Independent & Dependent Variables

Front

What is an independent variable?

Back

The independent variable is the one factor that you change or manipulate in an experiment to observe its effect.

Front

What is a dependent variable?

Back

The dependent variable is the factor that you measure or observe in an experiment, which is affected by changes in the independent variable.

Front

In an experiment, if you change the amount of sunlight a plant receives, what is the independent variable?

Back

The amount of sunlight.

Front

In an experiment, if you measure how tall a plant grows based on different amounts of water, what is the dependent variable?

Back

The height of the plant.

Front

What is the purpose of identifying independent and dependent variables in an experiment?

Back

Identifying these variables helps to understand the relationship between them and to determine how changes in one affect the other.

Front

If you are testing how different types of soil affect plant growth, what is the independent variable?

Back

The type of soil.

Front

If you are testing how different types of fertilizer affect the growth of tomatoes, what is the dependent variable?

Back

The growth of the tomatoes.

Front

What does it mean to control variables in an experiment?

Back

Controlling variables means keeping all other factors constant except for the independent variable to ensure a fair test.

Front

Why is it important to have a hypothesis before conducting an experiment?

Back

A hypothesis provides a testable prediction about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Front

What is an example of a hypothesis related to independent and dependent variables?

Back

If I increase the amount of water (independent variable), then the plant will grow taller (dependent variable).