BIO SOL Scientific Investigation

This variable in an experiment is the one being changed by the scientist. 

• dependent variable
• independent variable
• data
• control group

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 ...

• The type of plant
• The amount of sunlight
• The type of music
• The type of liquid

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Dependent variable means

• the scientist controls what to test
• educated guess
• ask a question
• what is being measured

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

If you increase the amount of spinach you eat, then you will increase the iron in your blood.

What is the dependent variable?

• increase the amount of iron in your blood

• spinach you eat

This part of the experiment serves as a basis of comparison; the one variable being tested has been omitted. 

• experimental group
• control group
• data
• variables

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 are the controlled variables?

• Type of plant, amount of music, and sunlight
• Water, apple juice, milk
• Plant growth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

The constants in an experiment are

• all of the items in the experiment that stay the same

• the variable that is manipulated

• the mistake that occurs in the experiement

• used for comparison

Francesco Redi performed an experiment in 1668. In the experiment, he placed rotting meat in two jars. The first jar was left open. After a few days, fly larvae were found on the decaying meat inside. The mouth of the second jar was covered with gauze. After a few days, the decaying meat inside was free of fly larvae, but larvae were found on the gauze. This experiment supports the hypothesis that — 

• decaying meat produces fly larvae
• fly larvae prefer fresh meat
• adult flies are not attracted to decaying meat
• fly larvae only come from adult flies

Harvester ants often strip a bush of all of its leaves. Some people believe this helps the plant grow thicker, healthier stems. In an experiment, a student stripped off all the leaves from a set of plants. In a second set of identical plants, the student allowed ants to strip off the plants’ leaves. In order to improve this experimental design, it is most important to add a set of plants —

• that are dormant
• of a different species
• exposed to a different ant species
• with its leaves left intact

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

 Which data point on the graph is probably invalid?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4