Name _________________________________________ Grade /20

Ms. Heenan Redo_____ Grade /20

LAB # _____
TITLE: Bouncing Ball Lab
OBJECTIVE: Planning an experiment is the most important step to solving any
scientific problem. You will want your conclusions to be accurate and valid. In
order for that to happen you must have a controlled experiment. A controlled
experiment is one that will test only one factor, or thing. For example, if you wanted to test
how the type of fertilizer affects plant growth, the only thing you want to change is the type of
fertilizer. verything else should be the same! Imagine if someone did that experiment and
used two different types of plants, a flower and a tree. "e wouldn#t be able to tell if the plant
grew because of the fertilizer or if it was because one plant $the tree% was &ust naturally bigger.
'herefore that experiment would not be valid.
'he factors that can change in an experiment are called variables, and in a controlled experiment
there should only be two variables. 'he variable that you change is called the independent
variable. (I, the experimenter, changes the Independent variable.) 'he variable that changes
as a result is the dependent variable. verything else must be (ept the same! 'hese things
that are (ept the same are called the controls, or constants. If an experiment is not controlled,
your results will not be considered valid.
VOCABULARY: )ontrolled experiment, Factor, *ariable, Independent *ariable, +ependent
*ariable, )ontrols, )onstants
PRELAB QUESTIOS
,. "hat is meant by a controlled experiment-
.. "hy was the fertilizer experiment considered invalid-
/. "hat are the only things that can change in an experiment-
!ARIABLE PRA"TI"E#
,. You are planning an experiment to find out whether the rate at which water freezes depends on the
shape of its container. Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. 0ist / other
variables you would control.
Independent *ariable12222222222222222222222222222222
+ependent *ariable1 22222222222222222222222222222222
)ontrols1 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222
.. 3esearchers want to determine the best temperature for storing batteries.
Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. 0ist / other
variables you would control.
Independent *ariable12222222222222222222222222222222
+ependent *ariable1 22222222222222222222222222222222
)ontrols1 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222
/. Your friend has to plan an experiment for a science fair. 4e as(s for your help. 4is topic is 5'he
6trongest )loth for 7ac(pac(s.8 Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.
0ist / other variables you would control.
Independent *ariable12222222222222222222222222222222
+ependent *ariable1 22222222222222222222222222222222
)ontrols1 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222
9. 6uppose you wanted to compare two different stain removers to learn which one was better at
removing food stains from clothing.
Independent *ariable12222222222222222222222222222222
+ependent *ariable1 22222222222222222222222222222222
)ontrols1 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222
PURPOSE- 'o design a controlled experiment to determine which surface will result in the highest
ball bounce.
MATERIALS: 'ennis 7all, +ifferent 'ypes of Flooring, :eter 6tic(
PROCEDURE: Fill in the information below.
,. Bac$%ro&nd Information # "hat do you already (nown about the difference in surfaces that
may affect your results-
.. '(pot)esis# "hat do you thin( will happen- $if;then;%
/. !ariables
"hat is your I<+P<+<' variable- 222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
"hat is your +P<+<' variable- 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
"hat factors will you control $list all% 2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222

222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
9. Proced&re
,. =btain a tennis ball and a surface $floor, grass, carpet%
.. 4old the meter stic( vertically so that the > cm mar( is touching the floor.
/. +rop the tennis ball from the top of the meter stic(.
9. :a(e a note of where the ball bounced to on the meterstic(. 3ecord this number in your
data table.
?. 3epeat this . more times.
@. 3epeat steps .A? for all floor types.
B. )alculate the average ball bounce for each floor type.
?. Res&lts * +ata
:a(e a table to fill in as you conduct your experiment.

Bo&nce 'ei%)t of Ball ,cm-
S&rface Trial . Trial / Trial 0 Avera%e
1loor
"arpet
2rass
3. 4rite a concl&sion para%rap).
3estate the Purpose
3estate the 4ypothesis
"as your hypothesis correct- 4ow do you (now-
4ow can this experiment be improved-
"hat other Cuestions can we investigate-