1.7 TYPES OF VARIABLES

1.7 TYPES OF VARIABLES

Controlled, manipulated and responding variables are important to consider when planning an investigation. 

Key Words and Phrases 

controlled, manipulated, responding, dependent, independent, variable, observe, measure, change

Multiple Select

What are some variables the students could change or manipulate in order to make their rocket fly far?

• Length of nosecone

• weight of nosecone

• number of fins

• position of fins

Multiple Select

If you were the designer of the egg drop competition, what variables would you have pay special attention to in order to insure that it was fair for everyone? (these are the variables that are kept the same)

• Same materials for everyone

• same amount of time to make it

• same number of people on each team

• dropped in the same way

• scored the same way

Multiple Choice

A variable is anything that affects your experiment. There are several different types of variables.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The manipulated or _______ variable is the variable the scientist changes. A good experiment has only one of these.

• independent

• dependent

Multiple Choice

Name the manipulated variable from the experiment with the robot .

• The brand of shoe

• How far the arrow flies

Multiple Choice

The responding or ________ variable is the variable scientists observe or measure. It may change or respond when you change the manipulated variable.

• independent

• dependent

Multiple Choice

Name the responding variable from the experiment with the robot and the bow and arrow.

• brand of shoe

• How far the arrow flies

Multiple Choice

Controlled variables insure your test is fair. Controlled variables do not change during the experiment

• true

• false

Multiple Select

Name some controlled variables from robot and unicycle experiment.

• Pedal same speed and direction

• use same robot

Multiple Choice

Failure to pay attention to controlled variables could make your investigation unreliable.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The manipulated variable is what you change.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The responding variable is what you measure

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

controlled variables are what you keep the same

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Your scientific question and hypothesis include both the manipulated and responding variables.

• true

• false

 Here is the scientific question for our caterpillar investigation.  

What is the effect of raising polyphemus moth caterpillars inside or outside on their growth rate? 

Multiple Choice

what is the responding variable?

• What is the effect of raising polyphemus moth caterpillars inside or outside

• growth rate

 Here is the hypothesis for our caterpillar investigation.  

If I raise some caterpillars inside and others outside, then those raised outside will grow in length faster than those raised inside, because warmer outside temperatures are part of their natural environment. 

Multiple Choice

What is the manipulated variable?

• If I raise some caterpillars inside and others outside

• will grow in length faster

Multiple Select

What variables are being controlled in the caterpillar investigation?

• Amount of water

• food

• same size container

• how often cleaned

Multiple Select

What variables are not being controlled in the caterpillar investigation?

• Wind

• temperature

• humidity

• pests

• sunlight

Multiple Select

If some variables are not being controlled, how could this affect the investigation?

• Your results would be unreliable

• If someone tried to repeat it they might not get the same results.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following variables are controlled in the Mentos experiment?

• A. the size of the bottle

• B. the amount of diet soda

• C. the number of Mentos

• D. All of these

Poll

Give it a 1,2, 3, 4!

• 1 I GET IT!

• 2 I’m pretty close!

• 3 Still working on it!

• 4 I’m watching this again!