I need help with finding some sources of error! My experiment is that there is one candle lit and five different sizes of beakers being upside down onto the candle (one at a time) and seeing how long it takes for the candle to burn out for each beaker.
I already have one but need three --- the one I have is that someone walks by your table and the wind makes your fire smaller without your knowledge. Then you put your beaker on the candle, which ultimately affects how long it takes for the candle to burn out, since the size of the fire isn't at it's largest.
Sure! Here are three additional sources of error you can consider for your experiment:
1. Heat loss: When you place the beaker onto the candle, there may be heat loss through conduction and convection. The glass of the beaker can absorb heat from the flame, causing a decrease in the temperature of the flame and affecting its burning rate. To minimize this error, you could preheat the beakers to the same temperature before conducting each trial.
2. Inconsistent candle size: The size of the candle can vary between trials, which can impact the burning time. To control for this, make sure to use the same type and size of candles throughout the experiment. It's also a good practice to measure and record the initial length of the candle wick to ensure consistency.
3. Human error in timing: Timing the burning duration of the candles manually can introduce human error. Different individuals may have slight variations in their reaction times or may inaccurately estimate when the candle has burned out completely. To minimize this error, use a stopwatch or a timer app on a device to ensure precise and consistent timing for each trial.
Remember, it's important to acknowledge potential sources of error in your experimental setup to enhance the reliability and accuracy of your results. Good luck with your experiment!