Independent & Dependent Variables

An experiment is being done to determine how light affects the growth of small zinnia plants. One plant is placed in full sunlight, the second in a shaded area, the third in an unlit closet. What is the independent variable in the experiment?

• the amount of light
• the type of plants
• the type of soil
• the length of the experiment

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

What observations might you make about a nearby cat?

• The cat is black and white.
• The cat is hungry.
• The cat is lost.

What can you infer about the cat you observed eating?

• The cat is black and white.
• The cat is fat.
• The cat is hungry.
• The cat is eating.

This variable in an experiment is the one being deliberately changed by the scientist. 

• dependent variable
• independent variable
• data
• control group

Tags

CCSS.6.EE.A.2C

Mr. S. sets up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp.  Identify the independent variable.

• distance traveled by the ball
• height of the ramp
• mass of the ball
• weight of the ball

Tags

CCSS.8.F.B.4

CCSS.HSF.LE.A.2

Research Question: Does the type of gasoline put in a car effect how fast the car can drive. What is the independent variable?

• Type of gasoline
• which car the gas is put into
• how fast the car can drive
• how much gas is put into the car

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, the independent variable is ...

• The type of plant
• The amount of sunlight
• The type of music
• The type of liquid

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

The independent variable is the ONE thing you _____.

• change
• keep the same
• experiment with
• investigate

Tags

CCSS.6.EE.C.9

Alexandra is testing the quality of her Nikon camera against the camera on her iPhone.  The different cameras is the __ variable.

• constant (same)
• dependent (measured)
• independent (changes)

Tags

CCSS.HSS.IC.B.3