Honors Physics Day 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. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Merck Pharmaceutical Company is testing a new drug for treating depression to see if it has any side effects.  They think that if the drug is taken correctly (in the morning after breakfast), there will be no side effects. 1,000 subjects in group A were given a placebo drug (a pill with only sugar) that they were instructed to take right after eating breakfast.  1,000 subjects in group B were instructed to take the drug right after eating breakfast each morning.  A. State the initial hypothesis B. State the Independent Variable C. State the Dependent Variable D. State one control E. Challenge: How does Group A help the company ensure they are using a reliable drug? 

Merck Pharmaceutical Company is testing a new drug for treating depression to see if it has any side effects.  They think that if the drug is taken correctly (in the morning after breakfast), there will be no side effects. 1,000 subjects in group A were given a placebo drug (a pill with only sugar) that they were instructed to take right after eating breakfast.  1,000 subjects in group B were instructed to take the drug right after eating breakfast each morning.  Note: This question will be graded for effort and discussed in class.   What are some possible challenges to an experiment involving humans?