Design an Experiment

Homework

Note: You will need to bring this experiment idea to the next class.
All students will be sharing their experiment designs with other
students, however, if you would like your experiment to be used by
Mr. Wilcox during a class discussion, please email Mr. Wilcox with
you experiment. Email Mr. Wilcox your experiment.

In the subject line of your email, use the following FORMAT:

[Block]-[Last Name]-[First Name]-Design an Experiment

Example:

G-Smith-John-Design an Experiment

Instructions:
Design an experiment (but do NOT try to perform the experiment!
This activity is only about DESIGNING, not about DOING)

On a sheet of paper, label and identify the following parts of your

experiment:
i. What is the question you are trying to answer?
ii. What do you know about the question?
iii. What INFERENCE can you make about your
problem?
iv. Write a hypothesis about your problem that can
be tested.
v. Write procedures for how you would test your
hypothesis. Use the format:
1. Step 1:
2. Step 2:
3. Step 3:

etc.

b. If you need help with each of these parts, watch the

BrainPop videos again.
i. Scientific Method
http://www.brainpop.com/science/scientificinquiry/
scientificmethod/
ii. Science Projects
http://www.brainpop.com/science/scientificinquiry/
scienceprojects/

Be ready to share your ideas for a science experiment during your

next class.
An example of this assignment follows on the next page!
 Stuart Dent
August 24th, 2008
Science A Block

Design an Experiment

I. Problem: Why is the sky blue?

II. What do I know about the question?

The sky is made up of gasses.

The sun’s light passes through those gasses.
The sun’s light makes rainbows of different colors.
Different gases absorb light differently

III. An inference: I think that the sky is blue because different

gasses absorb light differently.

IV. Hypothesis: If I change the type of gas that light passes

through, then the color of light will change.

V. Procedure:

1. Obtain five different gases, and five clear containers of equal

volume.
2. Place a different gas into each of the five clear containers.
3. Place the containers into a dark room where other light will
not affect it.
4. Place a lightbulb behind each container and observe the color
of the light after it passes through each container of gas.