Practical skills - paper 1 and 2 Flashcards
To revise key practical terms (Paper 1 and 2)
Define an independant variable
The one variable that you change
Define a dependant variable
The variable that you measure
Define a control variable
Any variable you keep the same to make it a fair test
Define directly proportional
If one variable increases the other variable increases at the same rate. eg if x doubles then y must double.
A graph would be a straight line** through the **origin
Define inversely proportional
If one variable increases the other variable decreases at the same rate. eg if x doubles then y must halve
Define an anomalous result
An result which does fit the pattern of trend
What should you do if you have an anomolus result?
Repeat the reading
Ignore it when calculating the average
Circle on the graph and not include it in your line of best fit
Define interval
The spacing between measurements eg 0, 10, 20, 30 40, 50 cm would have an interval of 10 cm
Define range
The maximum and minimum values eg 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 cm would have a range of 50 to 0 cm
Define resolution
The smallest change that can be measured with a particular piece of equipment
If a stop clock reads 18.72 seconds, what is its resolution?
0.01 s
If a voltmeter reads 3.6 V what is its resolution?
0.1 V
How can the uncertainty in a measurement be measured?
Half of the range
When should you draw a line graph
When both variables are continuous
When should you draw a bar graph
If one of the variables is discrete or categoric