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Science Words
variable: something in an experiment that changes or can be changed
hypothesis: a
statement that can be proved or disproved by experimental or observational evidence |
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Activity 2
Relationships in Science
Purpose
Sometimes, the ideas scientists want to test are about the relationship between two things. Scientists call the things in an experiment that can be changed or are different variables. Some variables of the pendulum are:
- its length
- how many washers you use
- what kind of string you use
- how far back you pull the pendulum at the start before letting go
In the experiment in this activity, you will change the length of the pendulum. Here is the key question for this activity.
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What is the relationship between the length of a pendulum and how long it takes to swing back and forth 10 times? |
- Record the key question on your record sheet.
In this activity, you will continue working on the skill Be Aware of & Monitor Your Own Thinking.
I Think
Scientists usually have an idea about what they think will happen
before they do an experiment. Their idea is called a hypothesis. (The
plural is hypotheses.) A hypothesis is an educated guess, and is based
on past experience.
Answer the following questions on your record sheet.
- 1. The following statements describe hypotheses about the relationship between two variables. One variable is the length of the pendulum, and the other variable is the time it takes to swing back and forth 10 times.
Which of the following is your hypothesis about the relationship between the two variables?
- I think that as the length of a pendulum increases, it will take more time to swing back and forth 10 times.
- I think that as the length of the pendulum increases, it will take less time to swing back and forth 10 times.
- I think that as the length of a pendulum increases, the time it takes to swing back and forth 10 times will stay the same.
This means there is no relationship between the two variables.
- 2. What reason(s) do you have for your hypothesis?
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