Experimental Variables

What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) is this experiment?
"Does eating breakfast improve test score?" 

• eating breakfast or not
• the grade you got on the test
• what time you get up in the morning
• how tasty the breakfast is

What is the INDEPENDENT  variable (cause) is this experiment? 
"Which type of medium is best for plant growth?" 

• height of plant (cm)
• type of medium (soil vs. sand)
• amount of medium
• types of plant

What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) in this experiment?
"Do tall people jump further than short people?"

• height of the person
• weight of the person
• how fast the person runs
• how far the person jumps

What is the INDEPENDENT variable (cause)in this experiment?
"Which type of metal, copper or aluminum, conducts heat faster?" 

• size of metal
• types of metal
• time it takes to heat up
• shape of the metal

What would the INDEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing which types of paper airplane goes furthest?

• the paper used
• the type of paper airplane
• the distance of each plane's flight
• how hard the plane is thrown

What is a hypothesis?

• A hypothesis is the right answer to an experiment.
• A hypothesis is the wrong answer to an experiment.
• A hypothesis is an educated guess.

How does watching TV during studying affect a student’s test grades? What part is the red?

• independent
• dependent

You use the scientific method all the time to solve everyday problems.

• True
• False

When making an observation, you must use...

• Only Sight
• Smell & Touch
• ALL 5 Senses
• Only Taste

This step of the scientific method is an educated guess or a prediction. 

• Hypothesis
• Research
• Observation
• Conclusion