Dependent vs Independent Variables Purpose To practice identifying

Dependent vs. Independent Variables Purpose: To practice identifying dependent and independent variables Background: The following definitions may help you to identify dependent and independent variables. Dependent Variable - what you are measuring Independent Variable - What you are testing or what you are in control of or what you manipulate. This sentence can help you to identify the dependent and independent variables in your experiment. This sentence can also help you determine how to graph your results: How does the independent variable affect the dependent variable? Or How does X affect Y? The second sentence lets you know that the independent variable is placed on the x-axis and the dependent on the y-axis. Another way to think about these problems is which variable depends upon the other? On your graph, y always depends upon x.

Procedure: Identify the dependent & independent variable/ how would they be placed on a graph? 1. An experiment that tests how quickly different temperatures will dissolve sugar cubes. Independent variable ______________ Dependent variable ______________

Procedure: Identify the dependent & independent variable/ how would they be placed on a graph? 2. An experiment that explores how different colors impact plant growth. Independent variable ____________ Dependent vairable _____________

Procedure: Identify the dependent & independent variable/ how would they be placed on a graph? 3. How much weight can different paper towel brands hold? Independent variable ____________ Dependent variable ____________

Procedure: Identify the dependent & independent variable/ how would they be placed on a graph? 4. How does the temperature of a chemical reaction change over time? Independent variable _____________ Dependent variable ______________

Procedure: Identify the dependent & independent variable/ how would they be placed on a graph? 5. As you run to the store, how does your distance change as a function of time? Independent variable ___________ Dependent variable ____________