Testable Questions and Variables

Multiple Choice

What is a key characteristic of a testable question?

• It asks about personal opinions.

• It involves changing one thing to see the effect on another.

• It requires a long explanation.

• It cannot be answered by an experiment.

Open Ended

Based on the sample testable question about the ramp and the car, what is being changed and what is being measured?

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a testable question?

• Which flower smells the best?

• Do more people prefer the smell of roses over jasmine?

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a testable question?

• Does the age of a car affect its gas mileage?

• What is the best new car this year?

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a testable question?

• Do cats make better pets than dogs?

• Does changing a cat's diet affect if people are allergic to it?

Multiple Choice

What are the special names given to the two blanks in a testable question format in scientific experiments?

• Variables

• Constants

• Controls

• Factors

Multiple Choice

Which variable is changed by the scientist in an experiment?

• Independent variable

• Dependent variable

• Control variable

• Outcome variable

Open Ended

Explain the role of control/constant variables in a scientific experiment.

Multiple Choice

Based on the hypothesis 'If I drink Mountain Dew before bed, then I will not sleep very much,' what is the independent variable (IV) and what is the dependent variable (DV)?

• IV: Drinking Mountain Dew; DV: the amount of sleep

• IV: the amount of sleep; DV: Drinking Mountain Dew

• IV: Drinking Mountain Dew; DV: the time of day

• IV: the amount of sleep; DV: the amount of caffeine

Open Ended

How does a hypothesis help identify the independent and dependent variables in an experiment?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of control variables in an experiment?

• The type of plant used in all groups

• The amount of sunlight each group receives

• The type of liquid given to the experimental group

• The temperature in the room

Open Ended

Explain why it is important to have a control group in an experiment. Use examples from the lesson to support your answer.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the difference between a control group and an experimental group in a scientific experiment?

• The control group receives the independent variable, while the experimental group does not.

• The control group is exposed to all variables, while the experimental group is not.

• The control group does not receive the independent variable, while the experimental group does.

• The control group and experimental group are always identical.

Open Ended

How do the different chemicals in fertilizer affect plant growth? Answer what the IV and DV are.

Open Ended

What is the effect of the density of different mediums (solid, liquid, gas) on the speed at which light travels? Answer what the IV and DV are.

Multiple Choice

What is the dependent variable in the experiment shown with the three plants?

• Type of plant

• Height of the plants

• Type of liquid given to the plants

• Amount of soil

Multiple Choice

Based on the experiment with the three plants, what is the independent variable?

• Type of liquid given to the plants

• Height of the plants

• Amount of sunlight

• Type of plant

Open Ended

Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and control variable in Homer's shower experiment. Explain your reasoning.

Open Ended

Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, control variable, and conclusion in Smithers' productivity experiment. Explain your reasoning.