Planning Investigations Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the independent variable (IV)?
The variable you will change.
What is the dependent variable (DV)?
The variable you will measure.
What is a control variable (CV)?
A variable that must be kept the same.
What does the mnemonic IDCSRA stand for?
I: Independent Variable
D: Dependent Variable
C: Control Variables
S: Safety
R: Repeat
A: Average
What should you include when describing the independent variable?
The variable name, how to change it, apparatus used, at least 3 values with units.
What should you include when describing the dependent variable?
What is being measured, the units, and how it is measured.
How many control variables should you state and describe?
At least three, and explain how you will keep each one constant.
What must you include under “Safety”?
One risk and how to eliminate or reduce it.
How many times should the experiment be repeated?
At least three times.
What should you do after repeating the experiment?
Calculate an average (for numerical data).
Should you write a conclusion in your plan?
No, do not write a conclusion as the experiment hasn’t been performed yet.
What is a control experiment?
An optional setup used for comparison, where the independent variable is not changed.
