What is Experiments: Definition and 475 Discussions

An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a particular factor is manipulated. Experiments vary greatly in goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results. There also exists natural experimental studies.
A child may carry out basic experiments to understand how things fall to the ground, while teams of scientists may take years of systematic investigation to advance their understanding of a phenomenon. Experiments and other types of hands-on activities are very important to student learning in the science classroom. Experiments can raise test scores and help a student become more engaged and interested in the material they are learning, especially when used over time. Experiments can vary from personal and informal natural comparisons (e.g. tasting a range of chocolates to find a favorite), to highly controlled (e.g. tests requiring complex apparatus overseen by many scientists that hope to discover information about subatomic particles). Uses of experiments vary considerably between the natural and human sciences.
Experiments typically include controls, which are designed to minimize the effects of variables other than the single independent variable. This increases the reliability of the results, often through a comparison between control measurements and the other measurements. Scientific controls are a part of the scientific method. Ideally, all variables in an experiment are controlled (accounted for by the control measurements) and none are uncontrolled. In such an experiment, if all controls work as expected, it is possible to conclude that the experiment works as intended, and that results are due to the effect of the tested variables.

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  1. R

    Experiments for time-energy uncertainty relation

    Are there experiments which you can claim that they are the evidence of the time-energy uncertainty relation? Or can you write which experiments can be directly related to this uncertainty relation? i.e A beta decay or a strange effect in (quantum) optics... everything you have in mind...
  2. J

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    For my AH Physics investigation I'm going to research the refractive index of a liquid and need a few different experiment ideas to perform within my pretty basic school lab. An example of a feasible experiment would be much appreciated! I have thought about changing the...
  3. rhody

    US Institutions Participating in LHC Experiments and Accelerator

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  4. E

    Antimatter: Production, storage and gravity experiments

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  5. I

    Biophysics enzyme experiments for a second year lab

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  6. E

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  7. Grimble

    Evaluating Scientific Experiments: Has the Standard of Proof Shifted?

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  8. W

    What type of adhesive to use with Aspergillus Niger experiments?

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  9. W

    Proof" of Scientific Law: Experiments & Evidence

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  10. L

    What Are the Key Physics Experiments Shaping Our Understanding of the Universe?

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  11. I

    Lockeheed martin experiments with Anti-gravity

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  12. R

    Precision during free-fall experiments.

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  13. I

    Experimenting Mechanics: Two Balls, Same Time - Glilio Glili

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  14. W

    Where to Conduct Wind Tunnel Experiments in the Midwest United States

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  15. S

    MATLAB Simulating 100-Day Experiments with an Index Case

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  16. maverick_starstrider

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  17. T

    Looking for Exciting Chemistry Experiments to Try at Home?

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  18. R

    Is This Video of a Fake Cavendish Experiment Really Accurate?

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  19. Peter Morgan

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  20. M

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  21. F

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  22. K

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  23. G

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  24. N

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  25. N

    Preparing 2-Fold Dilutions for Experiments

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  26. M

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  27. H

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  28. S

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  33. C

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  34. E

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  35. N

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  36. Z

    EPR experiments imply STR not correct?

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  37. C

    Exploring Quantum Biology: Resources & Experiments

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  38. E

    Designing Experiments: Software & Resources

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  39. S

    Exploring Gyroscope Behavior: Tips and Ideas for Experiments

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  40. wolram

    Multi billion dollar experiments

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  41. B

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  42. M

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  43. C

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    http://arxiv.org/abs/0809.0616"
  44. B

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  45. maverick280857

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  46. L

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  47. N

    Thought Experiments: Will Spaceship B Move Immediately?

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  48. J

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  49. V

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  50. H

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