Independent, Dependent, and Controlled Variables

The ___________ variable is the 1 variable that is changed or tested in an experiment

• independent

• dependent

• controlled

The factors that stay the same or are constant throughout the experiment.

• Controlled Variable

• Dependent Variable

• Independent Variable

In a controlled experiment, how many independent variables can be tested at a time?

• one

• none

• two or more

• how ever many makes sense.

Why is it important to have only one independent variable and to control the other variables when performing science experiments?

• So you can tell which factor is causing the change in the experiment.

• It does not matter, you can have as many independent variables as you want.

Ben makes five paper helicopters with different wing lengths. He drops them the same way from a height of two meters for five trials each. He records the amount of time it takes for each helicopter to fall to the ground.

What is the independent variable?

• Dropping the same way

• Wing Length

• Amount of time it takes the helicopter to hit the floor

• Dropping from the same height

Ben makes five paper helicopters with different wing lengths. He drops them the same way from a height of two meters for five trials each. He records the amount of time it takes for each helicopter to fall to the ground.

What is the dependent variable?

• Dropping the same way

• Wing Length

• Amount of time it takes the helicopter to hit the floor

• Dropping from the same height

What would the INDEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing which types of paper airplane goes furthest?

• the paper used
• the type of paper airplane
• the distance of each plane's flight
• how hard the plane is thrown

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Ms. S set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. What is the dependent variable?

• Distance traveled by the ball
• Height of the ramp
• Mass of the ball
• Where the experiment took place.

Ms. S set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. Identify the independent variable.

• Distance traveled by the ball
• Height of the ramp
• Mass of the ball
• Who set up the experiment (Ms. S, etc)

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Tiffany was investing how fast it took Hayden to react to different sounds. Identify the independent variable.

• How fast Hayden reacted
• different sounds
• types of music
• Hayden