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Difference between revisions of "Experiment"

(Key Stage 4)
 
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: An '''experiment''' must be designed well to answer a question. You cannot trust the answer if the '''experiment''' was badly designed. For example you cannot find out who is the fastest in class if you make some people wear their school bags in the race.
 
: An '''experiment''' must be designed well to answer a question. You cannot trust the answer if the '''experiment''' was badly designed. For example you cannot find out who is the fastest in class if you make some people wear their school bags in the race.
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
An '''experiment''' to observe what happens to the size of a shadow when the distance between the object and light are changed.
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An '''experiment''' to observe what happens to the size of a shadow when the distance between the object and light is changed.
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{| class="wikitable"
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|+ The length of this '''shadow''' depends on the position of the light source and object.
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|-
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|[[File:ShadowStick1.png|center|200px]]
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|[[File:ShadowStick2.png|center|200px]]
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|[[File:ShadowStick3.png|center|250px]]
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|-
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| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |When the light source is overhead the '''shadow''' is underneath the object.
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| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |When the light source gets lower the '''shadow''' gets longer.
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| style="height:20px; width:250px; text-align:center;" |The lower the light source, the longer the '''shadow'''.
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|}
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==Key Stage 3==
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===Meaning===
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An  [[experiment]] is a type of scientific [[investigation]] in which a [[hypothesis]] is tested by changing a single [[variable]] to see how it affects another [[variable]].
 +
 
 +
===About Experiments===
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: In an [[experiment]] the [[variable]] which is deliberately changed is known as the [[Independent Variable]].
 +
: In an [[experiment]] the [[variable]] which is [[observed]] or [[measure]]d is the [[Dependent Variable]].
 +
: An [[experiment]] which is a [[Fair Test|fair test]] will have all the other [[variable]]s [[Control Variable|controlled]] to make sure nothing else has affected the [[result]]s. For example you cannot find out whether a [[plant]] grows faster in direct sunlight or shade if you decide to only water one of the [[plant]]s.
 +
 
 +
==Key Stage 4==
 +
===Meaning===
 +
An  [[experiment]] is a type of scientific [[investigation]] in which a [[hypothesis]] is tested by changing an [[Independent Variable|independent variable]] to see how it affects a [[Dependent Variable|dependent variable]].
 +
 
 +
===About Experiments===
 +
: In an [[experiment]] the [[variable]] which is deliberately changed is known as the [[Independent Variable]].
 +
: In an [[experiment]] the [[variable]] which is [[observed]] or [[measure]]d is the [[Dependent Variable]].
 +
: An [[experiment]] which is a [[Fair Test|fair test]] will have all the other [[variable]]s [[Control Variable|controlled]] to make sure nothing else has affected the [[result]]s. For example the affect of [[light]] on the [[growth]] of a [[plant]] if only one of the [[plant]]s is watered.

Latest revision as of 11:11, 9 June 2019

Key Stage 2

Meaning

An experiment is when you test a question you have asked by changing one variable to see how it affects another.

About Experiments

Experiments are usually done in a laboratory but they can be done outside.
An experiment must be designed well to answer a question. You cannot trust the answer if the experiment was badly designed. For example you cannot find out who is the fastest in class if you make some people wear their school bags in the race.

Examples

An experiment to observe what happens to the size of a shadow when the distance between the object and light is changed.

The length of this shadow depends on the position of the light source and object.
ShadowStick1.png
ShadowStick2.png
ShadowStick3.png
When the light source is overhead the shadow is underneath the object. When the light source gets lower the shadow gets longer. The lower the light source, the longer the shadow.

Key Stage 3

Meaning

An experiment is a type of scientific investigation in which a hypothesis is tested by changing a single variable to see how it affects another variable.

About Experiments

In an experiment the variable which is deliberately changed is known as the Independent Variable.
In an experiment the variable which is observed or measured is the Dependent Variable.
An experiment which is a fair test will have all the other variables controlled to make sure nothing else has affected the results. For example you cannot find out whether a plant grows faster in direct sunlight or shade if you decide to only water one of the plants.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

An experiment is a type of scientific investigation in which a hypothesis is tested by changing an independent variable to see how it affects a dependent variable.

About Experiments

In an experiment the variable which is deliberately changed is known as the Independent Variable.
In an experiment the variable which is observed or measured is the Dependent Variable.
An experiment which is a fair test will have all the other variables controlled to make sure nothing else has affected the results. For example the affect of light on the growth of a plant if only one of the plants is watered.