4.1.6

Variables

Test yourself

Variables

There are lots of factors that can change in an experiment. These factors need to be monitored closely in order to analyse your data and be able to explain your results.

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Types of variables

  • There are three types of variables:
    • Independent variables
    • Dependent variables
    • Control variables
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Independent variable

  • The independent variable is the variable that you change in an experiment.
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Dependent variable

  • The dependent variable is the variable that is measured in an experiment.
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Control variables

  • Control variables are the variables that are kept the same in an experiment.
    • Control variables help you to measure the influence of the independent variable.

Variables - Common experiments

Rolling a ball down a ramp is a common experiment. Dissolving magnesium in acid is a common experiment. These common experiments have variables.

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Common experiments

  • Common experiments include:
    • Rolling a ball down a ramp.
    • Checking which acid dissolves a ribbon of magnesium the quickest.
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Rolling a ball down a ramp

  • This experiment aims to learn whether the height of a ramp affects speed.
    • The independent variable is the height of the ramp.
    • The dependent variable is the speed of the ball.
  • Control variables include:
    • The material of the ball
    • The material of the ramp
    • The mass of the ball
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Dissolving magnesium

  • This experiment aims to learn which acid dissolves a ribbon of magnesium fastest.
    • The independent variable is the type of acid.
    • The dependent variable is how quickly the magnesium dissolves.
  • Control variables include:
    • The volume of the acid
    • The concentration of the acid
    • The length of the magnesium ribbon
    • The mass of the magnesium ribbon

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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