Scenario based practical work

The learner must write a practical work report which will include the following;
(i) Aim of the experiment
(ii) Variables of the experiment
 Independent variable
 Dependent variable
 Controlled variable
(iii) Hypothesis
(iv) List of apparatus and materials
(v) Procedure of the experiment and setup
(vi) Presentation of data
 Table of results
 Graphs
 Calculation of the slope
(vii) Sources of errors
(viii) Precautions
(ix) Conclusion
Practical work evaluation guide
Basis of Code Criteria Score Total
assessment score
1 Aim of the A Properly stated aim 2 A2 2
experiment Partially stated aim 1 A1
No or incorrect aim 0 A0
2 Variables of the V Correct independent variables 1 VI 1 3
stated
experiment No or incorrect independent 0 VI 0
variable stated
Correct dependent variables 1 VD
stated 1
No or incorrect dependent 0 VD
variable stated 0
Correct control variables stated 1 Vc 1
No or incorrect control variable 0 Vc
stated 0
3 Hypothesis H Correct Hypothesis stated 1 H1 1
No or incorrect Hypothesis stated 0 H0
4 List of apparatus Ap All relevant apparatus and 2 Ap 2 2
and materials stated

1
 materials
Partially relevant apparatus and 1 Ap 1
materials stated
No or irrelevant apparatus and 0 Ap 0
materials stated
5 Procedure of the PR All relevant procedures of the 2 PR 2 2
experiment and experiment and setup stated
setup

Relevancy Partially relevant procedures of 1 PR 1

the experiment and setup stated
No/ irrelevant procedures of the 0 PR 0
experiment and setup stated
Coherency Pc When procedures of the 2 Pc 2 2
experiment and setup are coherent
When procedures of the 1 Pc 1
experiment and setup are partially
coherent
when procedures of the 0 Pc 0
experiment and setup are not
coherent
6 Sources of errors ER Most sources of errors stated (2) 2 ER 2 2
Few sources of errors stated 1 ER 1
No or incorrect sources of errors 0 ER 0
stated
7 Precaution Pr All relevant precautions stated 2 Pr 2 2
Partially relevant precautions 1 Pr 1
stated
No or incorrect precautions stated 0 Pr 0
8 Presentation of data Dp Correct presentation of data 2 Dp 2 2
Partially correct presentation of 1 Dp 1
data
No or incorrect presentation of 0 Dp 0
data
Recording of data DR Correct recording of data stated 2 DR 2
2
Partially correct recording of data 1 DR
1
No or incorrect recording of data 0 DR
0

2
 Set of data DS Maximum set of data stated (3 or 2 DS 2
more) 2
Minimum set of data stated (1) 1 DS 1
No or incorrect set of data stated 0 DS 0
9 Accuracy of data AC Correct accuracy of data stated 2 AC 2
2
Partially correct accuracy of data 1 AC
stated 1
No or incorrect accuracy of data 0 AC
stated out of range 0
10 Data analysis and DA Appropriate method used to 2 DA 2
interpretation process data(s.f and d.p) 2
Partially appropriate method used 1 DA
to process data 1
No or incorrect method used to 0 DA
process data 0
DI Correct interpretation of data 2 DI 2
2
Partially correct interpretation of 1 DI 1
data
No or incorrect interpretation of 0 DI 0
data
11 Drawing of D Correct or complete well draw 2 D2 2
experiment setup and labelled
Partially labelled 1 D1
No or incorrect or wrong drawing 0 D0
12 Conclusion C Well stated conclusion based on 2 C2 2
interpretation
Partial stated conclusion based on 1 C1
interpretation
No or incorrect interpretation 0 C0
13 Advice given AD Correct/appropriate/relevant 1 AD 1
advice given based on finding 1
No/incorrect/inappropriate/ 0 AD
irrelevant advice given based on 0
finding

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 SCENARIO BASED PRATICAL EXPERIMENT
Example 1
Catherine discovered a spring in tool box in the garage and had a labelled on it “spring constant k
= 45 kg s−1”. Unfortunately, she doubtful about the value of spring constant. She carried it to
school and asked a group of senior three students on how best to prove the spring constant but
they didn’t help her.

Task
As a physics student, help her solve this problem using a scientific investigation

( )
2
3 π
(Hint k = 1.6 x 10 x 0.5 x S)
29
You have been provided with the following apparatus and materials:
1 Retort stand having 2 clamps, 1 spring, 1 metre rule, 1 pointer, 6 mass (100g), 2 piece of
wooden clip.
Expected responses
Aim: An experiment to determine the constant, k of the spring.
Variables of the experiment
(i) Independent variable: mass, m
(ii) Dependent variable: length, P1, P0, P
(iii) Controlled variable: Mass of the spring

Hypothesis: The constant, k of the spring is 45 kgs-1

Apparatus and materials
1 Retort stand having 2 clamps, 1 spring, 1 metre rule, 1 pointer, 6 mass (100g), 2 piece of
wooden clip
Procedure of the experiment

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(a) The spring and metre rule are clamped on retort stand and placed on the table as shown

(b) The initial position, P0, of the pointer on the vertical metre rule scale placed with the zero
mark at the top is read and recorded.
(c) The mass, M = 0.10 kg is suspended from the lower hook of the spring.
(d) The new position, P1, of the pointer on the vertical metre rule is read and recorded as in (b).
(e) Procedures (c) and (d) are repeated with hanging mass m = 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60
kg on the end of spring.
(f) The results are recorded in a suitable table including values of P = P1 - P0 in metres.
(g) A graph of M against P is plotted.
(h) The slope S of the graph is determined.

( )
2
π
(i) The spring constant, k, is calculated from the expression; k = 1.6 x 103 x 0.5 x S)
29

P0 = 60.0 cm P0 = 0.600 m P1= 62.0 cm P1 = 0.620 m

Table of results
m(kg) P1 (m) P (m)
0.10 0.620 0.020
0.20 0.640 0.040
0.30 0.660 0.060
0.40 0.680 0.080
0.50 0.700 0.100
0.60 0.720 0.120

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 Slope, S =

S = 5 kg m−1

Constant,

k = 46.89 kg s−1
Sources of errors
 Inaccurate weight of masses given.
 Permanent deformation of the spring hence not obtaining its original length.

Safety Precautions
 Do not play around with the masses or spring.
 Be sure that the spring provided can gain its original length.
 Keep a distance from the apparatus.
A graph of M against x

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Conclusion
In this experiment, I have been successful to prove the aim of the experiment which is Hooke’s
law. The results obtained were correct with minimal errors and therefore the slope in the graph
indicates the value spring constant, k = 46.89 kg s−1 which was closed to the labelled value of 45
kg s−1. I feel that my data is reliable and the graph does show that the extension of the spring is
directly proportional to the force that is applied to it