Science Investigation Variables

Scientific Variables

Review

Multiple Choice

Two groups of 5th graders were tested to compare their speed solving long division problems. One group had calculators, the other didn't. What is the independent variable?

• the age of the students

• the type of problem being solved

• whether or not they had access to a calculator

• the speed at which they solved the problems

Multiple Choice

Two groups of 5th graders were tested to compare their speed solving long division problems. One group had calculators, the other didn't. What is the dependent variable?

• the age of the students

• the type of problem being solved

• whether or not they had access to a calculator

• the speed at which they solved the problems

Open Ended

Two groups of 5th graders were tested to compare their speed solving long division problems. One group had calculators, the other didn't. What are some of the controls or controlled variables in this experiment?

Multiple Choice

You are doing an experiment to measure the growth rate of plants. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water daily. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water every other day. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water once a week.

What is the independent variable?

• the type of plant

• the amount of water used

• the frequency at which the plants are watered

• the growth rate of the plants

Multiple Choice

You are doing an experiment to measure the growth rate of plants. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water daily. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water every other day. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water once a week.

What is the dependent variable?

• the type of plant

• the amount of water given to each plant

• the frequency at which plants are watered

• the growth rate of the plants

Multiple Select

You are doing an experiment to measure the growth rate of plants. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water daily. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water every other day. One plant is watered with 100 ml of water once a week.

Check all the controls (also known as control or controlled variables.)

• growth rate

• type of plant

• type of soil

• amount of sunlight

• frequency at which the plants are watered