Question

George is planning an experiment to see how fast different sized cans of soup can roll down a ramp in his kitchen. He will be rolling them down a ramp and then time how fast it takes them to travel 1 meter after the ramp. Which of the following would count as the Dependent Variable of this experiment?

a. The size of the Can.
b. The velocity of the can after the ramp.
c. The height of the ramp.
d. The time it takes for the can to go down the ramp.

Answer 1

In George's experiment regarding the speed of cans rolling down a ramp, the dependent variable is the velocity of the can after the ramp, as it is the outcome being measured that depends on the can size.

Step-by-step explanation:

The dependent variable in George's experiment to see how fast different sized cans of soup can roll down a ramp is (b) The velocity of the can after the ramp. This is the variable that George will be measuring, which depends on the independent variable, the size of the can. Thus, as George changes the size of the can, he observes how it affects the velocity of the can after it rolls off the ramp. In physics experiments like this, the dependent variable is the outcome that is being tested, and in this case, it is the effect of can size on the velocity.

When designing physics experiments, variables play a crucial role. The independent variable is the factor that the experimenter changes or controls, while the dependent variable is the factor that is observed or measured in response to the changes in the independent variable. Keeping track of these variables is key to understanding the relationship between factors such as force, mass, and acceleration in physics experiments.