Physical inquiry resources

This practical task requires students to follow an experimental design that investigates various forms of insulation. They are required to gather results, make a conclusion, and identify the variables.

Task: Interpret data from tables. Assessment focus: data interpretation.

Students answer two multiple choice questions about fair testing in the context of static electricity.

This practical task requires students to record temperatures of various areas in the school and to suggest reasons why some areas are warmer or cooler than others.

Task: Answer two multiple choice questions. Assessment focus: managing variables.

In this practical task students predict, and then measure the temperature of water from a range of familiar sources.

Task: Make a sound gun and use it to investigate what happens to a candle when the end of the sound gun is tapped. Assessment focus: sound waves.

Students are given stimulus material on the stopping distance of a toy car released from different heights. Students write an aim, the best way to present the results, identify the measurement required in order to calculate the average speed, and write a conclusion for the investigation.

Students are given an outline of an investigation on heat loss from two different shaped objects (a cube and a sphere). They answer questions on variable control, repeat trialling, and they then graph data from this investigation.

Students read a passage about a proposed fair test and then list four variables that need to be controlled.

Task: Answer two questions about judging model aeroplanes. Assessment focus: reading tables.

Task: Answer questions about the relationship between mass and stretch. Assessment focus: graph interpretation.

Students use stimulus material to answer a number of questions relating to temperature change in materials which are at different distances from a heat source.

Students carry out a simple experiment to illustrate refraction. They then explain why this happened.

Students carry out a simple experiment with static electricity and then explain their findings.

Task: Answer two questions about variables in an investigation about insulation and complete a graph. Assessment focus: fair testing.

This practical task requires students to test a number of circuits and to give reasons why some of the circuits do not work while others do. Students also look at other circuits and explain what happens to the brightness of the bulb.

Students interpret a circuit diagram to decide whether a bulb will glow with different settings of two switches.

Task: investigate reflection of light using a torch and mirror. Assessment focus: angle of reflection.

For this practical task students make observations about the effect of coloured lights on different coloured objects. Students then draw some conclusions about their findings.

Task: Predict whether given objects will float, investigate, then record and explain results. Assessment focus: flotation.

This practical task requires students to follow instructions for making a 'green fridge' to determine its efficiency. Students collect and record data from their investigation and answer questions.

Task: interpret data from a table and complete two calculations. The context is balancing a see-saw. Assessment focus: using a scientific formula to identify trends.

Students construct three different sized parachutes from plastic bags. They then carry out a fair test to see which sized parachute is the most effective. Students answer questions about fair tests, collect and record their results, and make a conclusion.

Students design a low energy house.