Independent Variables
What is the independent variable in this experiment?
Does the time of day change how fast a runner runs?
The independent variable is the time of day.
What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
Does the time of day change how fast runners run?
The dependent variable is the speed of the runners.
What should some controlled variables be for this experiment?
Does the time of day change how fast runners run?
Examples of controlled variables include:
-type of shoes worn
-how hungry the runners are
-who the runners are
(There are many other controlled variables possible.)
The results that get measured in an experiment.
Dependent variable
How many independent variables should an experiment have?
One. Exactly one.
What is the independent variable?
Does hitting a magnet with a hammer make it weaker?
Being hit/not hit with a hammer
What is the dependent variable?
Do longer school days make student grades higher?
The grades students get
Do more magnets make a larger pattern in iron filings?
Possible controlled variables could be:
-The type of magnet
-The amount of iron filings
-The surface that the iron filings are spread on
A part of an experiment that remains unchanged throughout the entire experiment, so that the effect of the other changes may be understood.
Controlled variables
Is it better to have a lot of controlled variables or a small number of controlled variables?
It is better to have a lot of controlled variables.
What is the independent variable?
Does dark chocolate or white chocolate melt faster when placed in the sun?
The type of chocolate
What is the dependent variable?
Does adding salt to water make it boil faster?
How long it takes for water to boil
What is a controlled variable?
Does listening to loud music with headphones make people lose their hearing?
Possible controlled variables could be:
-The type of music
-The age of the people
-The volume of the music
You could call this variable the result of your experiment.
Dependent variable
What problem could you easily have if you don't pay attention to controlled variables?
Possible answer:
If you don't pay attention to controlled variables, you are likely to change more than one thing and then it will be impossible to know if the results are the result of changes you made to the independent variable
What is the independent variable?
Do paper airplanes made with newsprint, card stock, or printer paper fly the farthest?
The type of paper
What is the dependent variable?
Are taller horses able to jump higher?
How high the horses jump
What is a controlled variable?
Are heavier magnets able to pick up objects that weigh more?
Possible controlled variables:
-What material the objects being picked up are made of
-The temperature of the magnets
-How old the magnets are
Having the same amount of clay on a car, whether or not it had dimples, is an example of this type of variable.
Controlled
what is the first part of the scientific method
to ask a question
What is the independent variable?
Does Mentos candy make a higher soda fountain in warm soda or cold soda?
The temperature of the soda
What is the dependent variable?
Is plant growth affected by the color of the light in which the plant grows?
The height of the plant OR
The number of leaves the plant has OR
The weight of the plant OR
Some other reasonable way to measure the size of the plant
What is a controlled variable?
What type of pet is able to learn tricks faster?
Possible controlled variables could be:
-How long training sessions are
-The type of tricks taught
-Whether or not rewards are used
This is the variable that scientists are most curious about, because they don't know how it will turn out until they do an experiment
Dependent varible
what is a hypothesis?
an educated guess of the outcome of the experiment, that is in If.........,Then format.