Experimental Design/Practice

The following are examples of Experimental Design events which can be used for practice.

Example 1

Topic: Gravity

Materials:

• 3 rubber balls(different sizes and colors)
• 30 cm of masking tape
• 10 rubber bands
• 1 meter stick
• 1 plastic spoon
• 1 block of styrofoam
• 10 popsicle sticks

Example 2

Topic: None

Materials:

• 2 toy cars
• 5 rubber bands
• 20 push pins
• 1 meter stick
• 3 1'x1'sheets of cardboard
• 5 1'x1/2 sheets of cardboard
• 5 1'X1/4 sheets of cardboard

Example 3

Topic: Temperature

Materials:

• Thermometer
• Hot and cold tap water
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of salt
• 1 cup of MSG
• 3 250 ml beakers
• 10 plastic spoons
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 bottle of hair gel

Example 4

Topic: Motion through rolling

Mateirals:

• 5 marbles
• 1 can
• 1 foot of sand paper
• 1 small pegboard
• 4 dictionaries
• 1 sharpie
• 1 foot of masking tape
• 1 foot of PVC pipe

Example 5

Topic: Water

Materials:

• 10 cotton balls
• 4 beakers
• 1 cup of sand
• 1 cup of salt
• 1 bottle of water (bottle may be used)
• 1 measuring cup
• 1 roll of plastic wrap
• 10 cotton swabs

Example 6

Topic: None

Materials:

• 1 stick of gum
• 1 cup of juice
• 1 cup of soda water
• 1 cup of Chex Mix
• 10 plastic cups
• 5 plastic spoons
• 1 meter stick

Example 7

Topic: Chemistry

Materials:

• 10 plastic spoons
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 4 plastic bottles
• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1/4 cup of vinegar

Example 8

Topic: None

• 3 markers
• 10 sheets of plain white paper
• 3 pencils
• 3 crayons
• 2 rulers

Example 9

Topic: Electricity

Materials:

• 1 buzzer
• 1 lemon
• 1 tomato
• 1 battery
• 1 penny
• 1 paper clip
• 1 ice bath
• 1 hot plate
• 1 thermometer

Example 10

Topic: Physics

Materials:

• 10 note cards
• 2 sheets of sand paper
• 1 cup of salt
• 5 marbles
• 1 toy car
• 30 cm of tape
• 10 paper clips

Example 11

Topic: Pressure

Materials:

• 1 syringe
• 3 blocks of wood, 15cm x 3cm x 15cm
• 8 textbooks, same size
• timer
• 30 cm of string
• scale
• water
• paper cups
• paper clips

Example 12

Topic: Pendulums

Materials:

• 5 marbles
• 1 paper dixie cup
• 1 piece of 20cm long string

Example 13

Topic: Catapults

Materials:

• 6 marbles
• 1 ping pong ball
• 4 popsicle sticks
• 1 plastic spoon
• 1 paper dixie cup

Example 14

Topic: Simple Machines

Materials:

• 20 Popsicle Sticks
• 5 Rubber Bands
• 1 Pound Weight
• 2 Pound Weight
• 3 Pound Weight
• Spring Scale
• Scrap wood

Example 15

Topic: Aviation/Aerodynamics

Materials:

• 1 Ream of Paper
• 1 Box of Paper Clips
• 10 Washers
• 1 Pair of Scissors
• Stack of Cardstock
• Stack of Cardboard
• Meterstick
• 1 Meter of Tape

Example 16

Topic: Newton's Laws of Motion

Materials:

• 1 Toy Car
• 3 Marbles
• 3 Metal Balls
• 3 Wooden Balls
• 1 Meter of String
• 1 Meter of Tape
• 1 Spring Scale
• 1 Ream of Paper

Example 17

Topic: Acids and Bases

Materials:

• Pure Lemon Juice
• Water
• pH Paper
• Basic Tap Water
• Vinegar
• Milk
• Beaker
• Graduated Cylinder

Example 18

Topic: Optics

Materials:

• 1 Convex Lens
• 1 Concave Lens
• 1 Flashlight
• 1 Meterstick
• 1 Convex Mirror
• 1 Concave Mirror
• 1 Sheet of Cardboard

Example 19

Topic: Circuits

Materials:

• 6 12-inch Wires
• 3 Lightbulbs
• 3 Lightbulb Holders
• 1 Battery
• 1 Iron Nail
• 1 Cobalt Nail
• 1 Nickel Nail
• 6 Paperclips

Example 20

Topic: Sound

Materials:

• 1 Block of Styrofoam
• 1 Block of Polyurethane Foam
• 1 Block of Memory Foam
• 1 Heat Plate
• Ice Cubes
• 1 Funnel
• 1 Oscilloscope
• 1 Ruler