Does a longer swing takes a longer time to stop?

Scientific Investigation
The steps in a scientific investigation.
Steps

Explanation

Making
observations

Making observations and gathering all available

information about the object or phenomenon to be
studied.
Observations are made using the senses of sight,
hearing, touch, taste and smell.

Identifying a
suitable
question

After all the information has been gathered, a suitable

question is suggested for a scientific investigation.

Drawing
inferences

Drawing inferences about the object or phenomenon

studied.
An inference is an early conclusion that you draw from
an observation or event using information that you
already have on it.

Steps
4

Identifying
and
controlling
variables

Explanation
Variables are physical quantities which change in the
course of a scientific investigation.
Identifying the manipulated variables, responding
variables and fixed (or constant) variables.
Manipulated variables are physical quantities which
you control and change (i.e. manipulated) for the
purpose of investigating the result of an experiment.
Responding variables are physical quantities which
are the result of the changes made to the manipulated
variables.
Fixed or constant variables are physical quantities
which are kept constant throughout the experiment.

Steps
5

Formulating
a hypothesis

Explanation
A hypothesis is a general statement that is assumed
to be true regarding the relationship between the
manipulated variable and the responding variable in
the phenomenon under investigation.
A hypothesis must be tested to verify its validity. The test
is in the form of experiments.

Designing
and
conducting
experiments

Experiments must be planned to include selection of

apparatus/materials and working procedures.

Tabulating
data

Experimental data are collected and tabulated in a

suitable form.

Steps

Explanation

Analysing
data

Analysis of data is carried out by plotting a graph,

followed by the interpretation of the graph and the
drawing of conclusions.

Writing of
report

A complete report is written for the investigation.

Steps for a laboratory report.

1

: Inference : ______ depends on ______

: Hypothesis : When ________ increase, _______ increase.

: Aim : To study the relationship between (MV) and (RV).

4 : Variables
Manipulated : _________
Responding : _________
Constant : ___________
5 : List of apparatus and materials:
(most important measuring instrument)
6 : Arrangement of apparatus (labeled diagram)

7 : Experiment procedure
- the method for controlling MV (how to start the experiment)
- the method for controlling RV (how to measure RV)
- repetition (at least 4 times)
8 : Tabulation of data
MV

RV

9 : Graph to show relationship between manipulated and responding

variable
10 : Conclusion : (is hypothesis accepted?)
11 : Precautions (not safety rules)

Example of inference:
cause

effect

The length of pendulum affects the time of oscillation.

or
The time of oscillation is affected by the length of pendulum.
effect

cause

OR
effect

cause

The brightness of bulb depends on the current.

# must be in the correct direction.

Example of hypothesis:
cause

effect

When the length of pendulum increase, the time of oscillation increase.

or
When the length of pendulum decrease, the time of oscillation decrease.

OR
effect

cause

The brightness of bulb increases with current.

# must be in the correct direction.

Plywood

Retort
stand

Thread

Brass bob

Example of tabulating data:

physical quantity & unit

Length, Time taken for 10 oscillations,

t /s
l /cm
t1/ s
t2 /s
t /s

T /s

T 2 /s2

90.0

15.15

15.25

15.20

1.52

2.31

80.0

13.30

13.40

13.45

1.35

1.82

70.0

11.50

11.40

11.45

1.15

1.32

60.0

9.01

9.03

9.02

0.90

0.81

50.0

7.20

7.30

7.25

0.73

0.53

40.0

5.10

5.20

5.15

0.52

0.27

Consistency of decimal point

Graph of v against e

RV

1. Title of graph.
2. Label & unit at both
axes.
2. Uniform scale of both
axes. (size of graph)
3. All points are plotted
correctly. (use (x))
4. Draw a perfect
straight / curve line.

MV

DONT DO THIS !

DONT DO THIS !

Explanation of graphs.

T 2 is directly proportional to m
- Must be a straight
line.

- Must start from

origin.

a is inversely proportional to m

a is directly proportional to 1
m

Explanation of graphs.

v is linearly increase to m

V is linearly decrease to I

Explanation of graphs.
P

When V increases, P decreases.

P is inversely proportional to V
V

When V increases, P increases.

P increases with V
V