What Is Her Independent Variable? Define Independent Variabl ✓ Solved
What is her independent variable? Define independent variable.
Every discovery in chemistry comes from experimentation; it is the bread and butter for scientists in every discipline. Thus, being adept in experimental design is a significant tool. Experimental design is all about making accurate observations in a controlled environment. Consider a biologist who is seeking to determine the effect of sunlight on four plants. She is interested in observing the response in plant growth to the manipulation of sunlight – how much or how little sunlight the plants receive.
The questions to address in this study include:
- What is her independent variable? Define independent variable.
- What is her dependent variable? Define dependent variable.
- What is the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable?
- The goal of the biologist’s study is to determine the relationship between sunlight and plant growth. If fertilizer and water aren’t being investigated as to how they affect plant growth, should those factors remain constant or be variable? Why? Define a constant.
The biologist collects her data over the course of a week. Her first plant received 1 hour of sunlight per day and grew 1.25 inches. Her second plant received 2 hours of sunlight and grew 2.50 inches. Her third received 3 hours and grew 4.25 inches. The final received 4 hours of sunlight per day and grew 5.75 inches. Using this info, organize the biologist’s experimental data into a data table (be careful to represent the numbers exactly as they are given to you and label the table and what your columns and rows represent).
Paper For Above Instructions
The foundation of scientific experimentation is rooted in understanding the variables that affect outcomes. In the study conducted by the biologist, various aspects of her experimental design allow us to draw conclusions about the relationship between sunlight and plant growth. This paper will delineate the independent and dependent variables, their definitions, their relationship, along with the constants that need to be maintained throughout the experiment.
Independent and Dependent Variables
The independent variable in this study is the amount of sunlight that each plant receives. The biologist manipulates this variable, changing the duration of sunlight exposure for each plant (1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, and 4 hours) to investigate how it influences plant growth. The term independent variable is defined as a variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test its effects on the dependent variable.
The dependent variable in this context is the growth of the plants, which is measured in inches. The plant height is directly influenced by the amount of sunlight the plants receive. The definition of a dependent variable is the variable that is measured and affected in the experiment. In this case, the biologist tracks the growth of the plants as the independent variable (sunlight) changes.
Relationship Between Independent and Dependent Variables
The relationship between independent and dependent variables is critical in scientific experimentation. Changes made to the independent variable should result in corresponding changes in the dependent variable. In this scenario, as the amount of sunlight increases, we expect to see an increase in plant growth, demonstrating a positive correlation. This direct relationship will help the biologist draw conclusions from her data regarding the effects of sunlight on plant growth.
Constants in the Experiment
Constants are essential in any controlled experiment to ensure that the results are solely due to the manipulation of the independent variable. In this study, factors such as fertilizer, type of plants, water availability, and soil type should remain constant throughout the duration of the experiment. Consistency in these variables ensures that any observed changes in plant growth can be attributed directly to the differences in sunlight exposure. A constant in this experiment is defined as any variable that remains unchanged across all trials, contributing to the integrity of the results.
Experimental Data Table
During her experiment, the biologist documented the growth of the plants based on the hours of sunlight they received. Below is a data table summarizing this information:
| Sunlight (Hours) | Plant Growth (Inches) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.25 |
| 2 | 2.50 |
| 3 | 4.25 |
| 4 | 5.75 |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the experiment designed by the biologist provides valuable insights into the relationship between sunlight and plant growth. Identifying independent and dependent variables effectively forms the backbone of her hypotheses, allowing her to investigate further the underlying principles of plant biology. By maintaining constant variables and carefully documenting her findings in a structured table, the biologist ensures that her conclusions are well-supported by empirical data. Understanding these fundamentals will empower future scientists to design effective experiments, leading to critical discoveries in various fields.
References
- Freedman, D. A. (2005). Statistical Models: Theory and Practice. Cambridge University Press.
- Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics. SAGE Publications.
- Hinton, P. R. (2014). Statistics Explained. Routledge.
- Peck, R., Olsen, C., & Devore, J. (2015). Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis. Cengage Learning.
- Weisstein, E. W. (n.d.). Independent Variable. Wolfram MathWorld. Retrieved from https://mathworld.wolfram.com/IndependentVariable.html
- Weisstein, E. W. (n.d.). Dependent Variable. Wolfram MathWorld. Retrieved from https://mathworld.wolfram.com/DependentVariable.html
- McClave, J. T., & Sincich, T. (2018). Statistics. Pearson.
- Lock, R. H., & Lock, P. (2017). Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences. Pearson.
- Zar, J. H. (2010). Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall.
- Manly, B. F. J. (2007). Statistics for Environmental Science and Management. Chapman and Hall/CRC.