Nature of Science

Nature of Science

A way of KNOWING....

Multiple Select

What is science? Select ALL correct answers.

• an explanation about how things work

• an opinion about things that are made by people.

• a body of evidence that has been collected.

• a way of learning about nature.

What are the MAIN goals of Science?

The goal of science is to learn how nature works by observing the natural and physical world and to understand this world through research and experimentation.

Multiple Choice

The variable that is changed on purpose or one that is being TESTED is:

• Control

• Dependent

• Independent

• Outcome

Multiple Choice

This is the OUTCOME of the experiment. We get data and results from this.

• Independent Variable

• Dependent Variable

• Control

• Constant

Multiple Choice

What step does every scientific experiment begin with?

• hypothesis

• question/problem

• procedures

• conclusion

Multiple Choice

What is the dependent variable in the following experiment? Plants grow more when exposed to classical music

• Exposure to classical music
• Normal exposure to noises with no music
• height of plant

Multiple Choice

What is the independent variable in the following experiment? Plants grow more when exposed to classical music

• Exposure to classical music
• height of plant
• Normal exposure to noises with no music

Multiple Choice

Theory or Law???  Changes with new observations.

• Theory
• Law

Multiple Choice

Theory or Law???  Predicts what will happen in the natural world.

• Law
• Theory

Multiple Choice

At one point in time, many people thought disease was caused by fate or by incorrect behavior. Following the invention of the microscope, bacteria were discovered. After this, a new theory of what causes disease arose that was known as the germ theory.  Why was the original theory modified? 

• It quickly became obvious that germs cause disease.
• The person who invented the microscope became ill.
• New evidence prompted revision to the original ideas.
• The proponents of the germ theory had political power.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important that scientists modify scientific theories when important new information is discovered?

• to confuse other scientists
• to keep the theory interesting and fresh
• to keep the theory as accurate and effective as possible
• to make sure the general public does not understand the theory

Multiple Choice

Scenario: You want to test whether water helps to improve plant growth. What is the Independent Variable? (Remember: Independent Variables are what "I"change in the experiment.

• The growth of the plant

• Amount of Sunlight

• Amount of Water

Multiple Choice

Scenario: You want to test whether water improves the growth of plants. What is the Dependent variable? (Remember: Dependent Variables are what you are measuring or observing.)

• The amount of water

• The growth of the plant

• The amount of sunlight

Multiple Choice

On a graph, which axis shows the independent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes

Multiple Choice

On a graph, which axis shows the dependent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes

Multiple Choice

• The dependent variable is total cost
• The dependent variable is weight
• The independent variable is total cost
• The independent variable is cost of a package

Multiple Choice

Name the INDEPENDENT variable from the table below.

• words
• minutes

Multiple Choice

Name the DEPENDENT variable from the table below.

• minutes
• bubbles