What is a controlled variable?
Quick Answer
A controlled variable is the element or feature that cannot be changed during the course of an experiment. The controlled variable is kept constant so the changes in other variables can be observed more easily.
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Scientific experiments typically involve a number of variables:
- Independent variable
- Dependent variable
- Controlled variable
An independent variable is one that is changed by the scientist in order to facilitate an action or reaction within the given experiment. An experiment is an example of a fair test when there is only one independent variable. In a fair test, only one element is changed by the scientist while the other elements remain the same.
The dependent variable is the one that changes as a result of the independent variable. The dependent variable is what gets measured during an experiment and what is affected by the other elements in the experiment.
The controlled variable is also called the constant variable. Whatever value has been assigned to the constant variable cannot be changed during the course of the experiment since doing so will create an unfair test. The controlled variable helps define the relationship between the independent and dependent variable in a given experiment. Depending on the nature of the experiment, there may be more than one controlled variable.
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