NATURE OF SCIENCE: Understanding variables 2

A student experiments with a pendulum. She wants to use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the pendulum to complete a full swing. She repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the mass to see if it changes the swing time.

The independent or changed variable in her activity is

• using a stopwatch

• changing the string length

• changing the mass of the pendulum

• the time for one complete swing

A student experiments with a pendulum. She wants to use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the pendulum to complete a full swing. She repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the mass to see if it changes the swing time.

The dependent or measured variable in her activity is

• using a stopwatch

• changing the string length

• changing the mass of the pendulum

• the time for one complete swing

A student experiments with a pendulum. She wants to use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the pendulum to complete a full swing. She repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the mass to see if it changes the swing time.

A variable she must keep the same (or control) in her activity is

• using the same stopwatch

• the number of times she repeats

• the length of the pendulum

• all of these things

A student experiments with a pendulum. She wants to use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the pendulum to complete a full swing. She repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the mass to see if it changes the swing time.

The aim of her activity is

• Using a stopwatch to time a pendulum swing

• How does a pendulum work?

• Does the mass of a pendulum effect the time it takes to swing?

• Does the length of a pendulum effect the time it takes to swing?

A student experiments with pea seeds. He wants to use a 30cm ruler to measure the height of the pea plants as they grow. He repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the volume of water he will pour on the seeds every 2 days.

A variable she must keep the same (or control) in her activity is

• measuring the heights of the seed

• the number of times he repeats

• using a ruler to measure the height of the growing plants

• watering the plants every two days

A student experiments with pea seeds. He wants to use a 30cm ruler to measure the height of the pea plants as they grow. He repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the volume of water he will pour on the seeds every two days.

The independent or change variable in her activity is

• the time it takes for a pea seed to grow

• the number of times he repeats

• the speed a pea seed grows

• the volume of water given to the pea plants

A student experiments with pea seeds. He wants to use a 30cm ruler to measure the height of the pea plants as they grow. He repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the volume of water he will pour on the seeds every two days.

The dependent or measured variable in her activity is

• the time it takes for a pea seed to grow

• the number of times he repeats

• the height of the pea plants

• the volume of water given to the pea plants

A student experiments with pea seeds. He wants to use a 30cm ruler to measure the height of the pea plants as they grow. He repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the volume of water he will pour on the seeds every two days.

The aim of her activity is

• to see how quickly pea seeds grow if they are given different amounts of water

• the number of times he repeats

• the height of the pea plants

• the volume of water given to the pea plants

A student experiments with different soil types to see which is best for growing pea plants. She uses a 30cm ruler to measure the height of the plants every week. She repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the type of soil for each plant.

The independent or change variable in her activity is

• the type of soil used

• the height of the plants

• the number of times she repeats

• the time it takes for the plants to grow

A student experiments with different light conditions to see how they affect the growth of pea plants. She uses a 30cm ruler to measure the height of the plants every week. She repeats each measurement three times. She also decides to change the light conditions for each plant.

The dependent or measured variable in her activity is

• the type of light used

• the height of the plants

• the number of times she repeats

• the time it takes for the plants to grow