Understanding Dependent Variables
A Grade 4 science worksheet to help students understand and identify dependent variables in scientific experiments.
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Understanding Dependent Variables
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Remember, the dependent variable is what you measure in an experiment.
In a science experiment, we often change one thing to see what happens to another. The thing that we measure or observe to see if it changes is called the dependent variable. It 'depends' on what we changed.
1. What is the dependent variable in an experiment?
The thing you change on purpose.
The thing you are measuring or observing.
Something that stays the same.
The hypothesis of the experiment.
2. A scientist wants to know if different amounts of water make plants grow taller. What is the dependent variable?
The amount of water.
The type of plant.
The height of the plant.
The amount of sunlight.
3. The dependent variable is the part of an experiment that you .
4. If you are testing how different types of soil affect how many apples a tree grows, the number of apples is the variable.
5. The dependent variable is the thing you change on purpose in an experiment.
True
False
6. The results you get from an experiment are often related to the dependent variable.
True
False
7. Imagine you are doing an experiment to see if playing music helps your pet fish swim faster. What would be the dependent variable in this experiment? Explain your answer.
Look at the experiment setup below. If this experiment is testing how much sunlight affects plant growth, identify the dependent variable.
