Variables

Emily wants to test if plants grow better with fertilizer. What is the independent variable in her experiment?

• The amount of fertilizer each plant receives
• The amount of sunlight each plant gets
• The type of soil she uses
• The size of the pots

Answer explanation

Emily is changing the fertilizer and measuring the growth. Changed on purpose = independent variable

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Emily wants to test if plants grow better with fertilizer. What would be the dependent variable?

• The height of the plants
• The type of soil
• The type of fertilizer
• The amount of water the plants receive

Answer explanation

Emily is changing the fertilizer and measuring the growth. Measured = dependent variable. The growth DEPENDS on the fertilizer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Emily wants to test if plants grow better with fertilizer. She makes sure all the plants in her experiment get the same amount of water and sunlight. What are these factors called?

• Controlled variables
• Independent variables
• Dependent variables
• Extra variables

Answer explanation

Emily is changing the fertilizer and measuring the growth. Everything else needs to be kept the same, or CONTROLLED, for the experiment to be FAIR.

Emily wants to test if plants grow better with fertilizer. Which of the following is an example of a controlled variable?

• The type of soil used for all the plants
• The amount of fertilizer given to each plant
• The height of the plants
• The number of plants used in the experiment

Answer explanation

Emily is changing the fertilizer and measuring the growth. Everything else needs to be kept the same, or CONTROLLED, for the experiment to be FAIR.

In an experiment to see if chewing gum helps students concentrate better during a test, what is the independent variable?

• Whether or not students chew gum
• The students' test scores
• The type of test
• The length of the test

Answer explanation

We are changing if students are chewing gum or not. Changed on purpose = independent variable

In an experiment to see if chewing gum helps students concentrate better during a test, what would be the dependent variable?

• The students' test scores
• Whether or not students chew gum
• The type of test
• The time of day the test is taken

Answer explanation

We are measuring the test scores. Measured = dependent variable. The scores DEPEND on chewing gum.

In an experiment to see if chewing gum helps students concentrate better during a test, the same test is given to all students and the test is timed, what are these examples of?

• Controlled variables
• Independent variables
• Dependent variables
• Experimental variables

Answer explanation

We are testing to see if chewing gum effects test scores. Everything else needs to be kept the same, or CONTROLLED, for the experiment to be FAIR.

In an experiment to find out if different amounts of sleep affect how well students perform in gym class, what is the independent variable?

• The amount of sleep students get
• The number of gym classes attended
• The performance in gym class
• The time of day the gym class is held

Answer explanation

We are changing the amount of sleep and measuring performance in gym. Changed on purpose = independent variable

In an experiment to find out if different amounts of sleep affect how well students perform in gym class, what would be the dependent variable?

• The performance in gym class
• The amount of sleep students get
• The number of students
• The number of gym classes held

In an experiment to find out if different amounts of sleep affect how well students perform in gym class, which of the following would be a controlled variable?

• The time of day gym class is held
• The amount of sleep students get
• The number of gym classes attended
• The performance of the students