Use the table of criteria for an investigation to answer the question.

Object To Be Dropped Drop Height (meters)
10-gram ball 5
5-gram ball 8
18-gram ball 10
A student designs an investigation to study the effect of gravity on objects on Earth. He will use the criteria shown. How can the student improve the investigation?

(1 point)
Responses

by measuring the circumference of the balls
by measuring the circumference of the balls

by finding balls made from different materials
by finding balls made from different materials

by using balls that are the same mass
by using balls that are the same mass

by dropping the balls from the same height
by dropping the balls from the same height
Skip to navigation

1 answer

To improve the investigation studying the effect of gravity on objects, the student should consider the principle of keeping other variables constant while changing only one variable to observe its effect. In this case, since the focus is on the effect of gravity (which is constant), the relevant variable to control is the drop height or the masses of the balls used.

Among the provided options:

  • By dropping the balls from the same height would improve the investigation because it ensures that the height variable does not influence the results. This would allow for a clearer examination of the effects of gravity on the different balls.

Therefore, the best response is:

by dropping the balls from the same height.