A Better Windmill Test

Yuta built two paper windmills and predicted wider blades would spin faster.

His first results were confusing because he changed fan speed and distance. His partner suggested keeping both conditions the same.

They tested five times, timing 20 turns. Narrow blades were faster in four trials. Yuta limited the conclusion to these conditions.

Yuta's science teacher asked the class to change one factor at a time so they could tell what caused a result. In the first attempt, the fan was moved and its speed was adjusted, making the comparison unreliable.

Yuta and his partner then marked a fixed distance on the desk and used the same fan setting for both models. They counted complete turns rather than judging which windmill looked faster.

Repeating the measurement helped them notice whether one unusual trial was affecting the pattern. Their report includes the conditions they controlled and avoids claiming that the result applies to every windmill design or every kind of wind.

A Better Windmill Test

Yuta built two paper windmills and predicted wider blades would spin faster.

His first results were confusing because he changed fan speed and distance. His partner suggested keeping both conditions the same.

They tested five times, timing 20 turns. Narrow blades were faster in four trials. Yuta limited the conclusion to these conditions.

Yuta's science teacher asked the class to change one factor at a time so they could tell what caused a result. In the first attempt, the fan was moved and its speed was adjusted, making the comparison unreliable.

Yuta and his partner then marked a fixed distance on the desk and used the same fan setting for both models. They counted complete turns rather than judging which windmill looked faster.

Repeating the measurement helped them notice whether one unusual trial was affecting the pattern. Their report includes the conditions they controlled and avoids claiming that the result applies to every windmill design or every kind of wind.