Physics – 4.2.1 Electric charge | e-Consult

One way the student could improve the reliability of their results is to repeat the experiment multiple times for each material. This is because a single trial might be affected by random errors, such as a poor connection between the wires and the battery, or a slight variation in the bulb's brightness.

By repeating the experiment several times (e.g., 3 or 5 times) for each material and calculating the percentage of times the bulb lit up, the student can obtain a more accurate and reliable result. The average percentage of successful trials would then provide a better indication of whether a material is a conductor or an insulator. This reduces the impact of random errors and provides a more robust conclusion.