THE GUMMY BEAR PROJECT

May 2011
AP Statistics
Mrs. Massey
Bell 7
Introduction
Our goal was to design a controlled experiment to test a factor that will effect how far
gummy bears will fly from a catapult. The response variable was the length the gummy
bears flew. There are 3 factors !independent variables" : the 1/2 inch away from center of
launch position !represented by the pencil", 1 inch from center of launch position, and 2
inches from center of launch position. These are the factors because this is what is being
manipulated in the experiment. There are no levels because the factors do not have different
values. Considering this, then there are only 3 treatments: the 1/2 inch, 1 inch, and 2 inch
values. Our dependent variable is the effect of the various inch values on the length the
gummy bear will fly away from the launching position. The experimental units are the recipi#
ents of the treatments and are therefore the 30 gummy bears.
Controls
Controls were used to reduce bias of extraneous variables and therefore produce more accu#
rate results.
1. Same Size Gummy Bear
2. Same Type/Brand Gummy Bear
3. Same Launching Location
4. Same Overall Location For Launching
5. Same Launch Procedure
6. Same Flat Surface
7. Same Materials Used For Launching Procedure !tongue depressor, duck tape, table, etc."
8. Randomization was used to assign the experimental units !gummy bears" to the treatments
of inches, so that the bias effects were distributed at chance levels across treatment condi#
tions.
Randomization Process & List of Bears in Treatments
The experiment implemented a Completely Randomized Design or Randomization where all
30 gummy bears were shuffled in a plastic bag and picked and chosen randomly.
The completely randomized design is probably the simplest experimental design, in terms of
data analysis and convenience. With this design, gummy bears were randomly assigned to the
different inches.
A completely randomized design relies on randomization to control for the effects of extra#
neous variables. It was assumed that, on average, extraneous factors will affect the various
inch level conditions equally... so any significant differences between conditions can fairly be
attributed to the various inch levels.
Raw Data !Chart"
T R I A L #
I NC HE S I NC HE S A P P L I E D A P P L I E D
T R I A L #
1 / 2 I N C H 1 I N C H 2 I N C H E S
1 37.50 40.50 46.50
2 20.10 39.20 63.00
3 22.13 33.70 61.20
4 21.20 36.00 46.40
5 26.40 44.10 60.00
6 20.50 25.50 54.50
7 24.30 39.10 54.00
8 25.10 49.50 89.00
9 18.70 36.00 45.00
10 23.60 47.90 64.80
Summary Statistics !Chart"
DATA
AT 1/2 INCH AT 1 INCH AT 2 INCHES
Mean
n
Standard
Deviation
Variance
Median
Minimum
Maximum
Sum
23.95 39.15 58.36
10.00 10.00 10.00
5.336 7.038 12.905
28.481 49.542 166.556
22.865 39.15 57.25
18.70 25.50 45.00
37.50 49.50 89.00
239.53 391.50 583.60
The E!ect of Inches From The Center of Launching
Position on the Length of Gummy Bear Landing
Graphical Displays
0
22.5
45.0
67.5
90.0
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6 Trial 7 Trial 8 Trial 9 Trial 10
65
45
89
54 55
60
46
61
63
47
48
36
50
39
26
44
36
34
39
41
24
19
25
24
21
26
21
22
20
38
The Effect of Inches on the Length of Gummy Bear Landing
1/2 inch 1 inch 2 inches
L
e
n
g
t
h

(
i
n
c
h
e
s
)
0
10
20
30
40
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6 Tria 7 Trial 8 Trial 9 Trial 10
23.60
18.70
25.10
24.30
20.50
26.40
21.20
22.13
20.10
37.50
The Effect of 1/2 Inch on the Length of Gummy Bear Landing
1/2 inch
L
e
n
g
t
h

(
i
n
c
h
e
s
)
0
12.5
25.0
37.5
50.0
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6 Tria 7 Trial 8 Trial 9 Trial 10
47.9
36.0
49.5
39.1
25.5
44.1
36.0
33.7
39.2
40.5
The Effect of 1 Inch on the Length of Gummy Bear Landing
1 Inch
L
e
n
g
t
h

(
i
n
c
h
e
s
)
0
22.5
45.0
67.5
90.0
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6 Tria 7 Trial 8 Trial 9 Trial 10
64.8
45.0
89.0
54.0 54.5
60.0
46.4
61.2
63.0
46.5
The Effect of 2 Inches on the Length of Gummy Bear Landing
2 inches
L
e
n
g
t
h

(
i
n
c
h
e
s
)
Interpretation of Results
At first, it was hypothesized the further away the pencil was from the center of the launch#
ing position, the further away the gummy bear would land. Our hypothesis was proven true
as the results and graphs showed that the length increased dramatically the more farther
away the launching was from the center, such as with 2 inches. In conclusion, the farther
away the gummy bears were from the center of the launching position, the farther away they
landed in inches.
What did go wrong?
As for what could possibly have went wrong, the experiment could have used the not so pre#
cise length when launching and the flat surface may have been disturbed as to the point
where it effected results. The gummy bears may not have been in the proper location and the
materials may have proved faulty as well. BUT what actually went wrong is the fact that
there were various outliers from time to time. It was difficult to properly prepare the launch#
ing procedure the exact same each time because the pressure the person puts on the tongue
depressors can never be the same.
What would you do differently?
In order to get rid of faulty procedure methods, the next time it is needed to make sure that
the pressure stays constant or with less bias so that the number of outliers and variance de#
creases.