Thumb Wars Lab Activity
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Now, let's take a few minutes to discuss the concept known as the variable. A variable is defined as something which is unknown or which can change. In science and in math, we deal with various forms of variables.
Two forms of variables we see often are independent variables and dependent variables. In science, we say that the independent variable is the quantity which is changed by the scientist or the person doing the experiment. The dependent variable is the quantity which changes in response to the change in the independent variable. For instance, if I want to test how the amount of water I give a plant affects the height of the plant, the independent variable is the amount of water I give the plant, and the dependent variable is the height of the plant.
What about our Thumb Wars experiment? Which are the independent variable(s), and which are the dependent variable(s)? Match each variable with its category in the self-quiz below.
Two forms of variables we see often are independent variables and dependent variables. In science, we say that the independent variable is the quantity which is changed by the scientist or the person doing the experiment. The dependent variable is the quantity which changes in response to the change in the independent variable. For instance, if I want to test how the amount of water I give a plant affects the height of the plant, the independent variable is the amount of water I give the plant, and the dependent variable is the height of the plant.
What about our Thumb Wars experiment? Which are the independent variable(s), and which are the dependent variable(s)? Match each variable with its category in the self-quiz below.
Thumb Wars Variables Self-Quiz
Scroll to the top of the page and read the material if you have not already. When you are ready to complete the exercise, match the items on the right to the items on the left.