Name: Period: Date
Variables Practice Problems
Independent Variables Dependent Variables Controlled Variables
This is what the scientist This is what the scientist These things scientists KEEP THE
CHANGES in the experiment. MEASURES in the experiment. SAME between each trial group.
They help make sure that any
Example: If they are curious to Example: Based on the previous changes in the dependent
see if more people buy ice cream example, the scientist is variable are because of the
cones on a hot, warm or cold measuring how many people buy changes in the independent
day, the independent variable is ice cream on each day. The variable.
the average daily temperature dependent variable is the number
when the ice cream is sold. of ice cream cones sold on a day. Example: In order to be sure more
ice cream cones are sold because
Awesome experiments have just of a change in temperature,
ONE that is changed. scientists are going to keep the
price; flavor and size of the ice
cream cone the same each day
they measure how many are sold.
Directions: Each of the problems below will have the question the scientist is aiming to answer, a
picture of the set-up and a written explanation of what they will be doing.
For each problem you must list the following:
1. The independent variable
2. The dependent variable
3. The controlled variables (at least 2!)
These problems will be due ________________________________
Name: Period: Date
1. Does heating a cup of water allow it to dissolve more sugar?
SET UP:
Add 1 cup of water to each cup. Add 1
tablespoon of sugar to each cup. Change the
temperature for each cup - one at low, medium
and high heat. Measure how much sugar
dissolves in each.
The independent variable is______________________________________________
The dependent variable is________________________________________________
The variables controlled are_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Does fertilizer make a plant grow bigger?
SET UP:
Get 3 plants of the same kind. Add different
amounts of fertilizer to each plant. Give each
plant the same amount of water and sunlight.
Measure how much each plant grows after 7
days.
The independent variable is______________________________________________
The dependent variable is________________________________________________
The variables controlled are_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Period: Date
3. Which amount of paper clips added to the nose of a paper
airplane causes the paper airplane to travel the furthest?
SET UP:
Create 3 identical paper airplanes - same
paper kind, same size. Add different
amounts of paper clips to the tip of the
airplane. Measure how far it goes.
The independent variable is______________________________________________
The dependent variable is________________________________________________
The variables controlled are_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. Which liquid keeps a rose alive the longest?
SET UP:
Place 3 roses of the same kind in separate cups.
Add 1 cup of a different liquid to each cup.
Measure how long each rose stays alive using a
timer.
The independent variable is______________________________________________
The dependent variable is________________________________________________
The variables controlled are_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Period: Date
5. How fast does a candle burn when in different temperature
rooms?
SET UP:
Get 3 candles of the same kind. Place 1 candle in 3
different rooms which are at different temperatures.
Use a timer to see which candle burns the fastest.
The independent variable is______________________________________________
The dependent variable is________________________________________________
The variables controlled are_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6. Which type of paper: copy, notebook, or construction, will fly
furthest when folded into a paper airplane?
SET UP:
Get 3 different kinds of sheets of paper. Make
paper airplanes using each of the paper types.
Throw each airplane from the same starting point.
Measure how far each goes from the start in
centimeters.
The independent variable is______________________________________________
The dependent variable is________________________________________________
The variables controlled are_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
