Question

A Biology student wants to conduct a study of how much sunlight affects the length of sleep for mice. She sets up four cages with a mouse in each cage. What are the independent variable, dependent variable, and constants?

Answer 1

The independent variable would be the variable in the research that is being manipulated by the researcher. In this case, it would be amount of sunlight as it is what is being manipulated and changed in the research design. The dependent variable would be the variable that is being studied so, for this case, it would be the length of sleep of the mice. The constants are the factors that might affect the dependent variable but is held constant or the same by the researcher throughout the experiment. These are the size of cage, amount of water, amount of food, temperature and the exercise wheel.

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct answer will be options-

1. Indpendent variable: amount of sunlight

2. Dependent variable: sleep of mice

3. Constants: amount of water, temperature, amount of food, size of cage and exercise wheel.

Explanation:

The experiment is designed to find the answers to a question. In the given question the experiment was performed to study the effect of sunlight on the sleep pattern of mice.

The experiment variables in experimental design can be categorized  into three classes:

1. Independent variable: The variable which can be controlled and can be changed easily in an experimental setup like the amount of sunlight can be changed.

2. Dependent variables: The variable which is being studied in an experiment like the sleep of mice.

3. Constants: The variable which is kept constant throughout the experiment but can affect the dependent variable like the amount of water, temperature, amount of food, size of cage and exercise wheel.

Thus, the selected options are the correct answer.