This formative contains generic questions, designed to work for any lab or scientific experiment.
Feel free to delete sections and questions that don't apply to your lab, modify questions so that they apply better, and/or to add your own questions!
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Generic lab
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1.
Lab partner / group name:
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2.
Make a general observation about the data or video that you have just watched.
Example:
When I watched the video of a car driving down a ramp, I noticed that it seemed to go faster than when it was driving on a flat road.
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3.
Create a testable question that can be answered using the materials and equipment provided.
Keep in mind the lab name/topic, as well as available materials and equipment, to help create your question.
Example:
Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?
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4.
Write a hypothesis that could be proven / disproven (falsifiable).
Write it in the format: "If.... then...."
Example:
If I increase the height of the ramp, then the speed of the car will increase.
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5.
Based on your hypothesis, what is your prediction? Refer to your understanding of the scientific concept of this lab.
Example:
My prediction is that the car's speed will increase if I increase the height of the ramp. I think this because the car has more potential energy at the top of a higher ramp, and this potential energy will be turned into kinetic energy (speed).
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6.
Describe the procedure of the experiment you will run to test your prediction. Use bullet points or numbers for each step. Write as if someone else will use your description to run their own experiment.
Example:
Create the control ramp with a board and blocks. Record the height of this ramp.
Release the car at the top of the ramp and record the time it takes for the car to complete the ramp.
Create two more ramps at greater heights than the control ramp. Record the heights of these ramps.
Release the car at the top of each ramp and record the time it takes for the car to complete each ramp.
Repeat with extra ramps at different heights if you have time.
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7.
List the materials and equipment you will need for your experiment, using bullet points.
Example:
Boards and blocks to create ramps
Toy car (the same car must be used for each speed test)
Stop watch
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8.
What is the independent variable in your experiment? Remember that the independent variable is the variable that you will be changing in your experiment.
Example:
The height of the ramp.
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9.
What is the dependent variable in your experiment? Remember that the dependent variable is the variable that you will be measuring in your experiment. It is dependent on the independent variable.
Example:
The speed of the car.
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10.
Run your experiment and record the results. Make a table to organize your data in the box below.
Hint! You can create a table in Excel, Numbers, or Google Sheets, take a screenshot, and upload the screenshot into the box.
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11.
Create a graph to illustrate your data. Make sure you choose an appropriate graph type that shows the trends in the data.
Hint! Chartgo is easy to use and you can take a screenshot of your graph and upload the image here. You can also create charts in Excel or Numbers or Google Sheets.
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13.
Does the data support your hypothesis? Write a summary explaining the data and why it does - or does not - support your hypothesis.
Your summary must include:
1) A restatement of the testable question you created earlier.
2) The answer to the question.
3) Whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect.
4) Evidence to support your answer from data collected during the lab.
5) Explanation of why the results did (or did not) support your hypothesis, using your understanding of the scientific concept of this lab.
