Grade 4 · Science

Compare prototypes with a fair test

Plan a comparison that changes one intended design feature while controlling other important conditions.

6 authored questions + worked example

Worked example

A team wants to test how ramp height affects its model. It can use the same car and surface. Which comparison best isolates the effect of ramp height?

Answer & why

Answer: Change ramp height while keeping the car and surface the same.

Only the named design feature changes, so the comparison gives clearer evidence about that feature.

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All questions

All 6 authored questions for this skill.

Question 1

A team wants to test how parachute area affects its model. It can use the same material and load. Which comparison best isolates the effect of parachute area?

  1. Drop from different heights every time.
  2. Change area while keeping material and load the same.
  3. Measure only the parachute’s color.
  4. Change area and load together.
A hint

Change one feature while keeping other important test conditions consistent.

Answer & why

Answer: Change area while keeping material and load the same.

Only the named design feature changes, so the comparison gives clearer evidence about that feature.

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Question 2

A team wants to test how insulation thickness affects its model. It can use the same material and starting water temperature. Which comparison best isolates the effect of insulation thickness?

  1. Use different volumes without recording them.
  2. Change material and starting temperature together.
  3. Change thickness while keeping material and starting temperature the same.
  4. Ignore the final temperature.
A hint

Change one feature while keeping other important test conditions consistent.

Answer & why

Answer: Change thickness while keeping material and starting temperature the same.

Only the named design feature changes, so the comparison gives clearer evidence about that feature.

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Question 3

A team wants to test how wheel size affects its model. It can use the same cart body and load. Which comparison best isolates the effect of wheel size?

  1. Change load and wheel size together.
  2. Measure one cart in meters and another in seconds.
  3. Change wheel size while keeping the body and load the same.
  4. Use a different cart body each time.
A hint

Change one feature while keeping other important test conditions consistent.

Answer & why

Answer: Change wheel size while keeping the body and load the same.

Only the named design feature changes, so the comparison gives clearer evidence about that feature.

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Question 4

A team wants to test how wing shape affects its model. It can use the same paper type and launch method. Which comparison best isolates the effect of wing shape?

  1. Change paper type and shape together.
  2. Throw each plane differently.
  3. Change shape while keeping paper type and launch method the same.
  4. Record only which plane has a longer name.
A hint

Change one feature while keeping other important test conditions consistent.

Answer & why

Answer: Change shape while keeping paper type and launch method the same.

Only the named design feature changes, so the comparison gives clearer evidence about that feature.

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Question 5

A team wants to test how ramp height affects its model. It can use the same car and surface. Which comparison best isolates the effect of ramp height?

  1. Change the car and ramp together.
  2. Change the surface each time.
  3. Use different measuring units in every trial.
  4. Change ramp height while keeping the car and surface the same.
A hint

Change one feature while keeping other important test conditions consistent.

Answer & why

Answer: Change ramp height while keeping the car and surface the same.

Only the named design feature changes, so the comparison gives clearer evidence about that feature.

Add to plan

Question 6

A team wants to test how paper-bridge width affects its model. It can use the same paper type and support gap. Which comparison best isolates the effect of paper-bridge width?

  1. Change width while keeping paper type and support gap the same.
  2. Change width and paper type together.
  3. Stop measuring the load.
  4. Move the supports farther apart every trial.
A hint

Change one feature while keeping other important test conditions consistent.

Answer & why

Answer: Change width while keeping paper type and support gap the same.

Only the named design feature changes, so the comparison gives clearer evidence about that feature.

Add to plan