GUMMY BEAR VOLUME LAB DIRECTIONS
A. Fill in the top two lines of the “Scientific Investigation Lab Report: Gummy Bear Volume”. Use it to complete the following
steps.
B. Copy the problem below in the “Problem” section. (It is the problem you will be investigating.)
Problem: How does soaking a gummy bear in water affect the gummy bear’s volume?
Study the problem (and use class notes) to find the manipulated variable, responding variable. Controlled variables should be
filled in later, as you read through the procedure.
C. Read the incomplete example of a hypothesis below. Then use the “ If….then, because” format to write your hypothesis
explaining how think soaking a gummy bear in water will affect the gummy bear’s volume. It must be quantitative.
Hypothesis: ex: If a bear is soaked, then the gummy bear’s volume will be 100% greater (or two times greater)
because…. (you need to explain your reasoning.)
D. Make a detailed bulleted list of materials as you read/write the procedure.
E. Read through the procedure below so you understand the first part of what you’ll do. (You will not start doing the procedure
until you have completed step F and G.)
Procedure:
F.
1.
Create a data chart in the data section, to collect the following measurements: soaking status, length, width,
depth, and volume (using the metric ruler).
2.
Add another column for: volume (using water displacement).
3.
You’ll need only need two rows in your data chart: “before soaking” and “after soaking” .
4.
Get one gummy bear from the teacher for your partnership.
5.
Make a bulleted list of observations on your bear in the data section of your investigation (which follows the
completed procedure). Make a sketch showing the actual size.
6.
Carefully measure and record the data for length, width, and depth using a metric ruler. Record it in your data
chart
7.
Use the formula to find the (approximate) volume. Record it in your data chart
You will now add to the procedure. In the procedure section, start by writing “8”. You’ll write a short numbered, stepby-step procedure that explains exactly what someone would do to find the volume of a gummy bear using the water
displacement method we used in yesterday’s lab. Each step must be numbered on the left and written on a new line.
This will take several numbered steps (Hint: one step must include “record data”).
G.
Next, number and copy each of the following steps:

Write your names on a piece of masking tape and place it on a clean cup half filled with water.

Place the gummy bear in the cup. Place the cup on the counter area for your period.

Allow to stand overnight
Begin doing the procedure by completing steps 1-3. Take your papers to the teacher to show you and your partner have
correctly completed the previous steps. (You’ll get approval and a gummy bear so that you may continue doing the rest of
the procedure.)