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Experiment
Pop, Pop, Pop

 

Problem: Which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels?

Research: Look up information about popcorn.

Hypothesis: Predict which brand of popcorn will pop the most kernels.
I think that the ___________________ brand of popcorn will make the most popcorn.

Setting Up the Experiment:

Materials:

Procedure:
Manipulated Variable: Brands of popcorn (This is the only thing you can change.)
Responding Variable: The number of popped kernels. (these are the results that you will measure and record.)

Steps:

  1. Count out 100 kernels of the first brand of popcorn.
  2. Put about 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of oil in the pot and add the popcorn. Cover with the lid and heat. Take the pot off the heat when you no longer hear the kernels popping.
  3. Let the popcorn cool a little then count the popped and the unpopped kernels.
  4. Do three trials for each brand of popcorn and record the number of kernels popped and unpopped each time.
  5. Figure out the "eyeball average" for each brand of popcorn. This means that you look at each of the three trials and pick the number that is in the middle- not the highest, not the lowest. For example, if the kernels popped were 92., 97, and 90., the "eyeball average" would be 92 cm.
Results:
Make a chart like this to record your results. Then you can graph the averages on a bar graph.
 
 
Number of Kernels Popped and Unpopped
Trial
Brand 1 ___________
Price ________
Brand 2 ___________
Price ________
Brand 3 ___________
Price _______
1
 popped _____ 
unpopped _____		  popped _____  
unpopped _____		 popped _____  
unpopped _____ 
2
 popped _____  
unpopped _____		 popped _____  
unpopped _____             		 popped _____  
unpopped _____ 
3
  popped _____  
unpopped _____		  popped _____  
unpopped _____		  popped _____  
unpopped _____
"Eyeball Average"  popped _____  
unpopped _____		 popped _____  
unpopped _____ 		 popped _____  
unpopped _____ 

Conclusion:
Look over your results. What did you find out? Which brand of popcorn popped the most kernels? Was the most expensive brand the best? Write your conclusion and answer the problem. Tell if your hypothesis was correct or incorrect.