Final answer:
In ball rolling experiments, to ensure accurate results, factors such as the surface texture, angle of the ramp, and environmental conditions need to remain constant. Precise and consistent timing methods must be used, and sources of human error need to be considered.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors That Need to Stay Constant in Ball Rolling Experiments
To determine if the size of a ball affects its instantaneous and average speed, several variables need to stay constant when rolling different balls down the same ramp. These include the surface texture of the ramp, the angle of inclination of the ramp, and the environmental conditions such as air pressure and humidity.
It is essential that the starting conditions are the same for each trial. This means each ball must be released from the same height and position on the ramp to ensure a fair comparison. Terri will also need to maintain the same method of timing for each ball and should use a precise measurement tool to measure the time it takes for each ball to reach 1 meter and come to a stop.
By keeping these factors constant, Terri can ensure that any observed differences in speed are likely due to the size of the ball and not other variables. This methodology will allow Terri to accurately assess the relationship between ball size and its speed.
When examining other experimental setups, such as comparing different launching speeds or heights, similar attention to consistent experimental conditions is required. For instance, when testing if acceleration is independent of an object's velocity, measures like the initial speed, drop height, and timing precision must be carefully recorded and kept consistent where applicable.
Experimenters should always account for potential sources of error, such as human reaction times when operating the stopwatch, and consider replicating the experiment with multiple roles rotated among the experimenters to verify the reliability of the results.