the line of
best fit and draw a
triangle connecting
them. (If one of these
is (0,0) it is much
easier)
Step 3) Calculate y
(up) and divide by x
(across) y/x
Significant figures
Calculate the This means put your
speed when the answer to 2
bike travels 10m significant figures.
in 2.7s.
When calculated this
Put your answer
will give an answer
to 2sf. of 3.703. But the
question asks for it
to 2sf so the answer
would become 3.7
m/s
Conversions
The most common conversions are:
minutes -> seconds x 60
Km -> m x 1000
mm -> µm x 1000
cm3 -> dm3 / 1000
Anomalies
Identify the Anomalies are results
which do not fit in with
anomaly in the the rest.
following set of
data: They should be removed
when calculating a mean.
45, 40, 43, 30,
In this question 30 does
42 not fit in with the rest of
them and so is the
anomaly.
Mean and mode
Calculate the The mean is calculated
mean and the by adding all of the
mode of the results together and
following dividing by the number
results: of results.
So 122/ 5 = 24.4
22, 25, 27, 25,
23 The mode is the result
that appears most
often. Here it is 25.
Accuracy
Did you collect ALL of the
The accuracy of gas?
your results is
mainly dependent Did any of the heat escape
the cup?
on your
experimental Did you read off of the
measuring cylinder from the
technique. correct height?
Did you measure the volume
with the best measuring
cylinder?
Precision
Which piece of Precise results are
apparatus is the results which are really
most precise? close to the mean ie you
have a very small range.
More precise equipment
measures to smaller
decimal places. The
digital thermometer
is more precise as it
measures to 1dp.
How scientists present their
results
A group of Scientific results are
published in a peer
scientists conduct reviewed journal.
a study
investigating how If other scientists can
replicate their findings
caffeine affects then their results are
reaction time. reproducible.
How can they
ensure their If the results have a
small range and are
results are close to the mean then
reliable. they are repeatable.
Surface area to volume ratio
SA:V
Calculate the To calculate the surface
area:
surface area to
volume ratio of
Height x length. You then
the cubes. multiply by 6 as there are 6
faces on a cube. Your units
should be cm2.
To calculate volume:
Length x width x height.
Your units should be cm3.
Order of magnitude
