A physics student investigates how the payload mass of a toy parachute affects the time taken for it to descend a fixed vertical height of 3.0 m in a sports hall. To change the mass while keeping the shape and surface area constant, the student adds different numbers of identical steel washers to the payload compartment of the parachute.
This is the student's method:
The table lists some variables in this investigation.
Identify whether each variable is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a control variable by selecting the correct category for each row.
| Variable | Independent variable | Dependent variable | Control variable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of parachute canopy | |||
| Number of washers | |||
| Time taken to descend | |||
| Descent height |
These are the student's raw results written in a notebook:
Draw a structured results table of the student’s results.
The graph shows the plotted results of the student's investigation:
State the coordinates of the anomalous point on the graph.
Suggest how the student should deal with this anomalous result.
Suggest why the student did not start the vertical axis (time to descend) from zero.
