Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, please tell me the control for this project. I have already tried so hard figuring it out but now I need some help. Thank you

Hello. We aren't here to give you answers outright, but we will certainly help you work through the problem! Controlled variables are quantities you wish to keep constant throughout your experiment. You can read more about it here.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml

Think about your materials list and procedure. What are you changing and what are you keeping constant? Take a first crack at it and write back with your thoughts.

Good luck!

dcnick96 wrote:Hello. We aren't here to give you answers outright, but we will certainly help you work through the problem! Controlled variables are quantities you wish to keep constant throughout your experiment. You can read more about it here.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml

Think about your materials list and procedure. What are you changing and what are you keeping constant? Take a first crack at it and write back with your thoughts.

Good luck!

Ummmm would the control be room temperature

Another thing to keep in mind. Controls are items you want to keep constant because changing them could affect the outcome of your experiment. Does your research tell you that room temperature could change the outcome? If so, then yes.

You can have more than one control. Look at your procedures list. What are they having you change and what are they having you keep constant?

Im not too sure sorry. I know that the dependant variable is the enzyme activity and the independant variable is the temperature.

You are correct for your impendent and dependent variables. Think about your enzyme solution and the instructions given to make it. They have you use items such as potatoes, specific concentration of hydrogen peroxide, distilled water, etc. What would happen if you changed any of these items during your experiment? Could that change the outcome?

I think changing the amount of potatoes, concentration of potatoes (is concentration the same as amount?),and amount of distilled water could affect the outcome of the experiment.

Bingo! Also perhaps type of water (distilled v regular) and peroxide concentration. Well done. Please write back if you have more questions. Good luck!

sooo can you recap all the controls for me one more time just for me to be sure. thank you

How about you list what you think they are, and we'll go from there. And remember, you can have more than one control.

ok

I think all the controls are the amount of potatoes, amount of hydrogen peroxide, amount of distilled water, and type of water. Also, I have another question. I know that the temperature is the independent variable for the experiment and the dependant variable is the amount of enzyme activity, but how do I measure the activity of the enzyme when I test it at different temperatures???