Each week up until fair time we have to turn in one aspect of our project. This week it deals with our conrol, dependent and independent variables and constants. I will tell you that I got my idea form sciencebuddies. My project is Ocean Currents: Modeling the 'Global Conveyor belt' in your kitchen. My objective is to measure how the heat input affects the velocity of the currents. My problem was- Does an increase in water temperature affect the velocity of ocean currents? My hypothesis is-- Raising the temperature of the vegetable and thyme mixture will increase the velocity of the mixtures movement. Now this is where my question comes in, am I correct in saying that my Independent variable is-HEAT. The Control is----The time the mixture is heated for. My 1st variable change is-- Heat applied, my 2nd variable change is--item appling the heat(candle versus sterno can), my 3rd variable change is--spot of heat application (depth). My Dependent variable is---velocity of the currents. My constants are--The vegetable oil and thyme. CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHAT MY TEACHER WANTS. I have received 100's on the previous 3 pieces of information I had to turn in but I am worried about this one.
My 1st variable change is-- Heat applied, - Agreed
my 2nd variable change is--item appling the heat(candle versus sterno can), -Agreed
my 3rd variable change is--spot of heat application (depth). -Agreed
My Dependent variable is---velocity of the currents. Agreed this is the dependant variable as you are measuring this. So your independant variable is??
I.e. what will you plot against what for a graph.
My constants are--The vegetable oil and thyme
There are others. Think of things that might affect the results. What other things are you holding constant?
My Independent variable is the HEAT.
I have not gotten as far as what I will plot against what for a graph. My Dad is going to help me when I actually perform the experiment because of the fire involved. Some other things that I can think of as my constants would be the amount of time of would heat up the mixture (different intervals?). I very much appreciate your input. This is our very first science project. And at the same time we are I am building an earthquake proof house that will be turned in February 21st. So I could really use an extra brain to help me through my other project. Ocean currents project is the really big one for the science fair in May.