ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/8th-grade-science-fair-projects-609030. What metal is most resistant to corrosion by sea water? Place some of the plants outdoors or in a well-lit window. Fenders: The bicycle either has fenders or it does not, For Good Variables, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question. She has been a radio news journalist and announcer, movie reviewer for Family Movie Reviews Online, chiropractic assistant and medical writer. Can you graft a tomato plant onto a potato plant? The controlled variables are stirring each container the same amount and using sugar from the same bag. . Who listens to music the most: Teenagers or their parents? You may print and distribute up to 200 copies of this document annually, at no charge, for personal and classroom educational use. Let it settle for a moment, this will take more time the higher the fat content. What type of plastic wrap prevents evaporation the best? Water the seeds equally, and place them where they get equal sunlight so that the only difference between the two is the size of the seeds. You want to know which brand of fertilizer is best for your plants. Completely immerse the gummy bear in the water. A sports medicine researcher has been hired by Gatorade to test the effects of its sports drink on athletic performance. Can you use a household water filter to remove flavor or color from other liquids? In our example, the independent variable is the SPF rating and the dependent variable is the level of UV radiation. Get two specimens of the same small plant that can easily be checked on and moved. Either predict what you expect to happen or form a hypothesis, record the data, determine whether it upholds the prediction, and report your findings. Divide the time by five to get the average period for the first trial. This science fair log book is designed for teachers to walk their class through a demonstration science fair project and then have students use that example to . You should do the project yourself, rather than enlist heavy-duty help from a parent or older student. Analyze the data to determine if one sex blinks more frequently than the other and which one blinks the most. Look at ethylene and enclosing a fruit in a sealed bag, temperature, light, or nearness to other pieces or fruit. Select subjects, half female and half male. An experiment usually has three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled. There are two parts of this hypothesis, and thus two experiments: Experiment #1: Measure the voltage of fresh AA batteries as they are used in different current drain devices. Procedure. You should have 2 different graphs for the data pertaining to plants growing with and without music on the same graph paper for a good comparative study. Older students are invited to read more about that in our If you are new to doing science projects and want to know the effect of changing multiple variables, do multiple tests where you focus on one independent variable at a time. You could add food coloring, flavorings, or other 'impurities'. The second experiment does not require any more data . Does relative humidity? Does heating water allow it to dissolve more sugar? Draw conclusions about how heat effected the ants movements. https://www.thoughtco.com/8th-grade-science-fair-projects-609030 (accessed March 4, 2023). Science Process Skill: Identifying Variables. Is a classroom noisier when the teacher leaves the room? While a study can use dependent or independent analyses to gather as much data as possible, both variables are important because they can impact the . of days as the independent variable on a graph paper and the average plant height as the dependent variable. If there is a direct link between the two types of variables (independent and dependent) then you may be uncovering a cause and effect relationship. Science Fair Project Guidebook Page 3 It seems that nothing strikes fear in the hearts of students and parents like these three words: science fair project. How does the pH of soil relate to the pH of the water around the soil? This experiment is especially good for teaching the concept of a controlled variable if you include a third variable -- how dirty the pennies are. We use cookies and those of third party providers to deliver the best possible web experience and to compile statistics. Place a heat source -- like a space heater or a bright incandescent light bulb -- directed to warm the air outside the entrance of the ant hill. After a week, remove the pennies and see which has been cleaned more. What effect do additives have on the crystals? Hypertonic refers to a higher concentration of solutes and hypotonic is just the reverse. Are all dependent variable(s) measurable? 0 Does type of hair affect the results? In other words, they . Water pressure, or how much the water is "pushing", Growth of the plant, measured by its height, Growth of the plant, measured by the number of leaves, Make measurements of growth for each plant at the same time, The motor should be doing the same work for each test (turning the same wheel, propeller, or whatever), Same type of bike and tires (except for the fenders! These factors that change in a scientific experiment are variables. 0000000704 00000 n On trying out the different ideas, you will find that the degree of expansion of the candy depends on the liquid on which it is kept. What is the tallest tower you can build with 100 Legos? Place the planks at an angle and roll a tennis or golf ball down each plank simultaneously. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission is strictly prohibited. They will also be thrilled at the idea that their favorite gummy bears could teach them a lesson or two in science. Blow out a candle with a balloon. Do different brands of popcorn leave different amounts of unpopped kernels? Fill two identical containers with two cups of water each -- one hot and one cold. This experiment demonstrates how sunlight affects different kinds of plants, reinforcing the differing needs of different kinds of plant life. To insure a fair test, a good Weight or mass is an example of a variable that is very easy to measure. You will change the temperature of the water, so this is the independent variable. In this experiment, the controlled variable is the angle of the board and the type of ball you roll. Understanding the definition and different types of variables is vital to properly conducting any science experiment. Do White Candles Burn Faster Than Colored Candles, Physical balance or digital weighing machine. All about WGU Capstone Project: Ideas, . For your science fair project, you should change one variable to see what affect it has on another variable. Or were there no noticeable changes? In order to succeed in scoring a 4 or 5 on the Science EOG you should c ome to class every day ready to learn and be prepared . xbbc`b``3 ` c In the best experiments, the scientist must be able to measure the values for each variable. xref 5th grade. Dependent variables do change according to the other variables; therefore, they are dependent on those variables. The independent and dependent variables are the two key variables in a science experiment. In this case, it would be the size of the tomatoes in Tray #1. Factors that you could test include the intensity, duration, or type of light, the temperature, the amount of water, the presence/absence of certain chemicals, or the presence/absence of soil. Air temperature is the independent variable and ant activity is the dependent variable in this ant hill experiment. It is called the "dependent" variable because we are trying to figure out whether its value depends on the value of the independent variable. dependent variable: Something that changes in response to changes in the independent variable. 313 0 obj<>stream Try some easy projects that use three variables to understand the importance of each variable in an experiment. Small Physics Experiments Based on Buoyancy, Boat Flotation Experiments for 5th-Graders, Activities to Teach Science Process Skills to 2nd Grade, How to Test Algae Growth for a Science Fair Project, How to Measure How Much the Sun Shines on Solar Panels, Science Buddies: Variables in Your Science Fair Project, Education.com: 100 Project Ideas (page 2), JVC's Science Fair Projects: Variables: Independent, Dependent, Controlled, Ideas for Controlled-Variable Science Projects, Science Experiments on Which Colors of Candles Burn the Fastest, Science Experiment With Rocks That Absorb Water. The ratios of water to sugar and the amount of stirring are both controlled variables in this experiment. The kids will be enthralled to display their knowledge to the audience in a fun way. The time for germination to take place and the height of the seedlings are dependent variables. startxref Time how long it takes to swing back and forth five times. , Free Printable Periodic Tables (PDF and PNG), Periodic Table with Charges - 118 Elements, Periodic Table For Kids With 118 Elements. In most cases, the ball will move fastest on the smooth surface, demonstrating the effect of friction on an object's acceleration. Chemistry Projects All rights reserved. To be clear though, for a science fair, it is usually wise to have only one independent variable at a time. Do the same observation each day for a couple of days more. For example, the following question identifies what is happening as well several variables which are identified. Each has an important role to play in experiments. How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work? The number of dependent variables in an experiment varies, but there can be more than one. 2. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. Plant a few large seeds, such as pumpkin seeds. In our dog example, the dependent variable is how much the dogs eat. Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students . Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. An independent variable is what you intentionally change in order to measure the effect of the dependent variable.To measure both of these, you must also have controlled variables: factors that remain consistent throughout every part of the experiment. Strauch holds a Master of Arts in speech/broadcast journalism from Bob Jones University, where she also served on the faculty of the radio/TV department. In this experiment, you'll determine the percentage of large and small seeds that germinate. In science, a variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. Water faucet opening (closed, half open, fully open), Amount of water flowing, measured in liters per minute. Article was last reviewed on 21st November 2015.