ADVICE+FOR+ALTERNATIVE+TO+COURSEWORK+PAPER

Back to IGCSE PHYSICS REVISION =ADVICE FOR ALTERNATIVE TO COURSEWORK PAPER= [|Advice for Alternative to Coursework paper.doc] - the same info in a document 1. Make sure that you know the names and can recognise the different pieces of apparatus. 2. Draw every diagram, table and graph or equipment with a pencil and ruler. 3. If you want to measure something, such as a height of liquid or volume of gas, make sure that whatever you use is graduated (has a scale). 4. When reading a scale, make sure you check the size of the graduations (eg 2 units). 5. To draw a table: · Label all headings with quantity (eg density) and unit (eg g/cm3) · Be consistent with the number of decimal places. If the figures in a table have two, keep the same even if the answer does not. e.g. 27.1 = 27.10, if all the rest have two decimal places. Never use more d.p. than given in the data. · Put readings in order of size. 6. The number of significant figures in an answer cannot be greater than the significant figures in the data. 7. When talking about measurements, mention the quantity eg ‘length’. Don’t say ‘the cm’ or ‘the reading’ or ‘the measurement’. 8. When you plot a graph, look to see if it is a straight line or curve and draw the smooth line of best fit accordingly. · Do not join the dots. · Label the axes with quantity and units · Do not include the origin in a graph unless the point (0,0) is stated. 9. If one result does not follow the trend, it is an ‘anomaly’. You should ignore it in the line of best fit and you may have to explain it. Look for the likely ‘reason’ such as ‘the student reversed the numbers’ or ‘read the wrong scale’ etc. Do not just say ‘it was not accurate’. 10. Make sure that you know what a fair test is. One quantity is changed and another measured. All the others are kept constant (otherwise you don’t know what caused the measurement). 11. In a method, mention that you will repeat measurements for accuracy. State the quantity (eg current), not just ‘the reading’ or ‘the measurement’. 12. Take note of the verbs (Calculate, Describe, Explain etc) AND the number of marks. You cannot score 5 marks with three points. Always show formula, working and unit for “Calculate”