Paper Bullets Experiment: Data Analysis The scientific question that was investigated by the paper bullets experiment asked, “Does the width of a paper bullet affect the distance it travels when it is launched?” The hypothesis that goes along with that question is, “If a paper bullet has a larger width, then it will travel a shorter distance than a standard paper bullet with a width of 4cm.” Variables in this experiment included independent variable (width of the starting piece of paper used to make a paper bullet), dependent variable (the distance that the paper bullet travels when launched), and the control variables (size/type of rubber band, device used to launch paper bullets, area used to conduct experiment, paper used to make paper
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If a paper bullet is made with a larger width, it will cause the paper bullet to travel less distance when launched. This is most likely so because, if you are using more paper to make a paper bullet, it will then have more mass causing it to not go as far as a paper bullet with less mass. This shows that a paper bullet will travel a shorter distance if it has more mass and a farther distance if it has less mass. The data overall proves that the original hypothesis was correct because the paper bullets with more mass traveled less distance than the paper bullets with more …show more content…
If an object has more mass or weight, it will not travel as far as an object with less mass or weight. There was an extraneous variable in the experiment that may have been influenced by weather conditions. The 6cm paper bullets traveled, on average, less distance than the 4cm paper bullets, but they also traveled farther, on average than the 5cm paper bullets. The weather outside was sunny, and the sun was shining on the rubber bands during the 6cm paper bullet trials. This might have heated them up and caused the 6cm paper bullets to travel differently. There were also a few light breezes in the flat open area that the paper bullets were launched in. This could have possibly made the paper bullets travel shorter or longer distances depending on the way the wind was blowing. Another extraneous variable is the amount of time that it took to complete the experiment. The experiment took at least one hour and 30 minutes or more. After the first 4cm paper bullet trial, the pencil being used to record data ran out of graphite. There was a long time between the first 4cm paper bullet trial and the second 4cm paper bullet trial, because a graphite refill was needed in order to record data. This possibly may have caused the second 4cm paper bullet to go the farthest because of a change of sunlight exposure over time, possibly increasing the tension of the rubber band. However, despite the extraneous variables, there is still evidence that shows
If a paper bullet is made with a larger width, it will cause the paper bullet to travel less distance when launched. This is most likely so because, if you are using more paper to make a paper bullet, it will then have more mass causing it to not go as far as a paper bullet with less mass. This shows that a paper bullet will travel a shorter distance if it has more mass and a farther distance if it has less mass. The data overall proves that the original hypothesis was correct because the paper bullets with more mass traveled less distance than the paper bullets with more …show more content…
If an object has more mass or weight, it will not travel as far as an object with less mass or weight. There was an extraneous variable in the experiment that may have been influenced by weather conditions. The 6cm paper bullets traveled, on average, less distance than the 4cm paper bullets, but they also traveled farther, on average than the 5cm paper bullets. The weather outside was sunny, and the sun was shining on the rubber bands during the 6cm paper bullet trials. This might have heated them up and caused the 6cm paper bullets to travel differently. There were also a few light breezes in the flat open area that the paper bullets were launched in. This could have possibly made the paper bullets travel shorter or longer distances depending on the way the wind was blowing. Another extraneous variable is the amount of time that it took to complete the experiment. The experiment took at least one hour and 30 minutes or more. After the first 4cm paper bullet trial, the pencil being used to record data ran out of graphite. There was a long time between the first 4cm paper bullet trial and the second 4cm paper bullet trial, because a graphite refill was needed in order to record data. This possibly may have caused the second 4cm paper bullet to go the farthest because of a change of sunlight exposure over time, possibly increasing the tension of the rubber band. However, despite the extraneous variables, there is still evidence that shows