Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi. My science project problem is: What cleaning agent inhibits the growth of bacteria the best? I used four petri dishes and swabbed our door handle and then swabbed each dish using a new swab each time. I used a control petri dish and 3 others: soap and water, anti-bacterial soap and water and hand sanitizer. Can you please verify my independent variable? I think it is the cleaning agent, but I am not 100% sure. My project is due January 4, 2012 and I am in the middle of typing everything out. Thank you, Nicholas from the USA.

Hi, and welcome to the forums!
Have you looked at the Variables in Your Science Fair Project page, here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml?

You may find it useful to look at the page.

Anyways, the independent variable is what's affecting the experiment. So if you have a cause and effect hypothesis, the independent variable would be the cause.

Good luck,
blueswim