11.2.8

Variables

Test yourself on Variables

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Variables

Imagine you want to test how the room temperature affects the melting of an ice cream.

Independent variable

Independent variable

  • The independent variable is the factor that you manipulate.
  • There should only be one independent variable per experiment, so you know that this variable caused the results.
  • In our example, the room temperature is the independent variable.
Dependent variable

Dependent variable

  • The dependent variable is what you observe or measure.
    • The dependent variable is affected by the independent variable.
  • In our example, the melting speed of the ice cream is the dependent variable.
Controlled variables

Controlled variables

  • The controlled variables are all the other factors that must be kept as constant as possible.
    • If controlled variables change, it will be impossible to know if the results were caused by the independent variable.
  • In our experiment, things like the flavour and the size of the ice cream are the controlled variables.
Jump to other topics
1

Year 5: Living Things & Their Habitats

1.1

Asexual Reproduction

1.1.1Basics of Asexual Reproduction1.1.2Uses of Asexual Reproduction
1.2

Sexual Reproduction

1.2.1Basics of Sexual Reproduction1.2.2Reproductive Cells in Animals1.2.3Reproductive Cells in Plants
1.3

Fertilisation

1.3.1Fertilisation1.3.2Internal Fertilisation - Type 11.3.3Internal Fertilisation - Type 21.3.4Internal Fertilisation - Type 31.3.5External Fertilisation in Water
1.4

Reproduction in Plants

1.4.1Sexual Reproduction in Plants - Male1.4.2Sexual Reproduction in Plants - Female1.4.3Pollination
1.5

Life Cycles in Plants

1.5.1Seeds & Germination1.5.2Growth & Pollination
1.6

Life Cycles in Mammals

1.6.1Gestation & Young Mammals1.6.2Adult Mammals
1.7

Life Cycles in Amphibians

1.7.1Birth & Young Amphibians1.7.2Adult Amphibians
1.8

Life Cycles in Birds

1.8.1Birds' Eggs1.8.2Young & Adult Birds
1.9

Life Cycles in Insects

1.9.1Eggs & Larva1.9.2Pupa & Adults
1.10

Understanding the Natural World

1.10.1Animal Behaviourists1.10.2Naturalists
2

Year 5: Animals (Including Humans)

2.1

Humans Life Cycles

2.1.1Fertilisation & Early Development in Humans2.1.2Adolescence & Adult Humans
2.2

Gestation

2.2.1Early Stages of Gestation2.2.2The Umbilical Cord2.2.3Foetus & Birth2.2.4Comparing Gestation of Animals
3

Year 5: Properties & Changes of Materials

3.1

Properties of Materials

3.1.1Materials3.1.2Hardness, Solubility, Transparency3.1.3Conductors & Magnetic3.1.4Metals & Wood3.1.5Plastic
3.2

Separating Mixtures

3.2.1Salt Separation3.2.2Separating Solids from Liquids3.2.3Physical Changes3.2.4Chemical Changes
3.3

Experiments

3.3.1Conducting Experiments
4

Year 5: Earth & Space

4.1

How Do We Have Night & Day?

4.1.1The Sun & the Moon4.1.2Earth and Other Planets4.1.3The Solar System4.1.4Planet Features4.1.5Day & Night4.1.6Moons of the Solar System
5

Year 5: Forces

5.1

Forces

5.1.1What are Forces?5.1.2What do Forces Do?
5.2

Forces that Move Objects

5.2.1Friction5.2.2Air Resistance5.2.3Reducing Air Resistance5.2.4Water Resistance5.2.5Reducing Water Resistance5.2.6The Discovery of Gravity5.2.7The Force of Gravity5.2.8Gravity & Other Forces
5.3

Gears, Levers & Pulleys

5.3.1Gears5.3.2Levers5.3.3Pulleys
6

Year 6: Living Things & Their Habitats

6.1

Classification of Living Things

6.1.1Classification of Living Things6.1.2The Animal Kingdom6.1.3Vertebrates & Invertebrates6.1.4Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles6.1.5Birds & Mammals6.1.6Arthropods, Molluscs, Annelids6.1.7The Plant Kingdom6.1.8Groups of Plants6.1.9Microorganisms & Viruses6.1.10Using Keys to Classify Living Things
7

Year 6: Animals (Including Humans)

7.1

The Circulatory System

7.1.1Blood Cells7.1.2Substances Transported in the Blood7.1.3Blood Vessels7.1.4Pulmonary Artery & Pulmonary Vein7.1.5The Heart7.1.6Chambers of the Heart
8

Year 6: Evolution & Inheritance

8.1

Evolution

8.1.1Adaptation to Cold Areas8.1.2Adaptation to Hot Areas8.1.3Variation in Humans8.1.4Variation in Dogs8.1.5Evolution & Mutations8.1.6Examples of Evolution8.1.7Fossils8.1.8Natural Selection8.1.9Darwin & Wallace
9

Year 6: Light

9.1

How Do We See?

9.1.1Light9.1.2Light & Shadows9.1.3Reflection9.1.4Periscopes
10

Year 6: Electricity

10.1

What is Electricity?

10.1.1Electricity, Current & Voltage10.1.2Electrical Symbols10.1.3Circuit Diagrams: Lamp10.1.4Circuit Diagrams: Buzzer10.1.5Electrical Safety
11

Year 5 & 6: Working Scientifically

11.1

Thinking Scientifically

11.1.1Scientific Questions11.1.2Ideas & Evidence11.1.3Punished Scientists:Galileo Galilei11.1.4Evidence is Not Proof11.1.5Hypothesis11.1.6Theory
11.2

Scientific Enquiry

11.2.1Starting an Enquiry11.2.2Observations & Testing11.2.3Research11.2.4Data Patterns11.2.5Correlations11.2.6Sorting & Classifying11.2.7Tools for Sorting & Classifying11.2.8Variables
11.3

Planning an Investigation

11.3.1Planning an Investigation: Question11.3.2Planning an Investigation: Equipment11.3.3Planning an Investigation: Equipment (2)11.3.4Planning an Investigation: Measurement
11.4

Carrying Out an Investigation

11.4.1Health & Safety11.4.2Using Equipment Correctly11.4.3Observing, Measuring & Recording11.4.4Replication & Annomalies11.4.5Recording & Presenting Information
11.5

Writing Up an Investigation

11.5.1Writing Up an Investigation11.5.2Presenting Data11.5.3Diagrams & Images
11.6

Conclusions & Discussions

11.6.1Writing a Conclusion11.6.2Finalising Your Conclusion

Practice questions on Variables

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is the variable that you change in an experiment?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What is the variable that you observe or measure in an experiment?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Bobby is investigating how the size of a paper aeroplane affects the distance it flies. What is the dependent variable?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Lizzie is investigating how the amount of water affects the growth of a plant. What is the independent variable?Multiple choice
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Tools for Sorting & Classifying

Planning an Investigation: Question