Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Just confirming the variable here would be ice cream and the yogurt?

Thank you

Hi itsavy!

In a science fair project, there are three different kinds of variables. These are the independent, dependent, and controlled variables. The independent variable is the thing that you change- in this case, the type of food that's melting. Ice cream and frozen yogurt aren't actually the variables; they're materials.

The dependent variable is what you measure- in this case, the time it takes to melt. The dependent variable depends on the independent variable!

The controlled variables are things that you don't change at all- there are lots of these! For example, you wouldn't want to change the starting temperature- that might change the time it takes to melt. And you wouldn't want to change anything else, like the amount of ice cream/frozen yogurt that you're melting. That could change your results too.

I would also suggest looking here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... bles.shtml

Good luck with your project!

That was a great explanation!

Thank you!