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Identifying Variables in a Controlled Experiment

Total questions: 37

Worksheet time: 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Identify the independent variable of the following scenario: A student wanted to test the impact of pH on germination (growing) of plant seeds. The student put bean seeds and water with a "normal" pH 7 neutral solution in one petri dish. A second petri dish had seeds with water that has a pH of 3 acidic solution. The student then put both petri dishes in the dark and checked them every day for a week. The student recorded the number of seeds that germinated (started to grow) and the length of the plant as it grew.
a)
the amount of water in each petri dish
b)
the pH of the solution the seeds were placed in
c)
the amount of seeds in each petri dish
d)
the amount of light
2.
Identify the experimental group of the following scenario: A student wanted to test the impact of pH on germination (growing) of plant seeds. The student put bean seeds and water with a "normal" pH 7 neutral solution in one petri dish. A second petri dish had seeds with water that has a pH of 3 acidic solution. The student then put both petri dishes in the dark and checked them every day for a week. The student recorded the number of seeds that germinated (started to grow) and the length of the plant as it grew.
a)
The seeds in the petri dish with the "normal" pH 7 water solution
b)
The petri dish with the most seeds germinated
c)
The seeds in the petri dish with the pH 3 water solution
d)
The petri dish with the least seeds germinated
3.
Identify the control group of the following scenario: A student wanted to test the impact of pH on germination (growing) of plant seeds. The student put bean seeds and water with a "normal" pH 7 neutral solution in one petri dish. A second petri dish had seeds with water that has a pH of 3 acidic solution. The student then put both petri dishes in the dark and checked them every day for a week. The student recorded the number of seeds that germinated (started to grow) and the length of the plant as it grew.
a)
The seeds in the petri dish with the pH 14 water solution
b)
The seeds in the petri dish with the "normal" pH 7 solution
c)
The seeds that germinated the best
d)
The seeds in the petri dish with the pH 3 water solution
4.
In a controlled experiment, the researcher can have multiple independent variables.
a)
True
b)
False
5.
In a controlled experiment, the researcher can have multiple dependent variables.
a)
True
b)
False
6.
Identify the dependent variable(s) of the following scenario: A student wanted to test the impact of pH on germination (growing) of plant seeds. The student put bean seeds and water with a "normal" pH 7 neutral solution in one petri dish. A second petri dish had seeds with water that has a pH of 3 acidic solution. The student then put both petri dishes in the dark and checked them every day for a week. The student recorded the number of seeds that germinated (started to grow) and the length of the plant as it grew. Check off all that apply
a)
production of water in each petri dish
b)
number of seeds germinated
c)
production of seeds in each petri dish
d)
length of plants as they grew
e)
the amount of time in the petri dishes
7.
Identify the constants/controlled variable(s) of the following scenario: A student wanted to test the impact of pH on germination (growing) of plant seeds. The student put bean seeds and water with a "normal" pH 7 neutral solution in one petri dish. A second petri dish had seeds with water that has a pH of 3 acidic solution. The student then put both petri dishes in the dark and checked them every day for a week. The student recorded the number of seeds that germinated (started to grow) and the length of the plant as it grew. Check off all that apply
a)
Amount of seeds present
b)
Location of the petri dishes
c)
size of petri dishes
d)
Temperature of the dishes
e)
pH of solution between both petri dishes
8.

Match the description with the terms

Categorize the following

The group exposed to the independent variable

The group left alone, not exposed to the independent variable

Experimental Group
Control Group
9.

Match the description with the term

Categorize the following

The factors that are kept constant (the same) between the two groups of an experiment

The data collected in an experiment

The one thing that changes in an experiment

Constants (controlled variables)
Dependents variable
Independent Variable
10.
The independent variable is the ONE thing you _____ to test your hypothesis.
a)
change
b)
keep the same
c)
experiment with
d)
investigate
11.

The variable that is measured throughout the experiment is the ________________

Hint: It is the DATA you are collecting.

a)

Controlled Variable

b)

Responsive Variable

c)

Dependent Variable

d)

Independent Variable

12.

Catherine is testing which soil will help grass grow the tallest. The height of the grown grass is the __ variable.

a)

constant (stays the same)

b)

independent (it's what you change)

c)

dependent (it's what you measure)

d)

Control group

13.
The independent variable is the ONE thing you _____ to test your hypothesis.
a)
change
b)
keep the same
c)
experiment with
d)
investigate
14.

The variable that is measured throughout the experiment is the ________________

Hint: It is the DATA you are collecting.

a)

Controlled Variable

b)

Responsive Variable

c)

Dependent Variable

d)

Independent Variable

15.

Catherine is testing which soil will help grass grow the tallest. The height of the grown grass is the __ variable.

a)

constant (stays the same)

b)

independent (it's what you change)

c)

dependent (it's what you measure)

d)

Control group

16.
What would the INDEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing which  paper airplane design goes furthest?
a)
the paper used
b)
the paper airplane design
c)
the distance of each plane's flight
d)
how hard the plane is thrown
17.
When experimenting with plants to see if they grow better with or without fertilizer, a scientist uses six bean plants and one type of fertilizer. What type of variable is the fertilizer?
a)
Dependent
b)
Independent
c)
Control
d)
Compound
18.
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.  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
19.
Mrs. Ahlers 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)
Where the experiment took place.
20.
Jonathan set up the same 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
d)
Who set up the experiment (Jonathan etc)
21.
Daniel was investigating how fast it took mice to react to different sounds. Identify the independent variable.
a)
How fast mice reacted
b)
different sounds
c)
types of music
d)
Daniel
22.

Students took a test after they had studied either in silence or with the television turned on. What is the dependent variable?

a)

silence

b)

television turned on

c)

score on test

d)

subject

23.

Which of the following is the control variable in an experiment testing how the amount of sunlight affects plant growth?

a)

Height of the plant

b)

Amount of sunlight

c)

Number of days observed

d)

Type of plant

24.

In an experiment to determine if the temperature of water affects how fast sugar dissolves, what is the dependent variable?

a)

Type of container

b)

Amount of sugar used

c)

Temperature of the water

d)

Time taken for sugar to dissolve

25.

A scientist wants to test if the color of light affects the rate at which a plant grows. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

a)

Growth rate of the plant

b)

Amount of water given

c)

Color of light

d)

Type of plant

26.

Which of the following is the dependent variable in an experiment testing how the amount of fertilizer affects tomato plant growth?

a)

Amount of fertilizer

b)

Type of tomato plant

c)

Amount of sunlight

d)

Growth of the tomato plant

27.

In an experiment to see if the type of music affects how quickly students complete a puzzle, what is the independent variable?

a)

Number of students

b)

Type of music played

c)

Type of puzzle

d)

Time taken to complete the puzzle

28.

Which variable should be kept constant in an experiment testing how the amount of sleep affects test scores?

a)

Type of test given

b)

Test scores

c)

Amount of sleep

d)

Number of hours studied

29.

The variables you need to keep the same in a controlled experiment are called

a)

dependent variables

b)

independent variables

c)

constant variables

30.

You always need to change how many things during a controlled experiment?

a)

as many as you want

b)

two

c)

just one

d)

none

31.

Some people call the constant variables the control variables

a)

true

b)

false

32.

Mr. McKelvie wants to find out if birds are attracted to certain colored bird feeders. In his controlled experiment, one variable that he needs to keep the same ( constant variable ) is the

a)

colored bird feeders

b)

number of birds

c)

type of bird food at each feeder

33.
Mrs. Ahlers 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)
Where the experiment took place.
34.
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.  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
35.

In an experiment to test how the amount of sugar in water affects the growth of yeast, what is the independent variable?

a)

Growth of yeast

b)

Temperature of the water

c)

Type of yeast used

d)

Amount of sugar in water

36.

Which variable should be kept constant in an experiment testing how the type of fertilizer affects plant height?

a)

Plant height

b)

Type of fertilizer

c)

Type of plant

d)

Amount of fertilizer used

37.

In an experiment to see if the temperature of a room affects how quickly ice melts, what is the dependent variable?

a)

Size of the ice cube

b)

Temperature of the room

c)

Time taken for ice to melt

d)

Type of container

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