EAST DONCASTER SECONDARY COLLEGE

YEAR 11 PHYSICS

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION - HEAT

Purpose: For students to -

  • develop skills in experimental design (in preparation for a similar outcome in Year 12)
  • organise an extended investigation
  • develop problem solving skills
  • modify the design when necessary during an experimental investigation; and
  • develop skills in reporting an experimental investigation.

Task: This outcome will be satisfactorily completed when the student/s has carried out and reported on an extended experimental investigation centered on the area of study - Heat. The student/s should:

  • be substantially involved in the design of the experimental procedure (this will be evidenced by completion of an “Investigation - Research Plan” sheet - 1 per person/group).
  • carry out between one and two hours of experimental work; and
  • prepare a formal written report of the investigation (word range 600 - 800 words plus diagrams, tables, graphs, etc.…)

Advice: The experiment selected should be straight-forward and enable you to obtain sufficient data within one to two hours to draw some conclusions. It should have a specific aim and go into some aspect of heat in more detail than a typical physics prac that we have done this year. Students may work singly or in pairs (no more than two are allowed per group). The prac design and experimentation can be done as a pair, the report must be individually written and entirely the individual student’s own work.

Topic Advice: The study design (you have a photocopy), page 18/19 lists the context areas for heat. They are: Protection from heat and cold; People, heat and environment; Food preparation (topical); History of understanding heat (not appropriate); or Heat and Motor Vehicles. The lists of examples provided for each of these contexts are an obvious place to start in your search for a suitable experiment. Other concepts that may be explored in more depth include: specific and latent heat, rate of heating/cooling (volume, surface area, differing containers, etc.), temperature profile of a room in your house, colour effect on the absorption of solar radiation, effect of salt on the freezing/boiling point of water, the energy content of various foods/fuels, Newton’s Rate of Cooling, rate of conduction of heat along different metal rods, rate of expansion of metals, rate of cooling in a vacuum flask compared with other containers, rate of melting of ice in different containers, rate of heating of water in microwave ovens (is it quicker than gas?), the heating at different points in a closed car compared to the outside air temperature, the effect of wind on the rate of evaporation of water, or, does the shape of a body effect energy loss?

Report: The report should contain the following sections -

a)FRONT COVER PAGE (optional): This should state a specific title for the investigation and your name. A diagram may be appropriate but.... don't waste time on a pretty picture that does not contribute anything to the report.

b)TABLE OF CONTENTS (optional): This should clearly state the section headings and their corresponding location via a page number. Dot-leader tabs are quite good.

e.g. AIM...... page 3

c)AIM: This section should include a clear statement of the aim of the investigation.

d)APPARATUS: This section must contain an accurate list of the equipment used along with a brief explanation of what each piece was used for.

e)METHOD: This section should provide a clear and accurate description of the experimental method used to collect the data. Use appropriate headings and sub-headings. Don't assume the reader knows how you set it up. It can be written in point form. A clear, labelled diagram will help considerably. The reader must be left in no doubt as to how, and in what order, the investigation was attempted.

f)CONTROLS/DIFFICULTIES: You should explain how careful preparation and good experimental technique enabled you to avoid difficulties during the investigation. This is especially true where you did initial trials to determine an appropriate parameter range and to determine the most appropriate experimental techniques/strategies. You should also explain any difficulties/problems that arose during the course of the investigation and how you overcame them, if you were able to do so.

g)RESULTS: This section should be a statement of your results, presented in table and graph format. It should be obvious that repeated, relevant measurements where undertaken. Variables should be measured over a suitable range of values. Sufficient observations should be obtained to satisfy the purpose of the investigation. You must be able to convince the reader that the results are reliable and repeatable.

Follow the appropriate conventions. Each table and graph should be labelled and referred to in the main body of the report. All tables and graphs should have a specific heading and state the correct SI units. Any calculations required should be explained near the table or graph by showing a sample calculation. You do not have to show the working out for each piece of data, however.

h)UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS: This section should discuss the limitations of the apparatus and measuring instruments (least count, resolution, accuracy, limit of the setting, response time, etc..).

i)ANALYSIS: Your data should be organised in a convenient form so that it reflects the purpose of the investigation. It should be such that you explore any relationships or trends that are present in the collected data. Be careful to analyze the data in the light of your stated purpose. You must also attempt to explain why the data is exhibiting the trends noted in terms of relevant physics concepts and ideas.

j)CONCLUSIONS AND EVALUATION: This section should summarise your analysis and draw appropriate, valid conclusions. Your conclusions must be supported by the data obtained.. They must also be relevant to the stated purpose of the investigation. Go back and read your Aim and check. Do not make claims that are not supported by factual experimental data. You should also suggest any improvements that you would make if you were able to repeat the experiment. Don't just say "... get a more accurate stopwatch...". The suggested improvements should be practical and logical. Finally you should indicate possible follow-up or extension activities that could be explored as a result of the investigation.

NOTE: Use the correct physics terminology and equations (mass and weight are always confused); use correct SI units and symbols and explain the conversion and/or relevance of non-SI units; avoid jargon; label and head your tables, graphs and drawings and refer to them in the text; explain non-standard terms; don't waffle on; make sure the report is clear and easy to read, flows logically and makes sense as a whole. Use headings and sub-headings.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Starting Date: Tuesday 30th March, 1999

You must confirm your topic with me and complete the “Investigation - Research Plan” sheet before you commence the experimental stage of the investigation.

The experimental stage may be done over the holidays. I will look at drafts if you provide them early in Term Two. You will be given class time to work on this but some of the experimental work may have to be done outside of class dependent on what you choose to investigate.

Due Date:Monday 3rd May, 1999 (during class - no exceptions!)

PLEASE NOTE:

Do not get too carried away with this outcome. It is just a slightly extended prac that has design input from you that you have to report on in a formal manner. The upper word limit advice of 800 words (not including Table/Graph labels, Front Page, Contents Page, etc.) should not be exceeded.

Have fun. The heat is on (sic)!!!

heat extended investigation.doc