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Scientific Method

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Scientific Method

Hiroshi wants to find out which cup keeps warm water hottest. Study the investigation and data, then use the scientific method to solve each task. The water is warm—not boiling. Do not taste or handle materials without adult permission.

The investigation

Hiroshi poured 200 mL of warm water into each of three identical-sized cups: paper, foam, and metal. She placed them in the same room, away from sunlight and drafts. She measured the water temperature at the start and again after 20 minutes. She wanted to test whether cup material affects how much heat the water loses. She repeated the test three times for each material.

Cup material

Trial 1: temperature drop (°C)

Trial 2: temperature drop (°C)

Trial 3: temperature drop (°C)

Paper

Foam

Metal

Plan and test the method

1.Which is the most precise testable research question for Hiroshi’s investigation?

Does warm water feel nice?
How does cup material affect the temperature drop of 200 mL of warm water after 20 minutes?
Which cup is the prettiest?
Can water get cold?

2.Write a reasonable hypothesis for Hiroshi’s test in an If…then…because… format. Predict which cup will keep the water warmest.

3.Identify the independent variable (the factor Hiroshi changes) and the dependent variable (the result she measures).

4.Name two factors Hiroshi should keep the same in every test so that cup material is a fair comparison.

5.Hiroshi repeated each test three times. Explain one reason why repeating trials makes an investigation more reliable.

It guarantees the hypothesis is correct.
It helps reveal unusual results and makes it possible to compare or average several measurements.
It means she does not need to control other factors.
It changes the investigation into a different question.

Read the evidence

6.Calculate the mean temperature drop for each material. Show the three measurements added together and divided by 3.

7.Which cup kept the water warmest? Use the results table as evidence in your answer.

8.True or false: Hiroshi’s results support the hypothesis that the foam cup would lose the least heat. Explain using one result.

9.Hiroshi notices one paper-cup reading is 7°C, while the other two are 8°C and 9°C. Should she erase the 7°C result because it is different? Explain what a careful scientist should do.

10.Choose the safest procedure for measuring the water temperature in this investigation.

Use warm, not boiling, water; handle the thermometer carefully; keep water away from electrical equipment; clean up spills.
Taste the water to see if it cooled.
Carry open cups quickly across the room.
Pour hot water without adult permission.

11.Suggest one follow-up experiment that builds on Hiroshi’s results. State what you would change and what you would measure.