Process of Science Review

​Process of Science Review

What is Science?

Science is not just a subject in school. Science is a way of studying the world. The word science comes from the Latin word that means “knowledge”. More specifically, science is a way to learn or gain knowledge about the world by observing and investigating. Therefore science is both a body of knowledge and a process.

​Testable Questions

• Can be observed by doing an experiment

• You collect facts / data from this experiment

• The question must CHANGE something to see how it affects something else

• Must have an independent and dependent variable​

• ​Must have something to CHANGE and MEASURE

​What happens after the scientific method has been completed?

​Variables

​The INDEPENDENT variable is the thing that a scientist changes on purpose to see how it affects something.

​Example: The amount of water.

​

​The DEPENDENT variable is the thing that is affected, it's what we measure or collect data on.

Example: The size of plant, number of leaves, dead or alive.

​Control Variable

​A control or constant variable is something or things that stay the same (do not change) in order to make sure that the experiment is fair.

​

​Example: When measuring growth of a plant under different lights, you keep the type of plant, soil, and water amount the same.

​Quantitative

​Observations

​Quantitative observations describe the quantities or the amount of something. These are observations that involve numbers.

​

​Example: A quantitative observation is that Nezuko has one hair bow and two eyes.

​Qualitative

​Observations

​Qualitative observations describe the qualities of something. These are observations you make using your five senses such as touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing.

​

​Example: A qualitative observation is that Nezuko's eyes are pink.

​Observations and Inferences

​An observation is something you see happening. You don't have to guess about it. It is something that you know because you can see, feel, touch, taste or smell it. You observe that the tiger is orange

with black ​stripes.

​

​An inference is an educated guess about

what will or has happened. You can infer that this

tiger is going​ to eat you if you come closer, but

​you don't know for sure. It is a guess.

Multiple Choice

Ms. Umholtz performs an experiment by comparing the number of drops of tap water that can fit on a penny to the number of drops of soapy water that can fit on a penny. She performs three trials. What is the dependent variable?

• Number of drops of tap water

• Number of drops of soapy water

• Type of water used

• Amount of drops that can fit on the penny

Multiple Select

Which of these statements are Inferences?

• There are 15 trees

• There was an earthquake

• The earthquake knocked the house down

• There are powerlines

Multiple Choice

Ms. Umholtz performs an experiment by comparing the number of drops of tap water that can fit on a penny to the number of drops of soapy water that can fit on a penny. She performs three trials. What is the independent variable?

• Number of drops of tap water

• Number of drops of soapy water

• Type of water used

• Amount of drops that can fit on the penny

Multiple Choice

A student conducted an experiment and concluded that vinegar removes stains from clothes better than water. Which piece of evidence would best support her conclusion?

• four out of five different stains were removed by vinegar when water did not remove them

• vinegar is able to dissolve certain materials

• when she tried to remove a stain from her clothes, vinegar worked

• the stains the vinegar removed were different from those that the water removed

Open Ended

What 2 things must a question have to be TESTABLE?

Multiple Select

Pick the testable questions

• Is soccer more fun than baseball? 

• Does wing shape affect how far a paper airplane will fly?

• Does the amount of sunlight affect how tall a plant will grow? 

• Why does the Earth revolve around the sun?

Multiple Choice

Ms. Umholtz performs an experiment by comparing the number of drops of tap water that can fit on a penny to the number of drops of soapy water that can fit on a penny. She performs three trials. Is this replication or repetition?

• Replication

• Repetition

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the best hypothesis for an experiment on the growth rate of roses?

• What will decrease the growth rate of roses?

• Different roses have different sized leaves.

• Roses grow the fastest when they are watered twice a day.

• What is the growth rate of roses?

Multiple Choice

Can be supported or rejected by a single experiment.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Choice

A student wanted to conduct an experiment to determine if background music affects the growth of plants. Which of the following should be used as a control group in this experiment?

• several plants that are exposed to different types of background music

• several plants that are not exposed to any background music

• rap music

• classical music

Multiple Choice

A student wanted to conduct an experiment to determine if background music affects the growth of plants. Which of the following should be used as a control group in this experiment?

• several plants that are exposed to different types of background music

• several plants that are not exposed to any background music

• rap music

• classical music

Multiple Choice

Which type of observation would include a number, such as 12 cm high or 98.6 degrees?

• qualitative

• quantitative

Multiple Choice

Which of these questions would be best answered by doing an experiment?

• Does ice float in oil?

• What is ice made of?

• Where is the most ice in nature found?

Multiple Choice

A toy company tested three models of slingshots to determine which one could fire a two-ounce wooden block the farthest. The band of each slingshot was first pulled back four inches, then six inches, and then eight inches. The distance the block traveled was recorded each time.

Which is the dependent, or responding, variable in this experiment?

• the model of the slingshot used

• the distance the band was pulled back

• the size of the wooden block

• the distance the block moved

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the best hypothesis for an experiment on the growth rate of roses?

• What will decrease the growth rate of roses?

• Different roses have different sized leaves.

• Roses grow the fastest when they are watered twice a day.

• What is the growth rate of roses?

Multiple Choice

A student conducted an experiment and concluded that vinegar removes stains from clothes better than water. Which piece of evidence would best support her conclusion?

• four out of five different stains were removed by vinegar when water did not remove them

• vinegar is able to dissolve certain materials

• when she tried to remove a stain from her clothes, vinegar worked

• the stains the vinegar removed were different from those that the water removed

Multiple Choice

An automobile company wants to determine which brand of tire lasts the longest. Which procedure would be the fairest way to conduct the experiment?

• Test five tires each of ten different brands of tires at the same temperature, on the same track.

• Test five tires each of ten different brands of tires at different temperatures, on the same track.

• Test ten of the same brand of tires at the same temperature, on different tracks.

• Test ten of the same brand of tires at the same temperature, on the same track.

Multiple Choice

A student wants to use a model of an animal cell for a presentation in class. Animal cells are rounded and have a watery substance inside. Which of the following would be the best model she could use for the animal cell?

• a water balloon

• a toothpaste tube

• a cereal box

• a jar of jelly

Multiple Choice

Dr. Smith has been reading about another scientist’s research in a physics journal. He plans to do these experiments himself and see if he gets the same result.

• Repetition

• Replication

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between seasons and the amount of rainfall? The SEASONS are the what variable?

• independent

• dependent

• control

Multiple Select

Check the steps of the scientific method listed below. Three answers are correct.

• conclusion

• hypothesis

• observation

• throw a party

Open Ended

Identify what Jose was changing ( Independent Variable) in this  experiment.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT one of the main categories of science?

• Life

• Pseudo

• Physical

• Earth

Multiple Choice

Julie goes to Silver River each week for 4 weeks and collects 5 samples of water to test the pH

• Repetition

• Replication

Open Ended

Identify what Jose was measuring ( Dependent Variable) in his  experiment.

Multiple Choice

Students want to know which fertilizer will cause their plants to grow the fastest, so they add 3 different fertilizers to their plants and measure how much they grow over the next 10 days. This is an example of a(n) _________.

• observation

• experiment

• model

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between seasons and the amount of rainfall? The SEASONS are the what variable?

• independent

• dependent

• control

Multiple Choice

An environmental group contacts Julie to get her procedures so that they can check her results.

• Repetition

• Replication

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between seasons and the amount of rainfall? The AMOUNT OF RAINFALL is what variable?

• independent

• dependent

• control

Multiple Choice

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

• the steps required

• equipment needed

• safety precautions

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Which type of observation would include a number, such as 12 cm high or 98.6 degrees?

• qualitative

• quantitative

Open Ended

Why are graphs a helpful way to analyze data?

Multiple Choice

A one time explanation of one observation.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Poll

Would you trust a study that has NOT been peer-reviewed?

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Diego is conducting an experiment to determine which type of food his dog likes best. Hey buys three different types of dog food and measures how much food his dog eats of each type. What is the CONTROL variable?

• the types of dog food

• how much the dog eats

• the amount of food given to the dog

Multiple Choice

Which of these questions would be best answered by doing an experiment?

• Does ice float in oil?

• What is ice made of?

• Where is the most ice in nature found?

Multiple Choice

Diego is conducting an experiment to determine which type of food his dog likes best. Hey buys three different types of dog food and measures how much food his dog eats of each type. What is the INDEPENDENT variable?

• the types of dog food

• how much the dog eats

• the amount of food given to the dog

Multiple Choice

Diego is conducting an experiment to determine which type of food his dog likes best. Hey buys three different types of dog food and measures how much food his dog eats of each type. What is the DEPENDENT variable?

• the types of dog food

• how much the dog eats

• the amount of food given to the dog

Multiple Choice

Well-proven explanation for a set of observations.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Choice

Explanation of WHY things are the way they are.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Choice

A toy company tested three models of slingshots to determine which one could fire a two-ounce wooden block the farthest. The band of each slingshot was first pulled back four inches, then six inches, and then eight inches. The distance the block traveled was recorded each time.

Which is the dependent, or responding, variable in this experiment?

• the model of the slingshot used

• the distance the band was pulled back

• the size of the wooden block

• the distance the block moved

Multiple Choice

Proven description of HOW things are, but does not give a reason why.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Open Ended

What is a good sample size when taking a poll of eighth graders? (type a number)

Multiple Choice

There are blue chairs in the classroom

• Qualitative Observation

• Quantitative Observation

Multiple Choice

An automobile company wants to determine which brand of tire lasts the longest. Which procedure would be the fairest way to conduct the experiment?

• Test five tires each of ten different brands of tires at the same temperature, on the same track.

• Test five tires each of ten different brands of tires at different temperatures, on the same track.

• Test ten of the same brand of tires at the same temperature, on different tracks.

• Test ten of the same brand of tires at the same temperature, on the same track.

Multiple Choice

The classroom has one teacher desk

• Qualitative Observation

• Quantitative Observation

Multiple Choice

There are 32 cars in the parking lot

• Qualitative Observation

• Quantitative Observation

Multiple Choice

The classroom is very cold today

• Qualitative Observation

• Quantitative Observation

Multiple Choice

A student wants to use a model of an animal cell for a presentation in class. Animal cells are rounded and have a watery substance inside. Which of the following would be the best model she could use for the animal cell?

• a water balloon

• a toothpaste tube

• a cereal box

• a jar of jelly

Multiple Choice

Molly makes a model of an atom, showing the protons, neutrons, and electrons. What field of science does she work in?

• Biology

• Geology

• Physics

Multiple Choice

A student makes a physical model of an atom using toothpicks and candy. What is a limitation of this physical model?

• It cannot show the components that make up an atom

• It is not based on experimental data collected by scientists

• It cannot show the interaction that exists between the parts

• It does not show the general structure of an atom

Multiple Choice

$$6CO2+6H2O\ \rightarrow\ C6H12O6+6O2$$  The process of photosynthesis, which takes place in green plants, is represented by the model above. What type of model is shown?

• Computer model

• Conceptual model

• Physical model

• Mathematical model

Multiple Select

Science is . . . (check all that apply)

• Natural

• Observable

• Testable

• Tentative

• Uncertain

Poll

Rate your understanding of the scientific method / process.

• I have a solid understanding of science process skills. These questions were pretty easy for me.

• I have a decent understanding of science process skills. A few of the questions were challenging for me.

• I understood about 50% of the questions on this activity.

• I could use more practice and help with the scientific process. Pretty much all of these questions were difficult for me.

• I didn't feel like trying these questions today.