Name: __________________________________________ Class Period: ___________
SCIENTIFIC METHOD – SENSES LAB
Problem Statement: Describe what is being tested
________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis:
If ______________________________________________________________________________,
Then ____________________________________________________________________________.
Materials:
_________________________________________________________________________________.
Procedures:
You and a lab partner will take turns dropping and catching the ruler. You will collect data on yourself.
The student who is dropping the ruler holder the top of the ruler vertical at 30 cm end. The student who
is catching the ruler puts the top of their index finger at the 0 cm mark and their thumb on the other
side of the ruler. This lets the student to grab or pinch the ruler. The catching student has their fingers
close to the ruler bot not touching it. Once the other student drops the ruler, the catcher tries to catch
the ruler with their same fingers. The highest point on the ruler where the catching student’s index
finger is on is recorded on the handout. Repeat this three times.
Experiment:
A. Sight. The student who catches puts their finger on the 0 cm mark. The dropping student drops the
ruler with out any other clues. The catcher tries to grab their ruler once it is dropped. Record your
results. Repeat three more times.
B. Touch. The student who catches puts their finger on the 0 cm mark and closes his/her eyes. The
student who drops the ruler taps the catcher on the arm and drops the ruler at the same time. Once the
catcher’s arm is touched, they try to grab the ruler. Record your results. Repeat three more times.
C. Sound. The student who catches puts their finger on the 0 cm mark and closes his/her eyes. The
student who drops the ruler says “now” and drops the ruler at the same time. Once the catcher hears
“now”, they try to grab the ruler. Record your results. Repeat three more times.
Trial A. Sight B. Touch C. Sound
1
2
3
4
Average
Analysis:
1. Identify the independent variable: __________________Dependent variable: __________________
2. What sense is fastest? __________________ slowest? __________________
3. Did the ruler drop to the floor during any of your trials? __________________
4. Were the results of the sight trials the same as the average? __________________
5. Why did you perform more than one trail? __________________
Conclusion:
___________________________________________________________________________________
Graphing:
Create a bar graph with the average of each of the senses at the independent variable and the number 0
to 30 cm as the dependent variable.