During the Whirlybird experiment, we tested the affect of mass (number of paper clips) against the time it took the whirlybird to reach the ground. Adding paper clips was the variable that we as experimenters changed. What is the name for this type of variable?

I'm learning about the periodic tables and what each subject's configuration is. for example, hydrogen is 1s^1, but i don't understand how you get that. can someone me understand how to figure out how to figure this out? sorry if the question makes no sense, but it would really a lot if you could me understand! you so much if you can!