Hands-On-Physics

Extensions:
DESIGN GUIDE

Design Guide for
Student Defined Extensions

Scientific investigations generally focus on the cause/effect relationship between two variables. Change one aspect of the situation and see how another is effected. Deciding what variables to investigate is a major part of defining the problem. For example; you might be interested in the effect of putting ice inside the incubator. For example, how does the temperature depend on the amount of unmelted ice remaining in the incubator.

Once you have chosen the independent variable (cause) and the dependent variable (effect), you can decide how the change the independent variable (like the amount of ice) and how to measure the dependent variable (like the temperature). It is a good idea to set up a table for recording measurements as you change the independent variable. A graph helps with the visualization of the relationship and may lead to a mathematical model.

Plan your extension so your report will have diagrams, tables, graphs, calculations, and equations.

Talk through your ideas with your teacher and make a plan before you begin to experiment. Once experimentation starts you will probably want to revise your original plan.

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