Variables

A study was done to see if different tire treads affect the braking distance of a car.
What is the dependent variable?

• Tire treads
• Braking distance
• Road conditions
• Model of car

The time it takes to run a mile depends on the person's running speed.
What is the independent variable?

• Running speed
• Time
• Running style
• Who is the runner

The higher the temperature in an oven, the faster a cake will bake.
What is the independent variable?

• Cake flavor
• Temperature
• Time
• Type of oven

The number of lemons produced by a lemon tree increases when the tree receives more water.
This statement is 

• A hypothesis
• A law
• A variable
• A conclusion

Students measured the temperature of the water at different depths in Lake Skywalker and found that the temperature varied.
What was the dependent variable?

• Time
• Temperature
• Student taking the measurement
• Water depth

An investigation found that more potatoes would be produced on a farm if the soil was fertilized more.
What is a constant in this experiment?

• Number of potatoes
• Amount of fertilizer
• Science
• The location of the farm

Bees have been dying at an unprecedented rate for the last decade.  Scientists believe it is due to a family of chemicals called neonicotinoids which has seen increasing use recently.
How would you classify the first statement above?

• A hypothesis
• A law
• An observation
• Quantitative data

The height of a bean plant depends on the amount of water it receives.
What would you graph on the Y axis from this statement?

• Height of a bean plant
• Amount of water 
• Type of plant
• Life span of a bean plant

The amount of time that water takes to boil will change with the volume of water.  
What would you graph on the X axis for the above statement?

• Boiling temperature
• Amount of water
• Time
• Flavor of ramen noodles

A student wanted to test how the mass of a paper airplane affected the distance it would fly. Paper clips were added to the airplane between each test flight.
What type of graph should be used to report this data.

• Scatter plot
• Bar graph
• Pie chart
• No graph needed