Swingers and Systems

Vocab Swingers

100

The thing that I am testing in my controlled experiment that I changed from my standard experiment

Manipulated Variable

200

one in which one, and only one variable is changed in order to assess its effect on the outcome

controlled experiment

300

variable

anything you can change in an experiment that might affect the outcome

400

a mass hanging from a fixed point that is free to swing to and fro

pendulum

500

any motion or activity that repeats itself

cycle

Vocab Swingers

100

the basic procedure used in a controlled experiment, before changing any of the variables

standard experiment

200

shows the outcome of a series of experiments when a variable is changed by steps, uses x and y axis to plot points representing the data

two-coordinate graph

300

the variable that stays the same in both my standard experiment and my controlled experiment

controlled variable

400

The variable that may be affected by the manipulated variable

responding variable

Concepts

100

In the ‘Swinger’ experiment what variable or variables did affect the responding variable, or outcome, the number of swings in 15 seconds? (1 pt)

The length of the string

200

A student wanted to know what would happen in the swinger experiment if she changed the way she made the pendulum. Instead of using string she used rope to make the pendulum the standard 38cm long. She used a penny held by a paper clip at the end of the pendulum for the mass. Then she counted how many times her pendulum swung back and forth in 15 seconds. Do you think she has done a good job of controlling the variables? Why or Why not? What do you think she will find out when she swings the pendulum for 15 seconds?

Yes, because the rope does the same function as the string and is the same length 38 cm. The type of string or rope does NOT affect the number of swings in 15 seconds. (Only the length of the string affects the number of swings in 15 sec.) She will find that the pendulum will still swing 12 times in 15 seconds.

300

In the ‘Swinger’ experiment, identify the controlled variables in the Standard experiment. (4 pts)

The procedure or starting position, the pencil, the tape, the paper clip, the amount of mass, the amount of time, length of string (you must have at least 4 controlled variables listed)

400

A grandfather clock uses a pendulum to keep it running on time. Lisa’s grandfather clock is running too slowly all the time. What could she do to the pendulum in her clock so that it will keep time? a. Make the pendulum lighter b. Make the pendulum heavier c. Lengthen the pendulum d. Shorten the pendulum

d. Shorten the pendulum (The shorter the length of the string the greater the number of swings)

500

A pendulum system could be described as a. the string, the paper clip, the penny, the masking tape, and the pencil b. the string, the paper clip, the penny, and the masking tape c. the string, the paper clip, and the penny d. the string, the paper clip, the penny, the pencil, and the clock

a. the string, the paper clip, the penny, the masking tape, and the pencil

Concepts & Systems Vocab

100

Can you take a part from another Pendulum System and use it to replace a part in your pendulum system and still have the pendulum carry out its function? Explain.

Yes, as long as the replacement part does the same function as the original part. (ex. string replaced by rope. The rope has the same function as the string.)

200

Identify one subsystem and describe its function in the Bus System. (imagine you see a school bus picture here)

Some examples include: the wheels and frame work together to make the bus move, the steering wheel and pedals work to steer the bus and make it move or stop, the seats and floor work to create a place for the passengers to walk and sit on the bus, the door and frame work to create protection from the weather and a way into the bus

300

Light, heat, motion, sound, and electricity are energy

Forms of Energy

400

the purpose or role of something. What something does… It’s job

Function

500

Matter, energy, or information flowing into a system

Input

Systems Vocab

100

Matter, energy, or information that flows out of a system

Output

200

a group of parts that interact to make a whole system

System

300

the “stuff” of the world. There is solid, liquid, and gas “stuff”

Matter

400

parts that work together to make a larger system

Subsystem

500

There are 2 vocab words in this. Connected parts that make a complete system One piece of a system that has a specific role or function

Whole Part