I have been given the task to prove a hypothesis by conducting an experiment.

Question

Hypothesis: A candle will burn slower in a cooler environment.

Independant variable: Temperature of the room (three temperatures)
Dependant variable: Length of the candle after it has burned for 30 minutes
Constants (control variables): Type and length of candle, diameter of candle, and time that the candle is allowed to burn.

I have written the method for the experiment (please make any changes if identified):
Method
1. Gather equipment and three candles
2. Measure the diameter and length of the candles, ensuring that the measurements are similar or same for maximum accuracy.
3. Label each candle as A15, A20, and A30
4. Set three rooms to have their own temperature of 15°C, 20°C, and 30°C.
5. Set the first room to have a temperature of 15°C by using the air-conditioner and adjusting accordingly to reach 15°C. Check temperature with a thermometer.
6. Set the second room to have a temperature of 20°C. This should be near room-temperature. Otherwise a the temperature of an empty cupboard or even room temperature should be accurate enough. Make sure to check the temperature with a thermometer to ensure that the temperature is around 20°C.
7. Set the third room to have a temperature of 30°C. This should be near room-temperature, otherwise use a heater to adjust accordingly. Check temperature with a thermometer and make sure it is around 30°C.
8. Place each candle in their respective rooms.
9. Start the timer for 30 minutes.
10. After 30 minutes, extinguish the flames on the candles and measure the length of each candle with a ruler.
11. Record the results and compare the differences in length in contrast to the rooms that they have been placed in.
12. Repeat steps 1 - 11 at least 3 times to ensure reliability and accuracy.

Now I might sound stupid, but the main question I have is, how would I be able to represent the results from the experiment? Would the results be represented as a line graph or column graph?

Any feedback on the method or the question that I have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Answer 1

I would suggest three line graphs each in different colours to show the rate at which the candles are burning.

Otherwise your experiment sound logical.

You may need an errors sections where you site that 1) the room temperature may vary slightly for each room making measurements inaccurate 2) the candles MUST be the same type brand etc so that they are as close as possible to the SAME to begin with.

Answer 2

Alright, that makes sense.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and give feedback :)