Simulation 1 of 2 · Test the Pattern
Set-up 1 is the control — it stays at room temperature the whole time. Set-up 2 has a heat source under the wire. Tap through the 5 temperatures below. The blue dimension line on each diagram shows the distance being measured — between the hanging weight and the table.
| Trial | Temperature | Set-up 1 distance | Set-up 2 distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| No trials recorded yet — pick a temperature and press "Record this trial." | |||
Why does the distance change?
Both wires hold the exact same weight. In Set-up 1, the temperature never changes, so the wire's sag — and the distance between the weight and the table — stays constant. In Set-up 2, heat flows from the burner into the wire and makes it expand: the wire itself gets very slightly longer. That extra length has to go somewhere, so the wire sags lower under the same weight, and the weight moves closer to the table.
What is the independent variable (change variable)?
What is the constant?
What is the relation between temperature and the length of the wire?