There are\u00a0typically\u00a0six types of experiment-centric questions that can be tested:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Relationship<\/span> \u2013 What is the relationship between X\u00a0and Y?<\/li>\n
- Fair Test<\/span> \u2013 How do we ensure a fair test?<\/li>\n
- Reliability<\/span> \u2013 How can the experiment be more reliable?<\/li>\n
- Aim<\/span> \u2013 What is the aim of the experiment?<\/li>\n
- Conclusion<\/span> \u2013 What can you conclude from the experiment?<\/li>\n
- Control Set-up<\/span> \u2013 What is the purpose of the control set-up?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
I’m sure you’ve probably seen a variation of one of the above questions in your child’s examination paper.<\/p>\n
\n
Read Also<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Tackling Conclusion Type Questions<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- FAQ: The Pique Lab \u2013 Experimental Techniques Masterclass<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- The CUE Method To Tackle Data-Based Questions<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Many\u00a0students often struggle to structure their answers in a coherent & scientific manner, causing\u00a0them to lose marks unnecessarily.<\/p>\n
The good news is\u00a0that we know what are the possible experiment-centric questions that can be tested!<\/p>\n
We’re able to help your child prepare these answers ahead of their examinations & execute them when they see something similar. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Isn’t that amazing?<\/span><\/h2>\n
In our previous article, we discussed tackling conclusion-type questions<\/strong><\/a>, arguably one of the more challenging experiment-centric questions.<\/p>\n
Today, we’ll be looking at how to tackle control set-up questions<\/span>. It is often expressed in the following format:<\/p>\n
\n
What is the purpose of the control set-up?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
For this particular question, students are often\u00a0able\u00a0to identify the changed variable and the measured variable in the question. The challenge lies in\u00a0using the correctly identified variables to structure their answers properly.<\/p>\n
As such, I would like to introduce a template answer<\/a> to help your child with control set-up questions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Question<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/14Jul-ETMC-ControlSetUp.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Thought Process<\/span><\/h2>\n
A control set-up is often needed to ensure that the experiment is valid & accurate. It serves as\u00a0a baseline for the comparison of the results of the main experiment.<\/p>\n
The control set-up will also rule out other environmental variables from affecting the results and eventually help to establish the\u00a0conclusion of the experiment.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the control set-up is in place to\u00a0ensure that the measured variable (dependent variable)<\/span>\u00a0is affected only<\/em> by the changed variable (independent variable)<\/span>\u00a0and not any other variable in the experiment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Template Answer<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
The purpose of preparing Set-up __ is to act as a control set-up to ensure that the _____________ (measured variable) is only caused by the ___________ (changed variable) and not any other variables in the experiment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
Final Answer<\/span><\/h2>\n
With reference to part (b) of the above question…<\/p>\n
The purpose of preparing Set-up B is to act as a control set-up to ensure that the change observed in the limewater (if any) is only caused by the gas produced during decomposition and not any other variables in the experiment.<\/p>\n
I hope that this article has shown you how to apply to correct template answer to easily tackle experiment-centric questions on control set-ups!<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.7″ custom_margin=”0px||” custom_padding=”0px||” global_module=”578″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#898989″ _builder_version=”3.22.7″ locked=”off”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/The-Pique-Lab-Experimental-Techniques-Masterclass-CTA.png” url=”https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/experimental-techniques-masterclass\/” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”ETMC” _builder_version=”3.23″ z_index_tablet=”500″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”geomanist-medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#f44a4a” text_font_size=”18px” text_orientation=”center” z_index_tablet=”500″]<\/p>\n
If you like our methodology, please click here<\/strong><\/a> to explore our Experimental Techniques\u2122 Masterclass <\/strong>for P5 & P6 students.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":241548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Students learn<\/span> the topic of Electricity<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0at Primary 5 and many of them find the concepts to be confusing, especially when they are first exposed to this topic.\r\n\r\nAs such, over the next few blog posts, I will be sharing more about the concepts of Electricity<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0that are commonly tested during examinations.\r\n\r\nIn today\u2019s blog post, I will be focusing on the arrangement of the wires in a bulb and relate it to how a bulb should be connected in a circuit.\r\n
Today\u2019s Question:<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
How Should The Bulb Be Connected To The Circuit For It To Light Up?<\/strong><\/span><\/blockquote>\r\n
The following question is commonly encountered by students during tests.<\/p>\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/ACS-J-Question-1024x630.png\")
<\/a>Question Credit: Anglo Chinese School (Junior)\/ 2015 Primary 5 SA1\/ Question 18<\/em><\/p>\r\nWe can see that the key difference between the four options is the connection of the bulb(s) in the circuit.\r\nRequirements Needed for a Bulb to Light Up<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Screenshot-2017-09-17-12.54.25-1024x547.png\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nOne wire is connected to the metal casing & one wire is connected to the metal tip<\/u><\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Example-of-a-Closed-Circuit-e1505630926957-1024x665.png\")
<\/a>Example of a closed circuit<\/em><\/p>\r\nWhen the wires in the circuit are connected to the metal casing and metal tip of the bulb, there is a closed (or complete) circuit with the bulb. Electricity will be able to flow through the filament, causing the bulb to light up.\r\nWhat Happens When Both Wires Are Connected To The Metal Tip\/Metal Casing?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\nScenario #1: Both wires are connected to the metal tip<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Scenario-1-e1506494508837-1024x543.png\")
<\/a>\r\nExample of a circuit when the wires are connected only to the metal tip<\/em><\/p>\r\nWhen both wires are connected to the metal tip of the bulb, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\n\r\nScenario #2: Both wires are connected to the metal casing<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Scenario-2-e1505630899322-1024x545.png\")
<\/a>Example of a circuit when the wires are connected only to the metal casing<\/em><\/p>\r\nWhen both wires are connected to the metal casing of the bulb, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\n\r\nNow, let us now take a look at the question again.\r\nAnalysis Of The Options<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
<\/a>\r\n\r\nWhen analysing the circuits, students need to take note of one key point:\r\nHow is the bulb connected to the circuit?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nIn the following analysis, I have traced the pathway that electricity flows through (in red) as well so that it is easier to understand why the bulb lights up.\r\n
Circuit A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Circuit-A-748x1024.png\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nBoth the metal casing and tip of the bulb are connected to the circuit, forming a closed circuit. Thus, electricity is able to flow through the wires in the circuit to the filament, allowing the bulb to light up.\r\nCircuit B<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Circuit-B-940x1024.png\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nOnly the tip is connected to the circuit. Thus, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\nCircuit C<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n
- FAQ: The Pique Lab \u2013 Experimental Techniques Masterclass<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Fair Test<\/span> \u2013 How do we ensure a fair test?<\/li>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Circuit-C-1024x819.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\nOnly the casing is connected to the circuit. Thus, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartstudent.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Circuit-D-707x1024.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\nBoth the metal casing and tip of the two bulbs are connected to the circuit, forming a closed circuit. Thus, electricity is able to flow through the wires in the circuit to the filaments, allowing the bulbs to light up.\r\n\r\nAs the bulbs in circuits A and D will light up, the correct answer is option 4.\r\n