Science+Fair+-+graphing

It is really important to know which graph to use when presenting your results. • Bar Graph • Line Graph • Pie Graph

A bar graph is used when you want to 'compare' data e.g. How much vitamin C is in different drinks?

A line graph is used when you want to show data over a period of time e.g. plant growth

A pie graph is used when you want to show how a total is divided. e.g. What are the different hair colours in our class.

You probably won't use too many pie graphs when doing your Science Fair but it is still important to know how to construct them.

Before we even get to graphing you will need to display your 'raw data' somehow. The most effective way is by using a Tally Chart.

Have a look at my Science Fair.

Aim: Which type of material is the best insulator?

Hypothesis: I think that wool will be the best insulator as it is a natural fibre and you don't often see cold sheep. I think that nylon will be the worst insulator as it is a synthetic fibre and quite thin.

Equipment: 6 x 250ml beakers 6 x thermometers 1 jug 1 x stopwatch 6 pieces of material - long enough to wrap around the beaker once. Must be all the same size. - wool - nylon - polar fleece - cotton - bamboo fabric - merino/silk blend Cellpotape

Methodology. 1. Wrap the different fabrics around the beakers so that the edges of the fabric meet but do not overlap. Join with cellotape. 2. Fill the jug with water and allow to boil. 3. While waiting for the jug to boil, place a thermometer into each beaker. 4. Once the jug has boiled, carefully pour the water into each beaker up to the 200ml mark. 5. Start recording the temperatures at 5 minute intervals until 1 hour has passed. 6. Record temperatures in a chart. 7. Repeat the above steps 5 times so that all data is valid and reliable.

Results

Which graph would you use to best display this data? Now you need to transfer this data into a Numbers Document to produce a graph.
 * || 5 mins || 10 mins || 15 mins || 20 mins || 25 mins || 30 mins || 35 mins || 40 mins || 45 mins || 50 mins || 55 mins || 60 mins ||
 * Wool || 95° || 90° || 74° || 61° || 55° || 54° || 49° || 47° || 40° || 38° || 35° || 32° ||
 * Nylon || 95° || 80° || 71° || 50° || 39° || 35° || 29° || 25° || 21° || 19° || 17° || 12° ||
 * Polar Fleece || 97° || 93° || 88° || 79° || 65° || 61° || 60° || 56° || 54° || 49° || 45° || 41° ||
 * Cotton || 94° || 89° || 81° || 79° || 78° || 72° || 66° || 60° || 51° || 42° || 36° || 30° ||
 * Bamboo || 99° || 77° || 72° || 65° || 57° || 55° || 48° || 46° || 23° || 18° || 18° || 18° ||
 * Merino Blend || 96° || 84° || 80° || 76° || 73° || 61° || 55° || 49° || 44° || 40° || 36° || 21° ||
 * Control || 90° || 85° || 81° || 70° || 66° || 53° || 45° || 33° || 31° || 18° || 15° || 9° ||

After I have repeated the above experiment 5 times I can average the times to get an 'overall result'.

This would be displayed as a table like the one above.