HOW TO CREATE AN EXPERIMENT

What is the first thing you do?

• Get a logbook!• Number every right hand page.• On first page identify the writer, school,

subject and date the book was started.• Everything that is related to the subject

goes in this logbook.• The benefits are; • not repeating mistakes, • having all the data available when writing

the necessary reports.

What is an experiment?

• A series of tests or procedures to answer a question or achieve an objective (product).

The Objectives

• Research the subject. Become knowledgeable before you frame a question or set an objective.

• List all the questions you can’t answer in a logical sequence. They lead to the idea you want to prove or the product you want to develop.

• Overall Objective: Design and produce a windmill that will lift a weight 75 cm and pull a vehicle 250 cm. in less than 1 min. each.

Objectives(cont’d)

• Break large objectives into small pieces.• Specific Objective: Design and construct

turbine blades that, when powered by a Lasco 20” #3733 fan 75 cm from the windmill, will enable the windmill to:– Lift 700g 75 cm– In less than 20 sec.

Planning the Experiment

• Select the variables.• Independent= Those things you set or

control• Dependent= The results.• Control= Reference= known results• Windmill• Indep.= Blade materials, angle, number,

shape• Depend= Time, weight then calculated to

“power”.

Planning (Cont’d)

• Select the conditions. Materials, equipment, facilities, personnel, accessories, etc.

• Prepare the notebook- All experiments must be recorded as they occur. Every change, observation and data point must be recorded.

• Enter the starting procedure step by step.• Plan for the changes in the independent var.• Prepare a data table.• Conduct the experiment and record the data in

real time.

EXPERIMENTS

• Standard is the “One Factor at a Time” method.• Fix all variables except one.• Change it to several different settings and run a

test at each one-collecting the results.• Fix this variable at its best value and….• Change another independent variable and

change and test that one the same way. • Continue with other variables until all are done.• Confirm the result by retesting the first variable.

Analyzing the DataUse graphs, charts, tables

Results and Conclusions

• Answer the ‘question’ or meet the ‘objectives’?

• YES then test it several times to confirm.• NO then redo after making changes.

Now it’s your turn!

• Build a paper rocket and launch it with a straw. The one flying longest distance wins.

• The directions, courtesy of NASA, will be handed out.

• Go to it

Presented by

• David Braunstein• Academic Coordinator-CSULB MSP• dbraunst@csulb.edu• Blades and graph from Hudson MS WEC Report• Other Photos by DB