Planning/Designing an Experiment

KEY SKILLS IN PAPER 6

1. Measuring skills- Reading scales such as rules, protractor, thermometer, voltmeter, ammeter,

2. Simple Calculations

3. Correct significant figures- Give your final answer to the least number of significant figures.

4. Graphing skills(i) Label Axes(ii)Suitable scale (iii) Plotting(iv) Line/Curve of best.

5. Organising data in a data table

Column headings

Same decimal places down each column,

Correct significant figures on each row

6. Calculating gradient/slope

7. State sources of errors/limitation in an experiment.

8. Suggesting improvement

9. Stating conclusions/ Justification of results

10. Planning/Designing an Experiment

11. Apparatus, Method/procedures, Variables (dependent, independent, control), data table,

 Rate of cooling of insulation
i) Wrap the insulator around the container t/s Temp/0C
uniformly. Insulator insulator Insulator
ii) Clamp the container to the clamp. 1 2 3

iii) Pour 200 cm3 of the hot water supplied into the 0
container. 30
iv) Place the thermometer in the beaker of water. 60
Wait for the thermometer thread to rise to the
90
maximum reading.
v) Measure and record the initial temperature 0 of 120
the water. 150
(vi) Start the stop clock and record the 180
temperature 1 of after intervals of 30s. 210
(vii) Record your data in the table below.
240
(viii). Repeat the experiment with insulator 1 and 2
with same equipment, amount insulation and
initial temperature.
Plot a graph of Temperature against time.
 Analysis of the cooling curve
1. If this experiments were to be repeated, it would
be important to control some conditions. Suggest
3 such conditions that should be controlled.

2. From your results; does hot water cool faster or

slower than cold water?
3. State whether the rate of cooling of the water is
significantly faster or slower or about the same in the
first 30s than the last 30s. Justify your answer by
reference to the readings.
statement
.........................................................................................
justification
.............................................................................................
................................................................................. [1]
The data shows results obtained by as student
investigating the cooling of water.
a. Complete the column t/s /
headings in the table. 0 82
b. Plot a graph of 30 74
temperature(y-axis) against 60 66
time(x-axis). 90 63
c. What conclusion will you
120 57
150 55
draw from this experiment.
180 52
Give evidence from the
graph.