Designing an Experiment - Grade 8, Physical Science

• Observation is when you use one or more of your senses to gather information
• Inferences are explanations made for the things observed
• Inferences are educated guesses about how things work and can be tested
• Observations are made using the five senses, while inferences are based on prior experiences
• Qualitative observations are describable but not measurable
• Quantitative observations are measurable or countable
• The inferences made during an experiment form the hypothesis
• Hypothesis is a prediction of what is expected to happen in an investigation
• Aim states the purpose of the experiment and should start with "To determine"
• Apparatus list must be in point form, include all quantities and sizes of equipment
• Method is a step-by-step plan of how to complete the experiment, must be detailed and in point form
• Results involve recording, interpreting, and graphing data
• Independent variable is the variable that is allowed to change or manipulated for the experiment
• When measuring the volume of liquids, take the reading in the middle of the meniscus
• Dependent variable is what is being measured during the experiment and depends on the independent variable
• Control group is the test/comparison group that does not receive the variable being tested
• Controlled/Constant variables are kept constant to see the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable
• Experimental group is the group that receives the variable being tested