2. Practical Aims

2.1. Aims

An aim is a single sentence that usually begins with: β€œTo investigate…”

e.g. To investigate the effect of light intensity on plant height.

An aim should include:

  • what is changed (Independent Variable β€” IV) β€” light intensity

  • what is measured or observed (Dependent Variable β€” DV) β€” plant height

2.2. Example Aim

Experiment topic:

  • How the IV affects the DV.

  • How the light intensity affects plant height.

Variables:

  • IV (what is changed): light intensity

  • DV (what is measured): plant height

Aim:

  • To investigate the effect of the IV on DV.

  • To investigate the effect of the light intensity on plant height.

The following questions use identical wording for variables in the investigation description and in the naming of the variables and in the aim.

Fill in the Gaps β€” Aims

Answer each question.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): dissolve β€’ temperature β€’ time

A student is investigating how the temperature of water affects the time taken for sugar to dissolve.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of water.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the _____________________ taken for sugar to _____________________.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): ramp β€’ height β€’ distance

A student is investigating how the height of a ramp affects the distance travelled by a toy car.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of a _____________________.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the _____________________ travelled by a toy car.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): rubber band β€’ length β€’ pitch

A student is investigating how the length of a rubber band affects the pitch of the sound produced.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of a _____________________.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the _____________________ of the sound produced.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): duration β€’ sunlight β€’ height

A student is investigating how the duration of sunlight affects the height of a plant.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of _____________________.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the _____________________ of a plant.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): dissolved β€’ mass β€’ temperature

A student is investigating how the temperature of water affects the mass of salt dissolved.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of water.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the _____________________ of salt _____________________.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): force β€’ friction β€’ surface

A student is investigating how the type of surface affects the friction force acting on a moving object.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the type of _____________________.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the _____________ _____________ acting on a moving object.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): erosion β€’ steepness β€’ water

A student is investigating how the steepness of a slope affects the rate of erosion caused by water.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of a slope.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the rate of _____________________ caused by _____________________.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): current β€’ thickness β€’ wire

A student is investigating how the thickness of a wire affects the electric current flowing through it.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of a _____________________.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the electric _____________________ flowing through the wire.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): carbon dioxide β€’ photosynthesis β€’ rate

A student is investigating how the concentration of carbon dioxide affects the rate of photosynthesis in a plant.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the concentration of _____________________.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the _____________________ of _____________________ in a plant.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Complete the following by filling in the missing words.

Word list (A β†’ Z): evaporation β€’ surface area β€’ water

A student is investigating how the surface area of water affects the rate of evaporation.

  1. The independent variable (IV) is the _____________________ of _____________________.

  2. The dependent variable (DV) is the rate of _____________________.

  3. The aim of the experiment is:

To investigate the effect of the __________________________________ on the __________________________________.

Reveal Answer Key

  1. temperature

  2. time, dissolve

  3. temperature of water, time taken for sugar to dissolve

  1. height, ramp

  2. distance

  3. height of a ramp, distance travelled by a toy car

  1. length, rubber band

  2. pitch

  3. length of a rubber band, pitch of the sound produced

  1. duration, sunlight

  2. height

  3. duration of sunlight, height of a plant

  1. temperature

  2. mass, dissolved

  3. temperature of water, mass of salt dissolved

  1. surface

  2. friction, force

  3. type of surface, friction force

  1. steepness

  2. erosion, water

  3. steepness of a slope, rate of erosion caused by water

  1. thickness, wire

  2. current

  3. thickness of a wire, electric current flowing through the wire.

  1. carbon dioxide

  2. rate, photosynthesis

  3. concentration of carbon dioxide, rate of photosynthesis in a plant

  1. surface area, water

  2. evaporation

  3. surface area of water, rate of evaporation