This is for a plant growth experiment… what are the independent and dependent variables? amount of water, water ph, amount of sunlight, type of soil, ph of soil, temperature, and humidity
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
- Independent variables:
Amount of water, water pH, amount of sunlight, type of soil, soil pH, temperature, humidity - Dependent variable:
Plant growth
Explanation:
In a plant growth experiment, variables play a key role in determining the outcome and ensuring a controlled and measurable scientific process. To understand the experiment correctly, it is important to distinguish between independent and dependent variables.
Independent variables are the factors that the experimenter changes or manipulates. These variables are chosen to see how they affect the outcome. In this case, the independent variables include:
- Amount of water given to the plant
- Water pH, which affects nutrient absorption
- Amount of sunlight received, which influences photosynthesis
- Type of soil, as different soils have different nutrient contents
- Soil pH, which can affect nutrient availability
- Temperature, as extreme conditions can hinder growth
- Humidity, which influences water loss through transpiration
Each of these factors can be adjusted in an experiment to observe how they influence the plant.
On the other hand, the dependent variable is what the experimenter measures in response to changes in the independent variables. In this case, the dependent variable is plant growth. Growth can be measured in various ways, such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter, or biomass.
The goal of the experiment is to observe how changes in the independent variables affect the dependent variable. For instance, you may want to know how different soil types or water pH levels influence how tall the plant grows. By keeping other conditions constant and changing only one independent variable at a time, researchers can isolate its effect on growth.
This structure allows for accurate data collection, comparison, and analysis, ultimately leading to better understanding of how environmental conditions affect plant development.
