Name______DATE ______CLASS______
HELICOPTER LAB (6 steps of the scientific method)
- What things might affect the time the helicopter is in the air?
1) Ask a QUESTION: “how would ______affect the length of time the helicopter is in the air (DROP TIME)?
2) Write a HYPOTHESIS based on the above question. Use the sentence format of: “IF ______, THEN ______:
3) Gather MATERIALS, Develop a PROCEDURE & TEST the hypothesis. To help:
a) look at list of VARIABLES – what do we need to be careful of – what are sources of
BIAS?
This experiment will have two groups: ______group & ______group
b) Which is the CONTROL group in this experiment, why?
c) Which is the EXPERIMENTAL group, why?
This experiment has two variables (things that change):
d) What is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE? Why?
e) What is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (what is affected by the independent variable)?
f) List the steps of the procedure:
- obtain and build a helicopter
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On the back, record the results of your experiment
4) ANALYZE DATA:
Trial 1 (seconds) / Trial 2 (seconds) / Trial 3 (seconds) / Trial 4 (seconds) / Trial 5 (seconds) / MEAN (seconds)Control helicopter
Experimental
helicopter
-> How could we represent our data in a GRAPH?
6) Look at your data & form a CONCLUSION
- always refer back to the hypothesis: was the hypothesis supported by the data, WHY/WHY NOT?
a) EXPLAIN: How/why do you think you got the results you did?
- look back at your work & data, how could your procedures be improved)?
b) What is one NEW question that your conclusion leads you to ask about helicopter design?
COMMUNICATE YOUR RESULTS: this is accomplished by simply completing the 6 steps of the scientific method on paper for others to read.
è Why is it important that your procedures are CLEAR and REPEATABLE?