Enhancing Experimental Investigations

The video tutorial explains how to conduct a simple experimental investigation by changing one variable (independent variable), measuring another (dependent variable), and keeping all other factors constant. It uses the example of a toy car rolling down a ramp to illustrate these concepts. The tutorial highlights a mistake made during the investigation, where the height of the ramp was also changed, making the results invalid. To improve the investigation, the height should remain constant. The video concludes with encouragement for students to apply these principles in their experiments.

What is the main focus when performing a simple experimental investigation?

• Measuring multiple outcomes

• Keeping all variables the same

• Changing one variable and keeping others constant

• Changing multiple variables

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

In the toy car investigation, what was the variable that was supposed to be changed?

• The type of toy car

• The height of the ramp

• The surface of the ramp

• The mass of the toy car

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What should be measured in the toy car investigation?

• The time it takes for the toy car to stop

• The distance the toy car rolls

• The angle of the ramp

• The speed of the toy car

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

What is the term for the variable that is changed in an experiment?

• Control variable

• Independent variable

• Dependent variable

• Constant variable

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

What is the term for the variable that is measured in an experiment?

• Control variable

• Independent variable

• Dependent variable

• Constant variable

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What mistake was made in the toy car investigation?

• Changing the type of toy car

• Changing the surface of the ramp

• Measuring the wrong variable

• Changing the height of the ramp and the mass of the cars

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Why does changing more than one variable make the results invalid?

• It makes the data harder to analyze

• It makes the experiment too complex

• It prevents determining which variable caused the effect

• It introduces too many variables to control

What should have been kept constant in the toy car investigation?

• The surface of the ramps

• The type of toy cars

• The height of the ramps

• The mass of the toy cars

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What is the key takeaway for improving the toy car investigation?

• Measure the speed of the toy cars

• Keep the height of the ramps the same

• Change the surface of the ramp

• Use different types of toy cars

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2