Snail Behavior Experiment: Testing Hypothesis on Hot Surface Avoidance

[armolinasf]

Homework Statement

I'm supposed to develop an hypothesis about a certain aspect of a snail's behavior and then devise an experiment that would prove or disprove that hypothesis.

The Attempt at a Solution

Hypothesis: Snails will avoid traveling on hot surfaces.

Experiment: Place a snail on a surface whose temperature is neutral, say room temperature, and then leave the snail free to travel off the neutral surface onto the surrounding surface. The temperature of the surrounding surface would be the variable and the temperature of it can be changed by degrees from hot to cold in relation to the original neutral surface.

If the snail stays on the neutral surface as opposed to venturing onto the warmer surfaces than the hypothesis is true, if not then it's false.

Would this be a legitimate experiment. I'm unsure since the control is sort of integrated into the experiment. Thanks for the advice.

 

[symbolipoint]

Your idea about snails and hot surfaces is only a slight beginning. Put in more precise information and maybe you can design an experiment. Pick you specie of snail. What temperature values? Hot, cold, neutral, meaningless because imprecise. What kind of surface? How will you control the surface or surfaces? How will you measure the temperature of the surface?

You want to be able to make a precise hypothesis. If you only come as far as trying to find out something so vague, then you cannot design a sensible experiment.