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Experimental Design Worksheet Name ______________________________ Scientific Method Block ___________ Date______________
Definitions: Define the following words and concepts related to the scientific method.
- Hypothesis: _Proposed explainations to a problem based on observation or research_________
- Independent Variable: The variable the scientist controls/manipulates; known as the experimental variable or manipulated variable.
- Dependent Variable: The response to the change in the independent variable; the measurements collected in the experiment_
- Control Group: the group that does not change variables; does not receive the independent variable; it is the standard of comparison for the experimental group____
- Experimental Groups: the group exposed to the independent variable; the test group___
- Constants: variables that are not changed in the control group and experimental group; they remain the same in both groups.__
- Trials: each time an experiment is run __________________
- Variables (use a dictionary if necessary): traits that can be changed in the experiment_
Practice: Write a hypothesis for each of the statements and identify the variables, control group, and experimental group.
1. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of lung cancer.
Hypothesis: If If you smoke cigarettes_, then your chances of getting cancer increases
Independent Variablesmoking cigarettes______Dependent Variable: whether you get cancer
Control Group: people who do not smoke Experimental Group: smokers____
2. Eating breakfast increases performance in school.
Hypothesis: If If you eat breakfast_____, then you will get better grades__
Independent Variable: breakfast_________________ Dependent Variable: grades________________
Control Groupstudents who do not eat breakfast_ Experimental Group: students who eat breakfast
3. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red.
Hypothesis: If If a bird feeder is red________, then it will attract hummingbirds__
Independent Variable: color of feeder Dependent Variable: hummingbirds present
Control Group: feeder that is not red_________ Experimental Group: feeder that is red _______
4. Bats locate food using sound waves.
Hypothesis: If bats hear a sound___________, then they will be attracted to it ______
Independent Variable: sound waves___________ Dependent Variable: number of bats_________
Control Group: no sound__________________ Experimental Group: :sound _________________
5. iBook batteries last for 5 hours.
Hypothesis: If you use iBook batteries______, then your iBook will run for 5 years __
Independent Variable: battery type_____________Dependent Variable: time plays___________
Control Group: different type of battery_______Experimental Group:iBook battery _______
Situations: Read the situation below and design an experiment.
John Smith has been hired by the city of Virginia Beach to investigate the recent shark attacks off the resort’s coast. He has a budget of $40,000, a 25 foot boat, and three graduate student assistants to help him. A helicopter has also been donated by a local television station, should he need one.
- List 2 hypotheses John and his crew may have come up with for the recent shark attacks.
a. If swimmers wear bright colored swimming suits_________, then sharks will attack______________________________________
b. If_____________________________________, then ______________________________________
- What materials will John need to perform this experiment (How will they spend the $40,000?). ___manikins, bright swim suits and dark swim suits, floating devices;
- Where should they perform the experiment (Hint: Where do sharks like to live)? beaches_______
- Pick one of the two hypotheses and determine the following:
a. Control Group: dark swim suits ______________________________
b. Experimental Group: colorful swim suits___________________
c. Dependent Variable: number of shark attacts__________________
