Internal Assessment Activity (IAA)

Series 4 valid from June 2010 to May 2011

Investigating respiration

Information for students

Before attempting the IAA

You need to have done practical work, to show some physical properties of
metals (including electrical conductivity) and the conduction of electricity
in aqueous solutions of salts.

When doing your practical / investigative work, you need to think about
• how you can plan the investigation to collect valid data and reliable data
• why you might need to repeat the experiment
• how to plot a graph from your results
• recognising and describing patterns or trends in data
• drawing conclusions, evaluating the strength of the evidence and the validity and
reliability of your results.

The Internal Assessment Activity (IAA)

In the IAA, you will be assessed on
• planning (P)
• extracting information and using data (EIUD)
• interpretation, judgement and opinion (IJO).
You will not see the IAA in advance.
The IAA will take 45 minutes and will be written under controlled conditions.
You will not be allowed any information from your investigation.
You will not be able to change or repeat the IAA but your teacher may give you
feedback to help you understand how to improve your skills.
Investigating respiration

1. Describe the method you have used to collect your data on the rate
of respiration on respiring seeds using a diagram

2. Explain how you ensured that your results were valid and reliable
Peter did an experiment similar to yours and found the following data.

Time (mins) Distance moved by drop (mm)

0 0
1 15
2 37
3 56
4 69
5 81
6 104
7 127
8 140

Plot the data on the graph below and draw a line of best fit
3. Why did the liquid drop moved along the capillary during the
investigation?

4. Describe the pattern shown by the results.

5. What conclusion can you draw from the graph above about the
respiration in organisms?
Peter then decided to extent its investigation and so investigated the rate
of respiration at different temperatures and recorded the results below.

Temperature( ºC) Total distance moved by the drop

(mm)
10 9
15 18
20 28
25 47
30 69
35 112
40 90
45 54
50 29
 6. Choose the most appropriate method to plot the results on the grid
above.

7. Describe the pattern that you see on the above graph.

8. What conclusions can you draw about the respiration of organisms at

different temperatures?

Peter repeated the practical at 40 ºC and got a result of 89 mm

9. Suggest a reason why he repeated the practical at this temperature

and comment of the result obtained.
10. Suggest how Peter or you can improve your investigations in order
to receive more reliable and valid data.