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Scientific Method & Identifying Variables

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 56mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Which variable is the one you use to compare all your data to? (Tells you that your data is correct)
a)
Independent
b)
Dependent
c)
Constant
d)
Control
2.

How many variables should be tested in a controlled experiment?

a)

one

b)

two

c)

three

d)

as many as possible

3.

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 independent variable?

a)

Type of plant

b)

Water, apple juice, milk

c)

Plant growth

d)

Soil types

4.

Mr. S normally uses praise as a reward to train his dog. He wants to know the best way to train his dog, so he sets up an experiment to find out if there is a better way to get his dog to respond to commands.


What is his independent variable?

a)

Type of reward

b)

Praise

c)

Walking

d)

Amount of time the dog follows commands

5.
An experiment for a new asthma medication was set up into two groups. Group one was given the new drug for asthma, while group 2 was given a sugar pill. The sugar pill serves as a 
a)
control
b)
dependent variable 
c)
experimental variable
d)
constant
6.

Mr. Z. sets up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp.


Identify the constant.

a)

distance traveled by the ball

b)

height of the ramp

c)

mass of the ball

d)

weight of the ball

7.

This group in an experiment that is not tested on.

a)

Independent variable

b)

Dependent variable

c)

Control group

d)

constant

8.

Tiffany was investigating how fast it took Hayden to react to different sounds. Identify the dependent variable.

a)

different sounds

b)

how much time it took Hayden to react

c)

Hayden

d)

the trumpet playing over and over

9.
When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the same type of) plants, two different fertilizers, equal light, and equal water. What type of variable is the fertilizer?
a)
Dependent
b)
Independent
c)
Control
10.
This part of the experiment serves as a basis of comparison; the one variable being tested has been omitted. 
a)
experimental group
b)
control group
c)
data
d)
variables
11.

What is the dependent variable? Plant growth may be affected by the color of the light.

a)

plant growth

b)

water amount

c)

fertilizer

d)

color of light

12.

What is the independent variable? Does T.V. time affect the reading scores of 4th graders?

a)

T.V time

b)

reading scores

c)

grade of student

d)

time outside

13.
What would be a control for the following? The height of a bean plant depends on the amount of water received.
a)
amount of sunlight
b)
location
c)
type of soil
d)
all of the choices
14.

True or False

The format for a hypothesis is If ..... then.....

a)

True

b)

False

15.

What is the dependent variable? Lemon trees receiving the most water produced the most lemons.

a)

amount of water

b)

type of soil

c)

number of lemons

d)

location

16.

Independent Variable is Air Pollution


Dependent Variable is health of birds


A possible hypothesis would be ______.

a)

If the health of birds then the air pollution

b)

If Air Pollution is increased then the health of birds will decrease

c)

Does pollution help birds?

d)

If birds health gets better then air pollution got worse

17.

It is thought that chocolate causes acne. A possible hypothesis for chocolate and pimples would be _______.

a)

Does the amount of chocolate affect the number of pimples?

b)

If more chocolate is eaten then there will be more pimples.

c)

If you have more pimples then you will eat chocolate.

d)

number of pimples

18.
A testable question for time studying and grade on assessment would be ____. 
a)
Does the amount of time spent studying affect the grade on the assessment?
b)
Does the grade on the assessment affect the time spent studying?
c)
The location you study
d)
The grade on the assessment
19.

Does the amount of time spent studying affect the grade on the assessment?


The independent variable for time studying and grade on assessment would be ____.

a)

time studying

b)

If the time spent studying increases then the grade on the assessment will increase.

c)

The location you study

d)

The grade on the assessment

20.

Does the amount of time spent studying affect the grade on the assessment?


The dependent variable for time studying and grade on assessment would be ____.

a)

time studying

b)

If the time spent studying increases then the grade on the assessment will increase.

c)

The location you study

d)

The grade on the assessment

21.

Does the amount of time spent studying affect the grade on the assessment?


A control for time studying and grade on assessment would be ____.

a)

time studying

b)

If the time spent studying increases then the grade on the assessment will increase.

c)

The location you study

d)

The grade on the assessment

22.
Identify the dependent variable:
The height of bean plants depends on the amount of water they receive. 
a)
The bean seed
b)
The amount of water provided daily
c)
The amount of sunlight they're exposed to daily
d)
How tall they grow by the end of the experiment 
23.
Identify the independent variable:
The height of bean plants depends on the amount of water they receive. 
a)
The bean seed
b)
The amount of water provided daily
c)
The amount of sunlight they're exposed to daily
d)
How tall they grow by the end of the experiment
24.
Identify one controlled variable:
The height of bean plants depends on the amount of water they receive. 
a)
The bean seed
b)
The amount of water provided daily
c)
Who is conducting the experiment
d)
How tall they grow by the end of the experiment
25.
What is the INDEPENDENT  variable (cause) is this experiment? 
"Which type of medium is best for plant growth?" 
a)
height of plant (cm)
b)
type of medium (soil vs. sand)
c)
amount of medium
d)
types of plant
26.
What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) is this experiment?
"Does eating breakfast improve test score?" 
a)
eating breakfast or not
b)
the grade you got on the test
c)
what time you get up in the morning
d)
how tasty the breakfast is
27.
What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) in this experiment?
"Do tall people jump further than short people?"
a)
height of the person
b)
weight of the person
c)
how fast the person runs
d)
how far the person jumps
28.
What is the INDEPENDENT variable (cause)in this experiment?
"Which type of metal, copper or aluminum, conducts heat faster?" 
a)
size of metal
b)
types of metal
c)
time it takes to heat up
d)
shape of the metal
29.
Which variable is NOT a constant in this experiment?
"Is Bounty paper towel more absorbent than sparkle paper towel?
a)
the size of paper towel
b)
the amount of water for the paper towel to absorb
c)
amount of water the paper towel absorbed
d)
the shape of paper towel
30.

A test company wants to see whether having a special study program such as SAT prep will help increase test score. What is the "experimental group" in this experiment?

a)

the usual study program

b)

special study program

31.

What is another name for an "educated guess?"

a)

Question

b)

Hypothesis

c)

Experiment

d)

Conclusion

32.

What is the last step of the scientific method?

a)

Question

b)

Conclusion

c)

Experiment

d)

Results

33.

What is the step in the scientific method where you gather information about the problem?

a)

conclusion

b)

problem

c)

research

d)

hypothesis

34.

What is the step in the scientific method where you write a question to state what you are trying to figure out?

a)

conclusion

b)

problem

c)

research

d)

hypothesis

35.

What part of the scientific method is where you list the step by step instructions needed to complete your experiment?

a)

conclusion

b)

hypothesis

c)

materials

d)

procedures

36.

Which step of the scientific method is prediction of the experiment outcome based on sound reasoning?

a)

conclusion

b)

hypothesis

c)

materials

d)

procedures

37.

This step is written as a "if...then...because" statement

a)

hypothesis

b)

conclusion

c)

results

d)

procedure

38.

The information gathered from an experiment

a)

procedures

b)

hypothesis

c)

data

d)

problem

39.
A testable explanation to a problem that has not yet been tested. 
a)
data
b)
theory
c)
hypothesis
d)
fact
40.

Testing a hypothesis involves a(n):

a)

answer

b)

experiment

c)

problem

d)

safety check

41.
A series of steps used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question. 
a)
scientific method
b)
recipe
c)
data collection
d)
metric system
42.
The summary at the end of an experiment that explains the results. 
a)
conclusion
b)
procedures
c)
materials
d)
responding variable
43.
The name of the information that you get from your experiment (you organize it into charts and graphs).
a)
observations
conclusion
b)
data
c)
variables
d)
hypothesis
44.
There are two types of data. Which type of data involves descriptions/photographs/illustrations that cannot be counted or measured?
a)
qualitative
b)
quantitative
45.
Measuring the number of times a person breathes after exercise involves ____ data. 
a)
quantitative
b)
qualitative
46.

What are the correct steps in the scientific method?

a)

Research, conclusion, hypothesis, experiment, analyze, collect data

b)

Observe, research, hypothesis, experiment, collect data, analyze, conclusion

c)

Observe, research, experiment, analyze data, conclusion

d)

Hypothesis, experiment, observe, collect data, conclusion