Independent and dependent variables

A researcher wants to see how the number of hours of sleep a person gets affects that person's memory. What is the independent variable of this study?

• Correct answers on a memory test

• Hours of sleep

• The researcher

A scientist wants to see how the number of hours of sunlight a person is exposed to affects that person's mood.

What is the dependent variable of the study?

• Hours of sunlight

• The scientist

• Mood as rated on a scale 1-5

A gardener wants to see how the amount of fertilizer she puts on different flowers affects how tall those flowers grow. What is the independent variable for this study?

• The gardener

• The amount of fertilizer

• The height of the flowers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Students devise an experiment where they test the amount of food that helps keep the class goldfish more healthy. What is the independent variable?

• The amount of food

• The health of the goldfish

• The students

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Students devise an experiment where they test the amount of food that helps keep the class goldfish more healthy. What are possible examples of constants in this study? Check ALL that apply.

• The type of food

• Tank size

• Water temperature

• The amount of food

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A watermelon farmer experimented with the effect of how much water to put on his crop during the last week before harvesting, on their sweetness. What is the dependent variable of this study?

• The sweetness of the melon

• The amount of water applied to the crop

• The watermelon farmer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

A group of students wants to find out if the type of music played in the classroom affects how quickly they finish their assignments. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• The type of music played

• The students

• The speed of finishing assignments

A scientist is testing whether the temperature of water affects how fast sugar dissolves. What is the dependent variable in this study?

• The scientist

• The time it takes for sugar to dissolve

• The temperature of the water

On a graph, which axis shows the dependent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes

On a graph, which axis shows the independent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes