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Difficulty: EasyIdentifying Independent, Dependent, and Controlled Variables

A researcher conducts an experiment to determine how the drop height of a steel sphere affects the depth of the crater it creates when dropped into a tray of fine sand. In each trial, the same 50-gram steel sphere is dropped vertically from heights of 25 cm, 50 cm, 75 cm, and 100 cm into identical trays of dry sand, and the crater depth is measured immediately after impact. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

  1. The drop height of the steel sphereAnswer
  2. B
    The depth of the crater formed in the sand
  3. C
    The mass of the steel sphere
  4. D
    The density of the sand in the tray

Answer

The drop height of the steel sphere is the independent variable.
The independent variable is the variable that the experimenter directly alters to observe its effect on an outcome. In this setup, the researcher intentionally changes the drop height of the sphere across four specific distances.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the variable that is systematically altered by the experimenter.
The drop height is varied across 25 cm, 50 cm, 75 cm, and 100 cm.
The independent variable is the condition purposefully manipulated to test its effect.
2
Distinguish between independent, dependent, and controlled variables.
Drop height is manipulated (independent variable), crater depth is measured in response (dependent variable), and sphere mass is kept constant (controlled variable).
Categorizing each factor prevents confusing cause and effect.

Key Concept

Identifying Independent, Dependent, and Controlled Variables
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Topics

Identifying Independent, Dependent, and Controlled Variables

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