What are variables?

ARE ANY FACTOR OR THINGS,

CONDITION OR TRAIT THAT ARE
CHANGING IN AN EXPERIMENT.
THREE KINDS OF
VARIABLES
 Independent Variables
• What is tested by the scientist
• What is changed by the scientist
 Dependent Variable
• What is observed
• What is measured
• The effect caused by the
independent variable.
• The data
 Controlled Variables
• Things that could NOT change
• Kept constant (the same) to
determine any changes in the results
(dependent variable) is caused by the
manipulated variable.
Independent Dependent

Cause Effect

Before After

Input Output

What you do What happens

 Independent VS Dependent Variable
EXAMPLES:
A scientist wants to investigate whether plants need sunlight to
grow. The hypothesis being tested is:
2. “Plants require sunlight to grow.” The scientist
placed one tray of sunflower seedlings in the sun
and another tray of sunflower seedlings in a
cupboard in the laboratory. The seedlings were
watered and after 6 weeks the height of each
seedling was measured.
I.V. : The amount of sunlight given to each tray
of sunflower seedlings

D.V. : The height of each sunflower

seedlings after 6 weeks