Question

Donna has observed that her father can control the speed of their grandfather clock by adjusting

the height of the weight on the end of the pendulum. Donna thinks that the pendulum will move

faster when the weight is lowered, and wants to test her idea. Donna gets a stopwatch and

measures the time it takes for the pendulum to swing twenty times when the weight is moved to

its lowest position. Donna begins to move the pendulum up by 1 cm and continues to measure

the time for twenty swings of the pendulum. Donna records her data.


What is would the hypothesis be, Independent/dependent variable, the constants and the control group of this experiment?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hypothesis: IF the weight is lowered, THEN the pendulum will move faster

Independent variable: Weight on the end of pendulum

Dependent variable: Speed of the pendulum

Constant: Same pendulum, same stopwatch

Control group: when the weight is moved to its lowest position.

Step-by-step explanation:

- Hypothesis is a testable explanation given to proffer solution to an observed problem or answer a scientific question. In this investigation, Donna thinks that the pendulum will move faster when the weight is lowered. Hence, Donna's hypothesis is IF the weight is lowered, THEN the pendulum will move faster.

- Independent variable is the variable that is changed or manipulated in an experiment. In this experiment, WEIGHT on the end of pendulum is the independent variable.

- Dependent variable is the variable that is measured or recorded in an experiment. In this case, the dependent variable is the SPEED of the pendulum.

- Constant is the variable that is kept unchanged for all groups throughout the experiment. In this experiment, the constants are Same pendulum used, same stopwatch

- Control group is the group that doesn't receive the experimental treatment in an experiment. In this case, the control is when the weight is moved to its lowest position.