Choosing the right graph format...

There are different graph formats for different types of data received after an experiment, which can be displayed efficiently in order for it to be compared or used later. There are three main graphs that can be used:

1) Line Graph- This type of graph allows you to see trends between two sets of continuous/numerical data. e.g. Speed and time. The independent variable is plotted against the dependant variable and as the line joining the results plotted on the graph allows you to clearly spot a pattern

2) Bar Chart- This type of graph is used to represent categorical data against its value. e.g.shoe size in a class, and is represented with bars, which means you are able to use the graph to compare the data by seeing whether the bars are either lower or higher than the other, against its frequency.

3) Histogram- These are best used for large sets of data, especially when the data has been grouped into classes. This type of graph consists of rectangles, where the area is proportional to the frequency of a variable and whose width is equal to the class interval. As the area represents the frequency, you need to firstly work out a frequency density. This is done by dividing the frequency by the class width.

Hope this helps...Thanks!

Collecting gas for an experiment...

I've found out that there are two different ways in which you can collect gas for an experiment! One is through water displacement, where as the other is using a gas syringe. The first method, is by using water displacement, where a measuring cylinder is filled with water (making sure there are no air bubbles), and turned upside down, with the mouth of the measuring cylinder still under water enabling the gas produced to be collected as it passes through the delivery tube. The other method is by using a gas syringe, in which the gas produced is collected in a syringe. The syringe is attached to a delivery tube that is connected to a flask in which the gas is being produced. Both methods allow you to collect gas however I would prefer to use a gas syringe as it produces more accurate results, therefore there are fewer anomalies as there would be fewer errors, as you are able to easily read the result, at eye level. Whereas using the first method, there is a bigger chance of an error and therefore an anomalous result as the set up is difficult to get right, and you can't get all the air out of the measuring cylinder, making this method a longer process...

Method 1: Water Displacement

Method 2: Gas Syringe

Which method would you prefer?... Thanks for reading.

Using a measuring cylinder...

I just did an activity on how to correctly measure the volume of a substance when using a measuring cylinder, and scored full marks!  It was really helpful, and I learnt that the readings should be taken by measuring the lowest part of the meniscus, at eye level. This activity showed me how to accurately measure, giving me the basics, allowing me to understand how to take readings in the future...

Should students study maths until 18?...

This is in response to Carol Voderman's view, that  students should continue maths until the age of 18: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14437665

I  agree with what Carol Vorderman has to say about the importance of Maths in our daily lives and therefore the consequences it could bring about to those who don’t value maths in education, especially being part of a growing economy. According to Susan Anderson: ‘Businesses are most concerned about basic levels of numeracy and it's alarming that more than one in five 16-19 year olds are considered functionally innumerate ’, therefore Carol Voderman is completely right, However there shouldn’t be a need to continue maths for another two years as teachers and the school are responsible to teach their students maths and fully prepare them with what will be needed as well as making students aware of its uses, in the future, and if this was done properly at a younger age then fewer pupils would be innumerate at 16. Forcing students to study maths would be completely pointless, if they don’t understand the need of it, and so it would be more useful if they learnt how to apply maths in real life situations. 

What do you think? Please post a comment in the comment box, Thanks.

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