The Higher LO3
September 17th, 2009
This week we have almost completed the theory part of the first unit in the Higher Physics course. We have considered uncertainties and how to calculate them before getting down to some real practical physics.
At the end of this first unit, students are required to have completed a small practical investigation into something related to Mechanics and Properties of Matter. This is called “learning outcome 3″ or LO3 for short. We are conducting the practical component of the LO3 this week. Some are investigating the gas laws, others, kinematics.
“The only source of knowledge is experience”
Albert Einstein
Einstein’s quote is rubbish, of course. But he has a point – from practical experience, you can really set your knowledge on solid foundations. This is the principle of having a practical element to teaching physics, where such facilities are available.
In the lab, keep your thoughts clearly on the basic principles of scientific investigation that you have already learned: only change one thing at a time, for example, controlling all other factors. Record exactly what you see: for example, the numbers on the voltmeter (indicating pressure indirectly) in the picture should be recorded with the minus sign. If a fire-breathing dragon should walk by your experiment, record the fact and comment on its relevance to the validity of your findings when you come to write up your report.
Your practical activity may be completed as part of a team: some measurements are difficult to do on your own. The report you write on the experiment, however, must be entirely your own work. There is a clear set of performance criteria which your report must meet and you must meet all of them for it to pass as satisfactory. You can find these criteria in the SQA arrangements documents, pages 26-28. There is a simple summary of what your report should include here.
Once you have written the first draft of your LO3 report, before you submit it for marking to your teacher, listen to this podcast tutorial: it takes you through the checklist of essential things your report should have. Enjoy your practical work: here’s another quote to think about, this time from Karl Marx:
“Practice without theory is blind. Theory without practice is sterile.”
Categories: Higher Physics, Practical Physics | Tags: Higher Physics, LO3
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not atall helpful
Thanks for the feedback @kyle – what would be helpful for you?