The variable that you change in the experiment is called the ______.

• A. Dependent variable
• B. Control variable
• C. Independent variable
• D. Constant variable

Answer: (C)

In experiments, you change one factor to see its effect on another. The factor you deliberately change is the independent variable. Its value is set by you, not determined by the outcome, so it’s the variable you control to test its impact. The thing you measure in response is the dependent variable—the data you collect to see how it changes. All the other factors that could influence the result are kept the same; those are the control variables, and anything that stays constant is a constant variable. For example, if you test how light affects plant height, light intensity is the independent variable, plant height is the dependent variable, and factors like soil, water, and temperature are control variables.