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9-11 Identifying Controls and Variables Notes

Variables make science experiments more meaningful and help identify relationships. There are three main types of variables: independent variables which are purposefully changed; dependent variables which change in response and are measured; and controlled variables which are kept the same. For example, in an experiment about plant growth, the amount of sunlight (independent variable) is systematically varied while measuring plant height (dependent variable), keeping other factors like water and soil conditions the same (controlled variables). Properly identifying these variable types leads to more reliable and meaningful experimental results.

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67 views1 page

9-11 Identifying Controls and Variables Notes

Variables make science experiments more meaningful and help identify relationships. There are three main types of variables: independent variables which are purposefully changed; dependent variables which change in response and are measured; and controlled variables which are kept the same. For example, in an experiment about plant growth, the amount of sunlight (independent variable) is systematically varied while measuring plant height (dependent variable), keeping other factors like water and soil conditions the same (controlled variables). Properly identifying these variable types leads to more reliable and meaningful experimental results.

Uploaded by

Angelica Ayson Morano
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Science Skills

Identify and
Variables make science exciting. What Control Variables
is a variable? The root word of variable
is vary. When you vary something, you
change it. So, variables are things that can
Every experiment should have only one
change. In science, there are three main
independent variable. If the question were

© iStockphoto.com/Tang Wai
types of variables: independent, dependent, “How much sun and water does a plant
and controlled. Think about variables for a need?” two things would be being studied
question such as, “Does a bean plant grow at once—sun and water, which would be
best in sun or shade?” confusing. It’s important to change only
one variable at a time.
First, identify the variable that will
be changed. In this case, the amount of light The only way to get reliable results
that the plant receives is changed. This is from this experiment is to make sure that
the independent variable. all the other variables stay the same, or
Next, figure out what will be measured. are controlled. There are many variables
For this question, the amount that the that would need to be controlled in this
plants grow is what is being measured, experiment. Examples include: how much
so this is the dependent variable. The water each plant gets, what kind of soil the
dependent variable depends on the plants are in, and the temperature of the air.
independent variable. The amount that the If any of these variables were to change
plants grow depends on the amount of sun during the experiment, you could not
they get. The independent variable is what be certain that the results occurred solely
you change, and the dependent variable is due to the amount of sunlight each plant got.
what happens because of the change. Understanding the differences between
independent, dependent, and controlled
variables will help make all your science
experiments more successful.

oW
 hat is an independent variable?
oW
 hat type of measurement tool
illustration by Cende Hill

would you use if your dependent


variable were the temperature of water?
oW
 hy is it important that all variables
in an experiment, except for the
Circle the parts of the picture that show the independent variable, are controlled?
independent variable.

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