Practice Quiz
Experiments and Variables
Directions
• Click anywhere on the screen or hit the
down arrow to move to the next slide.
• Write each answer on a piece of paper to
test yourself. Count the number correct.
• Study the ideas and words that you get
wrong. Good Luck!
Question 1:
What is a condition that can change in an
experiment?
Answer:
A variable
Question 2:
What kind of question is created before
running a scientific experiment?
Answer:
Research Question
(or Experimental Question)
Question 3:
What is a hypothesis?
Answer:
A testable prediction of the outcome of a
scientific experiment or study.
Question 4:
What is the variable that is tested in an
experiment?
Answer:
Independent Variable
Question 5:
What is definition for independent variable?
Answer:
Condition in an experiment that the
experimenter changes to test.
Question 6:
What was the independent variable in our
first yeast experiment?
Answer:
Sugar
Question 7:
What is a dependent variable?
Answer:
The result in an experiment that is observed
and measured.
Question 8:
What do scientists use to answer research
questions?
Answer:
Data
Question 9:
What were the dependent variables in both
yeast experiments?
Answer:
Foam height (cm)
Question 10:
What is a control group (or control trial)?
Answer:
A test (or trial) that is done without making
any changes.
Question 11:
Why are control groups or tests necessary in
experiments?
Answer:
We compare our results to the control trial to
see what happens without the effect of the
independent variable.
Question 12:
What are constants in experiments?
Answer:
Conditions that are kept the same
throughout the experiment.
Question 13:
Why do we keep conditions constant?
Answer:
Constants are used to keep experimental
tests fair and accurate.
Practice Problem:
Patrick thinks that kelp jerky is good
to eat and will make the Bikini
Bottom Gang spell better. He
creates an experiment to test
this. Group A (Spongebob,
Patrick and Gary), will eat kelp
jerky for one week but Group B
(Sandy Cheeks, Mr. Krabs and
Squidward) will eat their regular
diet. Patrick counts the number
of words they can spell correctly
at the start of the experiment and
after one week.
Question 14:
What is the independent variable in Patrick’s
experiment?
Answer:
The kelp jerky
Question 15:
What was the dependent variable in
Patrick’s experiment?
Answer:
The number of words each subject can spell
correctly.
Question 16:
List two conditions held constant in this
experiment.
Answer:
The same number of subjects in each group,
the same amount of time for the test.
Question 17:
What is the control group in this experiment?
Why?
Answer:
Group B because they ate their regular diet.
Question 18:
True or FalseA hypothesis is an educated guess.
Answer:
False. A hypothesis is a prediction that can
be tested.
Question 19:
True or FalseThe experimenter controls the dependent
variable.
Answer:
False. The experimenter controls the
independent variable.
Question 20:
True or FalseA researcher creates a hypothesis before
creating an experiment.
Answer:
True. The hypothesis must be created
before an experiment is run.
How many did you get correct?
19-20 - Awesome! You’re ready - continue
your review.
16-18 - Pretty good. You’re ready, but
should review a bit more.
13-15 - Hmm. You need to study more.
< 13 - You really need to study your
definitions and practice problems.