Year 7 Science Inquiry Skills

A variable that stays the same is called....

• control

• independent variable

• dependent variable

• responding variable

In a controlled experiment, how many independent variables can be worked with at a time? 

• one
• none
• two or more
• how ever many makes sense.

When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the same type of) plants, two different fertilizers, equal light, and equal water. What type of variable is the fertilizer?

• Dependent

• Independent

• Control

• All of the above

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, what is the dependent variable?

• Type of plant
• Water, apple juice, milk
• Plant growth
• Color of the plant's leaves

Something that is changed or tested in an experiment.

• independent variable
• dependent variable
• controlled variable

Something that changes as a result of the experiment.

• independent variable
• dependent variable
• controlled variable

A student wants to test the effects of type of exercise on heart rate.  What is the independent variable?

• type of exercise
• heart rate
• amount of time exercise occurs
• gender of person that exercises

A student wants to test the effects of type of exercise on heart rate.  What is the dependent variable?

• heart rate
• type of exercise
• amount of exercise
• time of day exercise occurs

A good testable question and a good hypothesis must be..

• Approved by the National Science Committee
• Based on prior knowledge
• Written in present tense
• Testable & measurable (independent & dependent variables)

In the year 1990, tadpole populations began to ___________________ rapidly.

• decrease

• increase

• stayed the same

• first decreased, then increaed