2007-01-11 10:22:34 · 1 answers · asked by whitney c 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
A control is a duplicate identical test subject which is used as a baseline to compare with the experimental test subject.
An example is rnning an experiment to compare the effects of fertilizer on plant growth.
You would plant the same type of seeds in several pots as identically as possible. (same type of soil, pots seeds ect..)
Then divid the potted seeds into two groups the Control & Experimental.
You do the same things to all pots, exposure to sun, watering ect... EXCEPT the experimental group gets fertilizer in the water while the control gets plain water.
At the end of the experiment you can compare the plant growth in the experimental group agains the control group and see if there is any difference.
Without a control you could not accurately tell if there was any difference (good or bad) to plant growth.
2007-01-11 12:52:06 · answer #1 · answered by MarkG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋