Experimental design

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

On a graph, which axis shows the independent variable?

• x-axis

• y-axis

• neither

• it changes

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

• Compound

Esther became interested in insulation while her parent’s new house was being built. She decided to determine which insulation transferred the least heat. She filled each of 5 jars half-full with water.

She sealed each jar with a plastic lid.Then she wrapped each jar with a different kind of insulation. She put the jars outside in the direct sunlight. Later, she measured the temperature of the water in each jar. What is the independent variable?

• The type of insulation

• The temperature of the water

• Number of houses

• The amount of sunlight

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

What hint did we learn to remember which variable goes where?

What is the independent variable on this graph?

• distance in miles

• cab fare in dollars

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

On a graph, which axis shows the dependent variable?

• x-axis

• y-axis

• neither

• it changes

How many independent variables can be tested in a controlled experiment?

• one

• two

• three

• as many as possible

Esther became interested in insulation while her parent’s new house was being built. She decided to determine which insulation transferred the least heat. She filled each of 5 jars half-full with water.

She sealed each jar with a plastic lid. Then she wrapped each jar with a different kind of insulation. She put the jars outside in the direct sunlight. Later, she measured the temperature of the water in each jar. What is the dependent variable?

• The type of insulation

• The temperature of the water

• Number of houses

• The amount of sunlight

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Esther became interested in insulation while her parent’s new house was being built. She decided to determine which insulation transferred the least heat. She filled each of 5 jars half-full with water.

She sealed each jar with a plastic lid. Then she wrapped each jar with a different kind of insulation. She put the jars outside in the direct sunlight. Later, she measured the temperature of the water in each jar. Which of the following is an example of a control in this experiment?

• The type of insulation

• The temperature of the water

• Number of houses

• The amount of sunlight

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4