Variables | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What does 'to measure' mean in a science experiment?
- To guess what will happen.
- To observe what happens.
- To record a quantity or value. ✓
True or False: Changing many things you're testing at once during your experiment makes a good experiment.
- True
- False ✓
Which of the following are things you can use to observe what happens in an experiment?
- Your eyes. ✓
- Your ears. ✓
- Your watch.
- Your calculator.
Match each action with its correct experimental term.
- Guessing
  
  ⇔
  
  Predicting ✓
- Watching
  
  ⇔
  
  Observing ✓
- Keeping the same
  
  ⇔
  
  Controlling ✓
When we talk about a 'fair test' in science, what do we mean?
- The test is easy.
- The test is done without cheating.
- The test is done under the same conditions each time. ✓
When conducting an experiment, the step that involves making an educated guess about the outcome is called a ______.
- 'hypothesis' ✓

Which definition best fits a 'control variable'?
- The outcome that is measured
- The factor that is altered.
- The condition that is kept unchanged. ✓
What type of variable responds to the changes made?
- 'dependent' ✓
Link the term to its role in an experiment.
- Dependent Variable
  
  ⇔
  
  Is measured ✓
- Independent Variable
  
  ⇔
  
  Influences the outcome ✓
- Control Variable
  
  ⇔
  
  Stays constant ✓
True or False: A dependent variable can be deliberately changed by the experimenter.
- True
- False ✓
If the investigation is fair, changing the ______ variable should be the only variable that is allowed to change.
- 'independent' ✓
Arrange these statements to describe setting up a fair test, starting with identifying any variables that may affect the experiment's outcome.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Identify variables that could affect the outcome.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Choose one independent variable to change.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Keep all other variables the same throughout (these are the control variables).
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Observe and measure the changes to the dependent variable.
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Record the results of the dependent variable.

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Aspects of an investigation that can be changed and measured are known as variables
The independent variable is what is changed in an investigation
The dependent variable is what is observed / measured in an investigation
Variables that are kept the same each time are called control variables
In a fair test, only the variable being tested is changed so that it is clear that it made a difference to the results

Pupils tend to confuse independent and dependent variables.

**I**ndependent is *changed* ('**I**' change); dependent *relies* (i.e. depends) on the independent variable and is measured/observed.

Variable - anything that can change in an investigation.
Independent variable - single variable that is changed in an investigation.
Dependent variable - single variable that is measured or observed in an investigation.
Control variable - variables that are kept constant / the same to ensure a fair test.
Fair test - variables are controlled so that only one change affects the dependent variable.