Planning and evaluating experiments
Planning: state the independent (changed), dependent (measured) and controlled variables; write a hypothesis; choose apparatus and quantities (with reasons); give a step-by-step method; identify hazards and precautions. Analysis: tabulate with units; plot graphs with the independent variable on x; draw a line of best fit; calculate gradients using a large triangle; use derived quantities (1/t, ln k). Evaluation: identify anomalies; distinguish random errors (scatter; reduce by repeats) from systematic errors (shift all results; reduce by changing method); calculate % error against a reference value and compare with total % uncertainty; suggest specific improvements.
≈ 45 min