1. INQUIRY UNIT
How to . . .

2. Understand Variables:
Action
Example
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Constants
Observable or measureable response to the independent variable change
Variable changed on purpose BY experimenter
All factors that remain the same
ramp, car,
release point
Height of ramp
Time down ramp

3. Write a Problem Statement (testable question ):
The question _____ be open ended and include the _________ and __________ variable
MUST
INDEPENDENT
DEPENDENT
Use ONE of the following formats…
“What is the effect of _____________
on the ____________?” IV
“How does changing ______IV_______ affect ______DV______?” DV
Ex: What is the effect of
on the ?
height of ramp
time down ramp

4. Problem statement (testable question) con’tOR IV
“How does changing _____________ affect ____________?” DV
Ex: How does changing the
affect the ?
height of ramp
time down ramp
Your turn…

5. Bell Ringer
Write a problem statement

6. Write a Hypothesis:
An ___…, _____…statement that is based on what you believe will happen or how the problem will be answered. This belief is based on research, observations or previous knowledge. IF
THEN
Use the appropriate of the following formats. . .
If the is (increased/decreased) then the will (increase/decrease/stay the same) IV DV
Ex: If the is increased then the
will increase.
height of ramp
time down ramp

7. Write a Hypothesis (con’t)OR
If the is changed from ___ to ___ to ____ then the
is (increased/decreased/stays the same) IV DV
If the is changed from tile to wood to carpet then the is increased.
type of ramp
time down ramp
Your turn. . .

8. Materials & Procedure Materials: List of needed items.
Ex: ramp, car, stopwatch, meter stick , tape
Procedure: Step by step directions
Ex: 1) Gather materials
2) Mark starting point on ramp with tape, measure one meter from end of ramp and mark stopping point with tape
3) Set up ramp so it is 5 cm high
4) Release car and start stopwatch at same time, stop the stopwatch when the car reaches the end point.
5) Repeat four more times.
6) Repeat steps 3-5 for ramp at 10 cm high
7) Repeat steps 3-5 for ramp at 15 cm high.

9. Bell Ringer
List parts of a data table or graph.

10. Create a Data Table
Create a table with ______ columns, center column being wider than the other two
Label the _____ column with the ___ and _____
Label the ______ column with the ___ and _____
Divide center column into ___ columns and label with ______ 1-5
Label _____column with the _______ DV and unit
Fill in the IV column with the _______ of IV
Write the _____ for the data table
THREE
LEFT IV
UNIT
CENTER DV
UNIT 5
TRIALS
RIGHT
AVERAGE
LEVELS
TITLE

11. Write a Title for Tables and Graphs
The title should be ___________ of what is in the data table and graph.
DESCRIPTIVE
The title should be the _______ for ______ data table and graph
SAME
BOTH
The title should follow _____ of the following formats (same format as the problem statement)
ONE
“How the affects the “ IV DV
Ex: How the affects the
height of ramp
time down ramp

12. Write a Title for Tables and Graphs (con’t)
“The Effect of on the ” IV DV
Ex: The effect of on the
height of ramp
time down ramp
Your turn. . .

13. create a data table (con’t)
Title
Independent
Variable (unit)
Dependent
Average Dependent
Trial 1 2 3 4 5

14. create a data table -- example
The effect of height of the ramp on the time down the ramp
Height of Ramp (cm)
Time down ramp (s)
Average time
down the ramp (s)
Trial 1 2 3 4 5 10 15
As the data is collected, write the _________ in the table.
After all the data is collected find the _______ (mean).
NUMBERS
AVERAGE

15. Bell Ringer
List the parts of a data table

16. Create a Graph Must have: (1) ________ -same as table
(2) The __________ for each axis
The Independent Variable goes on the____/horizontal axis
The Dependent Variable goes on the ____/vertical axis
(3) ______ of measure for each axis
The intervals must be ______ and the _______ are numbered!
Use intervals that will make graph ___ ______ half high/wide
(4) _____
TITLE
VARIABLE X Y
UNIT
EQUAL
LINES
AT LEAST
DATA

17. create a graph (con’t) BAR LINE Use ____________ type of graph
_______ - used…
to show comparison
_______ – used…
to show change over time
when both variables are numerical and continuous
ALWAYS graph the _________ (mean)
APPROPRIATE
BAR
LINE
AVERAGE

18. create a graph (example)

19. Bell Ringer
When writing a title for a graph/data table…what do we already have written that we can use to help us write a title?

20. Determine the Trend
Trend:
_________ between the independent and dependent variable: how one factor affects the other.
Ex: As the height of the ramp increased the time down the
ramp decreased
PATTERN

21. Write the Conclusion
Conclusion: At least _______ sentences: 1…State if the ______ supported or did not support the hypothesis 2…State the _______ 3…Give __________ to support the trend
THREE
DATA
TREND
EVIDENCE

22. Conclusion -- example The data supports the hypothesis.
As the height of
the ramp increased the time down the ramp decreased.
When the height of the ramp was 5 cm high the car took 3 seconds to travel down the ramp, but when the height was increased to 10 cm the car only took 2 sec to roll down the ramp. Finally, when the ramp was increased to 15 cm the time further decreased to only 1.5 seconds for the car to roll down the ramp.

23. Score/Identify Trend

24. Identify Trend

25. Score/Identify Trend

26. Score/Identify Trend

27. Score/Identify Trend