Independent Variable
The time it takes to run a mile depends on the time of day it is being run. What is the independent variable?
The time of day of the run.
Does the height you drop a ball from affect the height it will bounce? What is the dependent variable?
The height the ball bounces after being dropped.
List four variables that would have to be controlled in the following experiment:
Which brand of laundry detergent will get a dirty spot out of clothes best?
- type of stain
- how old the stain is
- type of clothing the stain is on
- the temperature of water used in the machine
- The washing machine used
- the cycle that clothes are washed on
- amount of detergent used
- place the laundry detergent is used
Does colored water evaporate faster than clear water?
Which variable would the time it take the water to evaporate be?
Dependent Variable - It is the data being collected and depends on the color of the water.
The higher the temperature of water, the faster an egg will boil.
IV:
DV:
What is IV: Temp of water
DV: Time to boil
The higher the temperature of water, the faster an egg will cook. What is the independent variable?
The temperature of water
Can a person run faster in tennis shoes or sandals? What is the dependent variable?
The time it takes the person to run the distance.
List four variables that would have been controlled in the following experiment:
Which brand of paper towel absorbs the most liquid?
- Size of paper towel
- The liquid being absorbed
- The surface the liquid is on
- The way absorption is being measured
-The temperature of liquid
- The amount of pressure or way the paper towel is being used.
Which material makes the best insulator: plastic, metal, or Styrofoam?
Which variable would the size of the container be?
The control variable, because the material of the container changes but the size would need to be controlled or kept the same.
How does temperature of the water affect the height the plant grows?
IV:
DV:
What is IV: Temp of water
DV: Height of Plant
Grass will grow faster if it is fertilized. What would the independent variable in this experiment be?
The use of fertilizer
Does wearing a dark color shirt increase your body temperature more than wearing a light color shirt? What is the dependent variable?
The body temperature of the person wearing the shirts.
List four variables that would have to be controlled in the following experiment:
Which brand of pop reacts the most with Mentos?
- Type of Mentos
- # of Mentos
- container the pop is in
- the age of pop
- age of Mentos
- The temperature of the pop
- The way the reaction is measured
- The conditions of the pop
Does adding salt to water change the rate at which it boils?
The amount of water used would be an example of what variable?
Control variable, because the amount of water needs to be kept the same.
Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle.
IV:
DV:
What is IV: Age of student
DV: Time to finish puzzle
Citrus plants that receive more water will have more juice in the fruit. What is the independent variable?
The amount of water given to the plant.
Does a skateboard travel further on grass, the sidewalk, or on a paved road? What is the dependent variable?
The distance the skateboard travels on each surface.
List four variables that would have been controlled in the following experiment:
Can a person jump higher in low or high top tennis shoes?
- The surface jumping from
- The way the jump height is measured
- The way the person jumps
- The person jumping
- The width of the sole on the shoes
- Brand of shoes
Does drinking caffeine increase your heart rate?
The consumption of caffeine which is what variable?
Independent variable, because heart rate needs to be tested before and after drinking caffeine to see if the caffeine increases heart rate.
What is your gluteus maxi
Sunflowers are given different amounts of water for a three week period. Plant A receives 200 mL a week, Plant B receives 400 mL a week and plant C receives 600 mL a week. Plant D receives no water. The height of the sunflower plants is measured daily.
IV:
DV:
mus?
What is IV: Amount of Water
DV: Height of sunflower plant
A student wanted to see if their score on spelling tests would improve if they spent more minutes studying the spelling words. What is the independent variable?
Amount of time spent on studying for spelling.
Do all clear liquids freeze at the same temperature? What is the dependent variable?
The temperature the liquids freeze
List four variables that would have been controlled in the following experiment:
Does temperature affect the rate at which mold grows?
- The item growing mold
- The container the item is in
- The age of the item mold is growing on
- What the item is exposed to
- The size of the item growing mold
Does crushed salt or rock salt dissolve faster in water?
The time it takes each type of salt to dissolve would be which type of variable?
The time it takes each type of salt to dissolve would be the dependent variable because it is the data being collected and depends on the particle size of salt.
A social psychologist thinks that people are more likely to conform to a large crowd than to a single person. To test this hypothesis, the social psychologist had either one person or five persons stand on a busy walking path on campus and look up. The psychologist stood nearby and counted the number of people passing by who also looked up.
IV:
DV:
What is IV: Number people participating
DV: Response of the passerby (looking up)