Extension:
Design an
experiment
Get the Gizmo ready:
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Introduction: There are many ways to estimate the length of a second. Galileo used his pulse.
Some say "Mississippi" after each number as they count: one-Mississippi,
two-Mississippi, etc.
You can design an experiment to find the best technique or investigate
a related topic. This
experiment could be used as the basis of a science fair project on time
estimation.
Choose a question
Here are a few suggestions to get you started. You can choose a topic from this list or come up
with a topic on your own.
What is the best technique for estimating a 2-second time interval?
b Using your pulse
o One-Mississippi, two-Mississippi
• Survey your classmates, teachers, and others to learn of other techniques.
How does listening to music affect our ability to estimate a 2-second
time interval?
How does feedback affect our ability to estimate a 2-second time interval
?
Are boys or girls better at estimating a 2-second time interval?
Are children or adults better at estimating a 2-second time interval?
Which question are you going to investigate?
Design your experiment
The key to designing a successful experiment is to control your variables. Everything in your
experiments should be the same except for the one variable you are investigating.
For
example,
if you are comparing different time-estimation techniques, have each subject try each technique.
Feedback should not be available, and be sure that there are no clocks
in the room.
Briefly describe your experimental design:
(Extension continued on next page)
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Answer :

To design an experiment investigating the best technique for estimating a 2-second time interval, you can follow these steps:

1. Hypothesis: Start by forming a hypothesis about which technique you think will be the most accurate for estimating a 2-second time interval. For example, you may hypothesize that using the "One-Mississippi" method will be more precise than using your pulse.

2. Experimental Design:
- Select a sample group of participants of various ages and genders.
- Divide the participants into groups to test different techniques: using pulse and using the "One-Mississippi" method.
- Each participant should estimate multiple 2-second time intervals using both techniques.
- Ensure that the participants do not have access to any clocks or time-keeping devices during the experiment.
- Provide clear instructions for each technique to ensure consistency in estimation.

3. Data Collection:
- Record the estimated time intervals for each participant using both techniques.
- Calculate the average estimation time for each technique.
- Compare the accuracy of estimations between the two techniques to determine which method yields more precise results.

4. Analysis:
- Analyze the data collected to see if there is a significant difference in accuracy between using the pulse method and the "One-Mississippi" method.
- Consider factors like age, gender, and previous experience with time estimation in your analysis.

5. Conclusion:
- Based on the results of your experiment, draw a conclusion about which technique is the most effective for estimating a 2-second time interval.
- Discuss any limitations of your experiment and suggest possible areas for further research.

By following these steps and conducting a well-controlled experiment, you can effectively determine the best technique for estimating a 2-second time interval.

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