Question

In the context of the scientific method, what is a constant?

A) A variable that changes over time and cannot be controlled.
B) A factor that remains consistent and is not manipulated during an experiment.
C) An unpredictable element that affects the outcome of an experiment.
D) A variable that is intentionally altered to observe its effect on the experiment.

Answer 1

A constant in the scientific method is B) a factor that remains consistent and is not manipulated during an experiment. It is a variable held constant in all parts of the experiment.

Step-by-step explanation:

A constant in the context of the scientific method is a factor that remains consistent and is not manipulated during an experiment. It is a variable that is held constant in all parts of the experiment.

For example, in an experiment testing the growth of algae in freshwater ponds, the presence or absence of phosphate can be the variable being tested.

The volume of water in each tank can be a controlled variable, as it is kept constant for all test subjects. The control group, on the other hand, consists of the tanks that receive a non-nutritional mineral instead of phosphate.

By holding the variables constant, scientists can observe the effects of the independent variables and determine if they have any influence on the dependent variable.