Take notes on this outline of a model experiment.
1. ID PROBLEM: Can our candle wax be melted at a lower temp?
2. RESEARCH:
3. HYPOTHESIS: The ovens can be set no more than 5 degrees C lower than they are now.
4. TEST:
4.1 Materials used:
10 equal size cubes of white Standard Stuff wax,
BCFI oven #4,
timer.
4.2 Procedure.
1. Preheat oven to 45 degrees Celsius.
2. Place block number 1 in oven.
3. Set timer for 15 minutes.
4. Record state (liquid or solid) at fifteen minutes.
5. Repeat for 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 (standard temp), 65, 70, 75 degrees C.
4.3 Constants: type of wax same, oven same, amount, shape same, time more than necessary, same procedure for each block. 60 degrees C is the temperature now used in the factory.
4.4 The independent variable: Temperature of oven. Dependent: state of the wax after 15 minutes.
5. DATA table:
| Wax Cube Number | Temperature (degrees C) | State at 15 Minutes | |
| 1 | 30 | solid | |
| 2 | 35 | solid | |
| 3 | 40 | solid | |
| 4 | 45 | plastic | |
| 5 | 50 | liquid | |
| 6 | 55 | liquid | |
| 7 | 60 | liquid (control) | |
| 8 | 65 | liquid | |
| 9 | 70 | liquid | |
| 10 | 75 | gas/liquid (on fire) |
6. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis was wrong. Data shows that the wax melted 10 degrees lower than the oven is usually set at, not 5 degrees lower than usual. However, this means that we should be able to melt wax at lower temperatures, thereby saving money on fuel. Further testing needs to be done at 50 degrees C using other factors as variables, and in the factory under normal working conditions.
Laboratory and Experiment Terms. Fill in an example for each term from the model experiment.
LABORATORY: a situation in which all variables can becontrolled.
Example:
EXPERIMENT: testing a hypothesis by observing and measuring in a controlled situation.
Example:
CONTROL OF AN EXPERIMENT: determining all factors that can affect the outcome of an experiment, and setting all those factors the same except for the one factor that is varied.
Example:
CONSTANTS (sometimes called CONTROLS or CONTROLLED FACTORS or "CONTROLLED VARIABLES"): the factors that could affect the outcome of the experiment that are kept the same in each trial of an experiment.
Examples:
THE VARIABLE: the one factor that is being tested by the experiment, the one factor that is changed in each trial of the experiment. If an experiment produces a result, then it has to be because of the variable.
Example:
THE CONTROL: a trial that has all factors controlled, and is used to compare the results of other trials.
Example:
FIELDWORK: testing a hypothesis by measuring and observing nature in an uncontrolled situation.
Example: