Name:
Identifying Independent vs Dependent Variables
Read through some experiment descriptions and see if you can pick out the independent and
dependent variables.
1.
You want to measure the effect of different amounts of oxygen on the rate of yeast growth.
What is the dependent variable? _______
rate of yeast growth
amount of oxygen
2.
A florist wants to see if Product X will extend the life of cut flowers so that they last longer.
What is the independent variable? _______
the life of the flowers
adding Product X
3.
A florist wants to see if Product X will extend the life of cut flowers so that they last longer.
What is the dependent variable? _______
the life of the flowers
adding Product X
4.
A soap manufacturer wants to prove that their detergent works better to remove tough
stains. What is the independent variable? _______
stain removal
detergent
5.
You want to see if playing music makes plants grow taller. What is the independent variable
in this experiment? _______
height of plant
music being played
Name:
6.
You think that a certain part of your brain is important in memory. To test this, you will
remove this part of the brain from rats and see if they remember how to get through the
maze. What is the dependent variable in this experiment? _______
remembering how to get through the maze
removal of a certain part of the brain
7.
Orchids were studied to determine if the amount of humidity affected the flowering of these
plants. Which of these was the independent variable in this study? _______
amount of humidity
amount of water
flowering
8.
Harvester ants often strip a bush of all of its leaves. Some people believe this helps the plant
grow thicker, healthier stems. In an experiment, a student stripped off all the leaves from a
set of plants. In a second set of identical plants, the student allowed ants to strip off the
plants’ leaves. In order to improve this experimental design, it is most important to add a set
of plants — _______
of different species
with different types of ants on them
plants with their leaves on
Name:
9.
You want to see if playing music makes plants grow taller. What is the dependent variable in
this experiment? _______
height of plant
music being played
10.
A soap manufacturer wants to prove that their detergent works better to remove tough
stains. What is the dependent variable? _______
removal of stain
detergent
11.
You want to test a new drug that supposedly prevents sneezing in people allergic to grass.
What is the dependent variable? _______
sneezing
grass
drug
12.
An entomologist (bug scientist) wants to determine if temperature changes how many times
a cricket chirps. What is the dependent variable? _______
number of times a cricket chirps
temperature
Name:
13.
You want to measure the effect of different amounts of oxygen on the rate of yeast growth.
What is the independent variable? _______
amount of oxygen
rate of yeast growth
14.
You think that a certain part of your brain is important in memory. To test this, you will
remove this part of the brain from rats and see if they remember how to get through the
maze. What is the independent variable in this experiment? _______
remembering how to get through the maze
removal of a certain part of the brain
15.
An entomologist (bug scientist) wants to determine if temperature changes how many times
a cricket chirps. What is the independent variable? _______
number of times a cricket chirps
temperature
16.
You want to test a new drug that supposedly prevents sneezing in people allergic to grass.
What is the independent variable? _______
sneezing
grass
drug