Final answer:
Keeping detailed records of an experiment is important for replicability by others, which is essential for scientific verification and peer review. In studying kinetic energy changes in inelastic collisions, specific equations and calculations must be planned out to investigate the influence of initial physical quantities on energy dissipation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jon is designing an experiment to see the effect of mechanical energy on the number of times a ball bounces. It is important that Jon keeps detailed records of his experiment because the evidence produced by his experiment should be replicable by others. Detailed records ensure that the experiment can be repeated under the same conditions, verifying the results and contributing to the scientific body of knowledge. This level of documentation is crucial for the scientific process, enabling peer review and further experimentation based on the original work.
In modifying the experiment to consider the kinetic energy changes in an inelastic collision, the initial values of physical quantities and their effect on the fraction of mechanical energy dissipated in the collision can be investigated. To do this, Jon would need to explicitly describe calculations that include equations governing kinetic energy, inelastic collisions, and mechanical energy dissipation, but he would not perform any actual algebra or arithmetic as part of the planning stage.