Science
Variables Practice sheet
Name Date
Variable worksheet
Variables
Scientists ask questions to find out more about the world, like ‘how can we get more energy
from the sun?’ and ‘how can we cure diseases?’. To answer these questions scientists do
experiments. During experiments, factors that can change are called variables.
A variable is anything that can change and be measured. Two important types of variables are:
• Independent variables – the variable that is being changed during the experiment.
• Dependent variables – the variable being measured at the end of the experiment.
• Control Variables – The variables that are kept the same during the investigation.
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Science
1. Plant growth and water
Adding different amounts of water to a plant could affect its growth. To investigate this, plant some seeds and
water each plant with different amount over time.
• The independent variable is ………………………………………
• The dependent variable is ………………………………………..
• Control variables include …………………………………………
2. Dropping a ball from different heights
Dropping a ball from different heights could affect how high it bounces.
• The independent variable is ……………………………..
• The dependent variable is ………………………………..
• Control variables include …………………………………
3. Testing reaction times
Reaction times can be investigated by dropping a ruler and seeing how quickly someone can grab it.
• The independent variable is ……………………………
• The dependent variable is ………………………………
• Control variables include ………………………………..
4. Speed and angle of a ramp
How the angle of a ramp affects the speed of a car can be investigated by timing how long the car takes to
travel a certain distance.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
5- Mike and Ali plan an investigation to find out how running speed affects breathing rate.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
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Science
6-Class 6 conducted a fair test to find out how different temperatures affect the rate at which sugar
dissolves in water.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
7- Plaster of Paris is a white powder that you mix with water. Doctors use it to help broken arms
and legs grow back together properly. You can also make models with it.
Class 6 used plaster of Paris to investigate evidence for chemical reactions.
They mixed 75 ml of plaster of Paris powder with different quantities of water at a temperature of 35 °C.
They measured the temperature every 15 minutes for one hour.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
8. Class 6 asked the question: Is graphite an electrical conductor or not? They carried out an investigation to
find out. Each group tested different lengths of graphite in a circuit and measured the brightness of a lamp
in circuit on scale of 0–5.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
9- Plan a fair test investigation to find out how doing exercise affects our pulse rate.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
10. Plan a fair test to compare the boiling points of different substances.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
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Science
11. Lily investigates the pitch of sound. She fills four glass bottles with different amounts of water. Lily then
hits each bottle with a stick and compares the pitch.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
12. Soils are a mixture of clay, sand and an organic content called humus.
Reem investigates the drainage of some dry soils.
• places 20 g of dry soil W into the equipment.
• pours 50 cm3 of water onto the dry soil
• measures the volume of water that drains into the measuring cylinder in one minute
• repeats the experiment for each of the dry soils, X, Y and Z.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
13. A dentist wants to determine which brand of toothpaste would make teeth whiter. He gave his patients
crest and oral B. the patients brushed for the same time, used the same amount of toothpaste and had their
teeth checked each week.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
14. A study was done to determine if the type of gasoline would affect the pollution produced by carts.
• The independent variable is ………………………….
• The dependent variable is ……………………………
• Control variables include …………………………….
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