Question

Josiah uses a pencil called Brand A. He has pencil smears on his paper every time he completes an assignment and he hates this! Caleb is using a pencil called Brand B. Josiah notices Caleb never has smears on his paper. Josiah wonders if it's the brand of pencil that's keeping Caleb from getting smears on his paper. He decides to borrow Caleb's pencil and test the brand against his to find out.

Hypothesis:
What is another variable that Josiah could test in this situation as a 2nd experiment?

Answer 1

Josiah can test the type of paper as a second variable to determine if it is causing the pencil smears on his assignments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Josiah can test another variable as a second experiment to determine if it is the brand of pencil that's causing the smears on his paper. One variable he could test is the type of paper he is using. Josiah can try using a different brand of pencil on the same type of paper to see if he still gets smears. Similarly, he can also try using Brand A pencil on a different type of paper to see if the smears still occur. By testing the paper as a variable, Josiah can determine if it is the brand of pencil or the type of paper that is causing the smears on his assignments.

Answer 2

Josiah could test the paper type as a second variable in this situation. By experimenting with different paper types using Caleb's pencil, he can determine if paper characteristics contribute to or mitigate pencil smears.

Step-by-step explanation:

Josiah, experiencing pencil smears with Brand A, hypothesizes that the brand of pencil might be the culprit. To conduct a more comprehensive investigation, he should introduce a second variable – the type of paper.

Different papers possess distinct absorbency levels and textures, which can significantly affect the propensity of pencils to smear. By borrowing Caleb's pencil and using it on various paper types, Josiah can discern whether the paper's characteristics contribute to or mitigate the issue of pencil smears.

This two-variable experiment aligns with the scientific method, allowing Josiah to systematically explore and analyze the factors influencing the observed phenomenon.

It also helps in establishing a more robust conclusion about the primary cause of smearing, providing a clearer understanding of whether the pencil brand alone is responsible or if the paper type plays a significant role.