If a scientist changes the amount of sunlight and records plant growth, what is the independent variable?

If a scientist changes the amount of sunlight and records plant growth, what is the independent variable?

• A. Amount of sunlight
• B. Plant growth
• C. Soil type
• D. Watering frequency

Answer: (A)

The factor you change on purpose in an experiment is the amount of sunlight, because the setup describes adjusting how much light plants receive to see how they respond. This is the independent variable—the variable you deliberately alter to observe its effect. Plant growth is what you measure to see the outcome, so it’s the dependent variable, the result that changes in response to the sunlight. Other factors like soil type or watering frequency could influence growth, but they aren’t the variable being manipulated here.

The factor you change on purpose in an experiment is the amount of sunlight, because the setup describes adjusting how much light plants receive to see how they respond. This is the independent variable—the variable you deliberately alter to observe its effect. Plant growth is what you measure to see the outcome, so it’s the dependent variable, the result that changes in response to the sunlight. Other factors like soil type or watering frequency could influence growth, but they aren’t the variable being manipulated here.