Improving experimental design

ATI TEAS
Science: Scientific Reasoning
Multiple choice
Difficulty 3 of 5

Question

Which revision best isolates the effect of wrapping type?

Use the same starting water temperature in both cups✓ Correct

Matching the initial temperatures removes a competing difference.
Use different waiting times for the cups✗ Incorrect

Different waiting times would add another changed condition.
Change both cup size and wrapping type✗ Incorrect

Changing cup size adds a second factor to the comparison.
Record only the color of each wrapping✗ Incorrect

Wrapping color does not measure the proposed cooling outcome.

Answer

A. Use the same starting water temperature in both cups

Rationale

The comparison is clearer when the initial water temperatures match. The wrapping can then be the deliberate difference while temperature is observed.

RememberIdentify the chosen difference, the observed response, and the conditions kept consistent.

Sources

United States U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · License: US government work (public domain) · Retrieved November 2, 2026 · Page 21

Last verified: November 5, 2026 2 independent automated checks Question teas-ssr-00088, version 1

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