Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am working on the Gears-Go Round science project and need to know what the variables(controlled, independent, and dependent) are for this project.

Thanks!

Hi pkn5,

I was unable to find your project, so I can't offer more specific guidance. Do you have a pointer to it?

In the meantime, have you seen the variables section on the project guide at:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml

It has definitions of different types of variables and many examples.

Does this write-up help?

I believe that the project in question is https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p016.shtml

The "Project" is written as a "demonstration of principles" that can be transformed into a Science Fair project. To utilize the scientific method to investigate something in order to make it a good Science Fair Project, you need to pick something specific that you want to test and then word it as your hypothesis.

Please read the "Getting Started" links on https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ndex.shtml for "The Scientific Method" https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... thod.shtml and the links under "Constructing a Hypothesis".

The section on "Variables" https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml and "Variables for Beginners" https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... test.shtml describe what variables are in general.

In order to determine which "variables" are independent, dependent, and control, you need a "hypothesis" https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... esis.shtml. Your carefully worded hypothesis in a form similar to "if <this> then <that>" will provide the clues to what you are intentionally changing (THE variable associated with "<this>" is the independent variable - what you chose to intentionally change) and what you are measuring to determine "<that>" (dependent variable or variables). Everything else that you need to control in order to have a fair test are the controlled variables (control variables).

The difference between a "demonstration" and a great Science Fair Project is following the scientific method to investigate something which starts out as a statement of what you believe will happen and then coming up with an experiment to prove/disprove that involves a fair test.