Questions and Answers
What is the suggested method to check if rules 3 and 4 regarding significant figures apply?
Write the number in scientific notation (standard form) and apply the rules.
How can you determine if zeroes are significant in a number?
Write the number in scientific notation (standard form) and check if you can get rid of the zeroes. If you can get rid of them, then they are NOT significant.
When are numbers like 15% and 10 always considered significant?
Numbers like 15% and 10 are ALWAYS significant.
Give an example of how to determine the significant figures in a number.
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In the context of significant figures, what does the statement 'If you can get rid of the zeroes, then they are NOT significant' mean?
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What is a hypothesis?
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Define control experiment.
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What is the purpose of an aim in a practical report?
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What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations?
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In a practical report, why is the procedure/method written in past tense and in third person narration?
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What type of graph is usually the appropriate choice when both sets of data consist of numerical values?
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Which variable goes on the x-axis in a graph?
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How should the scale on a graph look like?
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When is a bar chart usually the best choice for representing data?
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What is the dependent variable in an experiment?
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Study Notes
Numbers and Significant Figures
- Any number with a 0 at the start (e.g., 0.05) is always significant.
- Any number with a decimal point (e.g., 10.5) is always significant.
- Full numbers (e.g., 10) or those with % or = (e.g., 10% or =10) are always significant.
- A helpful way to check rules 3 and 4 is to write the number in scientific notation (standard form).
- If you can get rid of the zeroes, then they are NOT significant.
Scientific Experimentation
- Hypothesis: an idea or explanation that you test through study and experimentation.
- Experiment: a way of testing a hypothesis.
- Control experiment: the experiment in which the variable is not changed, serving as a standard of comparison.
- Variable: the thing that is changed in an experiment.
- Observation: noting and recording something with or without instruments.
- Inference: a conclusion that attempts to explain or make sense of an observation, based on evidence and reasoning.
Writing a Practical Report
- The report should include: Date, Experiment Number, Experiment Title, Aim, Introduction, Materials, Procedure/Method, Results/Observation.
- Aim: gives the purpose of the experiment to the reader.
- Introduction: explains the reason(s) for conducting the experiment and the plan for conducting it.
- Materials: lists the chemicals and glassware used during the experiment.
- Procedure/Method: describes what was done in the experiment, written in past tense and third person narration.
Graph Drawing
- Qualitative results: descriptions of the result obtained.
- Quantitative results: exact measurements, e.g., mass, time.
- Graph types: line graph (for numerical values) or bar chart (for categorical data).
- Axes: independent variable (the thing you changed) goes on the x-axis, dependent variable (the thing you measured) goes on the y-axis.
- Scale: should look like the markings on a ruler, with evenly ascending numbers.
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