Nature of Science and Variables

Science 2025-2026

Hypothesis

A scientific prediction that can be tested

Scientific Statement

What you must keep the same in an investigation

Dependent Variable

Can be tested to provide evidence for or against the statement

Independent Variable

What you change in an investigation

Control Variable

What you measure in your investigation

Water molecules are … to other molecules

Attracted

This attraction is what gives water its … properties

Cohesive

Which variable belongs on the x-axis

Independent variable

Which variable belongs on the y-axis

Dependent variable

Which variable does Jenna change, how?

Independent variable; adding water

What variable was affected by the change of the independent variable, how?

Dependent variable; plant growth

What are the controlled variables in this experiment

Same amount of soil, light, and plant type

What was the independent variable in the second experiment

Type of rice

What is the dependent variable in the second experiment

Chickens health

What was really making the chickens in the second group sick

They only ate polished rice so they didn’t have thiamine in their diet.