Identifying Variables

I like to cook. I have several different types of pots that have handles made out of different materials – one metal, one wood, and one plastic. I notice that when I grab each one by the handle after I have used it, the handles are all different temperatures. What are the LEVELS for this experiment?

• hot, warm, cold

• the type of handle

• metal, wood, plastic

• the temp. of the handle

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

My cousins like to play with toy cars. I notice that the heavier cars tend to roll farther when they are released down a ramp. What is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE?

• distance the car rolls

• type of cars

• heavy car

• type of ramp

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

I like to cook. I have several different types of pots that have handles made out of different materials – one metal, one wood, and one plastic. I notice that when I grab each one by the handle after I have used it, the handles are all different temperatures. What is the dependent variable for this experiment?

• hot, warm, cold

• the type of handle

• metal, wood, plastic

• the temp. of the handle

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Jack always spills his drink. I am going broke buying paper towels. I want to get a paper towel that can clean up a spill with the fewest sheets. I can buy Bounty, Brawny, or Scott paper towels. I normally use Bounty but I think Brawny will work the best. What is the dependent variable?

• type of paper towel

• amount of water paper towel soaks up

• bounty, brawny, scott

• same size of paper towel, same amount of water

Kate wanted to see if the type of shoes she wears affects how high she can jump. Kate normally wears TOMS but wanted to see if running shoes or flip flops makes her jump higher. What is the independent variable?

• how high she jumps

• type of shoe

• TOMS

• TOMS, flip flops, running shoes

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A student wants to test the hypothesis of "If salt is added to water then the boiling point of water will decrease." What is the dependent variable?

• amount of salt
• boiling point
• same amount of water

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Plants grow best in colored light. What is the independent variable of this statement?

• Plant Growth

• Colored Light

• Not enough information

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Justin wants to determine the effect of fertilizer on the growth of grass. What is the independent variable?

• amount of fertilizer

• height of grass

• type of plant

• time

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Justin wants to determine the effect of fertilizer on the growth of grass. What would be one thing he would need to keep constant?

• amount of fertilizer

• height of grass

• amount of water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What is another name for the responding variable?

• manipulated variable

• independent variable

• dependent variable

• constant variable