EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES WORKSHEET
Name: _________________________________________________________________Date:
_______________
Grade Level: _______________
Part 1: Definitions
Match the following terms to their correct definitions.
1. Independent Variable
2. Dependent Variable
3. Control Variable
A. The factor that is measured or observed in an experiment.
B. The factor that is intentionally changed by the experimenter.
C. The factors that are kept constant to ensure a fair test.
Write the correct letter next to each term:
• Independent Variable: _____
• Dependent Variable: _____
• Control Variable: _____
Part 2: Identify the Variables
Read each experiment scenario below and identify the Independent Variable (IV),
Dependent Variable (DV), and Control Variables (CVs).
1. A scientist wants to test the effect of different fertilizers on plant growth. She
gives different fertilizers to three groups of plants and measures their height
after four weeks.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
2. A student wants to test how the amount of sleep affects test performance. He
asks students to sleep for different amounts of time and records their test
scores.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
3. A researcher wants to see if the temperature of water affects how fast sugar
dissolves. He uses three different water temperatures and records the time it
takes for the sugar to dissolve completely.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
4. A teacher wants to know if background music affects students’ concentration.
She has one group take a test with music playing and another group take the
same test in silence.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
5. A coach is testing if stretching before running improves sprint times. One group
stretches before running, and another group does not. He records their running
times.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
6. A farmer wants to test if different amounts of sunlight affect tomato plant
growth. He places some plants in full sun, some in partial shade, and some in
full shade. He measures their growth after a month.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
7. A doctor is studying whether drinking more water helps reduce headaches.
Some patients increase their water intake, while others do not. He records how
often they experience headaches.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
8. A baker wants to know if the amount of baking soda affects how high a cake
rises. He bakes cakes with different amounts of baking soda and measures
their height.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
9. A student is testing whether the color of a car affects how hot it gets in sunlight.
He places different colored cars in the sun and measures their temperature
after one hour.
o IV: __________________
o DV: __________________
o CVs: ________________
10. A scientist wants to know if the type of surface affects how far a toy car
rolls. She tests the car on wood, tile, and carpet, measuring the distance it
travels.
• IV: __________________
• DV: __________________
• CVs: ________________
Part 3: Create Your Own Experiment
Design a simple experiment and identify the variables. Use the format below:
• Question: What do you want to test?
• Independent Variable: __________________
• Dependent Variable: __________________
• Control Variables: ________________
