Identifying Variables

What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) is this experiment?
"Does eating breakfast improve test score?" 

• eating breakfast or not
• the grade you got on the test
• what time you get up in the morning
• how tasty the breakfast is

What is the INDEPENDENT  variable (cause) is this experiment? 
"Which type of medium is best for plant growth?" 

• height of plant (cm)
• type of medium (soil vs. sand)
• amount of medium
• types of plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) in this experiment?
"Do tall people jump further than short people?"

• height of the person
• weight of the person
• how fast the person runs
• how far the person jumps

What is the INDEPENDENT variable (cause)in this experiment?
"Which type of metal, copper or aluminum, conducts heat faster?" 

• size of metal
• types of metal
• time it takes to heat up
• shape of the metal

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Bonnie wants to test whether adding Bio-fertilizer 'x' will help plant grow. What is the "controlled group" in this experiment?

• plant sprayed with Bio-fertilizer 'x'
• plant without the Bio-fertilizer 'x'

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which variable is NOT a constant in this experiment?
"Is Bounty paper towel more absorbent than sparkle paper towel?

• the size of paper towel
• the amount of water for the paper towel to absorb
• amount of water the paper towel absorbed
• the shape of paper towel

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Janet wants to see whether drinking coffee will improve productivity. What is the INDEPENDENT variable in this experiment (cause)?

• increase productivity
• Having coffee or not
• the brand of coffee
• the time drinking the coffee

When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the same type of) plants, two different fertalizers, equal light, and equal water. What type of variable is the water?

• Dependent
• Independent
• Control

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?

• Dependent
• Independent
• Control

Which variable is the same for each test subject in an experiment?

• Dependent
• Independent
• Control