Planning an Experiment
Science: KS3, topic 4.1.9
Planning an Experiment
Planning experiments is important. Planning will help you use the right equipment. Planning will help you know which variables need to be controlled.
Reducing Errors
- Planning a method will reduce errors and make sure your results are valid.
- Measurements should be precise.
- Precise results are similar when you repeat the experiment.
Accurate measurements
- Measurements should be accurate.
- Accurate results are close to the true value.
Repeatable experiments
- The experiment should be repeatable.
- The experiment is repeatable if:
- Others can repeat the experiment with similar results.
- Experiments can be repeated with similar but different equipment.
Human error
- Random errors used to be called human error.
- Human error is a common cause of error in an investigation.
Human error examples
- An example of human error is parallax error.
- Parallax error occurs when recording the volume of a liquid on a meniscus curve.
Writing a method
- A method is more than a step-by-step guide.
- The independent and dependent variables should be clear in the method.
- The method should show how you would use the equipment to get valid results.
Test yourself on Planning an Experiment
What error can occur when recording the volume of a liquid on a meniscus curve?
Select the true statement in each pair.
A student starts an experiment without planning a method. What is most likely to happen to the results?