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Lesson 4 of 9

Change one thing at a time

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6 min

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Two pots hold the same kind of plant. Pot B gets more water, more light and richer soil. Richer soil gives plants more of what they take from soil.

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Two pots. Three things you could change.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Two pots. Three things you could change.
  2. Only water is different between them.
  3. One thing differs, so water is the cause.
  4. Change light and soil too. Now no one cause is clear.

Fair test — a test that changes only one thing. Everything else stays the same.

The cause is the change that made the result.

Only the water differs, and Pot B grows taller. Then only water can explain the difference.

Water, light and soil all differ, and Pot B grows taller. You cannot say which change helped.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.