Experimental Design Review

What is an independent variable?

• The part of the experiment that a scientist intentionally changes

• The part of the experiment that stays the same through the entire experiment

• The part of the experiment that the scientist measures

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

What is a dependent variable?

• The part of the experiment that a scientist intentionally changes

• The part of the experiment that stays the same through the entire experiment

• The part of the experiment that the scientist measures

What is a constant?

• The part of the experiment that a scientist intentionally changes

• The part of the experiment that stays the same through the entire experiment

• The part of the experiment that the scientist measures

Why is it important to only change one variable at a time when conducting an experiment?

• It doesn't matter. Scientists just change whatever variable is most convenient

• It does not matter, you can change as many variables at a time as you want

• So the experiment costs less

• So you can tell which change is causing the observed results

A drivers education instructor wonders if the age of a student affects their driving ability. What would be the independent variable in this situation?

• Type of car

• age of student

• skill of driver

One group of plants is grown in full sunlight and one group of plants is grown in the shade. Plant heights are measured after 3 weeks and average height is graphed. What is the dependent variable?

• Amount of sunlight

• Height of Plant

• Amount of Water

• 3 weeks

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

One group of plants is grown in full sunlight and one group of plants is grown in the shade. Plant heights are measured after 3 weeks and average height is graphed. What is the independent variable?

• Amount of sunlight

• Height of Plant

• Amount of Water

• 3 weeks

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Calculate the average sprout height using the data table above.

Which of the following graphs most accurately represents data from this table?

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• 
• 
• 

A student wants to grow cucumbers from seeds and read that using a heating pad to heat up the soil makes the seeds grow faster. She planted 6 seeds and put them on a heating pad at 75F. She planted another 6 seeds and put them on a heating pad at 85F. After 1 month she measured the height of the sprouts. What is the independent variable?

• amount of sunglight

• heating pad temperature

• height of sprouts

• number of seeds 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5