Name:______________________________________________________________ Period:______
LEARNING TARGET: I will be able to . . .
1. Identify the parts of a scientific experiment.
2. Analyze the results of a scientific experiment in order to support or fail to support
a hypothesis.
3. I will demonstrate this by DISCUSSING and completing this worksheet with a
partner.
“Floor Wax at the Westmoreland Mall”
The Westmoreland Mall currently uses “Tough Stuff” floor wax. The company that
manages the Westmoreland Mall wants to determine whether the less expensive “Steal
Seal” floor wax works as well as “Tough Stuff” floor wax at protecting floor tiles against
scratches.
Six test sections of the main hall floor of the mall are sanded and cleaned to remove all of
the floor wax. One liter of “Tough Stuff” floor wax is applied to three of the test sections.
One liter of “Steal Seal” floor wax is applied to the other three test sections. All of the wax
is applied at the same time. The test sections are all the same size and are covered with
the same type and amount of tiles. The test sections all receive the same amount of foot
traffic. After four weeks, the number of scratches in each of the six test sections will be
counted.
TABLE 1: “Floor Wax at the Westmoreland Mall” Experiment Results
FLOOR SECTION
1
2
3
4
5
6
WAX
Tough Stuff
Steal Seal
Tough Stuff
Steal Seal
Tough Stuff
Steal Seal
# SCRATCHES
3
4
2
7
1
6
CONTINUED ON THE BACK . . .(for those who always forget!)
Directions: Please complete the following table by identifying the part of the experiment and
providing a reason why you know this is the specific part of the experiment.
Vocabulary Term
Example from “The Floor Wax
Reasoning
Experiment”
Independent
Variable
Dependent
Variable
Constants
Control
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. What research question is the company that manages the Westmoreland Mall trying to answer?
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2. Create a hypothesis related to this question. (Use an If…,then…because statement. Remember
the “IF” should be about the independent variable, “THEN” is about the measurable dependent
variable, and “BECAUSE” explains why you are making this prediction)
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3. What is the sample size for the control group and experimental group in this experiment?
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CONTINUED ON THE SECOND PAGE . . .
4. What is the mean number of scratches on the floor sections covered with “Tough Stuff” wax?
(Show your work!)
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5. What is the mean number of scratches on the floor sections covered with “Steal Seal” wax?
(Show your work!)
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6. Do the results support or fail to support your hypothesis? Cite evidence to support your
conclusion.
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7. What is the answer to the question asked by the company that manages the Westmoreland Mall?
(Re-state the research question in your answer.)
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8. Do you see any potential problems with this design of this experiment? What would you do
differently to improve this experiment?
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9. Rate yourself as a 1, 2, or 3 according to your level of understanding for the terms: control,
constant, independent variable, dependent variable, and hypothesis. 1 means I don’t know the terms
at all, 2 means I know all of the terms but I can’t identify them in an experiment, 3 means I know all
the terms and can identify them in an experiment. Please make a study plan that relates to your level
of understanding. ________________________________________________________________
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