What Variable?
Lizzie changes the amount of water given to plants to see how tall they grow.
The amount of water is the…
Independent
Why: The independent variable is what you change on purpose. Lizzie is changing the amount of water.
Ms. Black changes the type of fertilizer used on plants.
Independent
Ms. Black is choosing to change the fertilizer, which makes it the independent variable.
Ben changes the number of marshmallows in his cereal to see how happy he is.
Independent
Ben is changing the marshmallows on purpose, so that is the independent variable.
The variable that is measured in an experiment.
Dependent
The dependent variable depends on what you change and is what you measure.
Alyssa changes water, soil, and sunlight all at once. What should she NOT change?
Constant/Control
Constant/Controls should stay the same. Changing too many makes the test unfair.
Evanmeasures how far a paper airplane flies.
The distance flown is the…
Dependent
Why: The dependent variable is what you measure. Evan is measuring the distance the plane flies.
Alpha measures the number of leaves on each plant.
Dependent
The number of leaves is being counted and measured, so it is the dependent variable.
Quinn measures his happiness level after eating cereal.
Dependent
Happiness is the result of the experiment and is being measured.
The variable that is kept the same to make the test fair.
Constant/Control
Constants/controlled variables are kept the same so the experiment is fair.
P.J. only measures results at the end of the test. What variable is he measuring?
Dependent
Results are measured, which makes them dependent variables.
Caitlin uses the same type of soil for every plant.
The soil type is the…
Constant/Control
Why: Constants/controls stay the same to make the experiment fair. Emily is not changing the soil.
Katerina waters each plant with 50 mL of water every day.
Constant/Controlled
The amount of water stays the same for every plant, making it a controlled variable.
Finn eats a plain bagel every day during snack.
Constant/Control
The snack is the same each time, so it is a controlled variable.
The variable that is intentionally changed.
Independent
The independent variable is the one you choose to change.
Evie changes only one thing in her experiment. What variable is she changing?
Independent
The thing she changes on purpose is the independent variable.
Kevin measures how long ice takes to melt.
Time to melt is the…
Dependent
Why: Time to melt is something Kevin measures, so it is the dependent variable.
Mia records how fast plants grow.
Dependent
Growth speed is something Mia observes and measures, so it is dependent.
Ms. Young changes the music volume on some punk rock to see how fast students finish work.
Independent
Music volume is the thing being changed, making it independent.
If this variable changes, the experiment is not fair.
Constant/Control
Constants/Controla must stay the same or the results won’t be accurate.
Angel keeps everything the same except one thing. What part of the experiment stays the same?
Constant/Controlled
The parts that stay the same are constants/controls.
Elijah keeps the same amount of sunlight for every plant.
Sunlight is the…
Constant/Control
Why: Sunlight is kept the same in every test, so it is a constant/control.
Iris uses the same size pot for every plant.
Constant/Controlled
Pot size does not change, which helps keep the experiment fair.
Lucas measures how quickly work is finished.
Dependent
Speed of work is what is being measured, so it is dependent.
This variable depends on what you change.
Dependent
The dependent variable changes because of the independent variable.
Jesse measures results after changing one thing. What variable is measured?
Dependent
Measured results are always dependent variables.