1. What are variables?
Or what changes during experiments….

2. Independent Variables
What is tested by the scientist
What is changed by the scientist (What “I” change)
An independent variable is what the scientist thinks will cause something else to change

3. Dependent Variable What is observed What is measured
The effect caused by the independent variable.
The data/the results

4. Constants
Things that could change but don’t, because if they did we would not know what was responsible for the change
Kept the same in every test
These allow for a fair test

5. Let’s try some examples
I am doing an experiment on plants, and I am interested in how the amount of water will affect the height that a plant grows in a certain period of time.
What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What are some constants? 5

6. Let’s try some examples
I am doing an experiment on plants, and I am interested in how the amount of water will affect the height that a plant grows in a certain period of time.
What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What are some constants?
Independent: amount of water
Dependent: height of plant
Constants: type of soil, amount of sunlight, amount of fertilizer, surrounding temperature, location of plants, amount of time passed before measuring, etc 6