Scientific Investigation

Scientific Investigation

By Crystal Winner

IV & DV on Graphs

The IV is graphed on the X-axis

(If time is a variable, it is generally on the x-axis)

The DV is graphed on the Y-axis

The effects of absences on test scores

• What is the IV?

• Absences

• What is the DV?

• Test scores

• What might be a hypothesis for this experiment?

• If student absences increase, then test scores will decrease. :(

Multiple Choice

What is the IV and what is the DV?

• IV: depth of plant, DV: depth of water

• IV: number of bubbles produced, DV: number of minutes

• IV: Depth of water, DV: number of bubbles produced

• IV: Type of plant, DV: Temperature of water

Multiple Choice

What is the IV and what is the DV?

• IV: light intensity, DV: type of plant

• IV: Color of light, DV: light intensity

• IV: Color of light, DV: Rate of photosynthesis

• IV: Light Intensity, DV: Rate of photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

Which is a possible hypothesis for this experiment?

• If the intensity of the light increases, does the color change?

• If the rate of photosynthesis increases, then the plants don't do photosynthesis

• If the light intensity decreases, then the rate of photosynthesis decreases.

• If the color of the light changes, then the rate of photosynthesis changes.

Bar Graphs

• IV on the X-axis; DV on the Y-axis

• Used when one of the variables is a category instead of a number

Sometimes the IV is in the key

Sometimes the IV is in the key

Multiple Choice

What is the IV & what is the DV?

• IV: Plant type, DV: Height of plant

• IV: earthworms, DV: Plant growth

• IV: Plant growth, DV: Plant type

• IV: Photosynthesis, DV: Plant type

Multiple Choice

What is a possible hypothesis for this investigation?

• If the number of earthworms increases, then the plant height increases.

• If the plant height increases, then the number of earthworms decreases

• If the earthworms increase, the number green bean plants will decrease

• If tomato plants increase, the number of green bean plants will increase.

Multiple Choice

Which is a valid conclusion based on this data?

• When tomato plants are grown, green bean plants cannot grow.

• Plants grow taller without earthworms in the soil.

• Earthworms increase the number of radishes.

• When earthworms are present, plants grow taller

Multiple Choice

These are variables that are kept the same throughout all experimental groups to prevent error in the experiment.

• Independent Variable

• Dependent Variable

• Controlled Variable

• Varying Variable

Multiple Choice

Squidward found new reeds to tryout for his clarinet.  He used an APPLAUSOMETER to measure applause after playing  Under the Sea with each reed.  The results were put in the table.
What was the dependent variable?

• The Song
• The Reed
• The Applause

Multiple Choice

Squidward found new reeds to tryout for his clarinet.  He used an APPLAUSOMETER to measure applause after playing  Under the Sea with each reed.  The results were put in the table.
What was the independent variable?

• The Song
• The Reed
• The Applause

Multiple Choice

Squidward found new reeds to tryout for his clarinet.  He used an APPLAUSOMETER to measure applause after playing  Under the Sea with each reed.  The results were put in the table.
What was controlled?

• The Song
• The Reed
• The Applause

Multiple Select

Good scientific questions: (mark all that apply)

• Are the result of observations.

• Are testable, they guide an investigation

• Can be answered by direct observation or by measuring with scientific tools

• May begin as general why questions but become more specific.

• Offer evidence to support your claims

Multiple Select

Bad scientific questions: ( mark all that apply)

• Cannot be proven or disproven by testing.

• Have different answers or opinions depending on who you ask

• Use words that mean different things to different people.

Multiple Select

What are some key words that describe good scientific questions?

• Observable

• testable

• measurable

• offer evidence

• specific

Multiple Choice

Do polyphemus moth caterpillars prefer oak or maple leaves?

• Good

• Could be more specific

• Not observable, not testable or measurable.

Multiple Choice

Are caterpillars affected by temperature?

• good

• Could be more specific

• Not observable, not testable or measurable.

Multiple Choice

Are caterpillars happier inside or outside?

• good

• Could be more specific

• Not observable, not testable or measurable.

Multiple Choice

What is the effect of raising polyphemus moth caterpillars inside or outside on their length?

• good

• Could be more specific

• Not observable, not testable or measurable

Multiple Choice

Do hens lay colored eggs when roosters are present?

• good

• Could be more specific

• Not observable, not testable or measurable.

Multiple Choice

Why does Oobleck feel slimy?

• good

• Could be more specific

• Not observable, not testable or measurable.

Multiple Choice

Scientists must think about which of the following when designing experiments?

• the steps required

• equipment needed

• safety precautions

• all of the above

What is a Hypothesis?

• An educated "guess" based on observations

• Explains a single event

• Can be created by a single scientist

• Can be supported or rejected by one or more experiments

What is a Scientific Theory?

• An explanation of why something happens

• Based on proven hypotheses

• Verified many times

• Supported and accepted by the scientific community

What is a Scientific Law?

• A statement of fact

• Describes what happens, not why

• Generally accepted to be true and universal

• Sometimes expressed as a mathematical equation

• Cornerstone of scientific discovery (if ever found not true, science based on it would collapse)

Examples

Hypothesis

If I water my flower more often, then it will grow taller.

Theory

Theory of evolution (explains why species change over time)

Law

Newton's Laws of Motion (tells how objects behave)

Multiple Select

Widely accepted as true.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

The cornerstone of scientific discovery.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Based on a single event or observation.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

An explanation of why or how something happens.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

A description of what will always happen.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

A well proven explanation for a set of observations.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Based on proven hypotheses by many different scientists.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Developed through scientific inquiry process.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Created and tested by one scientist.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Tested through scientific inquiry process.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

An explanation that has not yet been proven.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Quantitative Observations

These are observations that invlove a measured quantity of something

Quantitative observation example

• Like it says can be represented by a number

• In this case there are 7 apples

Quantitative observation example

• Here we have another quantity

• These tomatoes have a mass of 15.5 grams

Qualitative Observations

These are observations that we can make with our five senses. They are not represented by a number but more of an opion. 

Qualitative observation examples

• Here if we say the tomatoes are red or smell fresh

• These would be qualitative Observations

Qualitative observation examples

• The water is a very good blue

• The trees are a healthy green

• The lake look low

• The rock on the island feels smooth

Multiple Choice

Which is a qualitative observation made about this forest?

• The average tree diameter is 500 cm

• The light that filters through the trees are in the 510 nm range

• The forest floor is a healthy green color

• Average height of the trees is 50 ft.

Multiple Choice

Quantitative observations involve what?

• The measurement of something expressed in a number

• The color you see

• How it smells

• If something is short or tall

Multiple Choice

The bug was 5 cm long.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The flower is red.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The mass of the beaker was 122 g.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

My fingernail is 2 cm long.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The slug was slimy.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

The milk smells sour.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

She is 150 cm tall.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

There are 5 windows in the classroom.

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

Look for a pattern in the table. How much would 5 hours cost?

• $60

• $78

• $75

Multiple Choice

What is the label for the y-value (output)?

• Dionne's Boat Rental

• Hours Rented

• Amount Paid

Multiple Choice

What is the label for the x-value (input)?

• Dog Sitting Earnings

• Number of Days

• Amount Earned ($)

Multiple Choice

Which would be the correct table of values for the graph

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following statement is True or False

About 10% more female than male students do homework on an average day.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

On average, male students do the activites of working, sports/exercise, games/computers, socializing and watching TV more than the female students.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

On which day did server 1 earn the most money in tips?

• Monday

• Tuesday

• Wednesday

• Thursday

• Friday

Multiple Choice

On which day did server 2 earn the most money in tips?

• Monday

• Tuesday

• Wednesday

• Thursday

• Friday

Multiple Choice

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

• F

• G

• H

• J

Multiple Choice

• F

• G

• H

• J

Multiple Choice

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

• F

• G

• H

• J