8 Bd-4

Spinners 2

Your teacher may watch to see if you can:

● make accurate timings using a stop watch.

Aim
To find out how the lengths of the wings on a spinner affect the time it takes to fall.

Introduction
Sycamore maple trees have fruits shaped like wings. Two fruits are
stuck together to form a double wing. The fruits spin as they fall, and
this means that they take longer to fall. A longer fall time means there
is more chance that the wind will blow the fruits away from the parent
tree. We can make a model of how these fruits spin from paper.

Hypothesis and prediction

1 a List some variables that might affect the time taken for a spinner to fall to the ground.
b Decide on one variable to test.
c Write a hypothesis for this variable using the phrase ‘depends on’. Explain why you think
this variable will affect the spinner. Use scientific reasoning.
d Use your hypothesis to make up a prediction. One way to do this is to use ‘If … then …’

Planning
2 Decide how you are going to make
your spinner. Two possible designs
are shown in the drawings.

3 For the rest of your planning, think about:

● the variable you will change (the independent variable), the variable you will measure
(the dependent variable) and the variables you will keep the same (control variables)
● the number of measurements you will take, and whether to repeat them
● how you and those around you will stay safe.

Considering your results/Conclusions

4 Present your results in a suitable chart or graph.
5 Do your results match your prediction? If not, how do they differ?
6 Why do you think you got the results you did? Use scientific reasons to explain them.

Evaluation
7 a How good was your data? Describe how repeatable and how accurate it was.
b Was this degree of accuracy good enough for you to draw a firm conclusion?
c How could you make your investigation more accurate?
I can…
● plan variables for an investigation
● draw appropriate graphs and charts
● evaluate the accuracy of data
● explain why sycamore maple fruits have wings.

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