A scientist is investigating the results of varying temperature on the growth rate of a bacterial culture. In this experiment, temperature is the _____.
A)dependent variable
B)independent variable
C)control
D)model
E)hypothesis

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In this experiment, the scientist is intentionally manipulating the temperature to see its effect on the growth rate of the bacterial culture. Therefore, temperature is the independent variable. The dependent variable is the growth rate, as it is the variable that is measured and observed in response to the change in the independent variable. A control is a standard for comparison in an experiment and a model is a simplified representation used to study complex systems, neither of which apply to the temperature in this experiment. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for an observed phenomenon and is not the variable being manipulated in this experiment.

A Scientist Is Investigating the Results of Varying Temperature on the Growth