Lab Reports, Tables and Graphs

Try it in your notebook first, then reveal the solution one step at a time.

1. Give the table a title: Table showing the change in length of potato strips in salt solutions of different concentrations.
2. The first column is the manipulated variable: “Concentration of salt solution / mol dm⁻³”.
3. Next columns: “Initial length / cm”, “Final length / cm”, “Change in length / cm”. Units go in the headings only.
4. Rows: 0.0 | 5.0 | 5.4 | +0.4 ; 0.5 | 5.0 | 4.6 | −0.4 ; 1.0 | 5.0 | 4.3 | −0.7.
5. Use the same number of decimal places throughout (5.0 not 5), rule the lines, and put no units in the body of the table.

Try it in your notebook first, then reveal the solution one step at a time.

1. Both variables are continuous and numerical, so draw a line graph.
2. Manipulated variable (temperature) on the x-axis; responding variable (time) on the y-axis. Label both axes with the quantity and unit.
3. Choose scales that use at least half of the grid and go up in easy steps (1, 2, 5 or 10 per square) — e.g. 10 °C per 2 cm on x; 2 min per 1 cm on y.
4. Plot each point neatly as a small cross (×) or circled dot.
5. Join the points with a smooth curve or ruled straight lines (as the teacher instructs); do not extend beyond the data. Add a title.