Experimental Design DiagramsName: Ellyn VanderZwaag HR: 7th

A. State your question

Does the amount of water, affect how far the rocket will go
B. Make a prediction showing what you think will happen in the experiment.
If there is more water in the bottom, then the rocket will go further because there is
more water to move the rocket
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.

Effect of the amount of water in the in the bottom of the rocket

Amount of Distance the rocket went Average
water in the
bottom
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
2000mL
1500mL 45 45 57 49
1000 mL 60 50 45 51.67
500 mL 81 72 75 76
250 mL 30 36 45 37

Source: Ellyn VanderZwaag May 13, 2010

D. List 5 controlled variables.

- Same pop bottles
- same launch method
- same weather conditions
- Same

E. List the materials needed for the experiment.

- pop bottles
- Duct tape

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 - cardboard
F. Write out a step by step procedure for carrying out the experiment.
- first take out your materials
- tape pop bottles together
- cut out fins
- attach fins
- add 1 cups of water to the bottom bottle
- launch rocket
- repeat using ½ a cup more water each time
- record data
- Write a conclusion
*Someone should be able to repeat your experiment from your procedure.
G. Check your experimental design diagram with your instructor and carry out the
experiment.
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”)
My Data does support my hypothesis, I predicted that when there was water in the
bottom the rocket would go further and that is what happened. When There was 2000
mL in the bottom of the rocket it went further than with 250 mL. If we were going to do
this experiment again I would

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