Scientific Variables

Summary

In the script, Mr. Conan and Jacob conduct a science experiment to determine the effect of water on plant growth. They place two identical plants in the same location, providing equal sunlight, but vary the watering schedule. Through this controlled experiment, they discover that the plant watered daily grows larger, illustrating the impact of the independent variable (watering frequency) on the dependent variable (plant size). The dialogue also explains the importance of controlled variables in maintaining a fair experiment.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Mr. Conan is conducting an experiment to test how different watering frequencies affect plant growth.
• 🤔 Jacob suggests that the experiment might be testing how well plants grow based on the amount of water they receive.
• 📍 The plants are placed in the same location and receive the same amount of sunlight to control for these variables.
• 💧 The independent variable in the experiment is the amount of water each plant receives.
• 🚫 Changing multiple variables at once would make it difficult to determine the cause of any growth differences.
• 🌟 Controlled variables are aspects of the experiment that remain constant to ensure fairness, like location, light, and plant type.
• 🌿 The dependent variable is the outcome being measured, which in this case is the growth of the plants.
• 🔍 After spring break, the results show that the plant watered more frequently grew larger, indicating the effect of the independent variable.
• 🎉 Jacob correctly identifies the dependent variable as the plant's growth, which depends on the amount of water given.
• 🧪 To conduct a fair experiment, one must identify one independent variable, one dependent variable, and keep all other variables as controls.

Q & A

What is Mr. Conan's experiment about?

Mr. Conan's experiment is about testing how much two plants of the same type grow based on the amount of water they receive, with all other conditions being the same.

Why does Mr. Conan water one plant every day and the other every other day?

Mr. Conan waters one plant every day and the other every other day to test the effect of different watering frequencies on the growth of the plants.

What does Jacob correctly identify as the purpose of the experiment?

Jacob correctly identifies that the experiment is testing how well the plants grow depending on how much water they get.

Why does Mr. Conan place both plants in the same location?

Mr. Conan places both plants in the same location to control for environmental variables like sunlight and temperature, ensuring a fair test.

What is the independent variable in Mr. Conan's experiment?

The independent variable in Mr. Conan's experiment is the amount of water the plants receive.

What is the significance of having controlled variables in an experiment?

Controlled variables are significant in an experiment because they keep the test fair by ensuring that all factors except the independent variable remain the same.

What does Mr. Conan explain about changing only one thing at a time in an experiment?

Mr. Conan explains that in order for an experiment to be fair, only one thing should be changed at a time, which is the independent variable, while all other factors remain constant.

Why can't Mr. Conan play different music for the plants in this experiment?

Mr. Conan can't play different music for the plants in this experiment because it would introduce another variable, making it impossible to determine if the results were due to water or music.

What is the dependent variable in Mr. Conan's experiment?

The dependent variable in Mr. Conan's experiment is the growth of the plants, which is measured by how big they get.

What conclusion does Jacob draw from the results of the experiment?

Jacob concludes that the independent variable, the amount of water, had an effect on the plants' growth, as the plant that received more water grew bigger.

How does Mr. Conan ensure that the experiment's results are due to the independent variable and not other factors?

Mr. Conan ensures the experiment's results are due to the independent variable by keeping all other variables, the controlled variables, the same.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Experimenting with Plant Growth and Watering

In the first paragraph, Mr. Conan introduces Jacob to a scientific experiment involving two plants placed in the same location and receiving the same amount of sunlight. One plant is watered daily, while the other is watered every other day. The purpose of the experiment is to determine the effect of water quantity on plant growth. Mr. Conan explains the importance of keeping all other factors constant, such as location and sunlight, to ensure the experiment's fairness. He introduces the concept of the independent variable (the amount of water) and controlled variables (all other factors that remain the same). The discussion also touches on the idea of changing only one variable at a time to draw accurate conclusions from the experiment.

05:00

🌳 Analyzing Results and Understanding Variables

The second paragraph continues with the experiment's outcome after spring break. Jacob and Mr. Conan observe that the plant watered more frequently has grown larger, indicating that the independent variable (watering frequency) has had an impact on the plant's growth. They confirm the experiment's fairness by acknowledging that all controlled variables, such as sunlight and location, remained constant. Mr. Conan then introduces the concept of the dependent variable, which is the outcome being measured (plant size). He explains that in an experiment, the dependent variable is what changes as a result of the independent variable. The paragraph concludes with a summary of the key elements of a fair experiment: one independent variable, one dependent variable, and all other factors kept constant as controls.

Keywords

💡Experiment

An experiment is a scientific procedure designed to test a hypothesis. In the video, Mr. Conan conducts an experiment to test how the amount of water affects plant growth. The experiment is central to the video's theme, illustrating the scientific method in action. The script uses the experiment to teach Jacob about variables in scientific testing.

💡Independent Variable

The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable. In the script, the amount of water given to the plants is the independent variable. Mr. Conan changes this variable to test its impact on plant growth, which is a key concept in understanding experimental design.

💡Dependent Variable

The dependent variable is the outcome that is measured in an experiment to see the effect of changes to the independent variable. In the video, the size or growth of the plants is the dependent variable. Jacob learns that this variable depends on the independent variable, which in their experiment is the amount of water the plants receive.

💡Controlled Variables

Controlled variables are all the other factors in an experiment that are kept constant to ensure that any observed effects can be attributed to the independent variable. In the script, Mr. Conan ensures that the plants are in the same location, receive the same amount of sunlight, and are of the same type to maintain fairness in the experiment.

💡Hypothesis

A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about the outcome of an experiment. Although not explicitly mentioned in the script, the hypothesis is implied in Mr. Conan's experiment, where he predicts that the plant receiving more water will grow larger.

💡Fair Test

A fair test is an experiment where all conditions are controlled, and only one variable is changed at a time. The video emphasizes the importance of a fair test by showing how Mr. Conan keeps all other factors the same except for the watering schedule to ensure the results are reliable.

💡Variables

Variables are factors that can change or vary in an experiment. The script explains the difference between independent and dependent variables, and how controlled variables are kept constant. Understanding variables is crucial for designing and interpreting experiments.

💡Watering Schedule

The watering schedule refers to how often the plants are watered, which is the independent variable in Mr. Conan's experiment. The script uses the different watering schedules for the two plants to demonstrate the effect of water on plant growth, a practical application of the scientific method.

💡Growth

Growth, in the context of the video, refers to the increase in size or development of the plants. It is the outcome that Mr. Conan and Jacob are interested in measuring, making it the dependent variable. The script shows the plants' growth as evidence of the effect of the independent variable.

💡Control

In the script, 'control' refers to the standard or baseline condition against which experimental results are compared. By keeping all conditions the same except for the watering, Mr. Conan establishes a control that allows them to attribute any differences in growth to the independent variable.

💡Scientific Method

The scientific method is a systematic approach to investigating and acquiring knowledge, which involves forming hypotheses, designing experiments, and drawing conclusions. The video script follows the steps of the scientific method, teaching viewers about the importance of experimentation and observation in science.

Highlights

Mr. Conan is conducting an experiment with two plants to test the effect of water on their growth.

Jacob offers to help with the experiment, showcasing a collaborative approach to scientific inquiry.

Both plants are placed in the same location and receive the same amount of sunlight, ensuring a controlled environment.

One plant is watered daily, while the other is watered every other day, creating a variable for the experiment.

Jacob correctly identifies that the experiment is testing how water affects plant growth.

Mr. Conan explains the importance of keeping all other factors constant except for the water amount.

The concept of an independent variable is introduced as the single factor being changed in the experiment.

Jacob suggests changing the location or music for the plants, but Mr. Conan explains why these would not be suitable for this experiment.

The term 'controlled variables' is introduced for factors that are kept constant to ensure a fair experiment.

Mr. Conan emphasizes that only one independent variable should be changed at a time for a valid experiment.

Jacob understands that selecting one variable to change makes it the independent variable of the experiment.

The experiment concludes that the amount of water is the independent variable affecting the plants' growth.

Mr. Conan and Jacob confirm that the plant receiving more water grew larger, indicating the impact of the independent variable.

Jacob recalls the term 'controlled variables' and understands their role in maintaining the experiment's fairness.

The dependent variable is revealed to be the outcome being measured, which in this case is the plant's growth.

Jacob concludes that the independent variable is what is changed, the dependent variable is what is measured, and all else are controls.

Mr. Conan and Jacob plan for a dance party, showing a balance between work and leisure in their scientific pursuits.

Transcripts

hey good morning mr conan

what are you doing good morning jacob

i am doing an experiment well

do you mind if i help

of course you can jacob come on over

here

i'll show you what i'm doing look up

here on the windowsill i have two plants

both the plants are in pretty much the

same location and get the same amount of

sunlight

this first plant however i water every

single day

this plant however i only water every

other day

so jacob in this experiment

what do you think it is that i'm testing

well

since you're the same type of plant and

in the same location

are you testing how well they grow

depending on how much water they get

that's absolutely correct jacob i'm

measuring how much the plants grow

based on how much water they get so why

did you place them both in the same

place

wouldn't have been fun to put one

somewhere and somewhere else and maybe

maybe have different amounts of soil oh

oh we could also change

uh what we musically play for them

easy easy calm down jacob that actually

wouldn't work in this experiment

let's talk about why if we set up the

experiment

and one of the ways you suggested by

putting the two plants in different

locations

this first plant would receive more

water but less sunlight

the second plant would get less water

but more sun so do you see the problem

yet jacob

oh what mr coning i think i do

we're changing too many things at the

end of my experiment

i couldn't say that it was the water or

the sunlight that made it grow more

because i changed too much you got it

buddy

in order for an experiment to be fair

you can only change

one thing at a time everything else in

the experiment should stay the same

in your experiment the thing that you

change

is called the independent variable

in order for a test to be fair you must

always only have

one independent variable and remember

that's the thing that you're going to

change

in our case it was the amount of water

that the plants received

you know what i think i get it

all of those things that i talked about

like changing where they were

and the music that they were listening

to if i selected just one of those

they all could make good experiments but

i can only select one

that's right jacob and the one thing you

select becomes your

independent variable

right you are jacob so mr conan

is there a name for everything else what

do you mean jacob

you know like all of the stuff that we

could have changed

but we didn't like keeping the plants in

the same location

or letting them have the same amount of

light or

using the same kind of plant that's a

great question jacob

and yes they do actually have a name

they're called the controlled variables

or sometimes just the control the

control

or the controlled variables are the

things that stay the same in the

experiment

the point of a control is to keep an

experiment

fair by keeping everything the same and

changing just

one thing we can say that that one thing

did

or didn't have an effect on what we were

testing

wow very cool so is that all there is to

an experiment mr conning

nope when it comes to scientific

experiments and variables

there's just one more part but let's

look at that

after spring break sounds good to me mr

[Music]

conning

[Music]

[Music]

monster thanks for taking care of my

science experiment during spring break

oh i didn't mean you mr monster i was

talking about my plants

please thought you're talking about me

you know i would never talk about you

like that

so when you watered them did you water

the left one every day

and the right one every other like i

asked oh

yes meat is good great

thanks buddy good morning mr coding

morning mr monster

well good morning ready to go check on

our experiment jacob

yeah let's do it please stay here

bye guys well would you look at that

wow yeah the plant that got more water

is bigger

so what does that tell you jacob it

tells me that the one thing we did

change

which is our independent variable in

this case the water

did have an effect on the plants and how

do you know it wasn't something else

like how much sunlight each plant

received that made one plant grow bigger

than the other one

that's easy we kept everything else the

same the same amount of light

the same place the same temperature even

by keeping all the other variables the

same

i can pretty positively say that by

watering one of the plants more

in this case actually cause it to grow

bigger i would have to agree with you

there jacob

and all those variables that you kept

the same to keep the experiment fair

what are those called do you remember

controlled variables

but wait wasn't there one last thing you

wanted to tell me about

yup that's right jacob and the other

thing is called

the dependent before you tell me the

answer mr conan

let me see if i can figure out what the

dependent variable is by myself

so i know what dependent means it means

to depend on something

like how i depend on my parents to give

me a place to live

so far so good keep going so

in our experiment the dependent variable

must be something that depends on

something else

like in our case how tall the plant got

dependent on how much water you gave it

that's right jacob an easier way to

think about it

is like this in an experiment the

dependent variable

is what you're trying to measure in our

experiment

we were trying to measure how big the

plants got

we found out that how big a plant got

depended on how much water you gave it

so the thing that we

changed was how much water so that's our

independent variable

the thing that we measured was how big

it got so that's our dependent variable

all right i get it when i do an

experiment

the thing that i'm measuring is my

dependent variable

the thing that i change and test is my

independent variable

everything else should stay the same and

those are my controls

that's right jacob so for your next

experiment

all you have to remember is that you

need one independent variable

and remember that's the thing that you

change one dependent variable

and again that's the thing that you're

trying to measure and finally keep

everything else the same

you should have a fair test awesome

thanks for your help mr conan

now how about we have that dance party

you promised you got it

hit it mr monster

you