Scientific Variable

​Scientific Variables Review and Practice

A​ variable is anything that can change during an experiment.

There are three types of variables: independent, dependent and constants.​

​Variables

Multiple Choice

Mr. S. sets up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp.  Identify the independent variable.

• distance traveled by the ball
• height of the ramp
• mass of the ball
• weight of the ball

Multiple Choice

A student is planning an experiment to find out how the height from which he drops a ball affects how high the ball bounces. The dependent variable is the _____.

• Diameter of the ball
• Force acting on the ball
• Height that the ball bounces
• Height from which the ball is dropped

Multiple Choice

When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the same type of) plants, two different fertilizers, equal light, and equal water. What type of variable is the fertilizer?

• Dependent
• Independent
• Control
• Compound

Multiple Choice

A test is set up to test which brand of soda creates the biggest foam explosion when adding a Mentos candy.  Three different sodas were tested. They measured the height of the foam eruption.   What is a controlled variable (constant) for this experiment?

• Brand of soda
• Number of mentos candies used
• Height of foam eruption
• All are controlled variables (constants)

Multiple Choice

Mrs. LaRue wants to know which brand of paper towels is the strongest.  In this experiment, what is the DEPENDENT variable? 

• Strength 

• Brand of paper towel
• Environment
• Weight

In an experiment, the group that is being treated by the independent variable is the experimental group.

The control ​group is the one allows for comparisons.

​Experimental vs. Control Groups

Multiple Choice

If I study for my scientific method test, then I will have a better test score. Who would be in the control group?

• Scientific Method
• Everyone that studies and doesn't study

• The students that study.

• The students that don't study.

Multiple Choice

Research Question: Does using a higher quality of gasoline in a car effect how fast the car can drive. What is the experimental group in this experiment?

• cars with regular unleaded gasoline

• cars with higher quality gasoline

• electric cars

• gasoline-powered cars

Multiple Choice

The part of the experiment that remains the same for the control and experimental group.

• constants
• control
• independent
• dependent

Multiple Choice

Suppose you are looking at how daisies grow in different light sources. What would your control group be?

• Blue filtered light
• Red filtered light
• Green filtered light
• Sunglight

Multiple Choice

This scientific variable is graphed on the x-axis. 

• Dependent
• Control Group
• Independent
• Constant

Multiple Choice

The control group is the...

• group you are testing
• "normal" group