Nature of Science Study Guide

Match the Nature of Science Vocabulary

• independent variable

• y-axis data

• dependent variable

• variables that do not change during experiment

• constants/

  controls

• x-axis data

• independent variable

• what is changed because of in an experiment

• dependent variable

• what you change in an experiment

What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• bubbles/min

• depth (m)

• line graph

• amount of water

What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

• bubbles/min

• depth (m)

• line graph

• amount of water

Student height is collected in class to make a graph. What type of graph is most appropriate?

• pie chart

• scatter plot

• line graph

• bar graph

Student height is measure in class and put into a data table. Which part of the table represent the dependent variable (y-axis)?

• person

• height (cm)

• data table

• both

You decide to clean the bathroom. You notice that the shower is covered in a strange green slime. You decide to try to get rid of this slime by adding lemonade juice. You spray half of the shower with lemonade juice and spray the other half of the shower with water. After 3 days of “treatment” there is no change in the appearance of the green slime on either side of the shower.

Match the variables correctly to the experimental design above.

• control

• no lemonade juice

• dependent variable

• green slime

• independent variable

• lemonade juice

One tank of gold fish is feed once a day, a second tank twice a day, and a third tank four times a day during a six week study. The fish’s body fat is recorded.

Match the correct variables to the experimental design above.

• dependent variable

• amount of feed

• control

• six week study

• control

• type of gold fish

• independent variable

• body fat

• control

• tank size