SPACE STATION LEVELLED WORK: HOW SCIENCE WORKS

YOUR TASK:Unfortunately, you have lost the written part of the

investigation. Your boss needs it by tomorrow or you will lose your job! You must write it up again using the

information in the boxes below.

You work in a toy factory which has just made a new rocket. It works by using compressed air to force water out of a plastic bottle. Imagine you have filled the rocket

with various amounts of water and, using marks at 5 metre intervals on the side of a tall building, estimated how high the rocket flies. You wrote up the investigation for

your boss & included a graph, conclusion and evaluation. The results of your experiment are in the table below .

To achieve a Level 4 you must:

plot a simple graph of the results.

describe what happens to the height the rocket flies with different amounts of water in it.

To achieve a Level 6 you must:

choose a correct scale for the graph.

explain how any anomalies might have happened.

Give reasons as to how the method could be improved. Use ‘…because…’.

Volume of water (cm3)

Height of Rocket

(m)

0 1

200 5

400 28

600 30

800 40

900 45

1300 40

1500 30

1700 20

1900 10

2000 4

To achieve a Level 5 you must:

draw a graph with correct axes and units

describe and explain what happens to the height of the rocket with different amounts of water in it. You must use some numbers from the graph in your answer.

look at the graph and identify any volumes of water you want to repeat.

make practical suggestions for your improvements and explain them.To achieve a Level 7 you must:

draw a line of best fit on your graph.

identify any limitations in the evidence and consider whether the results are sufficient to make a valid conclusion.

How Science WorksWhat do I need to do to achieve Level 4?

• Choose all the equipment you will need• Say how you will make it a fair test• Identify the Independent variable and the

Dependent variable• Identify variables to control (keep the same)• Draw a simple table of results and a bar chart• Interpret data which contain positive and

negative numbers• Write a conclusion based on the data you have

collected using scientific knowledge

How Science WorksWhat do I need to do to achieve Level 5?

• Recognise hazard symbols and use them to identify simple risks in your investigation and say how you are going to control them

• Be able to design a method which collects data systematically

• Draw a line graph and write a scientific conclusion from it

• Use the correct terminology in table headings, graph axes

• Suggest ways to improve your investigation

How Science WorksWhat do I need to do to achieve Level 6?

• Choose equipment which is more precise• Decide on your own how to carry out the investigation• Explain the need to repeat your results• Identify a range of risks in each investigation and take

action to control them• Draw graphs on your own and choose your own scale• Write conclusions, explaining all of the results you

collect including data which does not fit your pattern using scientific words

• Be able to calculate mean and make valid conclusions with the manipulated data

• Suggest ways to improve your method

How Science WorksWhat do I need to do to achieve Level 7?

• Plan an investigation using information from a range of sources

• Identify key factors and be able to explain variables which are not easily controlled

• Choose the most appropriate method which will allow you to collect reliable data

• Explain why a risk assessment is needed• Draw a Line of Best Fit on a graph• Identify limitations in primary and secondary data• Use symbols and flow diagrams to communicate their

understanding• Evaluate the data collected to see if it is sufficient for

the conclusions made