Physics
FA3 Student Experiment
2024 - 2025
Conditions
Technique Student experiment
Unit Unit 2: Linear motion and waves
Topic/s Topic 1: Linear motion and force
Duration 10 hours of class time
Mode / length Written (e.g. scientific report): up to 2000 words
Individual / group Individual response; students may collaborate to develop the methodology and perform. the experiment
Context
You have completed the following practicals in class:
● Conduct an experiment to investigate motion of objects with constant acceleration
● Conduct an experiment to investigate the acceleration due to gravity on earth
● Conduct an experiment to investigate collisions in one dimension
Task
Write a scientific report based around your research question.
You must modify (i.e. refine, extend or redirect) an experiment in order to address your own related hypothesis or question.
You may use a practical performed in class, a related simulation or another practical related to Unit 2 Topic 1 (as negotiated with your teacher) as the basis for your methodology and research question.
To complete this task you must:
● identify an experiment to modify
● develop a research question to be investigated
● research relevant background scientific information to inform the modification of the research question and methodology
● conduct a risk assessment and account for risks in the methodology
● conduct the experiment
● collect relevant qualitative data and/or quantitative data to address the research question
● process and present the data appropriately
● analyse the evidence to identify trends, patterns or relationships
● analyse the evidence to identify uncertainty and limitations
● interpret the evidence to draw conclusion/s to the research question
● evaluate the reliability and validity of the experimental process
● suggest possible improvements and/or extensions to the experiment
● communicate findings in an appropriate scientific genre, e.g. report, poster presentation, journal article, conference presentation.
The following aspects of the task may be completed as a group
identifying an experiment
developing a research question
conducting a risk assessment
conducting the experiment
collecting data
Checkpoints
Week 1 of task: Select experiment and identify proposed modifications.
Week 2 of task: Perform. experiment and process data.
Week 3 of task: Analyse and evaluate evidence.
Week 4 of task: Friday 30/05 8:25am FIDO - Draft Due.
Week 5 of task: Friday 06/06 8:25am FIDO - Final Due.
Authentication strategies
● You will be provided class time for task completion.
● Your teacher will collect and annotate a draft.
● You must acknowledge all sources.
● Your teacher will compare the responses of students who have worked together in groups.
● You must submit your response to FIDO (utilises Turnitin).
● You must submit a declaration of authenticity.
● You will provide documentation of your progress at indicated checkpoints.
Scaffolding
The response must be presented using an appropriate scientific genre (scientific report) and contain:
● a research question
● a rationale for the experiment
● reference to the initial experiment and identification and justification of modifications to the methodology
● raw and processed qualitative data and/or quantitative data
● analysis of the evidence
● conclusion/s based on the interpretation of the evidence
● an evaluation of the methodology and suggestions of improvements and extensions to the experiment
● a reference list.
An example of how one of the practicals could be modified to develop a research question. The developed research question below cannot be used for this investigation. Practical that will be modified: Conduct an experiment to investigate the parallel component of the weight of an object down an inclined plane at various angles.
Research question: What is the relationship between the angle of inclination and the magnitude of the frictional force for a given rectangular-based wooden object on a given wooden surface?
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Steps
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Details
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Identify the independent variable to be
investigated.
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Angle of inclination.
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Identify the dependent variable.
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Magnitude of the frictional force acting parallel to the inclined surface.
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Identify the methodology to be used.
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A rectangular wooden object will be placed on an inclined plane. The angle of inclination will be modified and the
parallel component of the object’s weight will be
measured using a data-logger force meter. This measured force will be subtracted from the theoretically expected
value of the parallel-to-the-surface component of the
weight to determine the magnitude of the frictional force acting parallel to the inclined surface.
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Draft research questions.
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What is the relationship between angle of inclination and the frictional force on an inclined surface?
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Present research
question to teacher for approval.
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What is the relationship between the angle of inclination and the magnitude of the frictional force for a given
rectangular-based wooden object on a given wooden surface?
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