Last minute revision

Paper 4 – Alternative to coursework

 Fieldwork
Weather Paper 4
experi-
Instruments question types
ments
and
Clouds
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Stratus
Alto Cumulous
Alto Stratus
Nimbostratus
Cirrostratus
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Cirrus HOME
River fieldwork
To measure the depth of the channel
to draw a cross-section:
1. Place a ranging pole on either side
of the channel
2. Measure the width of the channel using a tape
measure
3. Measure the depth of the channel every 50cm
using a meter rule

To measure the stream velocity:

2. Measure out 10m using the tape measure and
mark using ranging poles
3. Use something that floats and time how long it
takes to travel 10m using a stopwatch
4. Repeat the experiment to get a more reliable
set of results

Note: You could improve this experiment by using

a flowmeter and by repeating the experiment on
different parts of the rivers course
 Beach fieldwork
To measure a slope or beach profile:
1. Measure the width of the beach using the tape
measure
2. Place a ranging pole every 5m
3. Measure the angle between each ranging pole
using the Clinometer being careful to keep the
ranging poles straight
4. Another member of the group should record the
results

To measure long shore drift:

2. Place ranging poles 20m apart parallel to the
sea
2. Throw an orange into the waves from the central
point
3. Time with a stopwatch how long it takes for the orange to travel the 10m.
Record both speed and direction of long shore drift.
4. Repeat the experiment

Note: This experiment can be improved by repeating it on another part of the

beach for comparison or in different sea conditions.
 Infiltration rates
1. Place the tube on the ground. Hold it down so that no water escapes from the bottom
2. Measure out 100cl of water with a measuring cylinder and pour the water into the
tube
3. Time with the stopwatch how long it takes for the water to infiltrate into the soil. The
quicker it takes, the higher the infiltration rate.
4. Repeat the experiment

Note: Infiltration rates will be higher after rain because the ground will be saturated.
Erosion of the ground (on footpaths) will slow down infiltration rates.
 Writing questions
1. Study the hypotheses to see what data you need to collect with your questions
2. Closed questions are usually the most appropriate

Example:
Hypothesis – “People will travel further to visit the CBD than a local shop”
Hypothesis – “People will spend more money in the CBD than a local shop”

Questions:
How far have you travelled to shop today?
a. Less than 1km
b. Between 1 and 5km
c. More than 10 km

How much have you spent today?

d. Less than 10 pounds
e. Between 10 and 40 pounds
f. More than 40 pounds
 Surveys HOME

This is when information is collected visually. You give a score

to a location by judging it against criteria.

Example:
0 1 2 3
Very few parks, few litter Many parks, well cared for
bins, untidy
Houses are small and Large houses, detached
cramped together
Lots of noise, traffic Quiet environment, clean
congestions air

You may be asked about planning this experiment, that would deciding how you
were going to judge what is very noise, quite noisy etc. Splitting up the study area
between groups, staying in pairs for safety etc.
 Method questions
These are questions about how you do an experiment

Name the fieldwork equipment and how you would use it in this
experiment
 Results questions
You might be asked to describe a set of results

Describe the trend or pattern

Back up your description with data

Example:

Temperatures rose during the study period, from 12 degrees C

on Monday to 14 degrees C on Friday.
 Conclusions questions
You might be asked to write a conclusion to an experiment. Look at
the hypothesis and the data and then write your conclusion using the
hypothesis as a starting point. Back it up with data if the question asks
for it.
 Example:

The hypothesis is correct, temperatures were higher when there were

lower amounts of rainfall. On Monday there was 5mm of rain and
temperature was 12 degrees C but on Wednesday there was no rain
and temperature was 16 degrees C.
 Evaluation questions
You might be asked to suggest improvements to an experiment.

Here are some things you can say that will always be relevant:

They should repeat the experiment to get a more accurate result

They should repeat the experiment on different

days/seasons/conditions to be able to make a comparison

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