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

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3