Honors Physics Day 1

1. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer she gives her pumpkins will affect their growth. Amy thinks that the plot with the most fertilizer will produce the biggest pumpkin. She makes six separate plots, each 10 ft by 10 ft. She puts a different amount of fertilizer in each one. In the first plot she puts no fertilizer. She plants one pumpkin seed in each plot. She adds different amounts of fertilizer. What is her DV?

Growth of pumpking

Amount of fertilizer

Separate plots

Type of seed planted

The dependent variable (DV) in this experiment is the growth of the pumpkins. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer affects the size of the pumpkins. Therefore, the growth of the pumpkins is the variable that is being measured and is dependent on the amount of fertilizer used. The other options mentioned, such as amount of fertilizer, separate plots, and type of seed planted, are independent variables that Amy manipulates in order to observe their effects on the growth of the pumpkins.

Explanation

The dependent variable (DV) in this experiment is the growth of the pumpkins. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer affects the size of the pumpkins. Therefore, the growth of the pumpkins is the variable that is being measured and is dependent on the amount of fertilizer used. The other options mentioned, such as amount of fertilizer, separate plots, and type of seed planted, are independent variables that Amy manipulates in order to observe their effects on the growth of the pumpkins.

2. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer she gives her pumpkins will affect their growth. Amy thinks that the plot with the most fertilizer will produce the biggest pumpkin. She makes six separate plots, each 10 ft by 10 ft. She puts a different amount of fertilizer in each one. In the first plot she puts no fertilizer. She plants one pumpkin seed in each plot. She adds different amounts of fertilizer. Which of the following hypotheses would have lead Amy to perform this experiment?

If you increase the size of a plot, then you will increase the size of pumpkins.

If you increase the size of a plot, then you will decrease the size of pumpkins.

If you increase the amount of fertilizer, then you will increase the size of pumpkins.

If you increase the amount of fertilizer, then you will decrease the size of pumpkins.

The hypothesis that if you increase the amount of fertilizer, then you will increase the size of pumpkins would have led Amy to perform this experiment. Amy wanted to determine if the amount of fertilizer affected the growth of her pumpkins, so she set up different plots with varying amounts of fertilizer. By planting one pumpkin seed in each plot and adding different amounts of fertilizer, Amy was able to test her hypothesis and see if increasing the amount of fertilizer resulted in larger pumpkins.

Explanation

The hypothesis that if you increase the amount of fertilizer, then you will increase the size of pumpkins would have led Amy to perform this experiment. Amy wanted to determine if the amount of fertilizer affected the growth of her pumpkins, so she set up different plots with varying amounts of fertilizer. By planting one pumpkin seed in each plot and adding different amounts of fertilizer, Amy was able to test her hypothesis and see if increasing the amount of fertilizer resulted in larger pumpkins.

3. Matt wants to determine if the temperature of water effects how long it will take sugar to dissolve. Matt thinks that warmer water will cause the sugar to dissolve faster. Scott uses 25ml of water at each temperature and uses a 1 ounce sugar cube for each trial. Scott decides to use 5 different temperatures, 2 below room temperature, room temperature, and 2 above room temperature. He records the time from when he places the cube in the water to when he can no longer see any sugar crystals. What is his DV?

Time for sugar to dissolve

Temperature of water

1 ounce sugar cube

25 mL of water

The dependent variable (DV) in this experiment is the time it takes for the sugar to dissolve. This is what Matt is trying to determine if it is affected by the temperature of the water. He is measuring the time from when he places the sugar cube in the water to when he can no longer see any sugar crystals.

Explanation

The dependent variable (DV) in this experiment is the time it takes for the sugar to dissolve. This is what Matt is trying to determine if it is affected by the temperature of the water. He is measuring the time from when he places the sugar cube in the water to when he can no longer see any sugar crystals.

4. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer she gives her pumpkins will affect their growth. Amy thinks that the plot with the most fertilizer will produce the biggest pumpkin. She makes six separate plots, each 10 ft by 10 ft. She puts a different amount of fertilizer in each one. In the first plot she puts no fertilizer. She plants one pumpkin seed in each plot. She adds different amounts of fertilizer. Which of the following is the BEST response: what control variable or control variables does Amy have in place?

She adds the same amount of fertilizer

All seeds are "pumpkin" seeds

Each plot has same dimensions

B & C

The control variables that Amy has in place are that she adds the same amount of fertilizer to each plot and all the seeds she plants are "pumpkin" seeds. Additionally, each plot has the same dimensions of 10 ft by 10 ft. These control variables ensure that any differences in the growth of the pumpkins can be attributed to the varying amounts of fertilizer added, rather than other factors such as the type of seed or the size of the plot.

Explanation

The control variables that Amy has in place are that she adds the same amount of fertilizer to each plot and all the seeds she plants are "pumpkin" seeds. Additionally, each plot has the same dimensions of 10 ft by 10 ft. These control variables ensure that any differences in the growth of the pumpkins can be attributed to the varying amounts of fertilizer added, rather than other factors such as the type of seed or the size of the plot.

5. Matt wants to determine if the temperature of water effects how long it will take sugar to dissolve. Matt thinks that warmer water will cause the sugar to dissolve faster. Scott uses 25ml of water at each temperature and uses a 1 ounce sugar cube for each trial. Scott decides to use 5 different temperatures, 2 below room temperature, room temperature, and 2 above room temperature. He records the time from when he places the cube in the water to when he can no longer see any sugar crystals. What is his IV?

25 mL of water

1 ounce sugar cube

Temperature of water

Time for sugar to dissolve

The independent variable (IV) in this experiment is the temperature of water. This is because it is the variable that is being manipulated or changed by the experimenter (Scott) in order to see its effect on the time it takes for sugar to dissolve. The other options listed (25 mL of water, 1 ounce sugar cube, and time for sugar to dissolve) are not being directly manipulated by Scott and are therefore not the independent variable.

Explanation

The independent variable (IV) in this experiment is the temperature of water. This is because it is the variable that is being manipulated or changed by the experimenter (Scott) in order to see its effect on the time it takes for sugar to dissolve. The other options listed (25 mL of water, 1 ounce sugar cube, and time for sugar to dissolve) are not being directly manipulated by Scott and are therefore not the independent variable.

6. Matt wants to determine if the temperature of water effects how long it will take sugar to dissolve. Matt thinks that warmer water will cause the sugar to dissolve faster. Scott uses 25ml of water at each temperature and uses a 1 ounce sugar cube for each trial. Scott decides to use 5 different temperatures, 2 below room temperature, room temperature, and 2 above room temperature. He records the time from when he places the cube in the water to when he can no longer see any sugar crystals. Which of the following is a variable that must be controlled for?

25 mL of water

1 ounce sugar cube

Temperature of water

Time for sugar to dissolve

A and B

A, B, and C

The variables that must be controlled for in this experiment are the amount of water used (25 mL) and the amount of sugar used (1 ounce sugar cube). These variables need to be controlled in order to ensure that the only factor being tested is the temperature of the water. By using the same amounts of water and sugar for each trial, any differences in the time it takes for the sugar to dissolve can be attributed to the temperature of the water and not to variations in the amounts of water or sugar used.

Explanation

The variables that must be controlled for in this experiment are the amount of water used (25 mL) and the amount of sugar used (1 ounce sugar cube). These variables need to be controlled in order to ensure that the only factor being tested is the temperature of the water. By using the same amounts of water and sugar for each trial, any differences in the time it takes for the sugar to dissolve can be attributed to the temperature of the water and not to variations in the amounts of water or sugar used.

7. Matt wants to determine if the temperature of water effects how long it will take sugar to dissolve. Matt thinks that warmer water will cause the sugar to dissolve faster. Scott uses 25ml of water at each temperature and uses a 1 ounce sugar cube for each trial. Scott decides to use 5 different temperatures, 2 below room temperature, room temperature, and 2 above room temperature. He records the time from when he places the cube in the water to when he can no longer see any sugar crystals. Which of the following changes would make this a stronger experiment?

Scott and Matt can use more sugar for each trial

Scott and Matt can use both salt water and tap water

Scott and Matt can perform a second trial

Scott and Matt can gather more data at room temperature

Performing a second trial would make the experiment stronger because it would allow for the replication of results and increase the reliability of the findings. By conducting the experiment multiple times, Scott and Matt can ensure that the results are consistent and not due to chance or random variation. This would provide more robust evidence for their hypothesis that warmer water causes sugar to dissolve faster.

Explanation

Performing a second trial would make the experiment stronger because it would allow for the replication of results and increase the reliability of the findings. By conducting the experiment multiple times, Scott and Matt can ensure that the results are consistent and not due to chance or random variation. This would provide more robust evidence for their hypothesis that warmer water causes sugar to dissolve faster.

8. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer she gives her pumpkins will affect their growth. Amy thinks that the plot with the most fertilizer will produce the biggest pumpkin. She makes six separate plots, each 10 ft by 10 ft. She puts a different amount of fertilizer in each one. In the first plot she puts no fertilizer. She plants one pumpkin seed in each plot. She adds different amounts of fertilizer. What is her IV?

Growth of pumpking

Amount of fertilizer

Separate plots

Type of seed planted

The independent variable (IV) in this experiment is the amount of fertilizer. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer affects the growth of her pumpkins. She sets up six separate plots, each with a different amount of fertilizer. By manipulating the amount of fertilizer in each plot, Amy can observe and measure the effect it has on the growth of the pumpkins. Therefore, the IV in this experiment is the amount of fertilizer.

Explanation

The independent variable (IV) in this experiment is the amount of fertilizer. Amy wants to determine if the amount of fertilizer affects the growth of her pumpkins. She sets up six separate plots, each with a different amount of fertilizer. By manipulating the amount of fertilizer in each plot, Amy can observe and measure the effect it has on the growth of the pumpkins. Therefore, the IV in this experiment is the amount of fertilizer.