SYLLABIS EDUCATION

GRADE 10
Agricultural SCIENCE
Practical Task
Term 1
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT UNIT. It is sometimes neglected in schools but is
integral to success in all Grade 10 – 12 Exams

The YouTube clips embedded below must be watch and notes taken

1.1 Key words

Variable, independent, dependent, hypothesis, aim, prediction, apparatus, method,

results, analysis, validity, reliability, evaluation, conclusion

Factors that might change during the experiment are called variables.

The dependent variable is the thing that you want to measure or investigate.

The independent variable is a factor (or factors) that changes which will affect the
dependent variable.
Fixed variables, or controlled variables are factors that are kept constant

The Scientific Method Part 1: Coming up with an Experiment - YouTube

Hypothesis: a statement or prediction as to what you think will be the outcome or

result of your investigation.

The Scientific Method Part 2: Variables and Hypothesis - YouTube

Aim: In the aim you need to state what you going to be investigating.

Key words you can use are:

– To determine...
– To show that...
– To investigate...
– To find out...
– To observe...
– To measure...

Apparatus: the apparatus that you will need for the investigation needs to be listed.

Method: design an experiment that accurately tests your hypothesis. Listing the
apparatus helps others to verify that you used a suitable method and enables them to
replicate the experiment.
The Scientific Method Part 3: Setting up an Experiment - YouTube

Results: Record your observations from doing the investigation in a suitable format
such as tables and graphs.

Analysis of results or Discussion: The analysis of the results is stating in words

what the results are often saying in tables/graphs. Look for patterns/trends in your
graphs or tables and describe these clearly in words.
 Evaluation of results: This is where you answer the question “What do the results
mean?”

Were there any unusual results? If so then these should be discussed and possible
reasons for them can be given.

1.2 Complete Investigation

Discuss how you ensured the validity and reliability of the investigation.
Validity: Was it a fair test and did it test what it set out to test?

Valid Scientific Experiments - YouTube

Reliability: If the experiment were to be repeated would the results obtained be similar?
ensure reliability is to repeat the experiment several times and obtain an
average.

Discuss any experimental errors that may have occurred during the
experiment.

Conclusion: links the results to the aim and hypothesis. Write down if what was
observed is supported or rejected by the hypothesis

This is both by tables and graphs The units for the

numbers are only in the
headings and not in the
body of the table

Example of a good table

Length of Temperature of wire (co.)

wire (cm)
Trial one Trial two Trial three Mean value

10 55 57 56 56

20 64 64 64 64

30 68 70 69 69

40 75 85 75 77

50 86 85 84 85
An example of a good Graph

Your graph must have a title which explains what you are
plotting.
The Y axis is for your dependent variable.

Line of best fit could be

Use an easy to plot scale. Remember to

a straight line or a
curve, you need to
label the axis with a title and units.

Only plot mean

data, or
processed data

Line of best fit does not need

to go through all the points.

The x axis is for the independent variable

Use an easy to plot scale. Remember to label the

axis with a title and units. For example, “Length
Activity 1 Keeping Warm

Some students carried out the following experiments to find out which material was the best at
keeping something or somebody warm.

They wrapped different materials around boiling tubes of hot water and recorded the temperature
at regular intervals.

1.1 What should they do to make sure that their experiments are all fair tests? (4)

The materials they tried were:

Cotton wool

Cardboard

Shredded paper

1.2. Which one do you think would be the best?

Prediction

I think that _____________ would be best because ________________ (1)

This can be done at home watch the clip for method

GCSE Physics Required Practical 2 Thermal Insulation - YouTube

Here are their results.

Cotton Wool Cardboard Shredded Paper

Temperature Temperature Temperature
Time Time Time
(degrees (degrees (degrees
(min) (min) (min)
Celsius) Celsius) Celsius)
1 80 1 80 1 80
2 70 2 69 2 70
3 61 3 59 3 60
4 53 4 50 4 52
5 44 5 42 5 43
6 38 6 34 6 37
7 35 7 31 7 34
8 33 8 29 8 32
9 32 9 28 9 31
10 31 10 27 10 30

1.4.1 Try the following: Use graph paper if you can

a) Draw a bar chart for each of the materials. (8)

b) Draw a line graph for each set of results using the same axis. See below. (8)

[16]

STEPS TO FOLLOW.

i) Look at the tables and graphs, look for any odd results in tables or points that do
not fall on the line of best fit. Circle odd results. (2)

ii) Discuss why these points are not quite correct, think about problems that
might have occurred in the practical. (4)

iii) Discuss how you might solve these problems if you could do the practical
again.

If the problem cannot be solved, explain why? (1)

IV) Discuss how repeatable (reliable) the data was. Are repeat values close to
each other or not? How could you make your practical produce more reliable
data? (4)

VI) Discuss the good and bad points of the practical procedure. (2 x 2). (4)
[15]
 Watch this clip before you begin

CO₂ is necessary for Photosynthesis - YouTube

1.4.1
a) Identify dependent and independent variables. (2)

b) Compare your line graphs or bar charts. What is the trend? (3)

c) Which material would you use to line a jacket that you would wear in cold weather?
(2)
d) Can you think why this material is the best of the three? (3)

e) Are there any disadvantages to using this material? (3)

f) What do you think the control variables should be? (2)

[15]
1.5.1 Why was the plant kept in a dark place for 48 hours before it was placed
in sunlight?

Leaf B with perforated foil

Leaf A

Potassium hydroxide solution

1.5.2 Why was the plant kept in a dark place for 48 hours before it was placed
in sunlight? (1)

1.5.3 Looking at the diagrams given, which leaf (A or B) would be used:

(a) To show that CO2 is necessary for photosynthesis? (1)

(b) To show that light is necessary for photosynthesis? (1)

1.5.4 What is the role of the potassium hydroxide / sodium hydroxide in this
experiment? (1)

1.5.5 With which chemical will you test to see if photosynthesis takes place? (1)

TOTAL SECTION A: 50