1.

2 Scientific Investigation
x x
A curve with a negative gradient does not pass through the origin.
Interpret graph of different shapes
y y y inversely
y proportional to x
y directly
proportional to x

x 1
x A curve with a negative gradient does not cut both x
A straight line (with positive gradient) passing through the origin (0, 0). axes.
y
y increases linearly Analysing Graphs to Summarise an Investigation
with x
1. The relationship between two variables. Note: Refer to the above table.
x Method:
A straight line with positive gradient does not passing through the Interpret the shape of graph obtained.
origin.
2. The gradient of the graph. y
y y decreases linearly Calculate the gradient of the graph,
( x2 , y2 )
with x ∆y unit of y
m= unit of m = ( x1 , y1 ) ∆ y = y 2− y 1
∆x unit ofx
∆ x=x 2 −x 1
y 2− y 1 x
x =
A straight line with negative gradient does not passing through the x 2−x 1 y
origin.
3. The area under the graph.
y y Method: Calculate the area under the y2
y increases with x graph using the relevant formula for the Area of triangle
area. y1
Area of rectangle
x
x1 x2
x x 4. The interpolation to determine the value y
A curve with a positive gradient pass through the origin. of physical quantity. 40 - y = 25 unit, x =?
If the value of x is given, determine the
30-
value of y using interpolation and vice x = 3.0 unit,
20-
y y versa. y=?
10- l
y decreases with x
l l l x
0 1 23 4
5. The extrapolation to make a prediction. y4 -
a. Extrapolate the graph ×
×Line from
x = -1.0 unit, y = ? 3- ×
1 y = 2.0 unit, x = ?
2-
× experimental
data
1-
 b. Determine the value of x or y
concerned. Extrapolation line 5. Step 4 is repeated and the time as t2 is recorded.
l l l l l l l l l x
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
t 1 +t 2
6. The average time, t average = is calculated.
2
Experiment 1:
t average
Inference: The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum depends on its length. 7. The period of oscillation, T = and the value of T2 is
20
calculated.
Hypothesis: The longer the length of the simple pendulum, the longer its period of
oscillation.
8. Steps 2 to 6 is repeated with length of pendulum, l = 30.0 cm, 40.0
Aim: To investigate the relationship between the length of a simple cm, 50.0 cm, 60.0 cm and 70.0 cm.
pendulum, l and the period of oscillation of the simple pendulum, T.
9. The data is recorded in Table 1.6.
Variables: (a) Manipulated variable: Length of pendulum, l
(b) Responding variable: Period of oscillation of pendulum, T (c)
Constant variable: Mass of pendulum bob Result:
Apparatus: Retort stand, protractor, pendulum bob, stopwatch, metre rule and G-
clamp

Materials: 100 cm thread and two small pieces of plywood

Arrangement:

Analysis of Graph T2 against l is a …………………T2 is ……………to l

data:
Calculate gradient of the graph,
Procedure: 1. The apparatus is set up as shown in Figure 1.12.
Gradient, m=

2. The length of pendulum, l = 20.0 cm is adjusted.

Given T2 =
4 π2 l , T2 = m l
3. The pendulum bob at an angle of less than 10º from the vertical is g
displaced and released.
4 π2
4. The time, t1 taken for 20 complete oscillations is measured and  m= T2
recorded.
g

2
 4 π2
 g=
m

g= l

Conclusion: