Scenario: The Dissolving Sugar Mystery
To practice the skills learned in the “Puri” experiment, let’s apply the scientific method to a common kitchen observation.
Observation: You notice that sugar seems to disappear faster in hot tea than in cold lemonade.
Step 1: Formulate a Question
Q: Does the temperature of water affect how fast sugar dissolves?
Step 2: Identify Variables
| Variable Type | What is it in this experiment? |
|---|---|
| Independent Variable (What we change) | The temperature of the water (Hot vs. Cold). |
| Dependent Variable (What we measure) | The time taken for the sugar to completely dissolve (in seconds). |
| Control Variables (What we keep same) | 1. Amount of water (e.g., 100ml). 2. Amount of sugar (e.g., 1 teaspoon). 3. Type of sugar (Granulated). 4. Stirring speed (e.g., stir 5 times). |
Step 3: Experimental Setup (Diagram)
Step 4: Hypothesize
Based on the particle theory (which you will learn later in this book), we hypothesize that higher temperature makes particles move faster, so sugar should dissolve faster in hot water.
Step 5: Data Table Template
Create a table like this in your notebook when you do the experiment:
| Trial | Temperature () | Time to Dissolve (seconds) | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cold () | Water stayed clear longer | |
| 2 | Hot () | Sugar disappeared quickly |
Note
Conclusion: If , then our hypothesis is correct: Temperature increases the rate of dissolving.