Film Canister Lab
There are many ways to conduct
science
Examples:
 Observational- Field study
 Such as animal behavior

“Experimental Research” – Conducts
controlled experiments.
 Tests one variable
 Different steps
One way of researching the natural world
Identify a Question or Purpose
After observing the world around you, you can
derive a problem that you want to find more
about

Derive a question based on observation above
that you would like to investigate.
AND/OR

State purpose of experiment
Flip Book- Purpose/Question
Rationale
Gives focus
to the
investigation
My Responsibility
Read for understanding
Format
Purpose/Question: Statement or
question
Example
See Film Canister Lab
Observation of film canister
NO TALKING
LISTEN AND WATCH
TEACHER
Brainstorm…
Film Canister LabPurpose/Question: Does changing
the amount of water in the film
canister change the reaction time?
Notice that the words
purpose/question are
underlined with a colon
after the word “Question”
Background Information

Scientist research and become
knowledgeable about the subject and
investigation that they are going to test.
 They know and understand key concepts
relating to their topic .
AND/OR
 They know and understand other
investigations that have already been
conducted about their topic.
Flip Book- Background info
Rationale
Provide facts
to
understand
the
investigation
My Responsibility
• Read
• Take notes and highlight
• Make connections
Format
Background Information: Paragraph
of information
Example
See Film Canister Lab
Film Canister- Background Info
Purpose/Question:
Background Information:
Notice that the words
Background Information are
underlined with a colon
after the word “Information”
Cut and Glue in the
Background Information
for the Film Canister Lab
onto your Lab Paper.
Background Information
There's nothing like a little rocket science to add some excitement to the
day. Alka-Seltzer (an effervescence) is made of sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda), citric acid, and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). When you add water it starts
to dissolve the Alka-Seltzer tablet. When the solid dry powders of sodium
bicarbonate, citric acid, and acetylsalicylic acid are pressed together to make a
tablet, being solids, the molecules are not mobile enough to react. Adding the
right amount of water dissolves the chemicals and allows them to mingle
and react. This creates a gas called carbon dioxide. As the carbon dioxide is
being released, it creates pressure inside the film canister. The more gas that
is made, the more pressure builds up until there is no more room in the
film canister and the cap is blasted down and the canister is blasted up.
The lid of the canister is the path of least resistance for the gas pressure building
up inside, so it pops off instead of the stronger sides or bottom of the canister
bursting open. We can thank Sir Isaac Newton for what happens next. When the
build-up of carbon dioxide gas is too great and the lid pops off, Newton's Third
Law explains why the film canister flies across the room: for every action there is
an equal and opposite reaction. The lid goes one way and the film canister
shoots out of the tube in the opposite direction. This system of thrust is how a
real rocket works whether it is in outer space or here in the earth's atmosphere.
Of course, real rockets use rocket fuel.
Hypothesis
A HYPOTHESIS is a tentative statement
that proposes a possible explanation to
some phenomenon or event.
 A hypothesis:

 Is written in an IF…Then … Because
statement.
 Relates two variables (the independent and
dependent).
 Is testable.
Flip Book-Hypothesis
Rationale
Clear,
testable
statement
Format
Hypothesis: If ____________________
(Independent Variable)
___________, then the ______________
_______
(changes)
(Dependent Variable)
(Changes)
because ________________________.
(based on background info)
**** Do NOT use I, we, me, etc.****
My Responsibility
Form an educated guess
based on background
information and prior
knowledge
Example
See Film Canister Lab
Identify Variables

Independent Variable- the factor that you
manipulate, the factor that you change or
monitor in an experiment. Cause
 X-axis
 Answers the question: What do I change/test?

Dependent Variable- the factor that changes in
response to the independent variable, the
results, the outcome that is being measured or
observed in an experiment. Effect
 Y-axis
 Answers the questions: What do I
measure/observe for results?
Variables Continued

Constant Variables- During the experiment to
only test one variable OR the independent
variable scientists use CONSTANTS.
 Constants are factors in an experiment that
stay the same throughout the whole
experiment.
 Answers the question: What do I keep the
same?
Flip Book- Variables
Rationale
Format
Necessary to
have a controlled
experiment
Variables:
Independent: ONE
Dependent: ONE
Constants: At least two
My Responsibility
• Identify one independent variable
• What do I change/test?
• Identify one dependent variable (the
results)
• What do I measure/observe for results?
• Identify at least two constants
• These MUST stay the same through
ALL trials
Example
See Film Canister Lab
Film Canister- Hypothesis
Purpose/Question:
Background Information:
Hypothesis: If the amount of water is
increased then the reaction time of the lid
popping off will decrease because there is
less room in the canister for the pressure
to build therefore popping off earlier.
Variables:
Film Canister Lab- Variables
Purpose/Question:
Background Information:
Hypothesis:
Variables:
Independent: Amount of Water (mL)
Dependent: Reaction time(seconds)
Constants: Brand of effervescent tablet.
Amount of effervescent tablet
Materials
A detailed list of all the equipment and
materials needed to conduct the
experiment.
 You must be specific and methodical
so that someone could exactly
duplicate your experiment.
 Use brand names and/or numbers for
every single item on your list
 Bullet the list with the details listed at
the end of each item
Flip Book- Materials
Rationale
Format
Lists all
equipment and
materials used
during an
investigation
Materials:
• Needs to be bullet points
• Brand names
• Quantities
My Responsibility
Gather listed equipment and materials
OR
Identify and gather the equipment and
materials
Example
See Film Canister lab
Film Canister- Materials
Purpose/Question:
Background Information:
Hypothesis:
Variables:
Notice that the materials
are bulleted and listed one
after another.
Materials:
• 2 Alka-Seltzer tablets
• 1 film canister with cap
• 1 graduated cylinder
• 1 thermometer
• 1 timer/stopwatch
• 100 mL of tap water
• Paper towels to clean up mess
Procedure
Write a detailed and precise procedure that
includes the correct sequence of steps to be
taken
The procedure should be specific and
methodical so that another experimenter
could duplicate the experiment without
having to ask you ANY questions!
 Write for one level of the independent
variable and add repetitions for repeated
trials
 Written in step by step form using
numbers
Flip Book- Procedure
Rationale
Logical, detailed
steps written so
that another
scientist could
duplicate the
exact lab
My Responsibility
Follow the detailed steps exactly
AND/OR
Write the detailed steps to be followed
Format
Procedure:
1. Listed in numerical
steps
2. Include multiple
trials when
applicable
3. Can use “repeat” for
multiple trials
Example
See Film Canister Lab
Film Canister- Procedure
Procedure:
1. Break the tablet in half.
2. Measure 10 mL of tap water
3. Measure the temperature of the water.
4. Pour the 10 mL of tap water into the film canister.
5. Add one half of the tablet to a film canister.
6. Quickly cap the canister and turn upside down so the cap is
resting on the table.
7. Measure the time it takes to pop the top and record in the data
table.
8. Repeat steps 2-7 for one more trial.
9. Repeat steps 2-8 for 20 mL of water.
Notice that the procedures
are numbered and listed
one after another.
Cut and Glue in the
Procedure for the Film
Canister Lab onto your Lab
Paper.
Data
Excellent way to organize and show trends in
data.
 Many types of graphs to show data.
 Data Table
 Drawings
 Graphs
○ Bar graph- most common, best when I.V. is not
numerical.
○ Line graph-mostly used when you have numerical
I.V. and D.V.
Flip Book-Data
Rationale
My Responsibility
Accurately collect and record data in
an organized format (chart, table,
graph, drawing, etc.)
Data Table:
IV-
DV-
Constants
Trial 1
Graph:
Trial 2
Mean
Title:
D.V.:
Used to organize
the results of an
investigation and
used to identify
trends and
patterns in an
investigation
Format
I.V.:
Example
See Film Canister Lab
Film Canister- Data
Procedure:
Data Table:
IVAmount
of WatermL
DV- Time in seconds
Trial 1
Trial 2
Constants
Mean
Amount of Temp of
tablet
water
10 mL
20 mL
Cut and Glue in the Data Table for the
Film Canister Lab onto your Lab
Paper.
Film Canister - Graph
Procedure:
Data Table:
Graph:
18
(10, 17.59)
17
(10, 16.41)
16
Time (s)
THIS IS
OUR
EXAMPLE
GRAPH
MAKE
YOUR
OWN WITH
YOUR
OWN
DATA!!!
Canister Reaction Time for Different
Amounts of Water and Alka-Seltzer
(10, 15.22)
15
This zig-zag is to be used when
intervals on the Y-axis start later
than zero and may only be used
ONE time from the zero to the
start number
14
13
Trial 1
Trial 2
Mean
(20, 13.28)
(20, 13.22)
(20, 13.16)
012
0
5
10
15
Amount of Water (mL)
20
25
Conclusion

Paragraph or several paragraphs stating:
 whether the data supported the hypothesis or not, the
major findings including evidence from your data, include
trends present in data, what happened that was
unexpected (if any) and possible reasons why.

Also include any recommendations that would
improved your experiment
 Remember that science is done by humans so what are
some human errors? Things you might not have been
aware of before the experiment and know now that you
would do differently.

Could also include possible things for further study
Flip Book- Conclusion
Rationale
Analyze and
summarize the
investigation
to determine if
the hypothesis
has been
supported
My Responsibility
Write a paragraph or
several paragraphs stating
the major findings of the
investigation and whether
or not the hypothesis has
been supported
Format
Conclusion:
THIS IS IN PARAGRAPH FORM- Use
transition words between sentences
• Begin by restating the purpose.
• Restate the hypothesis and include whether or
not the hypothesis was supported or
unsupported.
• State and interpret the major findings from the
investigation. This will act as the evidence to
justify the claim (hypothesis was supported or
unsupported). Include data from the lab and
readings.
• Include any errors that might have occurred
that would impact the results of the
investigation, and any recommendations that
may have improved the investigation.
• End with an application statement (real world
connection or in class connection).
Example
SEE FILM CANISTER LAB
Film Canister- Conclusion
Procedure:
Data Table:
Graph:
Conclusion:
Using the sentence starters provided, complete the conclusion
for this experiment.
Report out or Redo experiment
Scientist review their investigation. They
either
 make their studies known to the
scientific community.
 It is subject to peer review.
OR
 Make revisions to experiment
 Retest their revised investigation