Grade 10 Physical Sciences · Mechanics · Plan an investigation

Plan an investigation Grade 10

Plan an experiment to test a given hypothesis: list the apparatus, write the steps, say which variables you keep constant and how you will repeat readings.

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Physical Sciences Practical investigation/experiments for grade 10-12Miss Martins Maths and Science

Designing an Experiment: Step-by-step Guide | Scribbr 🎓Scribbr

Scientific method- to design experimental variables and write hypothesesDr. Steve Griffiths ♾️

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Practice · NavyBlue · 2 marks

A trolley on a level, friction-compensated runway is pulled by a light string that passes over a pulley to a hanger with mass pieces. To keep the total mass of the system constant at

1, 0 kg

, learners move mass pieces from the trolley to the hanger. They record the weight of the hanger and its masses (the force that accelerates the system) and the acceleration.

The results are shown in the table below. Diagram for this question

Write down TWO steps of the method the learners used.(2)

Work it out on paper first. Then mark yourself with the memo, one tick at a time.

More questions: plan an investigation

Work each one out first, then open the memo and check every tick.

3. Practice · NavyBlue · 2 marks
Learners measure the resistance of $1 m$ lengths of constantan wire of different thicknesses. For each wire they calculate $\frac{1}{A}$ , where $A$ is the cross-sectional area. The results are in the table.
Describe how the learners should find the cross-sectional area and the resistance of each wire.(2)
Show the memo (2 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Vary and measureMeasure the diameter with a micrometer screw gauge and calculate $A = π r^{2}$ ; measure $V$ and $I$ for the wire and calculate $R = \frac{V}{I}$ .
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
2. ✓
  Fair test and repeatsUse the same length and material, measure the diameter at several places and average, and repeat the electrical readings.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
4. Practice · NavyBlue · 4 marks
Plan an investigation to find out whether rainwater collected near a coal-fired power station is more acidic than rainwater collected far from it.(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Collect samplesCollect rainwater in clean, identical containers at both places during the same rain storms.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
2. ✓
  Measure pHMeasure the pH of each sample with a pH meter (or universal indicator paper).
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
3. ✓
  Fair testUse the same volume of sample, test soon after collection and treat all samples in the same way.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
4. ✓
  RepeatCollect samples on several days and compare the average pH at the two places.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
5. Practice · NavyBlue · 3 marks
Learners film a battery-powered toy car moving along a straight track next to a metre stick. From the video they read the position of the front of the car every $0, 5 s$ after it passes the zero mark.

The results are shown in the table below.
Describe how the learners should set up and carry out the filming.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Camera set-upFix the phone on a stand level with the track and far enough away that the whole track is in view.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
2. ✓
  Reading the videoPlay the video frame by frame and read the position of the front of the car every $0, 5$ s using the video timer.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
3. ✓
  Fresh batteriesUse fresh batteries and the same car for every run, and repeat the run to check the readings.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
6. Practice · NavyBlue · 3 marks
Learners place $10 g$ of each of three alcohols in identical open dishes on electronic balances in the same room. They record the mass that has evaporated every five minutes. The graph shows the results.
The learners now want to find out how temperature affects the rate of evaporation of ethanol. Describe how they should plan this investigation.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  ConstantsUse the same mass of ethanol in identical dishes each time.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
2. ✓
  Changing temperaturePlace the dishes in water baths (or rooms) at different, measured temperatures.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation
3. ✓
  Measurement and repeatsRecord the mass evaporated after the same time at each temperature; repeat and average.
  1 mark · Plan an investigation

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