What was the independent variable for the virtual laboratory experiment?
A the amount of carbon dioxide produced
B the type of sugar used as the carbon source
C the amount of oxygen present for the reaction
D the amount of sugar used as the carbon source
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B: the type of sugar used as the carbon source.
In a virtual laboratory experiment that investigates cellular respiration or fermentation, the independent variable is the factor that is deliberately altered or manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable. The dependent variable is the outcome that is measured in response to the changes in the independent variable.
In this case, the independent variable would be the type of sugar used as the carbon source. Different types of sugars, such as glucose, sucrose, or fructose, can be tested to see how they affect the process of cellular respiration or fermentation. The sugar serves as the primary fuel source for the reaction, influencing the amount of carbon dioxide produced or oxygen consumed during the experiment.
The dependent variable would be the outcome of the reaction, such as A: the amount of carbon dioxide produced or the C: the amount of oxygen present for the reaction. These variables are dependent on the type of sugar used and would change based on the manipulation of the independent variable.
In contrast, D: the amount of sugar used as the carbon source would generally remain constant across experimental conditions or be used as a control variable to ensure that the concentration of sugar does not influence the outcome directly. If sugar concentrations were varied, this could introduce additional complexities into the experiment, making it harder to isolate the effects of the sugar type.
In summary, the independent variable is the type of sugar used because it is the factor that is changed in order to observe its impact on the dependent variables like carbon dioxide production or oxygen levels in the experiment.