An investigation was done with an electromagnetic system made from a battery and wire wrapped around a nail. Different sizes of nails were used. The number of paper clips the electromagnet could pick up was measured. What's the independent variable and dependent variable?

The dependent variable is the number of paper clips that the electromagnet could pick up while the independent variable is sizes of nail used.

An experiment consists of;

The independent variable is the variable that is being manipulated while the dependent variable changes with changes in the independent variable.

In this experiment, the dependent variable is the number of paper clips that the electromagnet could pick up while the independent variable is sizes of nail used.

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Independent variable: SIZE OF NAILS

Dependent variable: NUMBER OF PAPER CLIPS

Explanation:

The independent variable in an experiment is the variable that is changed or manipulated by the experimenter in order to effect a measurable response. In this investigation, the DIFFERENT SIZES OF NAILS USED is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE.

The dependent variable is the variable that is measured in the experiment. It is the variable that responds to changes made to the independent variable. In this investigation, THE NUMBER OF PAPER CLIPS the electromagnet could pick up is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE.