Question

unknown mineral
dean was completing an investigation at school to identify mineral samples.
the teacher gave each group of students a set of minerals numbered 1 - 6, a
magnifying glass, a porcelain plate, a set of common items, a triple beam
balance, a graduated cylinder of 30 ml of water and a data sheet. dean was
fascinated by one sample. mineral #3 was a transparent mineral and he
wondered what it was. dean and his group members exposed the minerals to
four tests. they observed the color, used the common items to test for
hardness, used the porcelain plate to determine the color of the minerals
powder, and used measuring tools to calculate the density of each mineral.

directions: drag the correct answers to the boxes.
identify the components of this investigation.
independent variable
dependent variable
constants

magnifying glass

results of the four test

porcelain plate

set of common items

graduated cylinder with 30 ml of water and triple beam balance

minerals numbered 1 - 6

Explanation:

• Independent Variable: This is the variable that is changed or manipulated in an experiment. In this case, the minerals numbered 1 - 6 are what the students are testing, so they are the independent variable.
• Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is what is measured or observed as a result of the change in the independent variable. Here, the results of the four tests (which would show characteristics of the minerals like color, hardness etc.) are what is being observed based on the type of mineral (independent variable), so the results of the four tests are the dependent variable.
• Constants: Constants are the factors that are kept the same throughout the experiment. The magnifying glass, set of common items, porcelain plate, graduated cylinder with 30 ml of water and triple beam balance are tools and items that are used consistently for each mineral sample, so they are constants.

Answer:

• Independent Variable: minerals numbered 1 - 6
• Dependent Variable: results of the four test
• Constants: magnifying glass, set of common items, porcelain plate, graduated cylinder with 30 ml of water and triple beam balance