ATI TEAS Science Related

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When testing how quickly a rat dies based on the amount of poison it eats, which of the following is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable?

  • A. How quickly the rat dies is the independent variable; the amount of poison is the dependent variable.
  • B. The amount of poison is the independent variable; how quickly the rat dies is the dependent variable.
  • C. Whether the rat eats the poison is the independent variable; how quickly the rat dies is the dependent variable.
  • D. The cage the rat is kept in is the independent variable; the amount of poison is the dependent variable.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. In this experiment, the independent variable is the amount of poison because it is what is being manipulated by the researcher. The dependent variable is how quickly the rat dies, as it is the outcome that is being measured based on the different amounts of poison administered. Choice A is incorrect because the independent variable should be what is being manipulated or changed, which is the amount of poison in this case. Choice C is incorrect because whether the rat eats the poison is not being varied or controlled by the researcher. Choice D is incorrect because the cage the rat is kept in is not relevant to the relationship being studied between the amount of poison and the rat's survival time.