CK-12 1.6 Scientific Experiments

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is most likely to increase the speed of a skateboarder going down a ramp?

• Making the ramp steeper

• Using a heavier skateboard

• Wearing a helmet

• Skateboarding at night

Open Ended

Besides the steepness of the ramp, what other factors do you think could affect the speed of a skateboarder?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a variable in an experiment?

• A factor that is intentionally kept constant

• A factor that can take on different values

• A result measured at the end of the experiment

• A tool used to collect data

Multiple Choice

What are the two main types of variables present in every experiment?

• Independent variables and dependent variables.
• Discrete variables and continuous variables.
• Qualitative variables and quantitative variables.
• Control variables and random variables.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are variables that might affect the speed of an object in a ramp experiment?

• Ramp steepness

• Surface smoothness

• Object type (rolling vs. sliding)

• Color of the ramp

Multiple Choice

Controlled variables must be kept constant to ___ effects.

• isolate
• examine

• cancel out

• incorporate

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best way to control object variables such as smoothness, shape, and mass in an experiment?

• Use two identical blocks

• Change the ramp angle

• Use different materials for each block

• Measure the time with a stopwatch

Open Ended

Why is it important to keep controlled variables constant in an experiment?

Multiple Select

Which of the following would not be a variable that affects the speed of a skateboarder on a ramp?

• The steepness of the ramp

• The color of the skateboard

• The type of shoes the skateboarder wears

• The time of day

Open Ended

Reflecting on today's lesson about scientific experiments, what is one new thing you learned about variables or controls that you found interesting or surprising?