Final answer:
In Dustin's experiment on the effect of batteries on buzzer loudness, the responding variable is the loudness of the buzzer, which is observed to change when the independent variable, the number of batteries, is manipulated.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Dustin's experiment, the responding variable, or dependent variable, is the loudness of the buzzer. This is the variable Dustin is observing to change as he manipulates the independent variable in the experiment. The independent variable, which is what Dustin actively changes, is the number of 'D' batteries in the circuit.
An experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a particular factor is manipulated.
It is essential to differentiate between the independent and dependent variables in an experiment. The independent variable is the one the experimenter changes or manipulates, while the dependent variable is the outcome or response that is measured. For example, in the experiment where a scientist grows bacteria on two different types of gel, the independent variable is the type of gel (A or B), and the dependent variable is the amount of bacterial growth after a certain time period.