Working scientifically
Repeat readings and the anomaly hunt
How much do repeats change the answer you report?
Watch first
An English teaching video on this topic from Smart Learning Ltd. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.
What you need
Tick each one as you find it — 0 of 4 ready.
Plan the fair test
- Change: Which repeat this is (1 to 10)
- Measure: Fall time in seconds
- Keep the same: Drop height, the same coin, the same person timing
Objectives this evidences
- Interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations to draw conclusions
Do it, one step at a time
Step 1 of 4
- Step 1. Drop the coin from exactly 1 m and time the fall. Do this ten times, recording every reading.
- Step 2. Calculate the mean of all ten, then the range from smallest to largest.
- Step 3. Circle any reading well outside the others and write down what might have caused it.
- Step 4. Recalculate the mean without the anomaly and compare the two means.
What should happen
Readings scatter because human reaction time is slow. Removing a justified anomaly tightens the mean.
Think about: When is it honest to leave an anomaly out, and when is it not?
Write up your result
A sentence or two is enough to save it.
The lessons behind this practical
Each one opens with the same short film, and the film has a written transcript underneath if reading is easier than watching.
Now the quiz for this topic
Questions come from the lessons behind this practical, so nothing is asked that has not been taught.
Quiz
Working scientifically quiz
8 questions from the lessons in this stage. No timer, and you can try again as many times as you like.