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plan some simple experiments. In any experiment, there are two important
things to consider—what we can change (the factors we control) and what

we can observe.
In the case of frying puris, we can change the thickness or size of the rolled
dough, or even use different types of flour like atta or maida. We can also

adjust the temperature of the oil or change the way we drop the dough into
the oil—whether straight down, gently sliding it, or at an angle. All of these
are things we can carefully control. Then, by watching closely, we can

observe how these factors change the way a puri puffs. This is exactly how
scientists design experiments—by controlling some conditions and
observing the effects.

However, to make sense of the changes, we also need to think of what we
can observe or measure. Some of these may have just yes/no answers, in
some cases there might be a number we can measure. Maybe we can start
by checking whether the puri puffs up (yes/no), or we can measure the time

it takes to puff up (seconds). We can check whether a very thick layer of
dough still gives a thin side to the puri. Further, while doing such
experiments, it is better to change only one thing at a time while keeping
the other conditions same.
Science When we do experiments, it's not enough to just make changes—we also
Bytes
need to think about what we can observe or measure to understand the
Testimony
Changing only one factor results. Some things can be answered simply with a yes or no, like “Did the
at a me is called puri puff up?” Other things can be measured using numbers, like how many
controlling variables – a
basic rule of every seconds it takes for the puri to puff. We can also observe details, such as
scien fic inves ga on! whether a thick piece of dough still ends up with one thin side after puffing.
Importantly, in experiments, it's best to change only one factor at a time

while keeping everything else the same. This way, we can clearly see how
that one change affects the outcome and make better sense of the results.

For example, if we wanted to see the effect of boiling hot, hot, and not very
hot oil, we would use circles of dough of the same thickness, and drop them
in the same way. It is also a good idea to keep notes of everything that you
see and sense when doing an experiment. Did the oil splatter, smell, or

smoke? And after doing one round of experiments, you may think of more
questions. Do puris puff better when made fresh or from stored dough?
What happens if I prick a hole in the puri before frying?

This is how all scientific experiments are carried out—whether they are
simple home experiments or the most complex studies done in advanced
labs. This method is called systematic investigation, where we make

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