Experiment Plan:  Two Examples

Rough Draft due Nov. 29 

Final Draft due Dec. 6

The Student and a parent / guardian should sign the back on lines marked with a large black arrow

Example 1

A. Question/Problem (What will you try to find out?): Which bat, aluminum or wood, causes a baseball to travel the farthest?

B. Hypothesis / Engineering Goals (explain what you predict will happen, and why):  I hypothesize that the aluminum bat will cause the ball to travel the farthest because they are made with the latest technology to make the bats stronger and more powerful.

C. Procedure (step by step description of how you will do the experiment):

1.  Obtain 2 bats, one wooden and one aluminum, that are the same size (32 inches, 29 oz)

2.  Perform the experiment in an indoor hitting cage with a pitching machine

3.  Stand in the batter’s box in a bunting position

4.  Let the pitch hit the bat without swinging

5.  Mark the floor where the ball lands with a piece of tape

6.  Repeat steps 2 – 5 100 times for each bat

7.  Measure the distance from home plate to each tape mark

D. Data Analysis (How will you analyze the data you collect):  I will calculate the average distance for each bat and compare them in a bar graph.

Example 2

A. Question/Problem (What will you try to find out?): Which fabric can absorb the most water?  I will test cotton, nylon, silk, denim, wool, polyester, and satin.

B. Hypothesis / Engineering Goals (explain what you predict will happen, and why):  I think that wool will absorb the most water because it is the heaviest material I am testing.

C. Procedure (step by step description of how you will do the experiment):

1.  Gather my fabrics (cotton, nylon, etc.)

2.  Cut my fabrics in squares so that the mass of each is 10 grams

3.  Fill a container with 150 ml of water

4.  Place one of the fabric squares in the container of water so that it is completely soaked

5.  Let the excess water drip off the fabric for a count of 5 seconds

6.  Measure the volume of water remaining in the container, subtract from 150 ml to find the amount of water absorbed by the fabric

7.  Repeat steps 3 – 6 five times for each fabric square

D.  Data Analysis (How will you analyze the data you collect):  I will calculate the average volume of water absorbed for each fabric and compare them in a bar graph.