Page 495 - Canadian BC Science 9

Science Skill 6
Scientific Drawing
Have you ever used a drawing to explain something that was too difficult to explain in words? A clear drawing can often assist or replace words in a scientific explanation.
In science, drawings are especially important when you are trying to explain difficult concepts or describe something that contains a lot of detail. It is important to make scientific drawings clear, neat, and accurate.
Examine the drawing shown below. It is taken from a student’s lab report on an experiment to test the expansion of air in a balloon. The student’s written description of results included an explanation of how the particle model can explain what happens to the balloon when the bottle is placed in hot water and in cold water. As you can see, the clear diagrams of the results can support or even replace many words of explanation. While your drawing itself is important, it is also important to label it clearly. If you are comparing and contrasting two objects, label each object and use labels to indicate the point of comparisons between them.
Making a Scientific Drawing
Follow these steps to make a good scientific drawing.
1. Use unlined paper and a sharp pencil with
an eraser.
2. Give yourself plenty of space on the paper.
You need to make sure that your drawing will be large enough to show all necessary details. You also need to allow space for labels. Labels identify parts of the object you are drawing. Place all of your labels to the right of your drawing, unless there are so many labels that your drawing looks cluttered.
3. Carefully study the object that you will be drawing. Make sure you know what you need to include.
4. Draw only what you see, and keep your drawing simple. Do not try to indicate parts of the object that are not visible from the angle you observed. If you think it is important to show another part of the object, do a second drawing, and indicate the angle from which each drawing is viewed.
5. Shading or colouring is not usually used in scientific drawings. If you want to indicate a darker area, you can use stippling (a series of dots). You can use double lines to indicate thick parts of the object.
Science Skill 6 • MHR 477