Experimental Design B/C

[scimystery]

What about with an experiment where you drop objects of different masses from a constant height and record the time it takes to hit the ground? That should have no correlation, right?

I mean, it's somewhat intelligible...

But experiments like those would tend to score lower?

I understand where you're coming from with that. But I think the rubric seems to suggest that having some sort of positive or negative correlation is in your best interest. There are a lot of ways to change up that experiment... use varying ramps, measure the bounce, density or sommat... be creative. Do something that isn't going to be done by another team. At the same time, if you're essentially forced into doing an experiment like that, then be sure to include your prior physics knowledge in the hypothesis to explain why you believe there will be no correlation. Actually, do that with all of your hypotheses.

Hi I'm in the B division and this is my first time doing Experimental Design.
What should I be prepared for? My teacher hasn't found me a partner yet.

Right, so first things first: Read the Experimental Design Wiki and go over the rubric provided in the rules. Get a good grasp on what you're expected to include in the lab write-up- this doesn't change from tournament to tournament so you should know it like the back of your hand. Typically, you'll be asked to come up with and execute an experiment with given materials. Depending on the tournament, this can be anything from biology to chemistry but typically physics (because physics-related materials are easy to come by). Knowing the basics of ramps and pendulums come in handy in this event.

Also, you should get your coach to provide you partners, not just one partner. You are allowed to send in a team of 3 to this event, so there's no reason not to. Time is of the essence; writing takes a long time.

Ok. Thanks!

[Phys1cs]

So I'm in division C, what are other people using for the "other statistics" beyond deviation, mean, median, mode, and those?

[EastStroudsburg13]

I think generally people stick to that, but if you're feeling really ambitious, you could try to find the correlation coefficient and/or R-squared, if the experiment you're doing makes that relevant. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, but I've only ever done Experimental Design once, so others with more experience might have some useful insight.

[ninjapenguin]

Was anyone here at the Casa Grande Invitationals?

[ScienceOlympian]

My partner and I are the only people who want to do Experimental Design. Is having only two people instead of three a huge disadvantage?

[zyzzyva980]

It's a fairly large disadvantage because the event is so time-sensitive. In five years of competing with a team of three people, I never once finished the event with more than five minutes remaining, and very often we were still scribbling as time ran out. The entire write-up itself takes awhile, that's not including the experiment, which effectively eliminates at least one person for a good 10-15 minutes. You want to include as many details as possible in your write-up and if you work with two people you're going to be shorthanded in some sections.

Fortunately this is not a difficult event to pick up. You can drag anyone sitting around your home room to do it with you and just tell them what to do and you'll be fine. But get that extra person in there, it's a huge help.

And how can you not want to do Experimental? I had so much fun in that event.

[tagfam]

Does anyone know if it is ok to bring in graph paper and colored pencils? The rules don't say you can but they don't say you can't either.

[zyzzyva980]

In the past I have brought in colored pencils without incident. Graph paper is a little trickier. They usually don't want you to bring in your own paper (because notes) and in most cases graph paper will be provided. If it isn't, well, it's not the end of the world if you don't have it. You can make do just fine with regular paper.

[Skink]

Yeah, section 2. of the rules allows 'writing instruments'. Just in case you get a grumpy supervisor, always bring standard no. 2s or blue/black ink pens just in case. I'd say bring the colored pencils, too, though! In theory, you could bring gel pens or fat markers. Just bear in mind what you write, even where allowed, should be legible. Yellows are hard to read, and I'd shy away from pinks, too.

As for graph paper, you could call upon general rule #2 to make your case. Personally, I'd ask you to leave the graph paper outside or confiscate it. That's not a battle worth fighting in a competition environment, if you ask me.

[ninjapenguin]

It's a fairly large disadvantage because the event is so time-sensitive. In five years of competing with a team of three people, I never once finished the event with more than five minutes remaining, and very often we were still scribbling as time ran out. The entire write-up itself takes awhile, that's not including the experiment, which effectively eliminates at least one person for a good 10-15 minutes. You want to include as many details as possible in your write-up and if you work with two people you're going to be shorthanded in some sections.

Fortunately this is not a difficult event to pick up. You can drag anyone sitting around your home room to do it with you and just tell them what to do and you'll be fine. But get that extra person in there, it's a huge help.

And how can you not want to do Experimental? I had so much fun in that event.

I am new to the event and I am doing it alone. I have participated in two invitationals and have finished with five minutes left. I have placed second and fifth. Is this good?