Saturday, January 16, 2010

Can an experiment have no control variable?

I recently perfoemd an experiment with enzyme rate of reactions. So the objective was to compare the reaction rates of the catalase used on hydrogen peroxide at different temerpatures (10, 30, and 50 degrees celsius). and i just disocvered that i dont have a control variable. Or do i? and if i dont, is that okay?Can an experiment have no control variable?
yes


hydrogen bomb has not any control variable till nowCan an experiment have no control variable?
it is a comparison of rates. by it's very nature it has no control, only the comparitive results.
Temperature IS your control variable, the thing that you are changing to see if it makes a difference, and, if so, how much.
Depends on what it's for and how your results came out. If the temp. scale showed a distinct, graphable pattern, then just pick out the reaction rate for your control temp. and insert the data. Not an ethical thing to do, but I'm guessing that this wasn't for professional or college level.





You will need to figure out your control temp, too. Are you looking for room temp. vs. higher and lower, or body temp. ? Or some other temp.? Ask yourself why you wanted to know the reaction rate comparison in the first place, and choose a control temp. accordingly.

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