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 False- A hypothesis is an educated guess.

Answer: False. A hypothesis is a prediction that can be tested.

Question 19: True or False- The experimenter controls the dependent variable.

Answer: False. The experimenter controls the independent variable.

Question 20: True or False- A 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? Awesome! You’re ready - continue your review Pretty good. You’re ready, but should review a bit more Hmm. You need to study more. < 13 - You really need to study your definitions and practice problems.