11.2.8
Variables
Variables
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.
1Year 5: Living Things & Their Habitats
1.1Asexual Reproduction
1.2Sexual Reproduction
1.3Fertilisation
1.4Reproduction in Plants
1.5Life Cycles in Plants
1.6Life Cycles in Mammals
1.7Life Cycles in Amphibians
1.8Life Cycles in Birds
1.9Life Cycles in Insects
1.10Understanding the Natural World
2Year 5: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 5: Properties & Changes of Materials
3.1Properties of Materials
3.2Separating Mixtures
3.3Experiments
4Year 5: Earth & Space
5Year 5: Forces
5.2Forces that Move Objects
5.3Gears, Levers & Pulleys
6Year 6: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Classification of Living Things
7Year 6: Animals (Including Humans)
8Year 6: Evolution & Inheritance
9Year 6: Light
9.1How Do We See?
10Year 6: Electricity
11Year 5 & 6: Working Scientifically
11.1Thinking Scientifically
11.2Scientific Enquiry
11.3Planning an Investigation
11.4Carrying Out an Investigation
11.5Writing Up an Investigation
11.6Conclusions & Discussions
Jump to other topics
1Year 5: Living Things & Their Habitats
1.1Asexual Reproduction
1.2Sexual Reproduction
1.3Fertilisation
1.4Reproduction in Plants
1.5Life Cycles in Plants
1.6Life Cycles in Mammals
1.7Life Cycles in Amphibians
1.8Life Cycles in Birds
1.9Life Cycles in Insects
1.10Understanding the Natural World
2Year 5: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 5: Properties & Changes of Materials
3.1Properties of Materials
3.2Separating Mixtures
3.3Experiments
4Year 5: Earth & Space
5Year 5: Forces
5.2Forces that Move Objects
5.3Gears, Levers & Pulleys
6Year 6: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Classification of Living Things
7Year 6: Animals (Including Humans)
8Year 6: Evolution & Inheritance
9Year 6: Light
9.1How Do We See?
10Year 6: Electricity
11Year 5 & 6: Working Scientifically
11.1Thinking Scientifically
11.2Scientific Enquiry
11.3Planning an Investigation
11.4Carrying Out an Investigation
11.5Writing Up an Investigation
11.6Conclusions & Discussions
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