An investigator wishes to test the effect of temperature on the durability of a certain material. He places five blocks of this material in a sunny area in a meadow and five more in a cold area high in the mountains. He then monitors them over time. What is the main problem with this experiment?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The main problem with this experiment is that there are too many variables that are not being controlled for. The investigator is only changing one variable (temperature) while there are other variables at play such as humidity, exposure to light, and potential differences in the material itself. Without controlling or accounting for these additional variables, it would be difficult to determine if any observed differences in durability are solely due to temperature. Choice A is incorrect because the issue is not solely about the number of subjects but about the lack of control over variables. Choice B is not the main problem as the order of placement may not significantly impact the results. Choice D is incorrect as the experiment lacks proper control over variables, which is a crucial aspect of good experimental procedure.