I'm doing a time temperature graph for a science experiment; which variable goes on which axis?

Question

I was thinking that time always goes on the bottom, but then again the first variable stated should always be placed on the y-axis..so I'm not really sure!

Please clarify

thanks so much!

Answer 1

Time would be your indepentent variable and would go on the x (horizontal) axis.  Temperature which will vary is your dependent variable and should go on the y (vertical) axis.

Answer 2

You are correct about the Yaxis

Water with ice at 32F (0C),  boiling water 212f (100C) and room temp assumed to be 70F(21C), these data points are your test standards and would be the same no matter how you repeated the experiment against other variables  and would be on your X axis. In this case time is your measured variable.

Variables in your experiment besides water temp would also include the mass of the item being disolved, the amount of water,whether or not the tablet is solid or ground up (increases surface area), The material being disolved (same brand & type of alka seltzer, or different material like sugar cubes, and salt) and are you stiring the mixture while disolving.