Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My question is: how do kp values affect IGP delay? I know that the independent variable is what I change in the experiment, but I have no control over
IGP delay or Kp values. I think that my independent variable could be the times that i recorded data because the times that i chose are the same times that kp values are updated. I think my dependent variable is the change in IGP delay. Am i right?
thanks,
coolgirl285

This is an experiment where you don't actively control anything - you're really taking observations and trying to measure an effect. I think you're correct in considering the IGP delay as your dependent variable. Tha factor that affects the IGP in your experiment is really the Kp, isn't it? In that sense, the Kp seems like your dependent variable rather than the times of day you chose. You can also consider the universe as your lab assistant - manipulating the Kp for you.

Maybe other experts will weigh on this, but in your writeup I would deemphasize the role of the scientist-manipulated dependent variable here and concentrate on the dependent or result and the reasons for what you measured.

Howard

Hi coolgirl285,

Kp is an index that describes geomagnetic storm activity. The independent variable in this project is solar activity (e.g., geomagnetic storms). Just like you use a ruler to measure the length of objects, people who study solar activity use the Kp index to measure geomagnetic storm intensity. Imagine that you were doing an experiment to find out how the length of a lever changed the force required to lift a weight. You could measure the length of the lever using a ruler. Let's pretend that you did this imaginary experiment with levers that were 20 centimeters (cm), 40 cm, and 60 cm long. The independent variable in this thought experiment is the length of the lever, not centimeters. Likewise, the independent variable in your experiment is geomagnetic storm activity, not Kp.

The dependent variable is, indeed, the IGP delay.