Question

identifying variables: part ii
the variables for this experiment include mass, volume and the materials in the various balls, as well as their densities. in part ii, you will be comparing an inflated football with a deflated one. use the drop - down menus to complete the sentences and identify the independent and dependent variables.
in part ii, the independent variable, the one that is intentionally manipulated, is
in part ii, the dependent variable, the one that you measure the response in, is
options: mass, volume, material, density

Explanation:

An independent variable is what is changed in an experiment. Here, inflating or deflating the football changes its volume. A dependent variable is what is measured. When volume (independent variable) changes, mass (since air has mass) and thus density (density = mass/volume) can change. But in the context of comparing inflated vs deflated (which directly manipulates volume), the dependent variable related to the response of the manipulation (inflating/deflating) is mass (as volume change affects mass - air has mass) and density (calculated from mass and volume). However, if we consider the direct measurement related to the state (inflated/deflated which is volume - independent), the dependent variable that is measured (not calculated) among the options is mass.

Answer:

• Independent variable: volume
• Dependent variable: mass