Scientific method

Scientific method

Practice with variables_1

• A group of students want to find out whether temperature affects how quickly sugar dissolves. They set up an experiment with four beakers of water, each at a different temperature. They add a spoonful of sugar to each, sir each beaker once only, and timed how long it took for the sugar to disappear.

• Manipulated variable: the temperature of the water

• Responding variable: the time it takes for all the sugar to disappear/dissolve

• Controlled variable: the volume of water in beakers, the size of the beaker, the amount of sugar, the number of times it is stirred, the type of sugar used.

• Imagine you want to see which type of fertiliser helps plants grow fastest, so you add a different brand of fertiliser to each plant and see how tall they grow.

• Manipulated variable = the type of fertiliser given to the plant

• Responding variable = plant height

• Controlled variables = the type of plant used, the amount of fertiliser given, the time given to grow.

Multiple Choice

An explanation of how our evidence supported or did not support our hypothesis. Uses data results to explain learning.

• Hypothesis

• Procedures

• Data

• Conclusion

Multiple Choice

Where do we write down and organize our results from an experiment?

• Data Table

• Line Graph

• Bar Graph

• Conclusion

Multiple Choice

What type of variable are the things we keep the same in an experiment?

• Number Variable

• Independent Variable

• Dependent Variable

• Constant Variable

Multiple Choice

What do we call the If, Then Statement in an Experiment?

• Conclusion

• Hypothesis

• Independent Variable

• Dependent Variable

Multiple Choice

You should run an experiment several times to make sure your results are consistent. In the preceding phrase, what does "consistent" mean?

• Obvious

• Perfect

• Unchanging

• Testable

Multiple Choice

Place the following steps in sequence: A) Recognizing a problem; B) Testing a hypothesis; C) Drawing inferences

• A, C, B

• A, B, C

• B, C, A

• C, B, A

Multiple Choice

Read the lab procedure for a controlled experiment that looks at the effect of heat on the circumference of bicycle tires.

Step 1: Pump up six identical bike tires to the recommended air pressure.

Step 2: Place three tires under heat lamps, and keep the other three tires at room temperature.

Step 3: After four hours, measure the circumference of each tire.

Step 4: Record your results in the table.

Step 5: (?)

Which step should be next in this procedure?

• Write a conclusion for the experiment.

• Write a hypothesis for the results.

• List the materials that are needed.

• Draw a table for the observations.

Multiple Choice

A statement that can be tested or is an educated guess is known as what?

• control

• observation

• independent variable

• hypothesis

Fill in the Blanks

What is the first step in a commonly used scientific method?

Multiple Choice

What should an experimenter do after analyzing data?

• carry out the experiment

• draw conclusions

• observe and infer

• identify the problem

Multiple Choice

Constants are factors in an experiment that stay the same. True or False?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

When we test our hypothesis, there are two types of variables. What are they?

• Independent and controlled variable

• dependent and controlled variable

• independent and dependent variable

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

In an investigation that uses the scientific method, which step immediately follows making a hypothesis?

• test your hypothesis

• summarizing the results

• making observations

• asking a question

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the act of using senses or tools to gather information?

• creating a hypothesis

• making an observation

• summarizing the results

• recording the measurements