How to plan a fair test.

What do you already know:

In your table groups, write ve statements about
the scientic method.

Swap them with another group. In response to each statement, write whether you
agree or disagree and why.

Reviewing and consolidating the scientic method:

1. What is a research question? 2. How should one develop a hypothesis? 3.What is a hypothesis? 4.What are variables in an experiment? 5.How should the hypothesis be tested? 6.What should be done during the test? 7.How should this information be used?

Conducting a fair test

What is this test trying to nd out? What factors need to be kept the same?

0g NaCl in soil 10 mL H2O / day Same sunlight Same soil Same plant

3g NaCl in soil 10 mL H2O / day Same sunlight Same soil Same plant

6g NaCl in soil 10 mL H2O / day Same sunlight Same soil Same plant

9g NaCl in soil 10 mL H2O / day Same sunlight Same soil Same plant

12g NaCl in soil 10 mL H2O / day Same sunlight Same soil Same plant

15g NaCl in soil 10 mL H2O / day Same sunlight Same soil Same plant

Range and repeats.

0g NaCl in soil 3g NaCl in soil 6g NaCl in soil

What would make this test even better?

9g NaCl in soil 12g NaCl in soil 15g NaCl in soil

Range: 0g - 15g. Is it enough to make a pattern on a graph?

Repeats: 3 times is minimum.

Planning the test.

Research question: How does the amount of salt impact on plant growth? Variables: Independent: amount of NaCl in soil (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 g) Dependent: plant growth of shoot over 5 weeks (cm) Controlled: amount of water daily, same sunlight, same soil and same type of plant. Hypothesis: As the amount of salt in the soil increases, the growth of the plant will decrease. This will happen because the salt will kill the cells in the roots and the plant will die because the roots will not be able to get water.

Drawing a diagram
Diagram 1: Experimental Set-up
Controlled variables: - same plant - same pot and soil - same amount of sunlight - same amount of water each day - same initial size Dependent variable: Growth of plant from bottom of stalk to top of shoot (cm)

Species X plant

Pot with 100cm3 soil Independent variable: amount of NaCl 0g 3g 6g 9g 12g 15g

Method
1. Collect 18 pots of the same size and shape. 2. Put 100cm3 of the same type of soil into each. 3. Label each pot as following: 0g, 3g, 6g, 9g, 12g, 15g. 4. Mix 3g of NaCl into the soil of the pot labelled 3g.

What is good about the coloured sections?

5. Repeat step 3, except with 6g, 9g, 12g and 15g of NaCl in each corresponding pot. Ensure this is carried out in the exact same manner. 6. Repeat steps 2-5, twice 7. Plant a ower (x species) in the center of every pot. The plant must be identical in each pot. 8. Measure height of the plant from the bottom of the stalk to the top of the shoot. with a ruler. Record. 9. Place the pots in a location where they all receive the same amount of sunlight. 10. Pour 10mL of water into each pot at 8am every morning for four weeks. 11. After four weeks, measure the height of each of the plants with a ruler (see step 8) in each of the pots. 12. Average the height of the plants in each different concentration. 13. Draw a line graph of height of plant at each concentration.