Control Set-up : Experimental-based Questions
Experimental-based questions are regularly tested in Primary School Science examinations.
In this article I will share with you three question samples on how to tackle questions involving control set-ups by using "3C" method (Control-Compare-Confirm).
(i) What is a Control Set-up?
- An experimental set-up which is used for comparison in order to confirm the conclusion of an experiment.
- An experimental set-up to show that the results obtained and observations made are only due to material tested and not other external factors.
(ii) Control Set-up Question is often expressed in the following format:
- Variant 1: Why is there a need for set-up B?
- Variant 2: Why is there a need for a control set-up?
- Variant 3: Draw and label a control set-up for the experiment.
(iii) How to answer Variant 1, 2 and 3 Questions?
- Variant 1 : It acts as a control set-up to compare and confirm that the (Measured variable / Dependent variable) is only due to the (Changed variable / Independent variable) and not due to other variables in the experiment.
- Variant 2 : It is used to compare and confirm that the (Measured variable / Dependent variable) is only due to the (Changed variable / Independent variable) and not due to other variables in the experiment.
- Variant 3 : To draw the control set-up is to change/remove the (Changed variable / Independent variable) in the experimental set-up so as to prove that any change in result is only due to the (Changed variable / independent variable) and not because of other variables in the experiment.
