Each diagram shows a single experimental trial in which you will drop a ball from some height. in each case, the ball's size, mass, and height are labeled. note that two diagrams show a basketball, one diagram shows a bowling ball of the same size but larger mass, and one diagram shows a much smaller marble with the same mass as the basketball. you have a timer that allows you to measure how long it takes the ball to fall to the ground. which pair of trials will allow you to test the prediction that an object's mass does not affect its rate of fall?

Question

Brooks Fernandez

Physics

4 May, 10:22

Each diagram shows a single experimental trial in which you will drop a ball from some height. in each case, the ball's size, mass, and height are labeled. note that two diagrams show a basketball, one diagram shows a bowling ball of the same size but larger mass, and one diagram shows a much smaller marble with the same mass as the basketball. you have a timer that allows you to measure how long it takes the ball to fall to the ground. which pair of trials will allow you to test the prediction that an object's mass does not affect its rate of fall?

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Ryleigh Hutchinson · Answer 1

The simplest way to test the effects of mass is to compare the results of two trials that are identical except for the mass of the balls. In the language of experimental design, we say that the mass is the "variable of interest" for this experiment, and we therefore hold the other variables (size and height) constant so that they cannot affect the results.