Control Factor - Super Ball Project

[adevor]

I am a 6th grader doing a science fair project on how size affects the bounce of a super ball. I do not understand how or what my control factor is. I would appreciate if someone could give me an example. Thank you.

[deleted-113017]

Hello and welcome to Science Buddies,

After reading your project description, I think the only thing confusing you is the fancy name "control factor." What it basically means is that it is your control variable i.e. it is the variable that you chose to keep constant in order to compare the effects of other variables on the outcome.

For your experiment you have chosen your control variables (control factors) to be the size of the super ball and the height from which it is dropped. So when you are dropping different sized balls from the same height, your control factor would be the height (as you are trying to find the relation between the size of the ball and the bounce). And similarly when you are trying to find the effect of the height from where the ball is dropped on the bounce while using the same sized ball, your control factor would be the size (as you are trying to find the relation between the height and the bounce of the ball).

So, while for all your experiments your dependent variable would be the bounce height, you will be in control of the independent variable and the control variable.

A good explanation of these can be found here along with examples:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... l#examples

If you have any more questions, let me know.