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 one variables that would have to be constant 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?
________ variable: the time it take the water to evaporate
Dependent Variable - It is the data being collected and depends on the color of the water.
A student ran an experiment to test how the type of water given to a plant affects its growth.
Plant A: 2 mL of sugar water
Plant B: 2.5 mL of salt water
Plant C: 2 mL of tap water
Each plant received different amounts of water
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 two variables that would have been constant 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?
_______ variable: the size of the container the material is stored in
The control variable, because the material of the container changes but the size would need to be controlled or kept the same.
A students wanted to test how long to bake chocolate chip cookies.
Trial 1: Student tested baking 12 chocolate chip cookies at 250 degrees for 10 minutes.
Trial 2: Student tested baking twelve chocolate chip cookies at 300 degrees for 15 minutes.
Trial 3: Student tested baking a dozen chocolate chip cookies at 275 degrees for 12 minutes.
Each trial was tested at a different temperature.
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 two variables that would have to be constant in the following experiment:
Which brand of soda reacts the most with Mentos?
- Type of Mentos
- # of Mentos
- container the soda is in
- the type of soda
- The temperature of the soda
- The way the reaction is measured
Does adding salt to water change the rate at which it boils?
________ variable: The amount of water used
Control variable, because the amount of water needs to be kept the same.
A student wanted to run an experiment to determine which type of gum's flavor lasted the longest.
Trail 1: Student chewed strawberry flavored Hubba Bubba bubble gum.
Trial 2: Student chewed Peppermint Orbit bubble gum.
Trial 3: Student chewed fruit punch flavored Trident bubble gum.
The student chewed different flavors of bubble gum.
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 three variables that would be the constants 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?
_______ variable: the amount of coffee you drink
Independent variable, because heart rate needs to be tested before and after drinking caffeine to see if the caffeine increases heart rate.
A student wanted to test the fastest running shoes.
Trial 1: Student wore adidas running shoes and ran 2 miles and tracked their time.
Trial 2: Student wore New Balance running shoes and ran 1.5 miles and tracked their time..
Trail 3: Student wore Under Armor running shoes and ran 3 km and tracked their time..
The student ran different distances each trial.
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 three variables that would the constants 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?
________ variable: The time it takes each type of salt to dissolve
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 student wanted to test which type of parachute would keep an egg safest.
Trial 1: The student made their parachute out of computer paper and dropped the egg from 10 ft.
Trial 2: The student made their parachute out of tin foil, wrapped their egg in bubble wrap and dropped it from 12 ft.
Trial 3: The student made their parachute out of a plastic bag and dropped it from 15 ft.
The student dropped the egg from different height s and added in extra materials (bubble wrap).