Which melts faster ice cream or frozen yogurt?

AFTER you've done your research and concluded your experiments, it is time to prepare for the science fair. Ask specific questions about preparing for a science fair, including how to set up your display board, how to prepare a presentation, etc. (Please post questions about selecting a project or conducting your experiment by posting in the appropriate "area of science" forum.)

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itsavy
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:45 pm
Occupation: Student 5th Grade
Project Question: Scientific Method - we are having a problem figuring out the Variable in our experiment - we are testing which has more bacteria, a shopping cart handle or a shopping cart seat? We think the Independent variable would be the seat and also the handles. We are not sure on the Dependent or Control...any help would be appreciated.

Thank you
Project Due Date: December
Project Status: I am just starting

Which melts faster ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Post by itsavy »

Just confirming the variable here would be ice cream and the yogurt?

Thank you
vysarge
Former Expert
Posts: 65
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:56 pm
Occupation: Student: 12th grade
Project Question: Student volunteer.
Project Due Date: N/a: see above.
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Which melts faster ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Post by vysarge »

Hi itsavy!

In a science fair project, there are three different kinds of variables. These are the independent, dependent, and controlled variables. The independent variable is the thing that you change- in this case, the type of food that's melting. Ice cream and frozen yogurt aren't actually the variables; they're materials.

The dependent variable is what you measure- in this case, the time it takes to melt. The dependent variable depends on the independent variable!

The controlled variables are things that you don't change at all- there are lots of these! For example, you wouldn't want to change the starting temperature- that might change the time it takes to melt. And you wouldn't want to change anything else, like the amount of ice cream/frozen yogurt that you're melting. That could change your results too.

I would also suggest looking here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml

Good luck with your project!
-Vysarge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so that each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry.
-Richard Feynman
itsavy
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:45 pm
Occupation: Student 5th Grade
Project Question: Scientific Method - we are having a problem figuring out the Variable in our experiment - we are testing which has more bacteria, a shopping cart handle or a shopping cart seat? We think the Independent variable would be the seat and also the handles. We are not sure on the Dependent or Control...any help would be appreciated.

Thank you
Project Due Date: December
Project Status: I am just starting

Re: Which melts faster ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Post by itsavy »

That was a great explanation!

Thank you!
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