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Experimental Design and Variables Review

Total questions: 65

Worksheet time: 1hrs 1mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) in this experiment?


"Does eating breakfast improve test scores?"

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

2.

You are testing how the amount you water a plant affects its growth. What would be the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE in this experiment.

a)

They type of pot you put the plants in.

b)

The amount you water each plant.

c)

The amount of sunlight the plants get.

d)

The amount the plant grows.

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, the independent variable is ...
a)
The type of plant
b)
The amount of sunlight
c)
The type of music
d)
The type of liquid
4.

Mr. Pransky wants to see how different surfaces affect how high a tennis ball can bounce. What is the independent variable?

a)

the different surfaces

b)

using the same ball

c)

how high they bounce

5.

A student wants to test the hypothesis of "If salt is added to water then the boiling point of water will decrease (go down)." What is the independent variable?

a)

Whether salt is added or not

b)

Boiling Point

c)

Amount of water

6.

If you were testing the time it took for objects of different sizes to reach the ground after being dropped from 30 feet in the air, which of these would be the DEPENDENT VARIABLE?

a)

The time it takes for each object to hit the ground.

b)

The size of each object.

c)

The type of object you use.

d)

The height you drop the object from

7.

Sadie is testing how the age of a seed affects how fast plants grow. Look at the picture to see if you can figure out what makes her experiment unfair. Mark all that apply.

a)

She used different types of seeds/plants.

b)

The plants are in different pots.

c)

She did not plant very many plants.

d)

Seed age might not make a difference.

8.

Steve wanted to see if the type of fertilizer made sunflowers grow larger. What is the independent variable? 

a)
Type of fertilizer
b)
Size of sunflower
c)
type of sun flower
9.
Molly investigated if the age of students caused them to be better drivers. What is the dependent variable?
a)
Type of car
b)
Skill of driving
c)
Age of student
10.
Mrs. Cote wanted to know if the iPhone could stand up against being dropped from different heights. She dropped them from 3 heights and saw if they broke. What is the dependent variable?
a)
Drop height
b)
If they had a case on them or not
c)
If they broke
11.
You can have more than one independent variable in a controlled experiment.
a)
True
b)
False
12.

A student performed an experiment that tested how many days it takes different types of grass seed to grow to a height of two inches. Four types of grass seed were tested, and the student recorded the number of days for each type to grow. Use this information to answer the next question.

What are the controlled variables in this experiment?

a)

amount of sunlight, amount of water, and type of soil

b)

amount of sunlight

c)

amount of water and type of soil

d)

amount of water

13.

A scientist is testing which flavor of ice cream melts the fastest. What would his controlled variables be? (choose ALL that apply)

a)

The flavor of ice cream

b)

the kind of cone the ice creams are in

c)

the place in the room where the ice cream is

d)

the size of the scoop

e)

the time it takes to melt

14.

These are the variables that should stay the same. They do not get any changes in order to make for a fair test.

a)

Dependent Variables

b)

Controlled variables

c)

Independent Variables

15.

A student wants to test the hypothesis of "If salt is added to water then the boiling point of water will decrease (go down)." What is the independent variable?

a)

Whether salt is added or not

b)

Boiling Point

c)

Amount of water

16.

In any experiment, the independent variable ______________.

a)

remains the same to not mess up the experiment

b)

is purposely changed to test the hypothesis

c)

is known by the scientist before doing the experiment

17.

The variables in an experiment that stay the same are the ?

a)

Independent Variables

b)

Dependent Variables

c)

Controlled Variables

d)

We don't keep variables the same

18.
How many variables can be tested in a controlled experiment?
a)
one
b)
two
c)
three
d)
as many as possible
19.
Why do we want to test one variable at a time?
a)
Because it is hard to setup a data table with more
b)
To know what is causing the changes
c)
It is what has always been done
d)
No one really knows
20.
This variable in an experiment is the one being deliberately changed by the scientist. 
a)
dependent variable
b)
independent variable
c)
data
d)
control group
21.
Squidward found new reeds to tryout for his clarinet.  He used an APPLAUSOMETER to measure applause after playing  Under the Sea with each reed.  The results were put in the table.
What was the independent variable?
a)
The Song
b)
The Reed
c)
The Applause
22.
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
23.

The two Groups in a controlled experiment are?

a)

Control Group

b)

Experimental Group (Test)

c)

Independent Variable

d)

Dependent Variable

24.

A custodian notices some dirty tables and wants to know which cleaner is the best to use. He tests three different cleaners and looks at how well they clean compared to tap water. What is the control group?

a)

type of cleaner

b)

tap water

c)

Surface cleaned

25.

Steve wanted to see if different types of fertilizer influence sunflower growth. What is the control group?

a)

type of fertilizer

b)

sunflower grown without fertilizer

26.
What is a factor that is measured for change in an experiment?
a)
control
b)
constant
c)
independent variable
d)
dependent variable
27.

What part of an experiment contains the data tables and graphs?

a)

Analysis

b)

Conclusion

c)

Hypothesis

d)

Materials

28.
What is the factor that an experimenter changes on purpose?
a)
Dependent Variable
b)
Independent Variable
c)
Constant
d)
Control
29.

A summary of the experiment that includes whether hypothesis was supported or not.

a)

Hypothesis

b)

Results

c)

Conclusion

d)

Independent Variable

30.
The part of the experiment that does not contain the independent variable. Used for comparison.
a)
Control Group
b)
Experimental Group
c)
Results
d)
Data
31.
What are all the things that are kept the same in an experiment?
a)
controls
b)
data
c)
constants
d)
independent variables
32.

What is the affect of salt water on the the height of blades of grass?

The above question is an example of:

a)

Hypothesis

b)

Conclusion

c)

Procedures

d)

Testable Question

33.

What is the affect of salt water on the the height of blades of grass?

What is the independent variable in the above question?

a)

salt water

b)

height

c)

average

d)

affect

34.
What is an if....then statement that predicts the outcome of an experiment or how the Independent variable effects the dependent variable?
a)
Conclusion
b)
Materials
c)
Hypothesis
d)
Problem
35.

What are the number of times each level of the independent variable is tested?

a)

constants

b)

control

c)

trials

d)

dependent variable

36.
Students used various temperatures of water to see which one dissolved candy faster. 
What was the Independent Variable?
a)
Amount of Candy
b)
Amount of Water
c)
Temperature of Water
d)
Time for Candy to Dissolve
37.

Students wanted to see if the type of material affected the temperature after being placed under a heat lamp for 10 minutes.

What is the dependent variable for this investigation?

a)

Type of material (rocks, sand etc)

b)

Temperature after 10 minutes

c)

Time under the lamp

d)

Heat lamp, amount of material

38.
If plants receive more water, the number of leaves will increase. 
This is an example of 
a)
Testable Question
b)
Hypothesis
c)
Variables
d)
None of the above
39.
Does the size of deer effect the size of its heart?
What is the IV?
a)
Size of Deer
b)
Gender of Deer
c)
Size of its heart
d)
Age of deer, gender, and height
40.
To test the effects of roller coaster height on speed, what factors should you keep constant if my only tool is a stopwatch? 
a)
Number of people on it 
b)
Time of day
c)
Air temperature
d)
Time on the ride
41.
You will want your experiment to have ____ independent variable(s) in it for the experiment to be valid.
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
42.
A scientist hypothesizes the the temperature at which an alligator's egg is incubated will determine whether the alligator will be male or female. The independent variable is
a)
the male alligators
b)
the incubator
c)
the gender of the alligator
d)
the temperature
43.
A scientist hypothesizes the the temperature at which an alligator's egg is incubated will determine whether the alligator will be male or female. The dependent variable is
a)
the size of the baby alligators
b)
the gender of the baby alligators
c)
the incubator
d)
the temperature
44.
In this graph, what is the independent variable? 
a)
Population
b)
Day
c)
Species 5
45.
In this graph, what is the dependent variable? 
a)
Walla Walla Island
b)
Time
c)
Number of Deer
46.
The parts of the experiment that must be kept the same.
a)
Constants
b)

Independent variable

c)

Dependent variable

d)

Conclusion

47.

Maya designed an experiment to answer the following question:

How does the amount of water given to a lima

bean seed affect how tall it grows?

In this experiment, what variable should Maya CHANGE?

a)

the amount of water

b)

the kind of plant

c)

the type of soil

d)

the amount of sunlight it gets

48.

Esther became interested in insulation while her parent’s new house was being built. She decided to determine which insulation transferred the least heat. She filled each of 5 jars half-full with water.

She sealed each jar with a plastic lid.Then she wrapped each jar with a different kind of insulation. She put the jars outside in the direct sunlight. Later, she measured the temperature of the water in each jar. What is the independent variable?

a)

The type of insulation

b)

The temperature of the water

c)

Number of houses

d)

The amount of sunlight

49.

Why is the placebo effect used?

a)

To compare results between the real medicine and placebo

b)

To make new medicine

c)

To train doctors

d)

To make food

50.
How many variables should you change in an experiment?
a)
none
b)

only 1

c)
2 or more
d)
depends on the type of experiment
51.

The type of variable that responds to the experiment and is what you measure or count to determine if your hypothesis is true.

a)
Independent
b)
Dependent
c)
Control
52.

Thomas tests different types of liquids to see which will grow his plants the most. He has water, soda, milk, and no liquid at all. What is the control group?

a)

the one with water

b)

the one with soda

c)

the one with milk

d)

the one with no liquid

53.
Three baseball players investigate to see who can throw a baseball the farthest. They mark off an area on the playground for their investigation. Which should they keep constant?
a)
height of the players
b)
color of the balls thrown
c)
order in which the players throw
d)
spot from which the players throw
54.
Dory 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
d)
ball type
55.

Cindy wanted to find out how the amount of sunlight affects the growth of plants. She placed a tomato plant in 6 identical 10 inch pots with the same amount and type potting soil. She watered them ¼ cup each day. 3 plants were placed under a cardboard box and 3 plants were placed in the sunlight. She measured the growth of the plant each week for three weeks.

What is the dependent variable?

a)

Using the same type of plant

b)

Each plant was placed in a 10 inch pot

c)

The growth of the plant

d)

3 plants in the sunlight and 3 plants under a box

56.
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
57.
What is the factor that an experimenter changes on purpose?
a)
Dependent Variable
b)
Independent Variable
c)
Constant
d)
Control
58.

A scientist hypothesizes that the temperature at which an alligator's egg is incubated will determine whether the alligator will be male or female. The independent variable is

a)
the male alligators
b)
the incubator
c)
the gender of the alligator
d)
the temperature
59.
In this graph, what is the independent variable? 
a)
Population
b)
Day
c)
Species 5
60.
In this graph, what is the dependent variable? 
a)
Walla Walla Island
b)
Time
c)
Number of Deer
61.

Erin is testing to see how different amounts of nitrogen infused in the soil will impact the height of her corn plants. She puts two corn plants into two pots. One is filled with nitrogen infused soil and the other is not. She puts the regular soil pot outside and the nitrogen infused plant in her bathroom. The corn in the regular soil grows to 7 feet tall and the corn in the nitrogen soil grows to 2 feet tall.

What is the dependent variable?

a)

The regular soil

b)

The nitrogen infused soil

c)

The height of the plants

d)

The plant in the bathroom

62.

Using the picture, identify the control group.

a)

Trial 1

b)

Trial 2

c)

Trial 3

63.

What makes a good scientific question?

a)

The question can be answered by yes or no.

b)

The question can be answered by doing an experiment.

c)

The question can be answered through extended thought.

64.

Cindy wanted to find out how the amount of sunlight affects the growth of plants. She placed a tomato plant in 6 identical 10 inch pots with the same amount and type potting soil. She watered them ¼ cup each day. 3 plants were placed under a cardboard box and 3 plants were placed in the sunlight. She measured the growth of the plant each week for three weeks.

What is the independent variable?

a)

Using the same type of plant

b)

Each plant was placed in a 10 inch pot

c)

The growth of the plant

d)

3 plants in the sunlight and 3 plants under a box

65.
What step does every scientific experiment begin with?
a)
hypothesis
b)
question/problem
c)

procedure or test

d)
conclusion