ISA tips 2013

Here is the checklist and the uncertainties guide

AQA world ISA guide to calculating uncertainty

1. Is the variable independent (you change it) or dependent (several values and a mean)?
2. For independent variable, uncertainty is + or – smallest measurement on instrument
3. For dependent, plus or minus half the range,
4. Percentage uncertainty independent is precision / value then x 100%
5. Percentage uncertainty dependent is 0.5 x range / mean then x 100%
6. For percentage uncertainty of a calculated value, find the total percentage uncertainty by adding the parts of each calculation together

ISA Analysis

Stage One (graph and table)

What are you losing marks on?

Precision

Units

Calculations

Plotting

Scales

Best fit line

Section A (about your experiment)

What are you losing marks on?

Variables

Accuracy questions

Uncertainties
Improvements

Section B (related experiment)

What are you losing marks on?

Calculations

Variables

Graph plotting

Gradient calculation

“Theory predicts that…” rearranging equations

Describing another experiment