Use the table of data from an investigation to answer the question.
Mass of ball (grams) Time to hit ground (seconds)
10 1.02
15 1.01
26 1.62
A student is investigating gravity and falling objects. She drops three balls and times how long it takes each ball to hit the ground. What is the most likely source of error?
Based on the given table, the most likely source of error in this investigation is the mass of the balls.
To determine the most likely source of error in the investigation, let's analyze the given data.
Mass of ball (grams) - Time to hit ground (seconds)
10 - 1.02
15 - 1.01
26 - 1.62
One potential source of error could be the inconsistency of the time measurements. The first two trials have similar masses (10g and 15g) but significantly different times to hit the ground (1.02s and 1.01s). The third trial has a higher mass (26g) and a much longer time to hit the ground (1.62s).
Based on this data, it appears that the mass of the ball does not have a significant impact on the time it takes to hit the ground. This contradicts the expected behavior of falling objects, as objects with different masses should fall at different rates due to gravity.
Therefore, the most likely source of error in this investigation is the accuracy or precision of the timing measurements. It is possible that the student did not start or stop the timer accurately or that there was a technical issue with the timer itself. This inconsistent timing could lead to inaccurate results and a lack of correlation between mass and time to hit the ground.
To determine the most likely source of error in this investigation, we need to analyze the data provided in the table. The data shows the mass of the ball in grams and the corresponding time it takes for each ball to hit the ground in seconds.
Looking at the data, we can observe that as the mass of the ball increases, the time to hit the ground also increases. This trend is not consistent with the expected behavior we would see in an investigation of gravity and falling objects.
In a similar investigation, we would expect lighter objects to fall more quickly since they experience less gravitational force compared to heavier objects. However, in this case, the 26-gram ball took significantly longer to hit the ground compared to the other two balls.
Based on this information, the most likely source of error in this investigation is the measurement or timing method. It is possible that the time measurements for the 26-gram ball were inaccurate, resulting in an outlier compared to the other two balls. This could be due to human error in starting or stopping the timer, or a potential issue with the timing device itself.
To more precisely identify the source of error, the student should consider retesting the 26-gram ball using a different timing method or device to ensure accuracy. Additionally, conducting multiple trials for each ball and calculating the average time could help reduce the impact of any measurement errors.