Scientific Variables and Experiments

Which of the following measurements is correct for the volume of liquid in the measuring cylinder?

• 34 mL

• 35 mL

• 36 mL

• There is not enough information to decide.

Evan ran a series of experiments testing how high different balls bounced. Which of the following is not a good conclusion for his experiments?

• Balls bounced higher on concrete than on grass.

• Tennis balls bounced higher than squash balls.

• Balls bounce higher when dropped from greater heights.

• The experiment was lots of fun and I learnt a lot about balls.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Maddie measured how far an elastic band stretched when 50g masses (metal weights) were hung from it. Which of the following is the variable that she is changing (the independent variable)?

• How far an elastic band stretches.

• The brand of elastic band.

• The number of masses hung from the elastic band

• The thickness of the elastic band.

Joe noticed that when he washed dishes he sometimes made lots of froth and at other times made almost none. He designed an experiment where he put 1 drop of detergent in the sink and turned the tap on high until the sink was half full. He then repeated the experiment with 2 drops of detergent, then 3 then 4. Identify his dependent variable.

• the amount of bubbles

• the number of drops of detergent

• the brand of the detergent

• the temperature of the water

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, the independent variable is ...

• The type of plant

• The amount of sunlight

• The type of music

• The type of liquid

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, what is the dependent variable?

• Type of plant

• Water, apple juice, milk

• Plant growth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What is the independent variable?

• what we are changing or testing

• what we are observing or measuring

• what we keep the same to make the experiment fair

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A student is planning an experiment to find out how the height from which he drops a ball affects how high the ball bounces. The dependent variable is the _____.

• Diameter of the ball

• Force acting on the ball

• Height that the ball bounces

• Height from which the ball is dropped

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, what are the controlled variables?

• Type of plant, amount of music, and sunlight

• Water, apple juice, milk

• Plant growth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

The variable that is being tested or changed

• independent variable

• dependent variable

• control variable

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2