Experimental Design Diagrams Name: Ellyn HR:7th

A. State your question

What effect does amount of precipitation have on the amount of sand that erodes away?
B. Make a prediction showing what you think will happen in the experiment.
If…(something happens) Then…(what is the outcome) Because…(why you think this)
If there is more water going down the gutter then there will be more pebbles eroded away because there
is more force from the water.
C. Create a data table.
1. When making a data table, follow the example given and be sure that…
2. It has a brief descriptive title in the form of “(dependent variable) DEPENDS ON (independent variable)”
3. The first column is for the independent variable, the one you are changing.
4. The next column(s) are for trials of the dependent variable.
5. The last column is for the best value (average) of the dependent variable.
6. The columns of data begin with a label naming the variable and the units in which it is measured. Be
sure to include the units of the variables, as shown below.
7. The data are entered as numbers only.
8. The last row should contain the source of the data.

The amount of pebbles eroded away depends on the amount of precipitation.

Amount of Water Amount moved (mL) Average
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
150 ml 2 0 1 1
200 ml 3 4 3 3.3
250 ml 8 9 7 8
300 ml 10 10 9 9.6

350 ml 7 8 8 7.5
400 ml 15 15 14 14.6
Source: Nate and Ellyn , November 16, 2009

D. List 5 controlled variables.

- Amount of Pebbles
- Amount of water
- Incline of gutter
- height that the water is being poured from
- Size of holes/amount in lid
E. List the materials needed for the experiment.
- Gutter
- Water
- Jar
- Cap with holes
- Pebbles
- runoff catcher
- Bucket used for the incline of gutter.
F. Write out a step by step procedure for carrying out the experiment.
*Someone should be able to repeat your experiment from your procedure.
1. Start by getting all of your materials
2. Put the red bucket under the gutter and then have the other end on the runoff bucket.
3. Take 200 ml of pebbles

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 4. Put the pebbles in the top end of the gutter and spread of evenly over 1 ft.
5. Start with 150 ml of water in the jar and then work your way up each time to 400 ml.
6. Tip the jar upside down over the gutter and wait until all of the water is gone.
7. Then measure the amount of sand/water in the runoff bucket.
8. Then repeat using 50 ml more water than last time.
9. For cleaning up you need to clean off the gutter and runoff bucket, and then dry out the jar and
lid.
10. Then record your data in your chart.
G. Check your experimental design diagram with your instructor and carry out the
H. Fill in the data table.
I. Graph your data on Excel. (Use the graphing guidelines.)

J. Write a conclusion.
1. Does your data support your hypothesis? Why or why not? (Describe by referring to your data! Be
sure you talk about your data and graph.)
2. What changes would you make if you did the experiment again and why? (Be specific to the individual
experiment…NOT “Be more accurate” “Do more trials”)
Our experiment, for the most part, fit our hypothesis. Out hypothesis clearly states that the more
water that is coming down the more pebbles will be eroded away, and that is what happened.
The reason why there was a dip in our data and graph at 350 ml of water was because there were
bigger pebbles toward the front and so there were not as many as the small pebbles. If we were
to do this experiment again I would make sure that we used a material that was a little bit easier
to move down the gutter. \

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