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Change no more than one. Otherwise, you can't tell which changing variable is having the observed effect.


Ideally, you should change only one variable at once.

Sometimes in the real world this isn't possible for any of a variety of reasons (one example is if you're measuring things where you have no control over the input, where you pretty much have to take whatever data you can get). However, in such cases you've got to make at least one more measurement than the number of variables that are changing and solve a system of simultaneous equations. It's a lot more complicated, and may not be possible unless you're absolutely sure you've got the underlying theory worked out (for example, if the dependence on a given variable might be linear, quadratic, or something else, this probably won't work at all, and at the very least you should get a lot more observations to confirm that things are working the way you think).

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9y ago

Ideally, you should change only one variable at once.

Sometimes in the real world this isn't possible for any of a variety of reasons (one example is if you're measuring things where you have no control over the input, where you pretty much have to take whatever data you can get). However, in such cases you've got to make at least one more measurement than the number of variables that are changing and solve a system of simultaneous equations. It's a lot more complicated, and may not be possible unless you're absolutely sure you've got the underlying theory worked out (for example, if the dependence on a given variable might be linear, quadratic, or something else, this probably won't work at all, and at the very least you should get a lot more observations to confirm that things are working the way you think).

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9y ago

Change no more than one. Otherwise, you can't tell which changing variable is having the observed effect.

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Q: How many variables do we change at once in a good controlled experiment?
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How many variables do you need in a science experiment?

Ideally, an experiment should test only one variable (the independent variable) at a time. If you have two or more variables changing at the same time you have no way of knowing which variable is causing your results.


What is the purpose of controlled variables in an experiments?

The purpose of a control variable in an experiment is to allow the experiment to come out with accurate results. It makes it a lot easier to measure the results when different things aren't affecting it.


How many variables do you change in an experiment?

Controlling for a variable is the act of deliberately varying the experimental conditions in order to take a single variable into account in the prediction of the outcome variable. Controlling tends to reduce the experimental error. A control is something that does not change in the experiment.


The blank variable is the part of the experiment that is affected by the independent variable?

The independent variable is the part of the experiment that is being tested or the part that is changed by the person doing the experiment. The dependent variable is the part of the experiment that is affected by the independent variable.


How many variables can a scientist change in an experiment?

Anything that can be changed in any way is a variable. so,,,,,an infinite number. Day, time, heat, light, humidity, speed, what you ate for dinner the Wednesday before you go shopping. So, quite literally, an infinite number. Hope this helps.

Related questions

How many variables do you investigate in a controlled experiment?

There are complex models that allow researchers to study several variables if the experiment is carefully designed and very carefully carried out. These models can show whether a variety of variable interactions occur, and if that is your focus then these models are good. But the best experiments investigate a small number of variables, as few as one.


How many variables do you need in a science experiment?

Ideally, an experiment should test only one variable (the independent variable) at a time. If you have two or more variables changing at the same time you have no way of knowing which variable is causing your results.


What are the factors that can change in an experiment called?

Environmental factors if you cannot control them.Variable factors if you can control them.See link below for easy explanation:In an experiment the scientist is able to change the independent variable. To insure a fair test, a good experiment has only one independent variable. As the scientist changes the independent variable, he or she observes what happens. - See more at: http://www.chacha.com/question/what-part-of-an-experiment-is-the-factor-that-you-change#sthash.iyH25Jac.dpufIn an experiment the scientist is able to change the independent variable. To insure a fair test, a good experiment has only one independent variable. As the scientist changes the independent variable, he or she observes what happens. - See more at: http://www.chacha.com/question/what-part-of-an-experiment-is-the-factor-that-you-change#sthash.iyH25Jac.dpuf


What is a controlled expirement?

an experiment that can be controlled i did not know this That is not a good answer! A controlled experiment is: If you set up an experiment: Example: You have two plants. You want to know if fertilizing every day causes it to grow more. In your experiment everything has to be the same! Except one thing. You have to have the same type of dirt and pot and flower/vegetable. You have to water each of them every day. But, you fertilize ONE of them once a day until your results are clear to you, or when you want to stop testing. This way, you can see how the fertilizer effects the plant growth compared to just water every day. If you change more than one thing, like how much you water the plant, it is not a controlled experiment anymore. because then you won't know which variable (thing that you have changed) is taking effect. You wouldn't know if it was more water or the fertilizer, or both that is making the plant grow faster!


What is the purpose of controlled variables in an experiments?

The purpose of a control variable in an experiment is to allow the experiment to come out with accurate results. It makes it a lot easier to measure the results when different things aren't affecting it.


What makes a good experiment versus a bad experiment?

A good experiment needs to be a fair test so to have a fair test you need to have a independent variable, a dependent variable and a controlled variable. Independent Variable: The thing you change Dependent Variable: The thing you measure Controlled Variables (there's usually more than one): The things you keep the same. For example if I have 3 kids and I want to find out who can open presents the quickest the independent variable: would be what kid is opening the presents the dependent variable: would be how quick the kids were so their time and the controlled variables: would be the size of the present they used and the wrapping paper on it. Also a experiment should be repeated twice for the best results and then averaged. A bad experiment wouldn't be a test for example changing what should be a controlled variable so if one kid had to open a bigger present than the other kid they would take longer than they would with the same size present so you wouldn't get good results.


Why is there a change in one or more variables in an experiment may alter the result of the experiment?

x = 2 y = 4 x + y = 6 change the variables x = 4 y = 4 x + y = 8 Take 1 kg of TNT and it will be a good sized bang. Take 1 ton of TNT and it will level a city block.


How many variables do you change in an experiment?

Controlling for a variable is the act of deliberately varying the experimental conditions in order to take a single variable into account in the prediction of the outcome variable. Controlling tends to reduce the experimental error. A control is something that does not change in the experiment.


The blank variable is the part of the experiment that is affected by the independent variable?

The independent variable is the part of the experiment that is being tested or the part that is changed by the person doing the experiment. The dependent variable is the part of the experiment that is affected by the independent variable.


Can an experiment that has sveral variables be used to explain a theory?

Yes. A good example of which is the Ideal Gas Law. PV=nRT You have four variables and one constant.


How many variables can a scientist change in an experiment?

Anything that can be changed in any way is a variable. so,,,,,an infinite number. Day, time, heat, light, humidity, speed, what you ate for dinner the Wednesday before you go shopping. So, quite literally, an infinite number. Hope this helps.


What is a good controlled science experiment for sixth graders that is inexpensive but not too easy?

a good science experiment for 6th graders that is fun is making insta snow its fun and inexpensive