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Name: Date:
Scientific Variables
In science, we often want to know how one thing affects
another. To do this, scientists use controlled experiments. A
controlled experiment helps us understand cause-and-
effect relationships between different variables.
A variable is anything that can change or be changed in
an experiment. There are three main types of variables in a
controlled experiment, controlled, manipulated and
responding.
Controlled Variable
These are the variables that are kept the same throughout
the experiment. This helps make sure that any changes in
the responding variable are due to the manipulated
variable.
If you're testing how different amounts of sunlight affect
plant growth, you’d want to make sure that all the seeds
come from the same packet. You’d also want to make sure
that you’re watering the plants all the same amount every
day.
What other control variables can you think of for this
experiment?
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Manipulated (Independent) Variable
This is the variable that the scientist changes on purpose to
see what happens.
If you're testing how different amounts of
sunlight affect plant growth, the amount of
sunlight is the manipulated variable.
In a controlled experiment, scientists change only one
variable (the manipulated variable) and keep all other
variables the same (controlled variables). This way, they can
see if the manipulated variable is causing any changes in
the responding variable.
If you change more than one variable at a time, it
becomes difficult to tell which variable is causing the effect.
This can lead to confusing or inaccurate conclusions. For
example, if you change both the amount of sunlight a plant
gets, but also water all the plants a different amount, how
can you know whether the amount of sun or water is the
reason that the plants’ growth is different?
Experiments need to be repeatable. If other scientists can
repeat your experiment with the same controlled variables
and get the same results, it confirms that your findings are
accurate. Having only one manipulated variable makes this
easier
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Responding (dependent) Variable
This is the variable that changes as a result of the
manipulated variable.
In the plant experiment, the growth of the
plant is the responding variable. You
measure it to see how much it
changes with different amounts
of sunlight.
Both manipulated and responding variables should be
measurable. This means they can be counted, timed,
weighed, or measured in some way. For example, you can
measure:
Temperature: How hot or cold something is.
Time: How long something takes.
Distance: How far something moves.
Height: How tall something grows.
Can you think of any other measurable variables a scientist
might use in their experiments?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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Name: Date:
Identify the variables
Read each description of a scientific experiment. Name the
control, manipulated and responding variables in each
experiment.
A scientist is testing how the amount of water
affects the growth of bean plants. They give
different amounts of water to three groups of
plants but keep the amount of sunlight, soil
type, and temperature the same. After
three weeks, they measured each of the
plants using measuring tape.
Control Variables :
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
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A student wants to find out if the amount of sleep affects
their ability to concentrate in school. They vary the amount
of sleep they get each night but keep their diet, study habits,
and daily schedule the same.
Control Variables :
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
A researcher wants to know if the type of music played
during study time affects students' test scores. They play
classical music for one group, rock music for another group,
and no music for a third group, while keeping the study
material, study time, and testing conditions the same.
Control Variables :
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
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A biologist is studying how different
temperatures affect the hatching rate of
turtle eggs. They place eggs in incubators
set to different temperatures.
Control Variables :
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
A scientist wants to find out if the color of light affects the
growth of algae. They use red, blue, and green lights on
three different tanks containing the same species of algae.
Control Variables :
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Alberta Div 2 Crew Scientific Basics Page 6
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Answ
Responding (dependent) Variable
This is the variable that changes as a result of the
manipulated variable.
In the plant experiment, the growth of the
plant is the responding variable. You
measure it to see how much it
changes with different amounts
of sunlight.
Both manipulated and responding variables should be
measurable. This means they can be counted, timed,
weighed, or measured in some way. For example, you can
measure:
Temperature: How hot or cold something is.
Time: How long something takes.
Distance: How far something moves.
Height: How tall something grows.
Can you think of any other measurable variables a scientist
might use in their experiments?
Answers will vary.
__________________________________________________________
Speed, performance (ex. on assignments or tests),
__________________________________________________________
accuracy, brightness, depth, size (ex. shoe size), weight
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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A student wants to find out if the amount of sleep affects
their ability to concentrate in school. They vary the amount
of sleep they get each night but keep their diet, study habits,
and daily schedule the same.
Control Variables :
Diet, study habits, daily schedule
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
Amount of sleep
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
School performance
A researcher wants to know if the type of music played
during study time affects students' test scores. They play
classical music for one group, rock music for another group,
and no music for a third group, while keeping the study
material, study time, and testing conditions the same.
Control Variables :
Study material, study time, testing conditions.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
Type of music
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
Test Scores
_______________________________________________________
Alberta Div 2 Crew Scientific Basics Page 14
A biologist is studying how different
temperatures affect the hatching rate of
turtle eggs. They place eggs in incubators
set to different temperatures.
Control Variables :
Humidity, type of incubator, type of egg.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
Temperature
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Hatching rate of eggs
A scientist wants to find out if the color of light affects the
growth of algae. They use red, blue, and green lights on
three different tanks containing the same species of algae.
Control Variables :
Type of algae, amount of light, water conditions
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Manipulated Variable:
Colour of light
_______________________________________________________
Responding Variable:
_______________________________________________________
Growth of algae
Alberta Div 2 Crew Scientific Basics Page 15
