MG Science-Practical Reports

YEAR 8 SCIENCE Practical Investigation Report

Investigation conducted by: Anna Lofthouse

Partner: Lotus Jeffs

Date: 2/5/14

Title of Prac:
Expansion & Heat

Aim: To observe how heating a gas causes it to expand
1




Hypothesis: It was estimated that the balloon would fill with air, because the cold
water would encourage the steam to rise. Therefore, the balloon would house the
remaining steam and expand.




Apparatus:
Glass bottle
Hot tap water
Balloon


Diagram:


1
The information stated from the aim to the method was provided by: Rickard, G.
(2011). Pearson science 8. 1st ed. Port Melbourne, Vic.: Pearson Australia, p.219-220.


Balloon
Glass Bottle
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Method:

1. First of all, our group filled the glass bottle with hot tap water.
2. Secondly, My partner and I poured out the hot water and quickly stretched the
balloon over the mouth of the bottle.
3. Finally, we let the bottle cool in a tub of cool
water.


Results:

The balloon was suddenly being dragged through the bottle, and soon the whole
balloon was completely engulfed. The bottle was considerably cooler, and the tub of
water was still fairly cold.

Discussion / Analysis

The experiment was successful, but our hypothesis was proven wrong. My partner
and I decided that because the temperature dropped, the particles compressed, and
that was why the balloon didnt rise. So instead the particles began to clump
together, and the particles of air inside the balloon also began to clump, and the
balloon was stuck in a vacuum-like effect, which was caused by the removal of
energy from the air particles.

1. a. I believe that this is a physical change.
b. I believe that this is a physical change because the particles have just
contracted together, and no new substance was formed.

2. When the steam was in the test tube with the balloon on the mouth, we then
stuck the test tube in cold water. The particles contracted together, causing a
vacuum like effect, which caused the balloon to be sucked into the test tube.
It seems as though the cold water minimised the expansion of the particles
Hot Tap Water
MG Science-Practical Reports
by reducing the amount of heat in the tube, resulting in less energy for the
particles, resulting in the particles clumping together.

3.




Conclusion:

In conclusion, I successfully observed the expansion and contraction of gases. My
hypothesis was proven wrong, but the balloon showed us a physical example of the
way gas and energy work, and I now have a clearer understanding of the concept of
particle contraction.


MG Science-Practical Reports
Year 8 Science Practical Rubric
Comment:


/25
Name
Title
Partners Name
Date


1
All present and
accurate
0
Not present or
accurate
Aim 1
Present and
accurate
0
Not present or
inaccurate
Hypothesis 3
Clear and
logical, includes
explanation
2
Clear and
accurate, but no
why
1
Present but
incomplete or
inaccurate
0
Not present
Materials /
Apparatus and
Diagram
2
Present,
accurate and
clearly labelled
1
Some present,
accurate and
clearly labelled
0
None present
Method 3
Complete and
accurate
2
Accurate but
not in
past/impersonal
1
Present but
incomplete or
inaccurate
0
Not present
Results
(Graph/Table)
3
All data clearly
recorded and
accurately
represented
2
Most data
clearly recorded
and accurately
represented
1
Some data
clearly recorded
and accurately
represented
0
None present
Discussion and
Analysis
8 7
All results
clearly and
accurately
analysed.
All calculations
clear and
accurate.
All limitations,
modifications
and revisions
identified.


6 5
Most results
clearly and
accurately
analysed.
Most
calculations
clear and
accurate.
Most
limitations,
modifications
and revisions
identified.

4 3
Some results
clearly and
accurately
analysed.
Some
calculations
clear and
accurate.
Some
limitations,
modifications
and revisions
identified.

2 1
One or two of
the results,
calculations and
limitations are
identified.
0
No discussion
or analysis
present
Conclusion 3
Accurate, refers
back to the
aim/hypothesis
2
Clear and
accurate
1
Present but
incomplete or
inaccurate
0
Not present
Student
Conduct during
Practical
1
Exhibited good
safe, scientific
practice
0
Exhibited poor
scientific
practice or
unsafe
behaviour