An experiment is conducted to find out if plants grow towards light. A potted pl

Question

An experiment is conducted to find out if plants grow towards light. A potted plant is lit from one side, and you see if it grows towards the lamp. However, there’s something more that has to be done; we must obtain a second plant and light it from above. We need this second plant to provide a standard with which to compare the first plant. The second plant in the experiment is called the control. It is essential that the two plants are kept in exactly the same conditions, except for the light they receive. That is, you must keep all the variables constant except for the one whose effect we are investigating.

What are the dependent and independent variables for the plant experiment?

Explanation / Answer

A variable is in an experiment is component which will fluctuate and in this case, the direction of the light is one variable. It may also be amount of light, temperature, humidity, time changes, or plant growth. Variables may be independent or dependent, based on the external interference. For example, the independent variable may be changed by its own or being changed intentionally. Likewise, the factor, for which the impact(s) is/ are to be observed, is called dependent variable.

Now, in this case the effect of the direction of light on plant growth is to be observed and thus the direction of light is the dependent variable, light is independent variable. However, in any experiment all remaining factors must be constant.

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