Question

In an experiment, a scientist wants to study how much sugar can be mixed in water at different temperatures. The scientist changes the temperature of the water and measures how much sugar dissolves in the water. In this experiment, what would be the dependent variable? How do you know?

a) Temperature of the water; because it is manipulated by the scientist.
b) Amount of sugar dissolved; because it is measured based on the change in temperature.
c) Time taken for sugar to dissolve; because it varies with temperature.
d) Type of sugar used; because it affects the experiment's outcome.

Answer 1

In the scientist's experiment, the dependent variable is the amount of sugar dissolved, as it is the outcome measured in response to changing the temperature of the water.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an experiment where a scientist is studying how much sugar can be mixed in water at different temperatures, the dependent variable would be the amount of sugar that dissolves in the water. This is because the dependent variable is the aspect being measured or observed, which in this case is the amount of sugar dissolved as the temperature changes. Therefore, the correct answer is b) Amount of sugar dissolved; because it is measured based on the change in temperature.

The independent variable here is the temperature of the water, which the scientist manipulates to observe the effect on the dependent variable. The relationship between the independent and dependent variables is crucial for drawing conclusions from the experiment. For example, it is known that the solubility of substances such as sugar increases with temperature, which is expected to be observed in this experiment.