Method construction

Identify the dependent variable:

An experiment was conducted to determine how high a ball bounced when dropped from varying heights: 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m and 2m.

The type of ball, the environment and the person dropping the ball were all kept constant.

• The drop height

• The bounce height

• The type of ball

• The person dropping the ball

Identify the independent variable:

An experiment was conducted to determine how high a ball bounced when dropped from varying heights: 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m and 2m.

The type of ball, the environment and the person dropping the ball were all kept constant.

• The drop height

• The bounce height

• The type of ball

• The person dropping the ball

If you are testing how drop height impacts the bounce of a ball, identify the equipment you would need to conduct the experiment accurately

• A ruler, a camera, and a ball

• Three balls, and a camera

• A ruler and a ball

For a method to be fair it needs to do what?

• Only change one thing (the independent variable)

• change at least two things during the experiment (the independent and the dependent)

• Make no changes at all

For a method to be accurate, what do you need to ensure?

• All of the controlled variables are kept constant

• There are lots of things that change all the time

• Different people get turns at measuring or dropping the ball etc

Select the most accurate and fair method

• 1. A camera was set up to record the drop of the ball

  2. Student A dropped the ball from 0.5 m

  3. the height of the bounce was recorded

  4. Steps 1 - 3 were repeated for height of 1m, 1.5m and 2m

• 1. A camera was set up to record the drop of the ball

  2. Student A dropped the ball from 0.5 m

  3. the height of the bounce was recorded

  4. Steps 1 - 3 were repeated for height of 1m, 1.5m and 2m with students B, C and D dropping the ball

• 1. A camera was set up to record the drop of the ball

  2. Student A dropped the ball from 0.5 m

  3. the height of the bounce was recorded

  4. Steps 1 - 3 were repeated three times

  5. Steps 1 - 4 were repeated for height of 1m, 1.5m and 2m

What was missing from the ball bounce experiment?