🔬 Part 1: Understanding Variables

1. What is a variable in a scientific investigation?

Something that always stays the same

Something that can change or be changed

The final result of an experiment

The equipment used in an experiment

2. Which type of variable is the one you deliberately change in an investigation?

Independent variable

Dependent variable

Controlled variable

Random variable

3. The dependent variable is:

What you keep the same

What you change on purpose

What you measure or observe

What you ignore during the experiment

4. Which of these are controlled variables in most investigations? (Select all that apply)

Temperature

Time of day

Amount of materials used

The person conducting the experiment

🌱 Part 2: Identifying Variables in Investigations

5. Investigation: "Does the amount of sunlight affect how fast plants grow?"

Independent variable (what you change): _________________________

Dependent variable (what you measure): _________________________

Name two controlled variables (what you keep the same):

a) _________________________

b) _________________________

6. Investigation: "How does water temperature affect how quickly salt dissolves?"

Write your answer using this format:

Independent variable: ________________

Dependent variable: ________________

Two controlled variables: ________________ and ________________

⚖️ Part 3: Fair Testing and Ethics

7. Why is it important to control variables in a scientific investigation?

8. You want to test if different types of music affect plant growth. What ethical considerations should you think about?

Ensuring plants receive adequate care

Not using music that is too loud

Making sure all plants get water and nutrients

Respecting the environment where plants are kept

9. Design your own investigation: "What affects how far a paper plane flies?"

Your investigation question: _________________________________

Independent variable: ___________________________________

Dependent variable: ____________________________________

List three controlled variables:

1. _________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________

10. Explain why controlling variables makes your investigation more trustworthy and reproducible:

Variables in Science Investigations

Variables in Science Investigations

🔬 Part 1: Understanding Variables

🌱 Part 2: Identifying Variables in Investigations

⚖️ Part 3: Fair Testing and Ethics

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