Identifying Variables

1. What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) is this experiment?

"Does eating breakfast improve test score?"

• eating breakfast or not

• what time you get up in the morning

• the grade you got on the test

• how tasty the breakfast is

2. What is the INDEPENDENT variable (cause) is this experiment?

"Which type of medium (soil vs sand) is best for plant growth?"

• height of plant (cm)

• amount of medium

• type of medium (soil vs. sand)

• types of plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

3. What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) in this experiment?

"Do tall people jump further than short people?"

• height of the person

• how fast the person runs

• weight of the person

• how far the person jumps

4. What is the INDEPENDENT variable (cause)in this experiment?

"Which type of metal, copper or aluminum, conducts heat faster?"

• size of metal

• time it takes to heat up

• types of metal

• shape of the metal

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

5. Bonnie wants to test whether adding Bio-fertilizer 'x' will help plant grow. What is the "controlled group" in this experiment?

• plant sprayed with Bio-fertilizer 'x'

• plant without the Bio-fertilizer 'x'

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

6. Which variable is NOT a constant in this experiment?

"Is Bounty paper towel more absorbent than Sparkle paper towel?

• the size of paper towel

• amount of water the paper towel absorbed

• the amount of water for the paper towel to absorb

• the shape of paper towel

7. What is the INDEPENDENT variable (cause) in this experiment?

"Will fish school more if a predator is present?"

• whether there is a predator or not

• type of predator

• number of fish school together

• type of fish

8. Which variable is NOT a constant in this experiment?

"What type of soil do earthworms prefer?"

• type of soil

• direction of the earthworm

• amount of soil

• types of earthworm

9. Janet wants to see whether drinking coffee will improve productivity. What is the INDEPENDENT variable in this experiment (cause)?

• increase productivity

• the brand of coffee

• Having coffee or not

• the time drinking the coffee

10. The independent variable is the ONE thing that is purposely ________________ by the scientist.

• changed

• kept constant

• kept the same

• ignored