Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
I am doing a project on whether exercising indoors produces more carbon dioxide output than exercising outdoors. I have completed everything in my research plan except for the last part of my hypothesis. So far I have got: If a person exercises outdoors, then that person will produce more carbon dioxide output than if the person were to exercise indoors because... If someone could give me an idea about what to put after the "because", it would help me a lot. So far, I have figured out that the "because" part has to be both testable and explainable.

Thanks,
akaash

Hi akaash,

Your project sounds very interesting. We have some pages that should help you figure out how to write your hypothesis.

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

and

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/201 ... thesis.php

Most hypothesis statements follow this form "If _____ _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen." I think you have all the information for your hypothesis, you just have to figure out where to put it.

Let me know if you have anymore questions,
-microkts

Hi Akaash,

You have a very interesting question! I am curious as to how you plan to test the carbon dioxide output of your subjects. Do you have access to a CO2 sensor?

The answer to what you should put after "because" may be something you found in your background reading. What is it that led you to predict that people exercising outdoors would produce more CO2 than people exercising indoors?

Let us know if you have more questions.

Best,
Heather

The because is where your background information must come into play. Just ask yourself "why will exercising outdoors produce more carbon dioxide?" Whatever reasons you come up with, just put them behind the because and you're all set. Some other good questions to ask yourself:
1. What factors effect carbon dioxide production?
2. What factors effect carbon dioxide production when one is inside?
3. What factors effect carbon dioxide production when one is outside?
4. Which of the factors identified above will support my hypothesis?