Statistics
Gummy Bears in Space
Performing an experiment to design the perfect gummy bear
launcher.
Today’s Objective: Review how
to create an appropriate
experimental diagrams and
identify lurking variables in an
experiment by creating a table
of data from Gummy Bear
launches.
Your instructor will divide your class into teams and provide the
equipment you need to launch the Gummy Bears. Imagine that
your team is a scientific research group trying to study the effect of
two factors on launch distance:
Factor 1: launch angle (the height of the end of the launch ramp)
Factor 2: launch position (the launcher is either at the front of the
ramp or at the back of the ramp)
Each team should assign jobs: (1) loader/launcher, (2) holder (keeps
the launch equipment steady, (3) measurer, and (4) data recorder
and supervisor.
Your group will need the following materials:
•
a yard stick (or meter stick)
•
two tongue depressors, a rubber band, and a Gummy Bear
•
a ramp on which to place the launcher
•
something to hold the ramp in place (books, a chair, etc.)
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Designing the Experiment
Who will be responsible for each job in your group:
Loader / Launcher:
Holder:
Measurer:
Data Recorder / Supervisor:
Draw a diagram detailing how you will conduct this experiment.
We will launch from the bottom and top of the ramp, as well as at
three different heights (1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet).
The biggest gummy bear money
can buy weighs 26 pounds and
contained 32,000 calories.
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Collect the Data
Produce the data. You will record six sets launches, four for each
of the six conditions (so a total of 24 launches).
Bottom of Ramp
Top of Ramp
1 foot high
2 feet high
3 feet high
Below, record the average for each of the six treatments:
Bottom of Ramp
Top of Ramp
1 foot high
2 feet high
3 feet high
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Conclusions
Which factor seems to have the greatest effect on launch distance,
position on the ramp or height?
What are the possible lurking variables in this experiment?
I created a catapult that launched a Gummy Bear 27 feet. Are you
impressed with this result? Support your answer with an
appropriate standardized score calculation and percentage.
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