Experimental Design and Variables

The type of variable that you change or manipulate in an experiment.  It is what you are testing.

• Independent

• Dependent

• Control

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The type of variable that responds to the experiment and is what you measure to determine if your hypothesis is true.

• Independent

• Dependent

• Control

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The parts of the experiment that must be kept the same.

• Constants

• independent

• Dependent

How many variables should you change in an experiment?

• none

• only 1

• 2 or more

• depends on the type of experiment

What is the DEPENDENT variable (effect) in this experiment?

• eating breakfast or not

• the grade you got on the test

• what time you get up in the morning

• what you eat for breakfast

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-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What is the INDEPENDENT variable (cause) in this experiment?
"Will fish school more if a predator is present?" 

• whether there is a predator or not

• number of fish school together

• type of predator

• type of fish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Diego wants to know how drinking milk affects how tall Dora grows. Which is the independent variable?

• Drinking milk.

• Diego's growth.

• Dora's growth.

• Chocolate or plain milk.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

A factor in an experiment that stays the same.

• fair test

• controlled variable

• dependent variable

• independent variable

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2