Variables Independent and Dependent What are variables Variables

Variables Independent and Dependent

What are variables? • Variables are things that you can change. • Changing a variable may or may not have an effect on your experiment.

Independent Variables: • Variables that you change during an experiment are known as independent variables. • Examples: – Changing the temperature to see how it effects yeast growth – Changing the weight of a paper airplane to see how it effects how far it flies

Dependent Variables: • Variables that you measure during an experiment to see if they are effected are known as dependent variables. • Examples: – A student changed the temperature and measured the amount a balloon expanded – A student changed the air pressure in a ball and measured how high the ball bounced

Check your understanding: A group of students changed how far back they stretched a rubber band measured how far it flew. They stretched it 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm. They measured how far it went with a measuring tape. 1) What was their independent variable? 2) What units was the independent variable in? 3) What is their dependent variable?

Check your understanding: A group of students changed how far back they stretched a rubber band measured how far it flies through the air. They stretched it 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm. They measured how far it went with a measuring tape. 1) What was their independent variable? Amount stretched 2) What units was the independent variable in? Centimeters (cm) 3) What is their dependent variable? Distance the rubber band flies