Variable
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A variable is something that you can change, keep the same, or measure/observe in an investigation.
About Variables
- There are three types of variable.
- Independent Variable: The thing you choose to change in an investigation.
- Control Variables: The things you keep the same in an investigation to make it a fair test.
- Dependent Variable: The thing you measure or observe in an investigation.
- In an experiment or investigation there should only be 1 independent variable. If you change more than one thing at a time, it is not a fair test.
Examples
An investigation to test the claim: All leaves are green.
Oak Leaf | Beech Leaf | Ash Leaf |
Maple Leaf | Chestnut Leaf | Variables |
|
Results Table | Variables |
|
Experiment | Variables |
Cress seeds were put in pots with soil with half placed in a dark cupboard and half on a windowsill. |
|
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A variable is anything which could affect the results of an experiment or that you can change, keep the same, or measure/observe in an investigation.
About Variables
- There are three groups of variable in an experiment:
- Independent Variable: The thing you choose to change in an investigation.
- Control Variables: The things you keep the same in an investigation to make it a fair test.
- Dependent Variable: The thing you measure or observe in an investigation.
- In an experiment or investigation there should only be 1 independent variable. If you change more than one thing at a time, it is not a fair test.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A variable is anything which could affect the results of an experiment or that you can change, keep the same, or measure/observe in an investigation.
About Variables
- There are three groups of variable in an experiment:
- Independent Variable: The thing you choose to change in an investigation.
- Control Variables: The things you keep the same in an investigation to make it a fair test.
- Dependent Variable: The thing you measure or observe in an investigation.
- In an experiment or investigation there should only be 1 independent variable. If you change more than one thing at a time, it is not a fair test.
- There are three different types of variable which can be recorded in an experiment:
- Categoric Variable - A variable that changes by category, not by numerical values (eg eye colour, blood type, type of animal.)
- Discrete Variable - A variable which can only be specific values with no numbers in between (eg shoe size, number of people, number of atoms).
- Continuous Variable - A variable which has any possible value (eg height, time, temperature, current).
References
AQA
- Variables page 9, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Variables, page 10, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Variables, page 118, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Variables, page 370-1, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Variables, page 4, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Variables, page 4, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Variables, page 4, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Variables, pages 10, 16, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Variables, pages 10, 16, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Variables, pages 103, 241-2, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Variables, pages 144-5, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Variables, pages 17-18, 178, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Variables, pages 253, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Variables, pages 264-265, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Variables, pages 277-279, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Variables, pages 5, 8, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Variables, page 10, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
- Variables, page 10, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Variables, page 136, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Variables, page 4, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Variables, page 5, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Variables, page 5, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Variables, page 5, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Variables, pages 9-1, 16, 17, 20, 21, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
OCR
- Variables, page 4, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Variables, page 5, Gateway GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Variables, pages 5, 8, Gateway GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Variables, pages 5, 8, Gateway GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Variables, pages 8, 12-15, 281-282, 288-289, Gateway GCSE Biology, Oxford, OCR
- Variables, pages 8, 12-15, 282-283, 287-288, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR
- Variables, pages 8, 14-15, 278, 296-297, 302-303, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR