GCSE Biology ISA Acid Rain Method

Hypothesis

The higher the concentration of acid in a solution used to water seeds, the less the seeds will grow.

Equipment

• Seeds
• Distilled water
• Sulfuric acid (dilute)
• Measuring cylinders
• Filter paper
• Petri dishes
• Beaker
• Pipette
• Ruler

Method

Start by pouring 40 cm^3 of the distilled water into the beaker. Place 3 small discs of filter paper into the petri dish, fill with water and then empty (into the sink). Spread a few seeds on the filter paper. Put the lid on the dish and label. Repeat this process for the other petri dishes but each time replace 1cm cubed of the distilled water in the beaker with 1cm cubed of the sulphuric acid. For example, the second set of readings will be with 39 cm cubed of water and 1 cm cubed of sulfuric acid. Once this is done for several dishes, leave them in a warm place (a window ledge would be ideal) for 24 hours. For each set of seeds, record how many seeds have produced leaves (and any other relevant observations you can make).

Variables

Independent - Concentration of acid

Dependent - Growth of seeds

Control - Number of seeds planted, type of seeds planted, amount of light/temperature seeds grown in.

Risk Assessment

This is a very low risk experiment. Care should be taken when handling the acid - a pipette should be used and spills should be wiped up immediately in the appropriate way.

GCSE Chemistry Neutralisation ISA method

Hypothesis


Increasing the amount of alkali solution causes the amount of acid solution required for neutralisation to increase.


Equipment

• Sodium Hydroxide solution
• Phenolphthalein solution
• Dilute hydrochloric acid
• White tile
• Conical flask
• Small measuring cylinder
• Burette and funnel

Method

First of all measure a small amount (10 centimetres cubed) of sodium hydroxide solution into the conical flask. Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein and place the conical flask onto the white tile. Using the burette, slowly add hydrochloric acid solution to the until the sodium hydroxide is neutralised. Record how much hydrochloric acid was needed to neutralise the sodium hydroxide. Repeat the process increasing the amount of sodium hydroxide solution each time.


Risk Assessment

Take care handling the chemicals - wear goggles and handle any spill appropriately. Perform the experiment standing up, keeping the area around the experiment clear of bags,coats etc. This is a low risk experiment.

GCSE Physics Time Period ISA Mass on a spring ISA

Hypothesis

The greater the mass that is attached to a spring the longer the time period will be.


Equipment

100g masses and hanger
Spring
Metre rule
Stopwatch
Clamp stand
G-clamp


Method

Fix the clamp stand to the bench using the G-clamp. Hook the spring onto the clamp stand and hang the mass hanger onto the other end of the spring. The mass hanger has a mass of 100g so this will be the first mass to be tested. Pull the mass hanger down by 3cm (as measured using the metre rule) and start the stopwatch as soon as the masses are released. Stop the stopwatch as soon as the mass has been through 10 complete oscillations (an up and a down). Add mass and repeat the process adding more mass each time.


Risk Assessment

This is a safe, low risk experiment. The only potential dangers are in the wire of the spring snap and hitting an experimenter in the eye and masses falling onto feet. To minimise these risks, wear goggles at all time and ensure that the area underneath the masses and spring is kept clear.

GCSE Biology GCSE Additional Science ISA method Fatigue

Hypothesis

The harder your muscles work, the sooner they become fatigued

Equipment

Stopwatch

Method

Sitting at a desk, resting your elbow on the desk, clench and unclench your fist once every 3 seconds. Record how long it takes before it becomes too difficult to keep doing this - this is the point where your muscles are fatigued. Rest for a short while and repeat this process, each time increasing the rate at which you're clenching and unclenching your fist.

Variables

Independent - Rate of fist clenching/unclenching

Dependent - Time for muscles to become fatigued

Control variables - Arm/hand used for fist clenching, rest time in between tests

Risk Assessment

This is a very safe, low risk experiment but might be painful. Make sure you rest your arm in between tests.

GCSE Physics GCSE Further Additional Science ISA Refraction method

Hypothesis

“When you increase the angle of incidence, you increase the angle of refraction”

Equipment

Ray box and slits

Rectangular glass block

Protractor

Ruler and pencil

Plain paper

Method

Place the glass block on the paper and draw around it. Add a normal to the diagram. Shine a narrow beam of light at the point where the normal hits the glass block. Draw 2 crosses along the incident ray and 2 crosses along the ray that leaves the block on the other side of the block. Take the glass block away and connect up the rays. Measure the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction and record in a table. Adjust the angle of incidence and repeat the process.

Variables

Independent variable: Angle of incidence (measured with a protractor)

Dependent variable: Angle of refraction (measured with a protractor)

Control variables: Width of beam, brightness of beam, colour of beam, refractive index of glass block

Risk Assessment

This is a very low risk experiment. Care must be taken to avoid burns from the ray box if it gets hot. To avoid this, keep the voltage low and turn off the ray box in between readings. 

GCSE Additional Science GCSE Chemistry ISA method Catalysts

Hypothesis

The more manganese oxide is used as a catalyst, the faster hydrogen peroxide will decompose.


Equipment

Conical flask and delivery tube
Bowl of water
Measuring cylinder (100 centimetres cubed)
Measuring cylinder (25 cm cubed)
Hydrogen Peroxide (10 vol)
Manganese oxide
Spatula
Top-pan balance
Stopwatch


Method

Pour some hydrogen peroxide (15ml) into the conical flask. Pass the delivery tube into the bowl of water underneath an upturned and filled measuring cylinder (100 cm^3). Add 0.01g of Manganese oxide to the hydrogen peroxide and start the stopwatch. Measure how long it takes for 50 cm^3 of oxygen to be produced. Repeat this process with larger masses of Manganese oxide (adding 0.01g at a time until 0.07g is added).


Risk Assessment

It is important to wear safety goggles to avoid any splashes hitting eyes. Provided goggles are worn this is a low risk experiment.

GCSE Additional Science GCSE Physics ISA Light dependent resistors LDRs

Hypothesis

As the intensity of light falling on a beaker increases, the resistance of the LDR decreases.

Equipment

• Light dependent resistor (LDR)
• Leads
• Multimeter
• Bench lamp
• Metre rule

Method

Connect up the LDR to the multimeter. The multimeter should be set to measure resistance. Place the bench lamp so that it is 1m away from the LDR (use the metre rule to measure this). Turn on the bench lamp and record the resistance of the LDR. Move the lamp 10cm closer (to 90cm) and repeat the process. Continue this until the lamp is 10cm from the LDR

Variables

Independent Variable: Distance between lamp and LDR (or light intensity)

Dependent variable: Resistance of LDR

Control Variables: Type of LDR, resistance of connecting leads, brightness of lamp

Risk Assessment

This is a low risk experiment but care must be taken to avoid burns from the bench lamp. To minimise this risk, ensure that the lamp is turned off in between readings.

Core Science Chemistry GCSE ISA Reactivity of Metals

Hypothesis

"The temperature rise when a metal reacts with a solution of copper chloride varies with the reactivity of the metal"

Equipment

• 25 cm3 measuring cylinder
• Thermometer
• Plastic cup
• Beaker
• Spatula
• Glass rod
• Balance
• Copper Chloride solution 
• Metal powders

Method

First of all place the plastic cup in the beaker and pour in 25cm3 of copper chloride solution, Now, measure the temperature of the solution. Using the balance, weigh out 0.5g of one of the metal powders, add to the copper chloride solution and stir. Now measure the new temperature of the solution and record in a table. Wash out the plastic cup and repeat for the other metal powders.

Variables

Independent variable: Type of metal powder

Dependent variable: Change in temperature of copper chloride solution (measured with thermometer)

Control variables : Volume of copper chloride solution, starting temperature of copper chloride solution, mass of metal powder.

Risk Assessment

The experiment is relatively safe. Care must be taken with handling the metal powders (using a spatula) and the copper chloride solution. These are low risks and can be minimized by mopping up spillages immediately.

Core Science Biology GCSE ISA Plant Extracts

Hypothesis (remember this is given to you in Core Science ISAs)

"Extracts from some plants have properties similar to those of medical antibiotics"

Equipment

• Test tubes which have plant extracts in them
• A Petri dish with nutrient agar with safe bacteria 
• Filter paper
• A disc containing an antibiotic
• Forceps
• Bunsen Burner
• Incubator 
• Sellotape
• Scissors
• Marker Pen

Method

First of all, you need to sterilise a pair of forceps - this can be done by holding them in a bunsen flame. Take a disc of filter paper (using the forceps) and place it in the test tube containing a plant extract. Shake the test tube to fully coat the filter paper. Now place the filter paper disc onto the agar jelly in the Petri dish. Label the petri dish with the name of the plant extract it contains.  Now repeat this process using different plant extracts. Use the same petri dish each time but make sure that there is plenty of space around each filter paper disc.Now add the disc containing the medical antibiotic to the agar in the petri dish. Seal up the petri dish with sellotape and place in the incubator.

After leaving for a day or two, measure the space around each disc where no bacteria are growing.

Variables

Independent Variable : Types of plant extract

Dependent Variable : Measurements of the space around each disc where no bacteria are growing

Control variables : Size of filter paper discs, type of agar (use the same petri dish), time of incubation

Risk Assessment

The risks with this experiment are all to do with handling the bacteria in a safe and sterile way. This is a low risk but you need to make sure that the petri dish remains sealed and that the forceps are well sterilised.

Context

This experiment might be useful to drugs companies or agricultural companies wanting to test which antibiotics are most effective to use as pesticides for different situations

Core Science Physics GCSE ISA Wind Turbines Method

Core Science Physics GCSE ISA Wind Turbines

Hypothesis

‘The output voltage from a wind turbine depends on the number of blades on the turbine.’

Equipment

• Electric motor
• Voltmeter
• Haridryer
• Leads
• Cork
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Clamp stand

Method

Connect up the voltmeter to the motor. For this experiment the motor is going to act as a generator. Attach the motor to the cork so that when the cork turns, the motor turns. Begin by adding 2 blades (made by cutting out the cardboard) onto the cork. Turn on the hairdryer to blow the turbine around. Record the voltage reading from the voltmeter. Now increase the number of turbine blades to 3 and repeat the process. Continue in this way until you have voltage readings for up to 8 blades. Record all your result in a table.

Variables

Independent Variable : Number of turbine blades

Dependent Variable : Voltage produced by generator (as read off the voltmeter)

Control Variables: Size of blades (make sure each blade is cut to exactly the same size), angle of blades (make sure each blade is attached to the cork at exactly the same angle) and speed of air from hairdryer (keep the same hairdryer at the same setting the same distance from the turbine throughout the experiment).

Risk Assessment

This experiment is a very safe one. Risks include burns from the hairdryer. This is a low risk but can be minimised by using the hairdryer on a cool setting and turning it off in between tests. Also, there is a risk of injury from being hit by the rotating turbine. This is also a low risk but can be minimised by using cardboard to make the blades.