That is correct. Yes, the ramp used will be the same ramp for each ball that is rolled. That means the ramp is a control variable. We do not change the ramp throughout the entire experiment.
Who will roll the ball each time and do you always use the same force when you let go of the ball? Will we roll the ball in the same area each time?
Excellent questions Arnold. Those are also control variables. I will roll the ball and I will let each ball go at the same pace. We will let each ball roll off the ramp in the same area today.
Lets start! Our independent variable will change 3 times. We will use a big ball, a medium ball and a small ball and then measure the distance each ball travels off of the ramp.
The big ball rolls 15 metres. Lets record that now.
Wow! I will record that. Mr. Roberts we are also lucky that there is no wind. The temperature is another control variable, right?
Right Arnold. I will now drop the medium ball.
It rolled 13 metres. So far, the big ball rolls the farthest distance. Let's now roll the small ball.
The small ball rolled only 10 metres. So the bigger the ball, the farthest the distance it travels. Hope you both enjoyed this experiment using independent, dependant and control variables.
Yes, we learned so much. The bigger ball rolls the farthest distance. The smaller the balI, the shorter the distance travelled.