Variables in an Experiment

A student wanted to test how the weight of a paper airplane affected the distance it would fly. Paper clips were added before each test flight. As each paper clip was added, the plane was thrown and the distance it traveled was measured.

What is the independent variable (what is the student changing)?

• the distance the airplane traveled

• the weight of the airplane

• the type of airplane used

• the number of trials

A student wanted to test how the weight of a paper airplane affected the distance it would fly. Paper clips were added before each test flight. As each paper clip was added, the plane was thrown and the distance it traveled was measured.

What is the dependent variable (what is the student measuring)?

• the distance the airplane traveled

• the weight of the airplane

• the type of airplane used

• the number of trials

A student does an experiment to test how the amount of water affects the height of sunflowers. He plants three separate pots of sunflower seeds. Each pot gets a different amount of water every day for two weeks. After two weeks, he measures how tall each sunflower plant is.

What is the independent variable (what is the student changing)?

• the amount of water

• height of the sunflower plants

• three separate pots

• type of plant used

A student does an experiment to test how the amount of water affects the height of sunflowers. He plants three separate pots of sunflower seeds. Each pot gets a different amount of water every day for two weeks. After two weeks, he measures how tall each sunflower plant is.

What is the dependent variable (what is the student measuring)?

• the amount of water

• height of the sunflower plants

• three separate pots

• type of plant used

One tank of goldfish is fed the normal amount of food, which is once a day: a second tank of goldfish is fed twice a day: and a third tank of goldfish is fed four times a day during a six week study. The fishes' weight is recorded every day for the six week period.

What is the independent variable (what is the student changing)?

• how many times the fish are fed each day

• the weight of the fish

• the six week period

• the type of fish used

One tank of goldfish is fed the normal amount of food, which is once a day: a second tank of goldfish is fed twice a day: and a third tank of goldfish is fed four times a day during a six week study. The fishes' weight is recorded every day for the six week period.

What is the dependent variable (what is the student measuring)?

• how many times the fish are fed each day

• the weight of the fish

• the six week period

• the type of fish used

A student wanted to test how the weight of a paper airplane affected the distance it would fly. Paper clips were added before each test flight. As each paper clip was added, the plane was thrown and the distance it traveled was measured.

What is the control variable (what is the student keeping the same)?

• the distance the airplane traveled

• the weight of the airplane

• the type of airplane used

• the number of trials

A student does an experiment to test how the amount of water affects the height of sunflowers. He plants three separate pots of sunflower seeds. Each pot gets a different amount of water every day for two weeks. After two weeks, he measures how tall each sunflower plant is.

What is the control variable (what is the student keeping the same)?

• the amount of water

• height of the sunflower plants

• three different pots

• type of plant used

One tank of goldfish is fed the normal amount of food, which is once a day: a second tank of goldfish is fed twice a day: and a third tank of goldfish is fed four times a day during a six week study. The fishes' weight is recorded every day for the six week period.

What is the control variable (what is the student keeping the same)?

• how many times the fish are fed each day

• the weight of the fish

• the six week period

• the type of tank used

Which variable is what the scientist intentionally changes in an experiment?

• independent

• dependent

• control