Keeping it fair 0 Overview Connecting to the Curriculum Marking Student Responses Working with Students Question Sam and Sue had each bought the same kind of rubber ball. Sue said, "My ball bounces better than yours". "Prove it!" Sam replied. Which of these experiments should Sue do to find out which ball bounces higher? Drop both balls from the same height a few times and see which bounces higher. Throw the balls against a wall and see which bounces back the greater distance. Drop the balls one at a time from different heights and see which bounces higher. Throw the balls on the floor a couple of times and check how high they bounce. Question Some children wanted to find out which of four different marbles would roll the farthest. They put a grooved metre ruler against the wall. They rolled the marbles down the ruler and measured how far they went along the floor. To make it a "fair test", which one of these must always be the same? The size of the marble The colour of the marble The angle of the ruler The weight of the marble The width of the ruler Level: 3 Curriculum info: Science, Investigating in science, Physical World Keywords: physical inquiry, forces, pulleys Description of task: Task: Answer two multiple choice questions. Assessment focus: managing variables. Curriculum Links: Science capabilities The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask. Capability: Gather and interpret data This resource provides opportunities to discuss the importance of controlling variables when using fair testing for an investigation. Science capability: Gather and interpret data (TKI) Science capabilities: Gather and interpret data Answers/responses: Y7 (03/98) a) A easy b) C moderate Diagnostic and formative information: Common error b) Option A was selected by 20% of students. Option D was selected by 28% of students.
