Understanding the Independent Variable
A Grade 5 science worksheet on identifying and understanding the independent variable in experiments.
Includes
Standards
Understanding the Independent Variable
Name:
Date:
Score:
Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Remember, the independent variable is the one thing you change in an experiment.
1. In an experiment, the independent variable is the factor that is or changed by the scientist.
2. The independent variable is the cause, and the variable is the effect.
3. To have a fair test, a scientist should only change independent variable at a time.
4. A scientist wants to know if different types of soil affect plant growth. What is the independent variable?
Plant growth
Amount of water
Types of soil
Sunlight
5. Which of the following is an example of an independent variable?
The height of a plant
The number of leaves on a tree
The amount of fertilizer given to a plant
The weight of a fruit
6. Imagine you are testing if the amount of sunlight affects how quickly ice melts. What would be your independent variable in this experiment?
7. A student wants to see if playing music helps plants grow taller. Describe the independent variable in this experiment.
8. The independent variable is the factor that is measured in an experiment.
True
False
9. You should try to change as many independent variables as possible in an experiment.
True
False
10. Design a simple experiment to test if the type of liquid affects how fast a sugar cube dissolves. Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and one controlled variable.
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Controlled Variable: