Independent dependent and control variables

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
• Compound

Research Question: Does the type of gasoline put in a car effect how fast the car can drive. What is the independent variable?

• Type of gasoline
• which car the gas is put into
• how fast the car can drive
• how much gas is put into the car

• The dependent variable is total cost
• The dependent variable is weight
• The independent variable is total cost
• The independent variable is cost of a package

On a graph, which axis shows the dependent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes

On a graph, which axis shows the independent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes

How many independent variables can be tested in a controlled experiment?

• one
• two
• three
• as many as possible

How does watching TV during studying affect a student’s test grades?

• independent
• dependent
• control
• constant

Research question: does the distance a person kicks a soccer ball effect how well they will do on their math test.  What is the dependent variable?

• How far they kick the soccer ball
• who the person is
• how well they do on the math test
• Type of soccer ball.

What is the independent (or changed) variable in this picture?

• The container for the water

• The source of heat

• Regular water or salty water

• The size of the beaker

The name of the variable that you measure or observe in an experiment is ....

• constant variable

• controlled variable

• dependent variable

• independent variable