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What is the effect of the type of ball, a
basketball and a soccer ball, on how high it
bounces?
What is the effect of the type of ball, a
basketball and a soccer ball, on how high it
bounces?
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You control the type of ball
You measure the height it bounces
IV – type of ball
DV – Height the ball bounces
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Height the ball is dropped from
Surface the ball bounces on
Both of these things should stay the same so
that the results are reliable.
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If a basketball and soccer ball are dropped
from the same height, then the basketball will
bounce the highest.
Use the format:
IF … say the IV being tested … then … predict
a result.
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1 basketball
1 soccer ball
1 Meterstick
1 Chair
Duct Tape
Either provide research you have done, or say
who you might consider an expert that you
could go to for information.
A basketball coach
A soccer coach.
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1. Gather Materials
2. Position a chair near a wall
3. Determine the height at which you will
drop each ball and mark the spot with a piece
of tape on the wall.
4. Have the tester stand on the chair and
drop a ball from the marked height.
5. Have the spotter measure how high the
ball gets after the first bounce.
6. Record data.
7. Perform three trials for each ball.
How the type of ball affects the height it bounces
Height
Height Bounced (meters)
Type of Ball Dropped
(DV Label)
(IV Label) From (meters)
(CV Label) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
Basketball
2
1.3
1.2
1.4
1.3
Soccer Ball
2
1.1
1.15
1.1
1.12
Always include at least three trials AND an average column, a title, any
units of measure, and write out the IV and DV labels. Do NOT just put
IV, DV, and CV.
Always label your X & Y axis, provide a scale and
a title, identify what the columns or lines
represent, and draw the graph.
How the type of ball affects the height it
Height Bounced (meters)
bounces
1.25
1.2
1.15
1.1
1.05
Basketball
Soccer Ball
Type of Ball
Tell me something that might have gone wrong
that could affect the results.
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During one drop, the soccer ball bounced
sideways. This caused the ball to not bounce
as high.
Tell me what the results of the experiment
were, if your hypothesis was supported, and
include any additional information you learned.
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In conclusion, I found that the basketball did
bounce higher than the soccer ball. My
hypothesis was supported. I think that the
material used to make the basketball helped
make it bouncier.
Write a new testable question (or problem),
that is similar to what you just did, but with
one difference. A good rule of thumb: switch
the IV with one of the CV’s.
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Which size of basketball will bounce higher, a
full size ball or a half sized ball?