Variables in Science

Imagine Harper, Scarlett, and James are conducting a science experiment. They come across different types of variables. Can you help them identify these variables?

• Test variables, outcome variables, and regulated variables

• Manipulated variables, responding variables, and constant variables

• Control variables, experimental variables, and observational variables

• Independent variables, dependent variables, and controlled variables

Answer explanation

In scientific experiments, there are three types of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled. The independent variable is the one that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment. The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured, while a controlled variable is one that must stay the same throughout the experiment.

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Imagine Aria, Luna, and Nora are conducting a science experiment. Which variable do you think they would intentionally change or manipulate during their experiment?

• A random variable

• A dependent variable

• A control variable

• An independent variable

Answer explanation

In an experiment, the variable that is intentionally changed or manipulated by the scientist is the independent variable. This is the variable that is controlled by the experimenter to observe its effect on the dependent variable. The other options, such as the random variable and control variable, are not manipulated by the scientist.

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Imagine Jackson, Avery, and Lily are conducting a science experiment. Which variable do you think they would observe or measure that is affected by the independent variable they set?

• The independent variable that Jackson set

• The dependent variable that Avery is observing

• The control variable that Lily is maintaining

• The extraneous variable that they are trying to minimize

Answer explanation

The dependent variable is the one that is observed or measured in an experiment and is affected by the independent variable. It is the outcome or result that researchers are interested in understanding, predicting, or explaining.

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Avery, Charlotte, and Isla are conducting a science experiment for their school project. They want to ensure that only one variable affects their results. Which variable should they keep constant or unchanged to ensure this?

• control variable

• independent variable

• dependent variable

• experimental variable

Answer explanation

In an experiment, the control variable is kept constant or unchanged to ensure that only the independent variable affects the dependent variable. This helps in isolating the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, making the results more reliable and accurate.

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Imagine Harper, Aiden, and Grace are conducting a science experiment. Which term would they use to describe the variable they are changing or manipulating in their experiment?

• controlled variable

• dependent variable

• manipulated variable

• constant

Answer explanation

The independent variable, also known as the manipulated variable, is the variable that is deliberately changed or controlled in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable. The other options, controlled variable and constant, refer to variables that remain unchanged, while the dependent variable is the one that is measured or observed as a result of the independent variable's manipulation.

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Elijah, Henry, and Liam are conducting a science experiment. They are trying to figure out what another term for the dependent variable is. Can you help them out?

• control variable

• explanatory variable

• response variable

• independent variable

Answer explanation

The dependent variable is also known as the response variable because it is the variable that is being measured or observed in an experiment or study. It depends on the independent variable, which is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

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Abigail, Kai, and Nora are working on a science project. They are trying to figure out what another term for the controlled variable is. Can you help them out?

• Is it the dependent variable?

• Could it be the manipulated variable?

• Maybe it's the experimental variable?

• Or is it the independent variable?

Answer explanation

In an experiment, the controlled variable, also known as the independent variable, is the one that is deliberately changed or manipulated by the researcher. This is to observe the effect on the dependent variable. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 'independent variable'.

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Imagine Noah, Aria, and Evelyn are conducting a science experiment. What would be the purpose of the controlled variable in their experiment?

• It's the variable that Noah, Aria, and Evelyn keep changing throughout the experiment

• It's the variable that Aria decides to manipulate during the experiment

• It's the variable that Evelyn measures and records at the end of the experiment

• It's the variable that Noah, Aria, and Evelyn decide to keep constant and unchanged throughout the experiment

Answer explanation

In an experiment, the purpose of the controlled variable is to remain constant and unchanged throughout the experiment. This is because it allows for a fair test by ensuring that only the independent variable being tested can cause changes in the dependent variable. Therefore, the correct answer is 'To remain constant and unchanged throughout the experiment'.

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Hannah, Maya, and Avery are conducting a science experiment. Which variable is not intentionally changed or manipulated by the scientist, but may still affect the dependent variable?

• confounding variable

• extraneous variable

• independent variable

• control variable

Answer explanation

A confounding variable is not intentionally changed or manipulated by the scientist, but it may still affect the dependent variable. This is because it is an extraneous variable that correlates with both the independent and dependent variables, potentially leading to incorrect conclusions about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

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Zoe, William, and Aiden are having a debate about variables in their science project. What is the main difference between the independent variable and the dependent variable that they should know?

• The independent variable is the outcome that is measured or observed, while the dependent variable is manipulated by the researcher.

• The independent variable and the dependent variable are the same thing.

• The independent variable and the dependent variable are unrelated and have no impact on each other.

• The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is the outcome that is measured or observed.

Answer explanation

The question asks about the main difference between independent and dependent variables. The correct answer is that the independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is the outcome that is measured or observed. This means that the researcher changes the independent variable to see how it affects the dependent variable.

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