Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

In this experiment, I don't know what would be the independent, dependent, or controlled variables. Could you please help me with determining the which variables are which?

Also, I'm trying to vary the experiment by building two different sized reflectors and I need some help in stating my hypothesis, which will include the predicted dB gain in signal strength relative to each size of reflector (I hypothesize that the gain will be the same). How would I go about graphing this in something other than a polar plot and organizing the data into a data table.

The last question I have is what is the purpose of rotating the reflector at 15 degree increments?

Hello and welcome to the forums!

For help with variables, please see the Science Buddies section on variables here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml. It states that

The independent variable is the one that is changed by the scientist. The scientist focuses his or her observations on the dependent variable to see how it responds to the change made to the independent variable.

The variable you change is the angle. The measured variable is the signal strength.

The polar plot sounds like a good idea. You could use different colors for the two different antennas' data.

15 degree increments were chosen because they are a nice change between data points and don't give you too many data points. Use any value you like!

Keith