unit 6 assignment 1

Today we're going to start working on assignment 1 (p1 and p2) for unit 6. I know we haven't had much time in class on this, but I decided that given we don't have long left this year it would be better to start on it now so we can get as much done as possible.
For P1, you need to explain conversions between metric and imperial units. This site has some good exaples, and shows you how to convert between the two.
For P2, this pdf gives common formulas that you could use to write your question paper. For M1, you caan use the links on the post below this one.
Make sure you save your work!! We will continue working on this tomorrow so you don't have to finish today.

Scientific notation

Today we're going to look at Scientific notation - how scientists (and mathematicians) write numbers that are really big or really small. Answer the following in your books:

1. What is Scientific notation?
2. Watch this video. Who uses Scientific notation?
3. Use the video from number 1 to give the steps for converting a very large number to Scientific notation:
4. How many atoms are there in 1 mole? What is the long-hand way to write this?
5. Why is scientific notation useful (think about what you just did for question 4)?
6. How big is an x chromosome? What about a carbon atom? Write these figures in Scientific notation.
7. Give the number 10,000 in scientific notation.
8. Explain how this common formula triangle can be used to calculate numbers in Science:
9. Write a question that requires students to use this traingle, and give a mark scheme.

Data loggers

Today we will be looking at how data loggers work and why they can be useful in Science. next week we will use them in class, complete these questions to have a better understanding of their advantages and disadvantages:

1. First of all, have a look at your recent assessment (or hand it in if you havent already done so!) We won't be working on this in class today, but you should be improving any missing sections at home to hand in for re-marking.
2. Watch this video about data loggers. What are the advantages of using data loggers instead of other methods?                                                               
3. What are some problems that could arise using one of the data loggers from the video?
4. What else can data loggers do when paired with computers and software?
5. Why doesn't the school have a data logger for each student to make experiments much easier?
6. Use this company website to give three uses for data loggers:
7. Would a data logger or manual collection be more likely to provide higher resolution? Give one reason why:
8. Read one of these articles concerning data loggers (or find your own). How are they being used?

Assignments, unit 6.

Today you should have a completed assignment ready to hand in. Make sure that you've checked all sections are included in your experiment write-ups, and that you have it in a plastic pocket with your name somewhere obvious. Once you've done that, complete the following questions on the maths section (unit 6) that we're about to start:

1. What is maths used for in Science?
2. What is the difference between accuracy and precision?
3. What is reliability in relation to data?
4. Why are data loggers often better for collecting data?
5. Do you think boys or girls in the class are taller on average? How would you calculate this?
6. What are the independent, dependent and control variables in an experiment?
7. What factors might affect the accuracy of measurement when finding someone's height?
8. Extension - Take a piece of scrap paper and draw a target on it. Try dropping a pen into the middle of the paper 5 times. Are your results accurate? Are they precise? How could you calculate this?

Risk assessment P5

For P5 you need to write a risk assessment to show that you've completed the practical safely. Use page 2 of this document to help you - basically identify things that could go wrong, how this could affect you or someone else and then what you did to stop it happening.

Introduction and experiment write up

This is the class website that we will be using this year for assignments and classwork. Make sure you save the addres in you browser and in your planner or phone so you can access it at school and at home. Today we're going to continue working on our experiment write ups.

• The folder on the shared area with the assignment sheets might be helpful if you're working on this outside class time. (Obviously don't use the photos from last year's class!)
• You also need to make sure you write up your experiment under the following headings. Make sure you don't include information in the wrong section. We are also going to write a conclusion in our reports.