Sample Experiments
Experiment 1: Ice Cream Freshness
A freezer is set at cold setting “5.” Three cartons, A, B, and C, of the same brand and flavor of ice cream are purchased. The experiment is run over a 30-day period. Ice cream A is placed in a Ziploc freezer bag. Ice cream B is placed in a regular plastic bag. Ice cream C is not placed in any type of bag. After being in the freezer for 30 days, ice cream A was found to have no ice crystals on it’s surface, while ice cream B had an average of 5 crystals per square inch on it’s surface, and ice cream C was completely covered in ice crystals.
What are the constants in this experiment?
What is the independent variable in this experiment?
What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
Which ice cream(s) is the control in the experiment?
Which ice cream(s) is the “experimental” in the experiment?
What conclusion can be made from this experiment?
Experiment 2: Does Chemical X Stunt the Growth of Green Peppers?
Four flats, A, B, C, and D, of green pepper plants are placed in the same row of a greenhouse. Flat A, does not receive Chemical X. Flat B receives 10mL of Chemical X in liquid form everyday. Flat C receives 20mL of Chemical X in liquid form everyday. Flat D receives 30mL of Chemical X in liquid form everyday. The flats receive the same amount of sun and water everyday, and the flats are allowed to grow for three weeks. The following are the results of the experiment: the plants in flat A grew 8 inches, the plants in flat B grew 6 inches, the plants in flat C grew 3.75 inches, and the plants in flat D grew 1.8 inches.
What is the problem to be answered by this experiment?
What are the constants in this experiment?
What is the independent variable in this experiment?
What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
Which flat(s) is the control in the experiment?
Which flat(s) is the “experimental” in this experiment?
What conclusion can be made from this experiment?
Experiment 3: The Overweight Pig
Will exercise reduce the weight of a pig? Two pigs, the same age, breed, and gender, are placed in a 10- x 30-foot pen. Both pigs weigh 290 pounds. The pigs have access to an open bowl of water and each pig is given 5 pounds of the same feed per day. “Bernie” is taken out of the pen and walked for 20-minutes each day. “Ernie” is taken out of the pen and walked for 60-minutes each day. After 14 days, “Bernie” weighed in at 285 pounds, while “Ernie” weighed in at 275 pounds.
What is the problem to be answered by this experiment?
What are the constants in this experiment?
What is the independent variable in this experiment?
What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
Which pig(s) is the control in the experiment?
Which pig(s) is the “experimental” in this experiment?
What is the error with this experiment?
What conclusion can be made from this experiment?