Which variable is independent in the potato chip experiment?

In the context of the potato chip experiment, the independent variable is the concentration of the sugar solution. This variable is considered independent because it is the one that is changed by the experimenter to observe how it affects the other variables in the experiment. By varying the concentration of the sugar solution, the experimenter can analyze the impact of osmosis on the mass of the potato cylinders.

The other options represent dependent or controlled variables. The mass of the potato cylinders is dependent, as it changes in response to the concentration of the sugar solution. The thickness of potato slices should be consistent throughout the experiment to ensure fair testing and is therefore a controlled variable. Similarly, the time of exposure in the solution should remain constant across trials to isolate the effect of the sugar concentration, qualifying it also as a controlled variable. Understanding this structure of variables helps in recognizing how to set up an experiment effectively and identify relationships between them.