Experimental Design

An educated guess that has not been tested. 

• law
• theory
• hypothesis
• fact

How many variables should you change in an experiment?

• none
• 1
• 2 or more
• depends on the type of experiment

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The variable in an experiment deliberately changed by the scientist. The variable being tested.

• dependent variable
• independent variable
• data
• control group

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

If you were testing how well different dish soaps cleaned grease, the independent variable would be the:

• dish type
• amount of grease
• dish soap type
• grease type

The variable that depends on changes to the independent variable. 

• control group
• dependent variable
• experimental variable
• independent variable

A factor in an experiment that stays the same.

• control group
• constant
• dependent variable
• experimental group

Three baseball players investigate to see who can throw a baseball the farthest. They mark off an area on the playground for their investigation. Which should they keep constant?

• height of the players
• color of the balls thrown
• order in which the players throw
• spot from which the players throw

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Maya designed an experiment to answer the following question: How does the amount of water given to a lima

bean seed affect how tall it grows?

In this experiment, what variable should Maya CHANGE?

• the amount of water

• the kind of plant

• the type of soil

• the amount of sunlight it gets

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Three baseball players investigate to see who can throw a baseball the farthest. They mark off an area on the playground for their investigation. Which should they keep constant?

• height of the players
• color of the balls thrown
• order in which the players throw
• spot from which the players throw

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Cindy wanted to find out how the amount of sunlight affects the growth of plants. She placed a tomato plant in 6 identical 10-inch pots with the same amount and type of potting soil. She watered them ¼ cup each day. 3 plants were placed under a cardboard box and 3 plants were placed in the sunlight. She measured the growth of the plant each week for three weeks.

What is the dependent variable?

• Using the same type of plant

• Each plant was placed in a 10 inch pot

• The growth of the plant

• 3 plants in the sunlight and 3 plants under a box

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1