1. Variables
8th Grade Science

2. Pinewood Derby

3. Does the mass of a derby car affect its speed?
Scientific Question (problem):
Does the mass of a derby car affect its speed?

4. What is being tested or compared in an experiment.
It is what the experiment is all about
It is the “cause.”
It is the “before”

5. What is being tested or compared?
Does the mass of a derby car affect its speed?

6. The outcome or the results of the experiment
Dependent
What is being measured.
It is the “effect.”
It is the “after.”

7. What is being measured?
Does the mass of a derby car affect its speed?

8. How to Write a Hypothesis
Describe the relationship between the IV & DV:
The more/less of the _IV_,
the more/less the ___DV__.

9. The Hypothesis should predict…
As the IV (increases or decreased), the DV (increases or decreases).

10. Hypothesis The more mass the car has, the faster it will go. or
The less mass the car has, the faster it will go.

11. Stay the same throughout the experiment
Constant Variables
Stay the same throughout the experiment

12. Constants Race course (distance, steepness, etc) Wheel size Shape
Same kind of wood/brand
Drop time (release levers)

16. Control (normal) – plain wooden car
Experimental Group- Different weights added to car

17. 2nd Daily Question: Write hypothesis & complete design chart
Does the shape of the pinewood derby car, affect its speed?
Hint: use word “aerodynamics”