Here is the index card identifying the variables: Independent variable: Color of light Dependent variable: Growth of plants Control variables: 1. Type of plant 2. Amount of light 3. Water given to plants 4. Size of container for plants 5. Temperature

1. Can You Name That Variable?
The Game Created To Test Your Variable Sense

2. Independent
Variables
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Dependent
Variables
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Control
Variables
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Name that
Variable
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3. Independent Variables

4. Question
The time it takes to run a mile,
depends on the time of day it is
run. What is the independent
variable in this experiment?

5. Answer
The independent variable is the
time of day it is run.

6. QuestionThe higher the temperature of
water, the faster an egg will cook.
What is the independent variable
in this experiment?

7. Answer The temperature of water

8. QuestionGrass will grow faster if it is fertilized.
What would the independent
variable in this experiment be?

9. AnswerThe independent variable is the
use of fertilizer.

10. QuestionCitrus plants that receive more
water will have more juice in the
fruit.

11. Answer
The independent variable is the
amount of water given to the
plants.

12. QuestionA student wanted to see if their
score on spelling tests would
improve if they spent more
minutes studying the spelling
words. What would the
independent variable in this
experiment be?

13. AnswerThe independent variable is the
amount of time spent on studying
for spelling.

14. Dependent Variables

15. QuestionDoes the height you drop a ball
from affect the height it will
bounce? What is the dependent
variable in this experiment?

16. Answer
The height the ball bounces after
being dropped

17. QuestionCan a person run faster in tennis
shoes or sandals? What is the
dependent variable in this
experiment?

18. Answer
The dependent variable is the time
it takes the person to run a certain
distance.

19. Question Does wearing a dark color shirt
increase your body temperature
more than wearing a light color
shirt? What is the dependent
variable in this experiment?

20. Answer
The dependent variable in this
experiment is the body
temperature of the person
wearing the shirts.

21. Question
Does a skateboard travel further
on grass, the sidewalk, or on the
paved road?

22. AnswerThe distance the skateboard
travels on each surface is the
dependent variable.

23. QuestionDo all clear liquids freeze at the
same temperature? What is the
dependent variable in this
experiment?

24. AnswerThe temperature the liquids freeze
is the dependent variable.

25. Control Variables

26. QuestionList four variables that would have
to be controlled in the following
experiment:
Which brand of laundry detergent
will get a dirty spot out of clothes
best?

27. AnswerTo test just the brand of laundry detergent, the
following variables would all need to be controlled:
• Type of stain on clothes
• How old the stain on the clothing is
• Type of clothing the stain is on
• The temperature of water used in the machine
• The washing machine used
• The cycle that the clothes are washed on in the
machine
• The amount of laundry detergent used
• Place the laundry detergent is used (put in the
water, put directly on the stain, etc.)

28. Question
List four variables that would have
to be controlled in the following
experiment:
Which brand of paper
towel absorbs the most liquid?

29. AnswerTo test just the brand of paper towel, all of the
following variables would have to be controlled:
• The amount/size of paper towel
• The liquid being absorbed
• The surface the liquid is on
• The way absorption is being measured
• The temperature of liquid
• The amount of pressure or way the paper towel is
being used

30. Question
List four variables that would have
to be controlled in the following
experiment:
Which brand of soda reacts the
most with Mentos?

31. AnswerIn order to test just the brand of soda, all of the
following variables would need to be controlled:
• The type of Mentos being use
• The number of Mentos used
• The container the soda is in (can or size of bottle)
• The age of the soda
• The age of the Mentos
• The temperature of the soda
• The way the reaction is measured
• The condition of the soda (not being shaken)

32. QuestionList four variables that would have
to be controlled in the following
experiment:
Can a person jump higher in low
top or high top tennis shoes?

33. AnswerIn order to test only the difference between low top
and high top shoes, all of the following variables
would need to be controlled:
• The surface jumping from (carpet, tile, etc.)
• The way the jump height is measured
• The way the person jumps (standing, taking a
step first, take off foot, etc.)
• The person jumping
• The width of the sole on the shoes
• Brand of shoes (Nike, Reebok, Adidas, etc.)

34. Question
List four variables that would have
to be controlled in the following
experiment:
Does temperature affect the rate
at which mold grows?

35. AnswerIn order to test just how temperature affects mold
growth, all of the following variables would have to
be controlled:
• The item growing mold on (bread, etc)
• The container the item is in (bag, plate, etc)
• The age of the item mold is growing on
• What the item is exposed to (sunlight, air, etc)
• The size of the item growing mold

36. Name That Variable

37. Question Does colored water evaporate
faster then clear water?
In the experiment above, which
type of variable would the time it
takes the water to evaporate be?

38. AnswerThe time it takes the water to
evaporate would be the
dependent variable because it is
the data being collected and
depends on the color of the water.

39. Question
Which material makes the best
insulator: plastic, metal, or
Styrofoam?
In the experiment above, which
type of variable would the size of
the container be?

40. AnswerThe size of the container is an
example of a control variable. The
material of the container changes
but the size would need to be
controlled or kept the same.

41. Question
Does adding salt to water change
the rate at which it boils?
In the experiment listed above, the
amount of water used would be an
example of which type of variable?

42. AnswerThe amount of water would be an
example of a control variable. The
use of salt or no salt would be the
difference, all other variables,
including the amount of water,
would need to be controlled or
kept the same.

43. Question
Does drinking caffeine increase
your heart rate?
In the experiment listed above, the
consumption of caffeine would be
which type of variable?

44. AnswerThe consumption of caffeine
would be the independent
variable. Heart rate would need to
be tested before and after drinking
caffeine to see if the caffeine
increased heart rate.

45. Question
Does crushed salt or rock salt
dissolve faster in water?
In the experiment above, the time
it takes each type of salt to
dissolve would be which type of
variable?

46. AnswerThe time it takes each type of salt
to dissolve would be the
dependent variable because it is
the data being collected and
depends on the particle size of
salt.

47. QuestionOn an index card, identify the
dependent variable, independent
variable, and four control variables
for the following experiment:
Does the color of light effect the
growth of plants?