FutureLearn

Basic Science: Understanding Experiments (FutureLearn)

Offered by The Open University,
Basic Science: Understanding Experiments (FutureLearn)

Get an introduction to science-based skills through simple, exciting, hands-on physics, chemistry and biology experiments. On this practical course you will start thinking like a scientist, by carrying out experiments at home.

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You will extract the DNA from fruit, observe osmosis in action, see how different liquids behave when frozen, and bake a potato to destruction.
As you carry out these experiments, you will develop scientific skills including observation, record-keeping, data analysis and experiment control.
The course was produced with the kind support of Dangoor Education. You may also enjoy Basic Science: Understanding Numbers.

What topics will you cover?

  • Evaporation during heating, quantified by weight
  • Relationship between density and state of matter by freezing fluids
  • Living organisms and the requirements for life
  • Extraction of DNA from fruit

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Demonstrate and carry out a basis scientific experiment
  • Investigate and test any hypothesis using experimental techniques
  • Record and analyse results from your experiments
  • Discuss and share ideas with fellow students online
Go to Class
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