Practice Quiz: Dependent Variables, Independent Variables and Constants

Michael decides that he wants to discover the heaviest liquid in his family’s refrigerator. After finding a scale to use and a container to hold 8 ounces of each of his liquids, he begins gathering data. This is the data table that he has created:

Milk / 46 grams
Syrup / 63 grams
Water / 42 grams
Soda / 45 grams

Questions:

  1. What is the dependent variable in Michael’s experiment?
  1. The different liquids Michael is testing
  2. The final weight of the liquids Michael is testing.
  3. The amount of liquid Michael measures
  4. The container Michael uses for measuring.
  1. What is the independent variable in Michael’s experiment?
  1. The different liquids Michael is testing
  2. The final weight of the liquids Michael is testing.
  3. The amount of liquid Michael measures
  4. The container Michael uses for measuring.
  1. What is the constant in Michael’s experiment?
  1. The different liquids Michael is testing
  2. The final weight of the liquids Michael is testing.
  3. The amount of liquid Michael measures
  4. The container Michael uses for measuring.

Jane decides that she wants to discover the impact that height has on the size of crater made in a bowl full of flour. After finding her favorite golf ball and filling a red mixing bowl up to the brim with flour, she drops her golf ball from increasingly higher heights. This is the data table that she has created:

Height of Arm Above Bowl / Size of Crater
1 foot / 2.5 inches
3 feet / 5 inches
4 feet / 7 inches
5 feet / 9 inches

Questions:

  1. What is the dependent variable in Jane’s experiment?
  1. The amount of time that Jane’s golf ball takes to fall into the flour.
  2. The height of Jane’s arm above the bowl she is using.
  3. The golf ball that Jane drops into her flour.
  4. The final size of the crater that the golf ball makes after Jane drops it.
  1. What is the independent variable in Jane’s experiment?
  1. The amount of time that Jane’s golf ball takes to fall into the flour.
  2. The height of Jane’s arm above the bowl she is using.
  3. The golf ball that Jane drops into her flour.
  4. The final size of the crater that the golf ball makes after Jane drops it.
  1. What is the constant in Jane’s experiment?
  1. The amount of time that Jane’s golf ball takes to fall into the flour.
  2. The height of Jane’s arm above the bowl she is using.
  3. The golf ball that Jane drops into her flour.
  4. The final size of the crater that the golf ball makes after Jane drops it.