Question

Please can someone explain the differences in variables (e.g. control variable, Independent variable and Dependent variable). I know the definition, but I'm still not sure which is which when undertaking an experiment. Could someone possibly give me an example of an experiment and which is which?

Answer 1

Independent Variable: The thing in an experiment which is changed.

Dependent Variable: The thing in an experiment which is affected by the change. (In other words, it's affected by the independent variable.)

Control Variable: The other factors of the experiment that remain unchanged.

For example, say you want to do an experiment about the effects of water on plant height. So, the independent variable, or the thing that is changed would be the amount of water, and the dependent variable would be the plant height, as the plant height is directly affected by the independent variable. Lastly, for this to be a fair experiment, there must be control variables. For example, all of the plants should be put in a room with equal temperature, they should get the same amount of sunlight, etc.

I hope this answers your question- feel free to ask me if you need any more help.

Answer 2

Answer with Explanation:

Lol.. even i was confused before .. so i learnt now ill help u :

Simple!

See... lets take simple expirament to explain:

My expirament is to verify if sunlight affects the growth of plants ...

So here :

My controlled variable : It is what is held constant.. So ur supposed to NOT it like everything else expect sunlight..(ex: water, soil, type of plant etc)

My Independent variable : Variable that is changed.... So this is wht u ARE changing to make th expirament ... (for ex: here sunlight u will chanhe... u will put on in a dark room and a nother in the light..)

My dependetn variabe:l Some thing that changes on is own..cause of the expiramen t... like the result ..(for ex: height , growth of plant etc)

I hope u understood !! :))