Free Printable Variables and Scientific Method

1.

In Felix County, the population of slugs has tripled. Laura, who lives in the area, heard that salt may work to exterminate them. To test this, she will use different amounts of kosher salt on the species of slug Slime slimosis. All the slugs will be 10 days old and will weigh 10 grams. To make sure the slugs will die from their exposure to salt and not because of other variables she also decides to observe 5 slugs that will not be exposed to the salt. What is the independent variable?

a)

Amount of slugs

b)

The species Slime slimosis

c)

Amount of food

d)

Amount of salt

2.

In Felix County, the population of slugs has tripled. Laura, who lives in the area, heard that salt may work to exterminate them. To test this, she will use different amounts of kosher salt on the species of slug Slime slimosis. All the slugs will be 10 days old and will weigh 10 grams. To make sure the slugs will die from their exposure to salt and not because of other variables she also decides to observe 5 slugs that will not be exposed to the salt. What is the dependent variable?

a)

Weight of the slugs

b)

Survival or death of the Slug

c)

The Environment

d)

Amount of Salt

3.

Omar studied how far room temperature water would spurt out of a plastic milk carton when 3mm holes were punched at different heights from the bottom of the container. Identify the independent/test variable.

a)

3mm holes

b)

distance water traveled out of the carton

c)

different heights of holes in container

d)

ice water from Iceland

4.

Mrs. Mello wanted to see how different types of music affected students’ pulse rates. She played different types of music: rock, rap, R&B, alternative, pop, country, and classical music. What constant should be considered when doing this experiment?

a)

types of music

b)

amount of time the music was played

c)

using a different student for each type of music

d)

use all dead people

5.

Tatiana was investigating how much time it took Hayden to react to different sounds. Identify the independent/test variable.

a)

how fast Hayden reacted

b)

how much time it took Hayden to react

c)

playing the trumpet over and over

d)

different sounds

6.

Tracy wanted to see how high an ice cube would float in different temperatures of water. Identify the independent/test variable

a)

height of ice cube

b)

temperature the ice cube was at its highest height

c)

size of ice cube

d)

temperature of water

7.

Nick wanted to see how high an ice cube would float in different temperatures of water. Identify the dependent/outcome variable.

a)

height of ice cube when floating

b)

amount of water

c)

temperature of water

d)

size of ice cube

8.

Which of the following is a synonym (words that have the same meaning) of the dependent/outcome variable?

a)

responding

b)

cause

c)

manipulating

d)

investigating

9.

Which of the following is a synonym (words that have the same meaning) of the independent variable?

a)

test

b)

outcome

c)

responding

d)

concluding

10.

How many independent variables should a scientist have in a controlled experiment?

a)

one

b)

three

c)

depends on the experiment

d)

depends on the scientist

11.

What is a hypothesis?

a)

Educated guess

b)

Random guess

c)

Testable explanation

d)

A variable

12.

Which of these statements is a hypothesis?

a)

Slugs are brown

b)

Three different slugs.

c)

The slugs weighed 4 pounds each

d)

If I add salt to slugs then they will die because it would dry them up

13.

Suzie wants to know the effect of different colors of light on the growth of plants. She believes that plants can survive best in white light. She buys 5 ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. She places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light and one in the closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle-Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, Suzie observes the plants and makes measurements. What is the independent/manipulated variable?

a)

Amount of water

b)

Amount of weeks

c)

Different colors of light

d)

Plant height

14.

Suzie wants to know the effect of different colors of light on the growth of plants. She believes that plants can survive best in white light. She buys 5 ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. She places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light and one in the closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle-Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, Suzie observes the plants and makes measurements. Which of the following choices is a constant in this investigation?

a)

Amount of water

b)

Suzie

c)

Different colors of light

d)

Plant Height

15.

Suzie wants to know the effect of different colors of light on the growth of plants. She believes that plants can survive best in white light. She buys 5 ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. She places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light and one in the closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle-Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, Suzie observes the plants and makes measurements. What is the dependent/ responding variable?

a)

Amount of water

b)

Amount of weeks

c)

Different colors of light

d)

Plant height

16.

Suzie wants to know the effect of different colors of light on the growth of plants. She believes that plants can survive best in white light. She buys 5 ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. She places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light and one in the closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle-Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, Suzie observes the plants and makes measurements. Which of the following is an appropriate hypothesis for this investigation?

a)

If I add miracle grow to a fern, then it would grow taller.

b)

If I add 20ml of water to a fern on a daily basis, then it would grow taller.

c)

If a fern is exposed to white light, then it would grow taller.

d)

If a fern is exposed to 10 ml of iodine on a daily basis, then it will grow taller.

17.

Suzie wants to know the effect of different colors of light on the growth of plants. She believes that plants can survive best in white light. She buys 5 ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. She places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light and one in the closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle-Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, Suzie observes the plants and makes measurements. Based on what will be measured, what type of observation would she have to make the most throughout the investigation?

a)

Quantitative

b)

Qualitative

c)

Inference

d)

Hypothetical

18.

Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle. What is the independent variable?

a)

The puzzle

b)

The time to finish the puzzle

c)

The ages of the people

d)

The type of jigsaw puzzle

19.

Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle. What is the responding variable?

a)

The puzzle

b)

The time to finish the puzzle

c)

The ages of the people

d)

The type of jigsaw puzzle

20.

Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle. What is controlled in the experiment?

a)

The puzzle was the same

b)

The time to finish the puzzle

c)

The ages of the people

d)

The height of the people

21.

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 ...

a)

The type of plant

b)

The amount of sunlight

c)

The type of music

d)

The type of liquid

22.

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 _____.

a)

Diameter of the ball

b)

Force acting on the ball

c)

Height that the ball bounces

d)

Height from which the ball is dropped

23.

Mr. S set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. Identify the independent variable.

a)

Distance traveled by the ball

b)

Height of the ramp

c)

Mass of the ball

24.

Mr. S set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. What is the dependent variable?

a)

Distance traveled by the ball

b)

Height of the ramp

c)

Mass of the ball

25.

Mr. S set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. What is the controlled variable?

a)

Distance traveled by the ball

b)

Height of the ramp

c)

Mass of the ball

26.

Jessie is concerned about how tired his classmates seem. He created a drink that he thinks will boost their energy. He recruits 100 classmates with a history of tiredness. He has 50 of them drink his new special energy drink. The other 50 drink a beverage that looks like the special energy drink, but is just water and food coloring. Both groups were told that they were getting the special drink that would boost energy. After 2 hours, 30 classmates in the first group reported having more energy and 8 classmates in the second group reported having more energy.
What is the independent variable?

a)

Amount of energy

b)

Special energy drink

c)

The food coloring

27.

Jessie is concerned about how tired his classmates seem. He created a drink that he thinks will boost their energy. He recruits 100 classmates with a history of tiredness. He has 50 of them drink his new special energy drink. The other 50 drink a beverage that looks like the special energy drink, but is just water and food coloring. Both groups were told that they were getting the special drink that would boost energy. After 2 hours, 30 classmates in the first group reported having more energy and 8 classmates in the second group reported having more energy.
What is the dependent variable?

a)

Amount of energy

b)

100 classmates

c)

Special energy drink

28.

Find the IV: You experiment to see if a fish reacts to different amounts of heat.

a)

Movement of Fish

b)

Amount of Heat

c)

Amount of Moisture

d)

Oil on hand

29.

Find the DV: You experiment to find out if you can blow bigger bubbles when it is hot outside or when it is cold outside.

a)

bubble blowing technique

b)

Type of bubble juice

c)

Size of bubbles

d)

Temperature

30.

Find the DV: You experiment to see if the type of liquid changes how fast it can drain out of the tornado tube

a)

Amount of liquid

b)

Type of liquid

c)

Technique of swirl

d)

Speed to drain

31.

Find the IV: You experiment to see if a bouncy ball or a tennis ball bounces higher.

a)

Type of ball

b)

Same drop height

c)

Height of Bounce

d)

Same surface

32.

Find the IV: You experiment to discover if your pulse rate is affected by caffeine

a)

Pulse rate

b)

Temperature of room

c)

Amount of caffeine

d)

Amount of exercise

33.

A(n) _____________ variable depends on or is changed by another variable.

a)

dependent

b)

independent

34.

The variable that is being tested or changed

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

35.

The variable that is being measured

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

36.

the variable that is kept the same to make sure results are caused by the thing being tested

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

37.

the manipulated variable

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

38.

the responding variable

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

39.

the constant

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

40.

the variable that is changed by the scientist at the beginning of the experiment

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

41.

the variable that is observed at the end of the experiment

a)

independent variable

b)

dependent variable

c)

control variable

42.

Scientific Question: Does being tardy impact test scores?
What is the independent variable?

a)

test scores

b)

the time a student arrives to class

c)

amount of time to complete test

43.

Scientific Question: Does being tardy impact test scores?
What is the dependent variable?

a)

test scores

b)

the time a student arrives to class

c)

amount of time to complete test

44.

Scientific Question: Does being tardy impact test scores?
What is the control?

a)

test scores

b)

the time a student arrives to class

c)

amount of time to complete test

45.

Scientific Question: Does playing video games improve reaction time?
What is the controlled variable?

a)

playing video games

b)

reaction time

c)

type of video game

46.

Scientific Question: Does playing video games improve reaction time?
What is the independent variable?

a)

playing video games

b)

reaction time

c)

type of video game

47.

Any factor that can change in an experiment

a)

variable

b)

constant

c)

independent

d)

dependent

48.

Scientific Question: Does playing video games improve reaction time?
What is the dependent variable?

a)

playing video games

b)

reaction time

c)

type of video game

49.

Scientific Question: Does the type of sneaker you wear affect how fast you can run?
What is the independent variable?

a)

type of sneaker

b)

how fast you run

c)

person

50.

Scientific Question: Does the type of sneaker you wear affect how fast you can run?
What is the dependent variable?

a)

type of sneaker

b)

how fast you run

c)

person

Variables and Scientific Method

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 45mins

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