International Baccalaureate Physics 4/PSOW

Measuring Instrument Circus

Aim: IB Criteria Assessed
You need practice in taking all measurements with a ± error and then Data Collection
performing calculations to arrive at a final answer in the form, for Criteria Aspect Level
example : assessed 1 2 3 awarded
Pl (a)
Volume = 28.9 cm3 ± 2 cm3
Pl (b)
or Volume = 28.9 cm3 ± 6.9 %
DC
There are also some useful “tricks” you can learn to improve the DPP
accuracy of your experiments. Think about these methods and include
them when collecting your data. CE

Apparatus:
Metre rule, vernier, micrometer, marble, bag of rice, digital scales, mechanical balance, short length
of copper wire, 20 sheets of paper, stop watch, ping pong ball, measuring cylinder, tea cup.

Method:
You must use the available instruments to measure the following items:
1. the diameter of the marble.
2. the surface area of the marble.
3. the volume of the marble.
4. the mass of a grain of rice.
5. the diameter of the copper wire.
6. the time for a ping pong ball to fall from a height of 3 metres.
7. the volume of liquid in a tea cup.
8. the area of the rectangle below.

Data Collection:
• Put all your results in a table with a ± heading for each column.
• Also specify what instrument you used and the methods you employed to improve the accuracy
of your results.
• Remember that your ± error estimates are not the only sources of error in the experiments. Look
for and think about other causes of errors - e.g.: is the wire the same thickness along the whole
length?. There are several problems like this in the experiments. If you spot them, your
experimental results will be more accurate.
• What assumptions did you make in your results? e.g. - are all rice grains the same size?

© 2006 - Mike Dickinson 8266770.doc

International Baccalaureate Physics 4/PSOW

Internal Assessment Marking Form

Crit. Aspects Level Grade
Research Question: Hypothesis: Variables: ccc 3
c. Identifies a focused c. Relates the hypothesis or c. Selects the ccp 2
problem or research prediction directly to the relevant ccn 2
question. research question and independent cpp 2
p. States the problem or explains it, quantitatively and controlled ppp 1
research question, but it where appropriate. variable(s). cpn 1
Pl(a)
is unclear or incomplete. p. States the hypothesis or p. Selects some cnn 1
n. Does not state the prediction but does not relevant ppn 1
problem or research explain it. variables. pnn 0
question or repeats the n. Does not state a n. Does not select nnn 0
general aim provided by hypothesis or prediction. any relevant
the teacher. variables.
Materials / Control of Variables: Collecting Data: ccc 3
Apparatus: c. Describes a method c. Describes a method that ccp 2
c. Selects appropriate that allows for the allows for the collection ccn 2
apparatus or control of the of sufficient relevant cpp 2
materials. variables. data. ppp 1
p. Selects some p. Describes a method p. Describes a method that cpn 1
Pl(b) appropriate that makes some allows for the collection cnn 1
apparatus or attempt to control the of insufficient relevant ppn 1
materials. variables. data. pnn 0
n. Does not select n. Describes a method n. Describes a method that nnn 0
any apparatus or that does not allow for does not allow any
materials. the control of the relevant data to be
variables. collected.
Collecting / Recording Raw Data: Organising / Presenting Raw cc 3
c. Records appropriate raw data (qualitative Data: cp 2
and/or quantitative), including units and c. Presents raw data clearly, cn 1
uncertainties where necessary. allowing for easy pp 1
DC p. Records some appropriate raw data. interpretation. pn 0
n. Does not record any appropriate raw data. p. Presents raw data but does not nn 0
Aspect 1 includes units, uncertainties, allow for easy interpretation.
significant digits n. Does not present raw data or
presents it incomprehensibly.
Processing Raw Data: Presenting Processed Data: cc 3
c. Processes the raw c. Presents processed data appropriately, helping cp 2
data correctly. interpretation and, where relevant, takes into cn 1
p. Some raw data is account errors and uncertainties. pp 1
processed correctly. p. Presents processed data appropriately but with some pn 0
DPP
n. No processing of raw errors and/or omissions. nn 0
data is carried out or n. Presents processed data inappropriately or
major errors are made incomprehensibly
in processing. Aspect 2 includes uncertainty bars, max / min slopes
(HL), axes with labels and units, best fit line drawn
Drawing Conclusions: Evaluating procedure(s) Improving the ccc 3
c. Gives a valid and results: investigation: ccp 2
conclusion, based on the c. Evaluates procedure(s) c. Identifies ccn 2
correct interpretation of and results including weaknesses and cpp 2
the results, with an limitations, states realistic ppp 1
explanation and, where weaknesses or errors. suggestions to cpn 1
CE appropriate, compares p. Evaluates procedure(s) improve the cnn 1
results with literature and results but misses investigation. ppn 1
values. some obvious p. Suggests only pnn 0
p. States a conclusion that limitations or errors. simplistic nnn 0
has some validity. n. The evaluation is improvements.
n. Draws a conclusion that superficial or n. Suggests unrealistic
misinterprets the results. irrelevant. improvements.

© 2006 - Mike Dickinson 8266770.doc