Michelle set up a science investigation to explore temperature change in objects made of different materials. She heated the four objects listed in the table below to the same temperature (100°C). Michelle recorded which material heated to 100°C first, second, third, and fourth (last).

Question



Multiple Choice Question

Which statement BEST explains why the objects in Michelle's investigation took different amounts of time to heat to the same temperature and identifies whether this factor is a dependent or independent variable?

A. 

The objects are made of different types of materials, and the type of material is an independent variable.

B. 

The objects are different shapes, and the shape of the material is an independent variable.

C. 

The objects exist in different states of matter, and the state of matter is a dependent variable.

D. 

The objects contain different amounts of materials, and the amount of material is a dependent variable.

Answer 1

The statement that BEST explains the situation in Michelle's investigation and identifies the relevant variable is:

A. The objects are made of different types of materials, and the type of material is an independent variable.

This statement accurately indicates that the different materials will affect how quickly each object heats up due to their varying thermal properties (like specific heat capacity), and it classifies the type of material as an independent variable since it is the factor that is being manipulated in the investigation.