Sample Extended Practical Investigation Guidelines & Assessment Rubric
As part of their studies in Physics, students are required to develop and carry out an extended practical
investigation, or EPI, on one of the topics studied. Completing this investigation in the topic of ‘Motion
in 1 and 2 dimensions’ is worth 40% of the school assessed coursework mark for Unit 3.
Students should be given the equivalent of 400 minutes of class time in which to complete the
investigation. All stages of the investigation; including planning and designing, setting up, data
collection, analysis, evaluation and writing up of the experimental report should be included in this time.
All students are expected to maintain a logbook during the experiment and produce their own
experimental report at the conclusion of the allowed time. While students may work in pairs to design and
conduct the experiment, the analysis and evaluation components should be completed individually and
without communication between members.
SECTION A – Planning
Choosing a suitable topic for investigation is perhaps the most difficult component of the student
designed practical investigation task. Students will need to take special care to ensure that they will be
able to control all of the variables in their investigation in order to determine the effect that their chosen
independent variable has on the dependent variable under investigation.
In their planning students should include; materials that will be required, possible risks that may be
associated with the experiment as well as anticipating problems that they might encounter while
conducting the experiment.
Use of the Student Planning Sheet provided will help to ensure that students are well prepared prior to
commencing the experiment.
SECTION B – Conducting the Experiment
When conducting the experiment, each student should ensure that they maintain detailed records of all
results and observations in their own logbook. It is the responsibility of students to ensure that their
logbook is regularly sighted and signed by their teacher.
Data sets that are collected should be repeated in order to ensure that errors and uncertainties are kept to a
minimum.
Students should demonstrate the following abilities/skills whilst conducting the experiment:
 Use experimental apparatus and equipment appropriately and safely.
 Make detailed and insightful observations and comments relevant to the experiment.
 Be able to identify inconsistencies or possible inaccuracies from experimental data and design.
 Be able to analyse and interpret data as it is collected to ensure that it is appropriate and accurate.
SECTION C – Report Writing
After having collected the data each student is then required to write a practical investigation report for
submission. The report should be no more than 1500 words in length and it should provide a detailed
account and analysis of the data collected.
Reports that achieve a high standard are well structured and demonstrate the following characteristics:
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A clear aim to the investigation.
A clear outline of the significant concepts, relationships and principles underpinning their investigation.
An outline of all relevant variables, including controlled and uncontrolled variables.
A process of obtaining reliable and repeatable results.
A discussion of the limitations of the apparatus and measuring instruments.
A detailed analysis of the data collected which should be used to derive some relationships between the
variables and quantities measured or observed.
• An analysis of the degree of uncertainty in the data and how this affects the uncertainty of any physical
quantities that are calculated as a result of the investigation.
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When writing your report remember to:
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Include a title and contents page.
Ensure that your name and VCAA number are on each page.
Ensure that each page is numbered. E.g. page 5 of 15.
Include a full list of references and resources.
Tables of data, graphs, diagrams, formulae and calculations are not included in the word count.
Ensure that all pages are firmly stapled together.
Place your report and logbook inside a clear sheet protector.
Keep a copy of your final report in a safe place.
The structure of your report should reflect the natural story line of your investigation. It is important that
your report is done logically, concisely, neatly, independently and on time. Remember, the easier it is for
the marker to locate and read the relevant information in your report, the more potential there is for
higher grades. So the use of appropriate headings is important!
No particular headings are specified, but the following set, with descriptions should give you an idea.
Section
Description
Aim
The aim should be a short, concise description of what you are intending to
investigate by doing this experiment.
Variables
A list of all the variables investigated or that might affect the experimental outcome,
each with a comment of its relevance to the topic. Which ones did you control (keep
constant) and which ones did you vary? Were there any uncontrolled variables? Were
there any variables that you assumed were constant throughout the experiment?
Physics Ideas
Explanation of the physics principles that are the basis of the measurements and
calculations in your chosen topic. This includes definitions of concepts and statements
of relationships.
Procedure
This extensive section should list all of the equipment you used and why it was
chosen.
(The following
subheadings should
be used)
• Apparatus
• Method
• Problems &
Solutions
A labelled photo/diagram of the experimental setup is important. The accuracy of
each measuring instrument can be included at this stage.
The description of your method should be detailed, but it can be explained in simple
point form.
Difficulties and how they were overcome should also be mentioned at this stage.
Results
(The following
subheadings should
be used)
This section will make up the bulk of your report. It should contain tables, graphs,
calculations and your comments about the implications of the results and the
relationship these have to theory. You need only show one sample calculation of each
type in your text.
• Results
• Analysis of
Results
• Errors &
Uncertainties
All graphs should have a heading, their axes labelled and the correct units shown.
Conclusion
A paragraph summarizing the main findings of your investigation. It should use the
analysis of your results to address the original aim of the investigation. Any
differences between expected and obtained results should also be commented on. As
should the possibilities for extending or improving the investigation.
Explain all sources of error qualitatively, put error bars on graphs, analyse any
percentage errors where possible.
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Evaluating Your Practical Investigation
The following is a list of the important questions that you should ask yourself when you are checking that
your report addresses the assessment criteria.
The extent to which the report demonstrates
1.
Understanding of the purpose of the investigation
• Have I explained why I chose this topic, and what I hoped to achieve?
• Is my explanation clear and to the point?
• Is the rest of my report consistent with my stated aim?
• Is the structure of my report apparent and easy to follow?
• Have I identified the scope and limitations of my investigation?
2.
Understanding of relevant physics ideas
• Have I identified all the significant concepts, relationships and principles of my topic?
• Have I explained their meaning and links between them?
• Have I used the relevant physics concepts, relationships and principles correctly and clearly
throughout the report?
• Have I explained the physics concepts in my investigation with which another Year 12 student
would be unfamiliar?
• Have I explained the physics relationships behind my method and calculations?
3.
Understanding of the significance of relevant variables of the investigation
• Have I referred to the features I intended to investigate?
• Have I mentioned all possible factors or aspects of my topic, and explained why I chose to
investigate those that I did and rejected those that I did not?
• Have I explained why some variables are fixed and others vary?
4.
Skill in the appropriate use of the apparatus including measuring instruments
• Have I mentioned why a particular piece of equipment was chosen, and not another?
• Have I indicated the limitations of the equipment I chose?
• Have I used the equipment correctly and safely?
• Have I measured to the accuracy possible?
5.
Control of variables
• Have I indicated all the difficulties small and not so small that arose and how I dealt with them?
• Was I clever enough to avoid any difficulties and have I indicated how I did so?
• How did I go about controlling the variables in my investigation?
• Were the strategies I used the best in the circumstances?
6.
Understanding of the process of obtaining reliable results
• Have I made repeated observations and measurements of all relevant variables?
• Do my measurements cover a suitable range?
• Did I collect enough data on which to base a confident analysis and conclusion?
• Do the measurements link to the purpose of my investigation and relate to my conclusions?
• Have I indicated how reliable I consider my data?
• Have I acknowledged possible sources of error and indicated how I allowed for them in my
analysis?
• Have I indicated the limitations of accuracy of my measurements, either due to the scale on the
instrument or the variation in repeated readings?
• Have I repeated measurements where necessary, and where possible?
• Have I used significant figures correctly?
• Do my graphs have error bars? Do my tables indicate the uncertainty in the data?
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7.
Depth in the analysis of the data
• Is my data clearly presented?
• Are all my graphs correctly labelled?
• Have I analysed the data to the best of my ability?
• Have I explored all possible patterns in my results?
8.
Competence in drawing conclusions related to the investigation
• Are my explanations physically consistent with the data?
• Is the conclusion linked to the original purpose and does it logically follow from the analysis?
• How is my conclusion limited by the accuracy of my data and analysis?
• Does my conclusion indicate the extent to which my investigation achieved its purpose?
• Is what I found, what I expected? If so, how close is the agreement? If not. Why not?
• Have I identified how my investigation could have been improved?
• Have I indicated how the equipment and methods I used limited my investigation?
• Have I identified how my investigation could be extended?
9.
Skill in communicating physics ideas
• Have I used the names, units and symbols for physical quantities and their relationships
correctly?
• Is the presentation of my data, graphs, etc. according to accepted convention?
• Is my purpose and method clear?
• Are my headings meaningful?
• Does the middle section of the report flow naturally?
• Is the conclusion of the report clearly and simply expressed?
• Does the article make clear links to the report?
Possible assessment criteria guidelines.
Criterion 1:
Plan a practical investigation, using equipment correctly and safely in conducting practical work.
1.
Explains the purpose of the investigation.
2.
Identifies the relevant variables and explains how they are controlled and/or investigated.
3.
Demonstrates the appropriate, safe and accurate use of the apparatus used.
4.
Potential risks were identified and strategies to reduce them were included and used.
Criterion 2:
Observe and record sufficient data accurately and estimate uncertainties.
5.
Explains how the investigation was undertaken, discusses any problems encountered and their
solution.
6.
Evaluates the overall success of the investigation.
7.
Included sufficient data/observations in order to satisfy the purpose of the investigation.
8.
The logbook contained all collected data, observations and comments. It was neatly and logically set
out.
Criterion 3:
Analysis and interpretation of experimental data.
9.
Tables, graphs and diagrams were used to appropriately display data, results and to convey ideas.
10. Measurements and calculations contained the correct treatment of significant figures.
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Criterion 4:
Evaluation of the practical work.
11. The student was able to interpret their experimental data and reach relevant and valid conclusions.
12. Demonstrates an appropriate depth of analysis of uncertainties.
Criterion 5:
Knowledge and application of appropriate physics terms, concepts and relationships.
13. Demonstrates an appropriate depth of analysis of the relevant physics.
14. Uses appropriate calculations, physics language and symbols to clearly communicate to the reader.
15. Graphs, charts, tables of values and diagrams were appropriately and clearly labelled.
A possible assessment rubric is included at the end of this booklet.
Please turn to the next page.
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Student Planning Sheet
Student Name:
Partner's Name:
Topic of Investigation:
Give a brief explanation of what you intend to investigate in your experiment.
The independent variable in your experiment will be:
In the space provided below list the materials and equipment you will require in order to conduct the
investigation. Draw a labelled diagram to illustrate your proposed experimental set up.
Materials & Equipment
Diagram of Experimental Set Up
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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List all the Physics concepts and ideas that you think are relevant to your investigation.
What possible problems do you anticipate encountering during the investigation and what measures will
you be taking to try to avoid them?
What possible risks are there and what are the safety precautions you will be taking during this
experiment?
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Name:
Unit 3 - Student designed practical investigation on Motion in one and two dimensions for Outcome 1 - Assessment Rubric
Teacher’s comments:
Criterion 1: Plan a practical investigation, using equipment correctly and safely in conducting practical work.
1.
Explains the purpose of the investigation.
2
1
0
2.
Identifies the relevant variables and explains how they were controlled and/or investigated.
2
1
0
3.
Demonstrates the appropriate, safe and accurate use of the apparatus.
2
1
0
4.
Potential risks were identified and strategies to reduce them were included and used.
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
3
2
1
0
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
14. Uses appropriate calculations, physics language and symbols to clearly communicate to the reader.
4
3
2
1
0
15. Graphs, charts, tables of values and diagrams were appropriately and clearly labelled.
4
3
2
1
0
Criterion 2:
Explains how the investigation was undertaken, discusses any problems encountered and their solution.
6.
Evaluates the overall success of the investigation.
7.
Included sufficient data/observations in order to satisfy the purpose of the investigation.
8.
The logbook contained all collected data, observations and comments. It was neatly and logically set out.
9.
3
Observe and record sufficient data accurately and estimate uncertainties.
5.
Criterion 3:
4
4
3
4
3
Analysis and interpretation of experimental data.
Tables, graphs and diagrams were used to appropriately display data, results and to convey ideas.
5
4
3
10. Measurements and calculations contained the correct treatment of significant figures.
Criterion 4:
Evaluation of the practical work.
11. The student was able to interpret their experimental data and reach relevant and valid conclusions.
5
4
12. Demonstrates an appropriate depth of analysis of uncertainties.
Criterion 5:
Knowledge and application of appropriate physics terms, concepts and relationships.
13. Demonstrates an appropriate depth of analysis of the relevant physics.
5
Numerical Summary:
50
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